Testimonials

Testimonials – 99.9% Customer Satisfaction since 1995

We’re working on that .1%…

Our goal is always to provide the highest quality service, create unique travel experiences, and impress our customers every step of the way. Our customers love what we do and their testimonials prove it!

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No matter if it is a short trip, romantic Italian honeymoon, or a complicated multi-country European tour, our customers can rely on Italy4Real to plan an amazing experience.

“The tour guides and arrangements were all wonderful.  The tour guides really went out of their way to make sure we were able to access information.  You have a wonderful company and I’d recommend Italy4Real to anyone.” 

Barbara – 2023

“This was the most amazing trip of our entire lives”

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip? 

England

France

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company: 

This was the most amazing trip of our entire lives. Nothing compares to it. The care and detail and attention given to us the entire way through our France and England travel was amazing. Everything from the travel guides, accommodation hosts and even the drivers selected for us.
Our trip planner at the travel company understood exactly our desires and wishes for our family vacation. We wanted to immerse our young children in our first time abroad into the cultures of the countries and villages we stayed. She carefully selected our hosts and guides. She worked with them so that they understood what we were looking for and each one delivered beyond all expectations. We were treated likes friends and family. We saw people and parts of the world we never wanted to leave. It felt like we made true friends and companions that we still discuss and talk about like we’ve known them forever even 6 months after our travel.
I strongly recommend Italy4Real and Travel4Real  for anyone that wants to experience a tailored made vacation they can never forget. If you value the time and money you’ll spend on your travels, then choose this travel agency as an investment because you will return with memories that may very well be one of the best highlights of your life.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip? 

The most memorable parts of our trip were our guides and hosts. We had several guides and all of them were great. From quick tours of the Louvre with one guide and a drive around London with another guide to the most fun and fascinating cooking class with a guide who helped us understand some traditional English history and culture regarding baking and manners. Then there were our two amazing guides specifically that met us and traveled with us for large parts of our trip, our guide in Cotswolds and our guide in Provence. These two guides feel so much like family that I want to invite them over to stay with us if they ever travel our way. It feels like we should exchange holiday cards. In the Cotwolds, our guide had us over to his home to meet his family and we even ate together. Our kids remember his son so vividly. Our guide was so knowledgeable and personable we loved him and everything he showed us. The other guide, was like the fun uncle always showing us a new adventure, taking his time to understand the needs of our children, helping to meet local friends through the week. He was amazing and had a great network of wonderful friends. Our guide was so helpful and nice, he made every day special and unique for our family. Then our host in Provence was such a lovely woman that my family still gushes over how sweet and accommodating she was for us. She took our children to see her pets and showed them all over the property. She spent time with them whenever we were around. She made the most beautiful breakfast each day and kept the property looking immaculate. She and our guide made Provence a place we want to visit year after year. These two specifically made Provence our favorite part and we cannot wait to return and hopefully see them again.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently? 

Nothing. I recognize there are always ways to improve but as a family we loved our trip so much and the entire experience was EXACTLY what we hoped for and so much more.

DJ Snyder, 2020

“You helped us do exactly what we wanted and needed”

“Dear Rem (Owner of Italy4Real),  Our trip in Italy couldn’t have been any better. Every detail you arranged was perfect. The hotels you chose were great, I so appreciated having people to get me from point A to B, the Opera in Venice was simply outstanding. The Tuscany tour was priceless, the tour in Florence was exceptional, the tour guide for the Vatican was excellent and also I appreciated the extra guide for Siena. I love that Village! Rem, you helped us do exactly what we wanted and needed. I can’t tell you how deeply my heart holds gratitude for what you did for us! Thank you!!”  Peg & Hilary

The best gifts in life are experiences…

and by utilizing italy4real expertise you will have a lifetime of memories. I can’t recommend italy4real enough. We are repeat customers!

Tammy Evans

Thank you so much for what Italy4Real added to our trip!

Starting with the driver that picked us up at the airport.  He was fabulous.  We had a bit of a language barrier but we managed to have a great conversation with him and he went out of his way to take us to a wonderful outlook of Rome, where he took pictures of my daughters and I.  Unexpected, but much appreciated.

Our guides Francesca (Antiquities) and Simone (Vatican) were fantastic as well.  I’m sure it’s their job to do so, but we felt like they really wanted our experience to be special, and it was.  Francesca delivered our rail tickets to us which turned out to be for 2nd class not the 1st class on our itinerary.  We managed to get seats together so not a problem.  We wanted to cab back to our hotel and she insisted on walking us to where we could hail a cab and got us safely in the cab before she left us.  She went way beyond what I would have expected.

Our driver was on time to take us to the rail station and was personable and professional.

Thank you again for a great addition to our trip.

Linda D.

We are back and had a marvelous time!

We can’t tell you how much we enjoyed our trip and what a wonderful job you did on putting everything together. We ate, drank, and laughed our way from Venezia to Firenze, Sienna to Roma, to Napoli, Pompeii and back to Roma! What a great trip!!!

Vin & Vicki

We had a fantastic trip and everything came off without a hitch thanks to you!

We had a fantastic trip and everything came off without a hitch thanks to you. You were so helpful in adjusting arrangements mid-trip, making suggestions, keeping us informed, etc. and you have all been great to work with.

Thank you again for helping make this a truly memorable trip!

Pat & Pasquale

We had an amazing time!

The kids had a great time. The drive was fine. Thank goodness for the GPS!  Favorites were the Colosseum and the Forum and Cinque Terra.

T. Dye

9 days, no complaints. WOW!!!!!!

“I just planned a foodie tour to northern Italy with the help of Rem. Rem is the owner of Italy 4 Real. It started as a self-guided trip and ended with Rem coming with us. There were 8 of us, all women for 9 days. Rem made us all happy from the minute we stepped foot out of baggage. The van, hotels, restaurants, tours were exactly what I was looking to achieve for my friends. They enjoyed great sites, with a very relaxed schedule. With our own guide and van most of our time was ours. We woke up at reasonable times, had breakfast and coffee at leisure, and would meet in the lobby at the time we decided. There were some tours we needed to be at a special time but they were decided by us. I wanted my friends to experience the people, culture, food, wine, and atmosphere of Italy. This trip did exactly that and so much more. We all came home loving everything about Italy. Rem was part of our group, like a friend we knew forever. He is truly a talented person to achieve this for 8 women, 9 days, no complaints. WOW!!!!!! I will use his services many more times.” –

Y. Hoffman

Our Trip Was Absolutely Amazing

We loved every minute of it. The guides you arranged for (especially in Pompeii and Herculaneum) were excellent and very knowledgeable. We ate too much, drank too much wine, and spent too much money and gained 5 pounds apiece! But we loved Italy. Paul loved driving with the Italian drivers and is having trouble slowing down now – although we were lost almost every day. We took 620 pictures and through editing I was able to get them down to 480. There is no way to cut them further and that is considering that most museums and some churches do not allow pictures! Thank you so much for arranging everything for us. Paul says he loved Sorrento the most.

-Sincerely, Kathleen and Paul Helbling

We would not hesitate to recommend Italy 4 Real to anyone planning a trip to Italy

We have just returned from an amazing vacation and are already planning our next adventure. Every detail of our trip was planned with personal regard to our trip expectations. Even a side trip to visit relatives in a small town in the Lakes region was not a problem for our travel expert, Deborah de Maio. From the quaint hotels to the unique dining experiences and knowledgeable tour guides, our trip was extraordinary. If you want to see the real Italy , You must use Italy 4 Real”

– The Nardi’s

Our trip was absolutely wonderful

“The hotels were beautiful and situated right in the heart of the city. We couldn’t have been happier. The sites were beyond description. I get goose bumps just thinking about them let alone talking about them. Our tours were very insightful and the guides very professional. I can’t thank you enough for making a dream of mine come true. I hope I can go back someday.”

Thank you again”

-Kathy

I couldn’t have asked for more in from a tour company

Italy 4 Real made sure that we had wonderful accommodations, delightful sites to see, and the type of individual attention to our needs only a small company can provide. I would be thrilled to go on another Italy 4 Real’s tour.”

– Julie I.

There wasn’t a detail overlooked!!

“I felt very safe and comfortable…..the tour hosts were always a phone call away and there to accommodate any requests. The people I traveled with were so much fun and several have turned into lasting friendships. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!!!”

– Kim C.

Our trip to Italy was AMAZING, and now it’s time to give credit where credit is due.

At least 95% of the amazingness was because of our tour company, Italy4Real. They give you the benefits of a tour company, without the giant bus and 80 other people (ours was a group of 8).And here’s the great news for you – Italy4Real can plan your trip, too! You don’t have to live in Seattle to use their services. You coordinate your air travel with them, and when you land in Italy, they pick you up and handle the rest. We traveled with six of our friends, so we had our own “private” group with a tour customized to our wants and needs. But you don’t have to have your own group to go. Italy4Real leads several tours a year, and you can sign up for any of them (I think they still have two openings for a trip in the spring and one next fall).

Rem (the owner of the company and our tour guide) has spent 15 years leading tours there, and lived in Italy for a year prior to starting his business. That means he’s staid in the hotels so he knows whether or not they provide good accommodations. He’s eaten at the restaurants so he knows if the food is good. He’s visited the sites and can tell you what’s worth seeing and what’s not.

He’s experienced it all, so he knows the little secrets and tips you would never find by searching the internet. For example, the day we went to the Vatican, the line to get in was about 90 to 120 minutes long. But Rem had prearranged a timed-entry for us, so we walked in almost as soon as we got there. I can’t tell you how many times he saved us from waiting in long lines (and wasting precious vacation time).

He’s also spent the years building relationships with people and small businesses. Our first day there, he took us to a small shop that sells wine and seasonings. Rosario (the owner) set up an area in the back for us where we tasted wine and balsamic. And it wasn’t just “Here’s some Italian wine, hope you enjoy it.” It was exactly how you would imagine a little old Italian lady to be: Full of life, talking up a storm, and treating you like you’re life-long friends.Italy4Real gives attention to the smallest details so your trip is all it can be (like don’t buy your leather in that store – go around the corner to this store where they sell the same thing for 20% less). They understand what a tourist wants to see and experience while in Italy, and they deliver. With their expertise, Italy feels just as romantic as it looks in the movies. Enjoying an evening drink at a café in the town square of San Gimignano while a three-piece band plays music across the way and the sun sets on the Tuscan hills – what more do you want? It was like being transported into a scene from “Under the Tuscan Sun.” (Plus, we got to drive a Ferrari in Italy – how cool is that?)

If you want to know more, just ask – I’ll tell you all I know. Or visit their web site – they’ve got great information and several videos on YouTube.

Ciao!”

Joel, Bothell, WA

We’ve Literally Had Zero Hiccups

Tours, hotels, guides and restaurants have all been flawless. Each hotel arrival we were greeted by a fax waiting in our room welcoming us. We always felt like they were one step ahead of us making sure we were being taken care of.

They have great people in Italy in case something does go wrong. You’re never alone. Deborah and Rem have really great guides and tours, all super people. They also have the unique ability to arrange special events if you want. For example, I wanted to have dinner with a family in Italy just once. Well, Deborah arranged a dinner in The hills of Florence with a family that put on a dinner like no other. The Mama was a wine expert and we had many wines throughout the night. Before we left she gave us a fabulous bottle of Brunello. It was a once in a lifetime dinner.

We’ve always traveled by ourselves. But Italy4real had everything arranged. We have not been on a group tour but would bet my eye teeth that they’re wonderful too. Rem is a great host and knows how to keep things fun.

So that’s it. Good luck and if you choose Italy4Real to do your trip, it will be nothing less than amazing.

Tom Sulock

If you’re thinking of going to Italy look no further than Italy4Real!

My husband and I wanted our first trip to Europe to be special as we were celebrating our 30th Anniversary. Deborah and her staff meticulously planned out each day and provided enough time to actually absorb and enjoy what we were seeing or doing. She did all the research work for us and delivered the best life experience we have ever had without dealing with mass crowds along with zip-on-through-no-line wait for major “must-see” tourist spots.

Deborah who is from Italy even informed us of lesser known (almost secret) historical sites that most tourists have no idea exist. They do the research for you and personally, pre-check the lodging. They truly want you to have a fantastic personal experience. We never felt alone even though it was just my husband and I traveling and provided us with knowledgeable professional personal on-time guides per our request. Italy4Real exceeded our expectations for every aspect of our trip. We’re currently planning our next trip to Italy once again with Italy4real. This company is truly as good as it gets!

I had a FANTASTIC time with them!

I went on the 13 day primo tour, and Rem, the co-owner of the company led the tour. Yuki, an associate of the company, got me signed up, kept me posted on any info, found me great airfare, and kept in touch. The tour, itself, was wonderful! Probably the best trip I’ve ever taken. We saw fantastic sights, ate delicious meals, stayed in wonderful hotels, travelled by private coach-bus with a friendly driver. Rem provided in-depth info on every place we went, and on a personal level. I met a wonderful and small group of people that I travelled with for those 13 days. And, we became a family. The whole experience, being on a small tour, and with an experience Italian traveler as our leader, was quaint and family-like, and just so much fun. I HIGHLY recommend Italy4Real!!!!

Alisa T.

Glendale, California

Our trip was fabulous. Thanks to you.

You laid everything out perfectly for us…For that I am so thankful. I cannot wait to go back. Venice was our favorite, and Lido was perfect for a down day!! The beaches were beautiful and the “town” was great! It is definitely on my list for our next trip.

-Donna and Family

I highly recommend using Italy4Real.

I highly recommend using Italy4Real. We have worked with them twice on two trips to Italy. Not only did they provide excellent recommendations, but we were so happy the first time, we worked with them again for our second trip of which we just took in May this year. Their recommendations are outstanding. They are extremely familiar with tours, guides, hotels, best travel spots, trains, etc…. In each case, we never had an issue. All guides showed up on time and had a very warm, knowledgeable personality. So much so, we asked for the same guide again on our 2nd trip!!!!

Four words…Best. Travel. Company. Ever.

I tried planning my Italian vacation on my own, and encountered all kinds of challenges–no hotel availability, language barrier, time differences, and general confusion about picking the best places to stay and what to see. In short, a lot of added stress in my already-hectic life. I gave up and called Deborah at Italy4Real, and she, Rem, and their amazing team jumped in immediately, taking the sketchy beginnings of my itinerary and working their magic!
This company does a great job of finding out about you and your ideal trip, and turning it into reality. They booked us at fantastic hotels (proprietors made us feel like family) and gave great dining recommendations. And when I mentioned I love to cook, they even enrolled us in an amazing private cooking class, not to mention booking a personalized dinner at the villa where we stayed–both experiences I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Take a vacation from planning your vacation and call these guys. I’m now a customer for life!

Deanna R,
Mountain View, CA

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