I know that the question has been asked before, but I am hoping to find a recomendation for a private tour guide/driver based in Siena. Most I have found in my search (Fodors) are Florence or Rome based.

My husband and I will be spending several days in Siena in March 2004, but do not want to rent a car. We want to see the country side, hill towns, and especially the vineyards (which is why we don't want to drive).

We are very independant travelers - we do not like group tours at all. It will even be a stretch for us to have a driver, but we absolutly do not want to drive in a foreign country when we plan on drinking.

Please help with your experiences, names and, if possible, an estimated price.

Thank you, in advance, for your helpful suggestions.

ttt for Mamma.

Can't help you with names, but the going rate for limo tours is usually approx.

€ 150 for a half-day
€ 300-350 for a full day

Hope someone else can recommend a driver.

Steve

Check out toursbyroberto.com and also Dario Castagna at [email protected]

To bobthenavigator: My husband and I are trying to decide between Roberto and Dario for a tour of Chianti. Do you have any more insights on their tours that would help us decide between them? We have contacted both of them already. Dario is about twice as much as Roberto, so I think we are trying to justify the cost. (I have enjoyed Dario's posts on Slowtrav.) Thanks and can't wait for your trip report!

Tweeter, I have no personal experience with these guides, but I think Dario is a private guide and Roberto has small groups.

Thanks for the advice. I took a look at Roberto's site and am considering it for two half day tours.

His rates seem to be fair. It will be nice to see Tuscany and enjoy wine without the responsibility of driving, and if we were to do half-days rather than full days, we will still have plenty of time to satisfy our "independant" selves.

Grazie mille!

For what it's worth, our hotel in Siena, Frances Lodge, recommended Roberto of Tours by Roberto. His website has more information.

€ 150 for a half-day
€ 300-350 for a full day

for that much money, I'll fly to Italy and drive you around .

I get a kick out of reading these posts. Surely somebody must know of a driver who would be happy to charge half those amounts.

If I were going to hire a driver, I'd spend some serious research time looking.

Call or email Antonio or Fabio at Hotel Piccolo Oliveta in Seina. We used them in September for a winery tour and enjoyed it very much.