Italy's Treasures Art, Food & Wine of Italy (Stresa to Venice) (2025)

Customer Reviews

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  Michael

  · October 30th, 2024
  Great accomidations. Outstanding tour guide.
  Trip date: March 2022

  Review collected by Collette
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  Carol

  · October 30th, 2024
  Great accommodations, good experiences in food wine. Tour guide was wonderful
  Trip date: March 2022

  Review collected by Collette
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  Heather

  · October 30th, 2024
  Luigi (our tour manager, was INCREDIBLE! We have already booked our next tour group for next year and would like to request him. He is aware of our request and is excited to see us again if that can be arranged. The tours we did were perfect for our group. We loved all of them. Our driver, Raffaele was wonderful. The spots he squeezed that coach into earned him several rounds of applause. See the video I put together of our trip here: https://fb.watch/c_hv30Sp3g/ Some feedback that would improve the tour even more. The first hotel was INCREDIBLE! The location, furnishings, service...everything was 5 star. The next two hotels were in beautiful locations, had stunning views but they were nowhere near that first one. The second hotel in the castle was beautiful and again, in a great location, but the room bed was very uncomfortable with rock hard beds and flat pillows. The other issue at this property was that they had no luggage racks or places to put your luggage. so, our luggage was just left open on the floor. This was fine for us but I cannot imagine someone over 65 doing this and being ok with it. A couple of luggage rack, some new pillow and a foam pad on the bed and this would be a home run. As it was, I woke up every morning and my back and neck hurt from the poor bed and I am not even 50! The "tuscan villa" room was very disappointing based on our expectations. It was not in the Tuscany hills. The positive to that is that it was very close to the town square, but I would change the description to a hotel located in a converted villa to avoid disappointment for future travelers. The food was excellent there. Our view was of a courtyard that was very pretty but several in our group had a view of the roof or no view at all. This is very disappointing especially after the first two places. This hotel was switched out at the last minute for another because the first choice was under construction. It was a let down after the Regina Palace for sure. The hotel in Venice was perfect. Great location, comfy beds, and welcoming staff with a great breakfast. The Lake Maggiore Cruise was disappointing because Isola Bella was closed. That was pretty much the whole reason we added this on was to see that island. Instead we saw a free public park and got 15 minutes on the lake. When I mentioned this to Luigi, he got us a refund and a free gondola ride in Venice. This was above and beyond what i would have expected and spoke to the quality that Collette represents. The transfer company that you used to pick us up from home and drop us back off was WONDERFUL! I am considering using them for my daughters wedding transportation. Just fabulous! The only serious negative feedback would be for Anne in your 24 hour service desk. MaryAnne and Elaina from our group went to Albany airport and could not check in because their flight had been cancelled. They called me and I called the 24 hour line and had the misfortune of getting Anne. The options that she offered were to get them there a day late OR to have them somehow get a ride to JFK to meet us instead of leaving from ALB. Collette cancelled these flights. So, I told her that i was not ok with those options and asked for others. They told me that they did not have anything else. I told her that, if she could not get them transportation to JFK or get them on another flight that I would be happy to call Christian at home and see if he could come up with anything else. I should not have to drop an executive's name to get this resolved. After telling her that, miraculously, they found them a flight on United and rebooked them. I thought things were all fixed and the ladies were thrilled as they have status on United. They ended up in the back of coach in separate sections, not seated together for a 12 hour flight o less than ideal but they got there within a few hours of the rest of us. That would have been the end of it, but on their flight home, Mary Anne got a call from the driver who was waiting for them at the airport. They were still in Newark. Anne had never followed up to be sure that their flights were updated with the transfer company! I called in to the 24 hour line again. Unfortunately, I got Anne again. She remembered the ladies and said that she had sent the request but never gotten confirmation back from the transfer company. I said, ok, so we need to get her a ride home then. Her reply, "worst case, they will take a cab and we will reimburse them". I told her that was not an option. These ladies have been traveling all day. They booked a 4 star luxury vacation and they needed a ride home like they were promised. She replied, "What can I do to make you happy?". At this point, I was tired and angry and had enough of Ann so I was less than polite. I told her that, short of turning back time and not screwing up my clients flights to start with, you can get them a driver to take them home from the airport." She said that she would try but she was not sure if it could be done. Again, I said, ok well let me know if you cannot and I will reach out to Jaclyn or Christian and see if they can help. Again, only at this point did she actually get a ride for my clients from the airport. I own my own agency and I would not want someone like this working in my 24 hour desk. She told me that she works in the air department. I would not have this person taking calls from travelers with an issue. The Anne situation aside, we had a fabulous trip! Villa Il Leccio (which was a last minute sub) wit Giada and Paulo was a highlight, as was Oira and Mario. These small, private gatherings are what i love about Explorations Tours. As I said, we have already booked for next year with tour of southern italy and sicily for june 2-13th. My only request would be to take a look at feedback for the hotels for that tour because I have and a couple of them are really not good. I just want to be sure that we have great properties to stay in. See the feeback from a couple of those below and maybe have product take a look. Super excited to bring another group to Italy with Collette. Feel free to call with any questions or clarifications. Thanks! 2nd hotel for the southern Italy and Sicily tour - read the recent reviews here - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g675638-d577986-Reviews-Baia_di_Ulisse_Wellness_SPA-San_Leone_Agrigento_Province_of_Agrigento_Sicily.html The MH Matera gets very mixed reviews. Lots of mentions of rude staff and hard beds. The rest of the properties on the tour look like they are first rate. Just wanted to point out the all the negative reviews so product may want to reconsider these mentioned above. From the minute I booked this tour almost a year ago, Jen Roser and Todd Bridges have been absolutely wonderful! I love working with this company and the professionals that represent it. Meeting Christian and Todd at the Affluent Traveler symposium in Florida was wonderful and they are so passionate about the company, the product and really seemed to care about us as advisors and our clients. That reflects in the quality of product you offer. Thank you for giving me something that i can sell confidently and know that my clients will always be well care for (unless Anne answers the phone :)) I was representing NEST and Affluent as an Elite agency in NY and just missed Jaclyn. I look forward to meeting her in person soon.
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  Trip date: April 2022

  Review collected by Collette
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  Jytte

  · October 30th, 2024
  Always a great trip with Collette!!
  Trip date: March 2022

  Review collected by Collette
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  Yolanda

  · October 30th, 2024
  I have been on Collette tours many times and have never been disappointed.
  Trip date: March 2022

  Review collected by Collette
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  Joyce

  · October 30th, 2024
  The pre-planning and direct execution of this tour brought us far more joy than I had hoped; way beyond my expectations. The locations we visited and the hotels we stayed in were top-notch. Our Tour Guide (Elena) was very knowledgeable and perfectly, appropriately friendly. (Our only struggle was before the trip on account of the many COVID restrictions and paperwork).
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  Trip date: March 2022

  Review collected by Collette
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  Gregory

  · October 30th, 2024
  Villa Lecchio Cooking Class in Tuscany
  Trip date: March 2022

  Review collected by Collette
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  Ronald

  · October 30th, 2024
  Wonderful itinerary and and an exceptional tour manager- Michela Lombardi
  Trip date: March 2023

  Review collected by Collette
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  Joyce

  · October 30th, 2024
  This “Treasures of Italy” trip provided me with excellent planned excursions, fabulous foods & local wines. Our tour guide was a Treasure as well! This is my 4th Collette trip & one of my best
  Trip date: March 2023

  Review collected by Collette
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  Rosa

  · October 30th, 2024
  The tour was wonderful. There were too many favorite experiences to pick just one. The tour manager was outstanding in every way!
  Trip date: March 2023

  Review collected by Collette