PRIVATE GUIDES IN ITALY--MASTER LIST
 

I used to be firmly in the "use a guidebook; why spend the money for a private guide?" camp. But too much time spent with my nose in an often dry guidebook, and a couple of excellent experiences with private guides in other countries, have led me to understand how much a great guide can enhance a traveler's experience and appreciation of a foreign city.

So I would like to begin this thread so that we can have a "master list" of guides in Italy. Perhaps we can compile similar threads for other countries, if we have success here.

Please share your experiences with private guides in Italy. Give approximate dates, prices and any other details that you recall. Perhaps we should also mention guides that we would NOT recommend, as well as those who are in our files for the future.

Here is one to get the thread rolling, with more to follow:


ROME--Francesca Caruso. [email protected]

Together with another Fodor couple, my partner and I hired Francesca for a private tour in January, 2007. To use a hackneyed phrase, Francesca made the Forum come alive for me. She is fluent in English. Her price was moderate and I give her an enthusiastic recommendation.

I totally agree. Having a private tour guide our first time in Rome was so worth it.

ROME - Giulia Bernardini. [email protected]

My husband and I used her in 2002. We liked her so much we took two tours with her. Her knowledge really made Rome come alive for us. Since then, she received her Master's degree in Art History from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She lives here in the States but goes back to Rome for the summer. We were in Rome in 2007 but it was during spring so we couldn't meet up with her.

Even though it's been some time since we've personally used her, we keep in contact and gladly recommend her.

ekscrunchy - I think this is a MARVELOUS idea of yours. And I can happily and VERY enthusiastically recommend :

LUCA GARAPPA of
http://www.hillsandroads.com/

He is a very sweet. knowledgable and intelligent young man, based in the area around Siena. He does day tours (or half day also) and also private transfers between cities. He speaks many other languages besides Italian and speaks them WELL. English, French and Spanish, maybe others too.

He picked us up from our hotel in Firenze and took us out to the beautiful Tuscan countryside. We toured, talked, walked, got explanations and information, drank lots of coffee (bunch of espresso aficionados here!!) and had a great lunch together as well. At the end of our days he drove us back to the hotel in Firenze.

We used him about 3 years ago for two separate touring days in the Tuscan hill towns (my Mom sister and I) and he is a great part of the reason we fell in love with them. He is fiercely in love with his country and it shows. He is a wonderful guide, a gentleman, and a very safe driver.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 days with him and since I end up returning just about every year, we now meet for a fun day together, traveling somewhere, and we have become very very good and close friends!!

His prices are on his web site that I gave above and they are hourly prices, I think we paid about 33 Euros per hour when we used him. And something like 250 Euros for a private transfer from Firenze to Rome since my elderly mother did not want to have to travel in a manner that would not be suitable for her.

I know there are MANY people on this board who have also used him as a guide and sing his praises.

TORINO. SILVIA PELLEGRINO. Freelance guide; fluent in English.

I took the Citta di Torino tourist office's guided city tour, led by Silvia, in April, 2009. She is an excellent guide who interlaced history and architecture with amusing and interesting anecdotes.

I have no hesitation recommending her for private touring in and around the city.

Her e-mail address is: [email protected]

Great idea. Here is my favorite in Venice--especially Roberta Curiel who is a lifetime native of Venice.
http://www.walksinsidevenice.com/#/venice/home/

Thanks, everyone.

I have a link to a guide for Rome and Naples, but have not hired her, so cannot give first-hand comments:

http://www.katieparla.com/tour/

tt

Peter is excellent, a transplanted Aussie, very accomodating, creates a tour based on your interests, rather irreverent, great sense of humor, lives near Montepulciano and will train into Rome for your private tour.
http://www.peterkilby-touradvisor.com.au/New%20Bio.htm

Daniella Hunt of Mirabilia Urbis Tours, www.rome-tours.com.
She took us on a private tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum
in 2006. She is knowledgeable, passionate, funny and fun.
Wouldn't hesitate to use her again.

bookmarking

Francesca is the regular local guide for Rick Steves' tours, and is reputedly excellent. But when we took our tour she was not available, and that was a disappointment. I'm glad to hear she also does private tours.

For a shore trip in Amalfi Coast: Carmine of See Amalfi Coast, private driver from Naples sea port to Pompei, Sorrento, Positano and Ravello. Full day tour : 350 euro for seven people.

This is who I would use. Great website for info about Rome too.

http://www.roninrome.com/

Avoid "Enjoy Rome."

They advertised a 3 hour walking tour, yet it ended in 2.5 hours.

The tour guide never even heard of the quote "The sun never sets on the Holy Roman Empire"

For Naples, Sorrento, AC region

Limousine Service Sorrento (Renato Cuomo) www.cuomonet.it

Francesco. http://www.francescomarrapese.com/

this is a keeper.

The quote is "The sun never sets on the British Empire" not the Holy Roman Empire. No wonder they never heard of it.

I mentioned the British Empire too. Still she never heard of it.

Why would you ask a tour guide in Rome questions about the British Empire?

topping to see if anyone has any new suggestions based on personal experience