PRIVATE GUIDES IN ITALY--MASTER LIST
Sep 17th, 2012, 11:09 AM
#123
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We just got back from Rome and used Daniella Hunt for a private tour to Hadrian's villa and Villa d'Este (evening hours). She recommended a time, set up a great driver (Emilio) and it was just what we wanted.
She and the driver were on time and she communicated lots prior to our arrival, including costs, asking preferences, etc...
We wouldn't have gotten near as much out of Hadrian's Vila without her. She is incredibly knowledgable and she will make you think. She is lots of fun, easy to relate to and conveys info in a way that makes it interesting and relevant. (The same with Villa d'Este, but it's so gorgeous you don't need to know as much.) Hadrian's villa is huge and without someone to tell you what you are looking at and the why, it would be just a bunch of ruins. You learn alot of Hadrian and what he was all about. She is also careful to let you form your own opinion about these historical figures, who depending on you ask, are great rulers or tyrants, or misunderstood.
We had asked about having aperitivo or dinner between the two and she suggested a few options...we ended up at this little restaurant in another town that was very good and we all had a great time. We saw a bit of the countryside, as a result, including a huge waterfall outside of Tivoli, that we would not have seen otherwise.
We would definitely use her again for anything in the Rome area. http://www.rome-tours.com/
She and the driver were on time and she communicated lots prior to our arrival, including costs, asking preferences, etc...
We wouldn't have gotten near as much out of Hadrian's Vila without her. She is incredibly knowledgable and she will make you think. She is lots of fun, easy to relate to and conveys info in a way that makes it interesting and relevant. (The same with Villa d'Este, but it's so gorgeous you don't need to know as much.) Hadrian's villa is huge and without someone to tell you what you are looking at and the why, it would be just a bunch of ruins. You learn alot of Hadrian and what he was all about. She is also careful to let you form your own opinion about these historical figures, who depending on you ask, are great rulers or tyrants, or misunderstood.
We had asked about having aperitivo or dinner between the two and she suggested a few options...we ended up at this little restaurant in another town that was very good and we all had a great time. We saw a bit of the countryside, as a result, including a huge waterfall outside of Tivoli, that we would not have seen otherwise.
We would definitely use her again for anything in the Rome area. http://www.rome-tours.com/
Sep 18th, 2012, 06:09 AM
#125
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Nadia and Emilia, two fabulous guides for MATERA
We have met these 2 wonderful guides in Matera: very charming and fluent in English! We have contacted them through this website http://www.guidematera.com/en/contacts.html (fill the form in and specify that you'd like to visit Matera with Nadia or Emilia, you'll LOVE the tour)
We have met these 2 wonderful guides in Matera: very charming and fluent in English! We have contacted them through this website http://www.guidematera.com/en/contacts.html (fill the form in and specify that you'd like to visit Matera with Nadia or Emilia, you'll LOVE the tour)
Sep 18th, 2012, 02:16 PM
#126
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I also did a food tour with Elizabeth Minchilli. We sampled pizza, all kinds of salumi, prosciutto, guancale, two stops for cheeses, wine....all around Campo de Fiori. She is fun and very knowledgeable.
I definitely recommend her, she does foodworkshops and more, as well. Her food app is also great (Eat Rome)!
www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com
I definitely recommend her, she does foodworkshops and more, as well. Her food app is also great (Eat Rome)!
www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com
Nov 1st, 2012, 07:25 PM
#128
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AisleSeat, if you go to the link Denisea mentions, there is a cost section for Daniella Hunt. Most of the established guides should have a website where their costs are explained.
Denisea commented:
We would definitely use her again for anything in the Rome area. http://www.rome-tours.com/
Denisea commented:
We would definitely use her again for anything in the Rome area. http://www.rome-tours.com/
Nov 13th, 2012, 06:29 PM
#130
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I just happened upon this thread and don't know if Rome Cabs has been mentioned, but we used Stefano's services for transfers, as well as a couple of private tours while in Rome. He was fabulous, especially in assisting us with my elderly mother.
http://www.romecabs.com/
http://www.romecabs.com/
May 29th, 2014, 06:22 PM
#139
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I know that Nadia Garlatti has been highly recommended here as a guide in Matera, but I feel compelled to add my experience to this thread. Based on the reviews here, I reserved a tour last spring for my husband and myself with her months beforehand and even gave her several days to choose from. Everything was fine until 2 days before our tour when Nadia emailed me saying that she had to help a colleague of hers who was in trouble and was sending another guide in her place.
I was very disappointed but told Nadia that I understand and hoped everything worked out for her friend. Nadia responded and said she would try to stop by our hotel at the start of our tour to at least meet us before going to her friend.
Nadia did not appear at the start of our tour, but we did see her later -- when we ran into her at a cave house where she was leading a large group of tourists! She was not the least bit embarrassed, but it was very awkward for us and also for our substitute guide! BTW the substitute guide did her best, but was not of Nadia's caliber (obvious from the little bit that I overheard of Nadia's tour).
So based on my experience, I cannot recommend Nadia Garlatti. I understand that guides need to make a living, but I think she should have honored her commitment to us. We have always had such good experiences with private guides in the past; this one was very disheartening to say the least.
I was very disappointed but told Nadia that I understand and hoped everything worked out for her friend. Nadia responded and said she would try to stop by our hotel at the start of our tour to at least meet us before going to her friend.
Nadia did not appear at the start of our tour, but we did see her later -- when we ran into her at a cave house where she was leading a large group of tourists! She was not the least bit embarrassed, but it was very awkward for us and also for our substitute guide! BTW the substitute guide did her best, but was not of Nadia's caliber (obvious from the little bit that I overheard of Nadia's tour).
So based on my experience, I cannot recommend Nadia Garlatti. I understand that guides need to make a living, but I think she should have honored her commitment to us. We have always had such good experiences with private guides in the past; this one was very disheartening to say the least.
May 29th, 2014, 06:41 PM
#140
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We had a similar experience, Magster.
We did a tour using Hills and Roads. We were a bit disappointed - I had booked months ago, requesting Lucca do the tour. He said he would be our guide. I confirmed with him a couple of weeks out and all was good. I then sent him email with arrival/meeting times and did not get a reply. It took several days to hear from him, his website wasn't working and we were getting concerned. We finally heard from him 2 days before the scheduled tour and he said he was in NYC and couldn't do the tour. Someone else did the tour and he was ok, but he had a trainee with him and they spent a lot of time talking to each other in Italian. Never heard one word from Lucca after, no sorry or anything.
On the other hand, we had a great tour of Amalfi Coast with Francesco of http://www.francescomarrapese.com. Very professional, knowledgable, pleasant. Highly recommend. He also made arrangements for a guide for us atPompeii, which we did on our own (transportation wise).
We did a tour using Hills and Roads. We were a bit disappointed - I had booked months ago, requesting Lucca do the tour. He said he would be our guide. I confirmed with him a couple of weeks out and all was good. I then sent him email with arrival/meeting times and did not get a reply. It took several days to hear from him, his website wasn't working and we were getting concerned. We finally heard from him 2 days before the scheduled tour and he said he was in NYC and couldn't do the tour. Someone else did the tour and he was ok, but he had a trainee with him and they spent a lot of time talking to each other in Italian. Never heard one word from Lucca after, no sorry or anything.
On the other hand, we had a great tour of Amalfi Coast with Francesco of http://www.francescomarrapese.com. Very professional, knowledgable, pleasant. Highly recommend. He also made arrangements for a guide for us atPompeii, which we did on our own (transportation wise).
