We are traveling to Italy the end of October 2007. Do any of you have recommendations for guides in Venice and Florence? We want to tour the "secret" Venice and Florence, those place off the traditional "tourist" track. We have emailed 2 guides several times but are not getting any replies. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

I think a guide is a good idea - especially for Florence. Check www.tours-Italy.com Some of their tours are in groups and some are private. We didn't use them but I wish that we had.

Thanks, GBC, for the reply. I'm checking their website. Hope to hear from some other Fodorites on this as well.

I had a tour with Context Travel this past July. It was with Emily Wise Miller. She was delightful. We did a "food crawl" and she has wrote a wonderful book on eating your way through Florence.

Although it was "food" related - she was a wealth of knowlege on Florence and gave a fantistic tour.

I am so sorry but I lost her card - I think if you email Context perhaps they would be willing to give her a message/email? I think she might do a private tour.

Hope that helps.

Roberta Curiel at www.walksinsidevenice.com is excellent and is a lifetime resident.

Thanks Bob and Dawnoelm. I have tried 3 times over several weeks to contact Enrico at Venice Luxury Guides and have received no reply so I really appreciate the input! I'm afraid we will be too late to get someone if we wait any longer. Thanks again.

skrboyd - I hope it works out for you!