Looking for a good travel agent
 

Hi. I live in the Boston area and I am looking to plan my Honeymoon to Italy at the end of June. We are planning to spend 3 nights in Rome, 3 nighs in Florence, (maybe a night in Tuscany, or we could just make that a day trip and spend a fourth night in Florence), and 2 nights in Venice.

Anyone have any suggestions on who I should contact?

Thanks in advance!
Pete

Suggestion:
You may want to check out "Rick Steves -Europe through the back Door".

Has reliable reputation, knows Europe well. He did the PBS series. Check his website.

Pete: are you uncomfortable making the arrangements yourself? No need to pay an agent when everything can be done from your computer. I've planned several trips to Italy down to the last detail of city driving routes and have never had a problem or regret. But it does take time and interest.

If you really want an agent, try virtuoso.com (if you're not on a really tight budget).

Re: the above comment, I've found that I disagree with most of Rick Steves' recommendations in Europe. Why? Because he likes low budget hostelries, off the beaten path eateries, and likes to try to "live like a local". That's fun if that's your personality.
For a honeymoon?
No, you don't want Rick Steves type places unless you're on a tight budget.
I used to watch Steves' presentations years ago and took his advice on many occasions. Disappointed almost every time because his travel style is very different from mine.

pete_italy / travelis:

travelis your point is well taken....good advice from experienced traveller....

In reference to using a travel agent, I used one to reserve hotel and airport transportation a couple of years ago on a London trip. I didn't feel like doing the online work.

She got great accomodations for me...very, very nice and well located. The price was not too different from what I had seen in my brief attempt at online.

Life was just easier and nicer for me using an agent....I still seek her help on occasion.

Your choice....but they seem to have a lot of information available. It was worth the cost.

Hope this helps.

Call Raymond Kane the President of Pisa Brothers Travel in NYC. The offices are the 22nd floor of 630 Rockefeller Center. They are a Virtuoso agency and Mr. Kane will direct you to his best Italy agent.

Being a Virtuoso agency is a huge deal. You will probably get lots of upgrades for free.

At my suggestion (Marjorie is a friend), my sister and her husband used Marjorie Shaw who has a company called Insider's Italy for their recent trip celebrating my sister's 40th birthday and they were really happy with her services. She only does Italy and I believe she does a lot of honeymooons.

http://www.insidersitaly.com/

Oh, and you might want to post this in the Europe forum rather than the US forum.

As above, if you read and post over on the Europe forum you'll get some different posters from the people here on the U.S. board.

Not only are the Andersons advertising illegally on Fodor's, but the original post is four years old! :-)

Lee Ann

Oh goodness, I totally missed that!!! Thanks for pointing that out Lee Ann!