Seductive Southern Italy

Customer Reviews

• 

  Jill

  · September 29th, 2024
  The areas that we travelled were amazingly beautiful! Matera and the beaches of Southern Italy were mind blowing! I liked the mix of free time on our own along with some planned group activities.
  Trip date: August 2024
• CS

  Carolyn

  · July 22nd, 2024
  I have just returned from the Seductive Southern Italy tour, the best tour I have ever done. Due mainly to our incredible tour leader Francesco a singing dancing people pleasing foodie (a dream come true for a foodie). And our on site tour guide Floriana who’s historical knowledge was amazing as was her delivery, she spoke like she was singing to us. There was so much variety and we were so well looked after I would do it again. Response from Tour Radar and Culture trip was so quick and professional especially Shelby. Our accommodation was outstanding in Matera Maoiri and Polignano al Mare. Some reviews stated they were too far away but I think it was a perfect balance in getting away from the crowds to relax and see the real Italy. I will definitely book another Tour Radar/Culture trip holiday without hesitation thank you 🙏 ps hot tip eat whatever Francesco tells you to you won’t regret it!!!!!! 😋 🐽
  Show more
  

  Culture Trip commented on this review

  Thank you for your kind words and the 5 star review, this means a lot to us here at Culture Trip. We are passionate about our trips and our travelers! We are overjoyed you loved your experience with Francesco and Floriana. We will be sure to pass your... Show more
  Trip date: May 2024
• A

  Angela

  · June 13th, 2023
  Book this trip! This was an AMAZING trip! I highly recommend it. This was my first solo trip. I met great people from all over the world. This trip goes to towns that you normally don’t see on other tours which I really liked. This trip had a perfect balance of structure and free time. All of the accommodations were nice and clean, my favorite one was the cave accommodation in Matera. Our tour guide, Ciro, did a fantastic job. Even in inclement weather when our boat tour got canceled, he went out of his way to make sure we still had a great day. He always had a positive attitude. All in all, I 100% recommend this trip. Culture trip’s customer service was excellent as they replied quick and was always friendly and enthusiastic and willing to help and answer any questions.
  Show more
  Trip date: April 2023

  Review collected by Culture Trip
• A

  Georgene

  · June 13th, 2023
  An amazing adventure of Southern Italy at Easter Francesco our tour director was one of the best that I've ever had. His attention to detail, spirit, and love of Italy made this trip one of the best that I've ever had. The hotels were great with comfortable bedding. The food and service were great. Since there were only 3 of us on the tour we spent almost 100% of our time as a group of 4 or 5. Thank you for allowing the tour to continue with this small of a group. The tour guides and bus drivers were so great. I have nothing negative to say other than the weather was too cold - unseasonable and uncontrollable.
  Show more
  Trip date: January 2023

  Review collected by Culture Trip
• A

  Kimberly

  · June 13th, 2023
  Good experience, great tour leader! - Our tour leader, Francesco, was absolutely amazing! He is so personable, fun and wanted to please us in every way! Our town guide, Floriana, was also a delight and knew a wealth of history! Transportation went well, great drivers. Good hotels but Lecce’s and Polignano a Mare were so far from town with nothing to do since the weather in early April was cold and cloudy. I’m sure in warmer months when the pool is open they would suffice.
  Show more
  Trip date: January 2023

  Review collected by Culture Trip
• A

  Jan

  · September 21st, 2022
  great choice of places to visit
  Trip date: September 2022

  Review collected by Culture Trip
• A

  Niraj

  · April 12th, 2022
  A great introduction to the sights of Southern Italy! The trip left me knowing which places I will come back to along with all the culture of the region.
  Trip date: April 2022

  Review collected by Culture Trip
• S

  SueVattay

  · September 26th, 2022
  The locations we visited on the tour through southern Italy were what we were hoping for so the itinerary and planned stops were good. Saw such a variety of things so in that respect it was a good tour. Surprised throughout the trip that the hotels were so far away from the cities. This should be advised in the pre trip with the expectation to Walk or take taxis. Need to have available cash on hand for taxis. Assumed we would have coach transport to locations. Realize this might be to keep Trip cost down but travellers need to know this into in advance. It demonstrates the advertised nature of the activity level as easy? I would recommend intermediate especially given most cities inclined for walking. The coach transport when provided always parked in the designated or preferred location for the coach which meant a lot of walking just to get to the city of attraction. Francesco the tour leader was friendly and eager to be helpful. Needed a better fuller description of each day and further in advance to help with our own planning and getting most enjoyment from each day. He was flexible and made adjustments. Would have been nice to have some more split options for those that were walkers, shoppers, wanting this to back to hotel etc. Would have been helpful to get more advance information from culture trip including dining options, city maps. Also more updated itineraries as they changed! Included meals were very good. Amalfi coast Change to location for free day without advance notice not acceptable. Had boat booked that we had done lots of research on to arrange ourselves, added stress to trip we did not need. Tour leader handled well though and was very accommodating. Hotel was not in advertised city. Again we had done advance research for restaurants, sights. Group wasn't happy. Hotel was good. Nice rooms, sea view (but of shipping harbour?) had a balcony which Was a nice surprise. Was looking forward to view in Minori. Small town of Vietri Sul Mare was very nice and had good restaurants. Walk to town short which was good. Had we not had boat day booked with entire group coming with us, I think there would have been more issues with the revised hotel location. Culture Trip should have advised all group members of this change in advance. Coach transport from Naples to Amalfi good. Coach transport to Lecce was much too small, no leg room for even smallest passenger. This was a deterrent to a better rating for this trip. Day 4 was advertised as what we thought was a day in Matera, in fact we got there at 4pm and only had a couple hours for touring. 2 nights in this city would have been better than 3 in Lecce. Missed lunch a couple days as agenda was too full. Big breakfasts so wasn't a huge deal but perhaps if clients have health or dietary issues it needs to be explained in advance. Arrived in Lecce hotel (for three nights) to hot rooms, no in room internet, cots in rooms? closed pool and location in middle of no where. Very Late to try to organize a dinner in Lecce (on a Friday night) Hotel food service was disapponting . Limited menu, poor service, unpleasant atmosphere (in a large banquet hall) This hotel was a big disappointment. Too far from the city for three nights. Hotel tried to tell us that rooms do have wifi internet. Reviews on social media say that this hotel has spotty/no Wi-Fi in rooms. Appears to be on going issue. Given this is last stop prior to guests having to make connecting arrangements for next stops or return home, internet access is important. Guests should be informed prior to your that outdoor pool closes Sept 1st. Would have definitely spent last afternoon at pool if we could. Day 8 was a trip highlight. Otronto and coast to heel of Italy was interesting and tour guide very good. Generally needed more advance notice of day to day plans in order to make appropriate dinner reservations. Tour was marketed as more casual, less highly programmed but it did not feel that way. Would have liked shorter walking tours with some time in each city to independently explore (eat, shop, wander, etc) take in ambiance of city. Need to market that hotels are not conveniently located. Expectation of private individual taxi services. Or incorporate the coach transport services as part of tour if hotels are out of towns. Liked hotels (except for Lecce) but would have liked it easier to get to and from town and all its amenities. Overall a good tour for the money, appreciated not having to plan all the details on our own.
  Show more
  Trip date: September 2022
• 

  Helen

  · April 12th, 2022
  TourRadar trip was fabulous from start to finish. Every hotel was excellent. Any meal which was included in tour was great. Every guide along the way was extremely informative and friendly. Our tour leader Francesco was absolutely amazing from the first moment we met him in Naples until our departures in Lecce. Francesco was genuinely caring, considerate towards every person in our group, highly amusing and entertaining... the perfect tour leader!
  Show more
  Trip date: April 2022