Testimonials

Here is a small collection of correspondence that we have gathered together. Some of them are unsolicited letters and e-mails commenting on previous adventures, and some of them are solicited statements from people that have been traveling with us for many years and know our operation very well. Some of them have included their e-mail address or their phone number. Feel free to contact them and ask additional questions.

I hope this gives you a good cross-section of comments and responses. If you have any questions at all, please contact me by e-mail or our toll free phone number. See you in Italy!

Jeff Fafoglia
President and Chief Wine Taster.

Dear Jeff and Amber,
We’ve only been to Italy two times and both times were with your group. So right there, that says a lot! Obviously, we love traveling with your tour. You keep it small enough so that there’s special attention paid to each person. And, although we’re on a schedule, you have an amazing ability to never make anyone feel rushed (unless, of course, you happen to get stuck in the brush on the San Costanza walk and then have to make up for lost time by running for the bus…but it was worth it, we had a great time at the pizza party!)

It’s obvious you take great care to assure that there are always a variety of things to do. Since we had spent time in Siena in 2003 on the Cinque Terre and Tuscany tour, we were a little leery that there might be too much repetition on the 2004 Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast tour. However, you made sure we saw different areas of Tuscany. You knew that the majority of us had been there before, so you took the time to prepare an itinerary that was varied enough as to make everything feel fresh and new. That’s the major difference between your tours and other’s – you get to know your clients on a personal basis.

And I can’t say enough about the Amalfi Coast – it’s absolutely gorgeous!!!! Seeing the area through walking and hiking definitely gives you a perspective that could never be attained in a car or on a “typical” bus tour.

Most important of all, though, are the friends we’ve made. We have kept in touch with almost everyone form our 2003 trip and got to travel with many again in 2004. We’re already talking about a Sicily tour in 2006.

We love you guys! Thanks for some wonderful memories.

Cheryl Arena Prindiville and Jack Prindiville
Westport , Connecticut
C_prindiville@yahoo.com
jack@atlanticduct.com

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Hello Jeff & Steve,

I hope you both made it back safe & sound and that your Sicily tour had a great group of folks (well, never as great as ours!). My brother Roger and I had sooo much fun - I could have hiked another day or two! I know he wants to go back too and bring his wife next time, but if he does before I do, I will be extremely jealous!!! I came back to work and everything else, but my mind was still in Italy. It took awhile to get back to my reality!

I wanted to thank you both for an experience that surpassed my expectations. I had to go on and on about my Italian adventure to my friends and family; I even referred one of my bosses colleagues to your website. Everything was just so wonderful - the hiking, the culture & the people and with you guys handling the logistics, it was worry-free for us. I also enjoyed the different places we were taken, not overrun by the rest of the tourists. The hardest part about it all, is that I want to go back to Italy and I want to go back soon!! Thank you again for making my first Italy experience one of the very best. I plan to return!

Amy Acosta
Dallas , Texas
Amy.R.Acosta@skf.com
Tuscany & Amalfi Coast , Sept05

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Jeff, Steve,

The trip to Tuscany and the Amalfi coast was just awesome. I had lots of high expectation going into the trip (I was going to ITALY after all), and you guys managed to exceed all of them! I especially enjoyed the education about the food, and also about the history. I can go into an Italian restaurant now, pronounce bruschetta correctly, order the right wine, and talk about the different regions I visited. In a sense, this trip changed my whole life! I will highly recommend it to anyway who wants to experience Italy the right way. On top of all that, I shared wine and song with lots of fun people! Who could ask for a better vacation?!

Feel free to use any of this as testimonials for other clients. You can include my email address too if you like as a reference. I do have to admit though that I want to keep your tours a secret all to myself! This will insure a seat for me anytime I want to go! I'm looking forward to booking the Cinque Terre tour next September. I need to work out a few details on my end. Sometimes I think I'll just book it and tell life to get out of the way like I did this year!

Hope you guys are doing well. Keep in touch!
Roger Paje
Thousand Oaks, CA

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Buona Sera! Just a short note to say how much Rick & I appreciated all the hard work you & Joan did to make our trip so fabulous! When friends ask what our favorite part of the trip was, I'm speechless because everything was fantastic! The frozen lemon dessert after an afternoon hike, the trailside lunches with wine, the honey on pecorino, the amazing views and scenery....THANK YOU! ! !

Stephanie & Rick Johnson
Madison , WI

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The trip I took on the Cinque Terre - Tuscany 'Lost in Italy" tour was my fifth time in Europe. For all other excursions I have planned the itinerary, made reservations myself, and decided which special features I would add to the trip. This has always worked well and so I decided long ago that I would NEVER go on an organized, leader-led trip.

After participating in the Jeff/Amber leader-led trip, I eat my words. I have come to realize that these leaders know where to take the group that "the group" would never discover on its own. They also, because of their personal history with Italy and its charming people, have made contacts that open magical doors. Only by chance would a tourist discover the restaurants where we ate, and even then, the personal touch of the restaurant owners would not be as evident. The doors we entered were sometimes not even doors that resident Italians could enter, but because Jeff and Amber have previously established relationships and trust, we were allowed to walk through and learn all about what was inside.
The days were full and rich. I loved the trip and would go again in a minute.

Andi Elliot
Bellingham WA

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Having no idea what to expect from our first hiking trip, we were absolutely blown away by what an incredible trip Lost in Italy is. We have told so many of our friends that this is a must-do trip. We had never been to Europe and unfortunately we feel we have now experienced the best possible trip first! Lost in Italy will be a tough act to follow. Jeff and Amber were incredible hosts who truly understand group dynamics and worked tirelessly to make sure that everyone had a great time. It was obvious that they put a lot of thought and timeinto planning these trips. A highlight for us was being able to meet and interact with the local people and experience their incredible hospitality. We enjoyed our specific group of travelers and felt we made new friends. Lost in Italy gives you the best of all worlds…incredible views, awesome “do-able” hikes, fabulous food and a new appreciation of ancient cultures. Even though neither of us are Italian by heritage, we are sure we have been adopted by the Italian people and we must return to visit our new relatives!

Mike and Jane Bradley, Springfield, Il.

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Dear Jeff and Steve,   I just want to thank you both for another magnificent trip. I was not sure our last trip with you could be matched, but this one to the Lakes and Venice was just as wonderful, with totally different scenery and adventure and wonderful traveling companions.   As I awoke this morning, knowing I had to return to work, I glanced at my bedroom ceiling and no frescoes on the ceiling and no wonderful fresh croissants and cappucino waiting for me at the kitchen table. Alas, vacation is over. Have to get Dan painting some pictures on the ceiling! Thanks again for making our trip so memorable.  

Karen Munoz
Illinois

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Hi Jeff!    Returning home and looking at our pix from the trip made us relive the entire experience..wow!  What a blast, and a great group of people!  We're spreading the word in the Northeast about what a fantastic trip it was!  Enjoy Sicily and a safe return to the U.S.! 

Yours,  Carol and Mike Hughes
Pennsylvania

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Dear Jeff,  We are home and back at work telling everyone about "Lost in Italy". In fact I had my yearly physical with Dr. Bradley, all we talked about was my trip. He and his group are going in 08.  

Take care and be safe,  
Sue Reid
Illinois

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Jeff & Steve,
Thanks so much for the wonderful trip this fall!  The hikes were beautiful and the choices for visits, wine tastings, tours and meals could not have been done better.  What made the trip really unique was that it all felt much more like visiting extended family than being on a tour.  The footwork you guys do up front paired with your balance of leading and being part of the group really makes the difference.  It’ll be hard to go on a vacation without you guys, knowing how much of the local charm, history, and culture I’d be missing out on!
Thanks again

Sarah Hick
Minneapolis MN
Hick0192@umn.edu

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We first hear about “Lost in Italy” from friends who had gone on a previous trip.  They came back with lots of great stories of beautiful scenery and great food and wine.  So when they asked us to go to Sicily, we said “Why not?”  It has to be one of the best decisions we have ever made.  Not only did we have great scenery, food, and wine, but we met and played with wonderful people from across the country.  We got more than our money’s worth.  We got to see and experience things that we would never have found on our own – who would have thought that we would be raving to our friends back home about the fabulous water buffalo farm!  The walking excursions were outstanding and we only wish we had trained on a few more steps!  We can’t wait until the next adventure with Steve and Jeff.

Life is too short to NOT Get Lost in Italy!

Carmen and Jack Pfeiffer
Illinois
Carjack36@aol.com

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Another Awesome A+ Adventure!

Linda Miller
Rochester, MN
miller.linda@mayo.edu

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This was my third trip with Lost in Italy and once again, it was a memorable time.  The hikes were excellent – particularly Mt.Etna, which was truly an experience of a lifetime! (Note to future Mt. Etna hikers; when the Fafoglias advise to bring warm clothes to Sicily, they are not crazy; they actually mean it!  They are crazy about other things, but that’s another conversation for another day.) The Vulcano walk was also exciting, especially navigating around the sulfur holes.  The meals, whether dinners at restaurants or picnics on the trail, were carefully chosen so that we had an opportunity to sample the local fare.  And the vino…well, I’d be surprised if there was any left in Sicily upon our departure, particularly after the bus trip back from the Torrepallino winery, or those many nights on the hotel terraces.  It’s a good thing that what happens in Sicily stays in Sicily!

Of course, the most significant part of the trip was the reunion with dear friends from prior Lost in Italy hikes and meeting new friends.  Jeff, Amber, Steve, and Joanie, mille grazie for a wonderful vacation and all of your special efforts to make the trip magical. 
A presto!

Celeste Wasielewski
Washington, D.C.

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This trip has everything—beautiful scenery, great hikes, knowledgeable and funny guides—all washed down with to-die-for Italian wine and food.  The variety of activities is amazing, and the energy of Jeff and Amber is enviable.  I’m jealous of anyone who is planning a Lost in Italy trip!

Dianne Bertsch
Chapel Hill, NC
dbertsch@nc.rr.com

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Steve, Jeff, and All…
Thank you for a wonderful second-time around!  Our first experience (Cinque Terre and Tuscany) was absolutely wonderful, and our most recent (Sicily) was absolute confirmation of the quality of your tours.  We so much enjoy being “close to the earth” and meeting the most enjoyable people both in our group and on the trail. 
Looking forward to our next trip with you…maybe Lakes and Venice?

Dick and Hannah McDaniel
Springfield, IL
620rmcdanile@springnet1.com

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I signed up for the trip because a friend (Barbara Welk) wouldn’t stop raving about you and your trips.  She was right.  My friends in Bellingham are now getting the same rave reviews!
Your walking itinerary matched perfectly with my favorite way of seeing the world.  Jeff and Amber are gifted teachers.  As a former school principal I know how few of us are lucky enough to be touched by these kinds of people.

Harriet Arkley
Bellingham WA
arkley@comcast.net

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Dear Steve and Jeff,
Not a day goes by since our return that we don’t talk about the trip, look at our pictures, or dream of going back to Italy. It’s taken so long to return the evaluation form because it’s so hard to think of the words to sum up the experience…wonderful, amazing, outstanding, excellent…it was all of those and so much more that can’t be expressed in words but lives on in memories.
We know there are other tour companies and other tour guides but we can’t believe any other company can match the two of you. You did a great job planning the excursions, tailoring them to fit our hiking abilities, (or lack thereof), and giving us options each day to do as much or as little walking as we wanted. The best part was that there were no bad choices…if you weren’t enjoying breathtaking views along mountain pathways, then you were experiencing “la dolce vita” in the piazza.
Thank you both for all that you did to make this trip our all-time best vacation! We would love to do it all over again.

Nancy and Ed Huntley
Springfield, IL
Nph51@aol.com

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Even after 3 Lost in Italy trips you still managed to make everything new and exciting.  The food, the scenery of the areas, the boat ride, having Mt. Etna spout off for us a little, all magic and fun!  I hope I have a few more hikes left in me!!!
Thanks for everything,
Barb Welk
Rochester, Il
Brwelk1@aol.com

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The “Lost in Italy” Cinque Terre trip was a highlight in my life.  I made new friends and achieved physical challenges that were especially rewarding to me.  Every day was a great day!  The trip just kept getting better.  I can’t wait to go again.

Susan Sommers
Illinois
chsunaca@insightbb.com

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Hi Joan & Steve,
It was SO great to get your email today. I think about you both nearly every day since I have gotten back home. It took me about 3 solid days of talking to tell Dave about the trip and he was so happy to hear what a great time I had. I can't thank you both enough for this trip, it was such a memorable time, one which I will never forget as long as I live! Thank you so much for everything you did to make it so wonderful for us. By the way, I have worn my shirt several times and ALSO MY HAT -- I have worn that a lot, and if anyone asks me about it, I tell them. So you have gotten some good publicity, at least in the Upper Peninsula.
We have made ribolita a couple of times, of course putting the extra olive oil and red onion in it - delicious. Dave also enjoyed his white wine I bought for him at Federico's. When I look at all the pictures that Bill took (he sent me a CD also) I have to pinch myself to believe I was actually there!
Thanks for the email addresses, and again thanks for being such Great
Guides. Best wishes and love to you both,

Zia Maria
Mary Simmons
Gladstone, MI
PS: I am retiring soon---- so I will have time to take more trips......

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Steve and Joan,
Have you had a chance to view the CD of the photos I sent yet? I go through some of them practically every day to remind me what a great time we had and what terrific people we met.
I'm going to try and put some of the photos on a Web site and send the address to everyone so that they can see them and make comments. Also, I'd love to see some of the other pictures that the gang made.
Again, the trip was the best vacation I've ever had -- and I've had some great ones -- and was a perfect transition into retirement. Italy is spectacular, the weather was perfect, the exercise wonderful and the food better than expected. And you two were the icing on the cake!

Bill Krasean
Kalamazoo, MI

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Jeff and Steve,
I had no idea what to expect on this trip.  To be honest my wife Merle chose the trip and I went because of the wine and food.  The wine and the food exceeded my fondest hope and everything else exceeded what I thought would happen.  Day after day yielded fond memory after fond memory.  From the alabaster factory to the picnics to each and every day, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the trip.  I experienced a part of Italy like a native and not like a tourist.  We went places and saw things that tourists would never see.  Every day was like a new experience and if we “got lost”…so what!

We can’t wait for our next trip!
Stuart and Merle Shiffman
Springfield, IL
shiffman@springnet1.com

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Steve,
What I loved most about Lost In Italy –(the Tuscany and Cinque Terre tour)– was the DIVERSITY!!!  We really experienced Italian life, and the country, in a very non-touristy way.
The “tour” was a true adventure with great Tuscan food (too much), wine (too much), picnics and hikes.  We had amazing guides who taught us about the flora and the fauna, and gave us history lessons on their area.  We went to Etruscan ruins, museums, cathedrals and medieval cities.  Going to your language school and being taught by your former teacher about the Palio, Siena, and the Contradas was a highlight for me.
I loved the spirit of the entire tour, it was a “class act”.   I would not hesitate to go again, nor would I hesitate to recommend it to anyone else.  As far as value for money spent…I received way more than I paid for, in so many ways.  I spent 30 days in Italy and this tour was the “hands down” highlight. 
Thanks to you and your entire company for such a wonderful experience.  Steve, I still owe you a glass of wine, or two, for helping with the early accommodations in Cinque Terre.  I’ll catch you on that, next trip.
Ciao,

Trish Hensley
Whittier, CA

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Our “Lost in Italy’ experience was everything we hoped for, and more.  From the initial meeting to our farewell dinner, everything was handled expertly and with a minimum of effort on our part.  The accommodations were fine, the food delicious, and the wine glasses always full.  Highly recommended for adventurous travelers with healthy appetites.  We’ve already recommended it to our friends!

Janie and Hal Shute
Lambertville, New Jersey
hjshute@comcast.net

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We knew Italy would be beautiful but we were pleased even beyond our expectations!  Our tour guides were wonderful with the plans they made for us.  Each day was a surprise with special treats whether is be places to see, wine tastings, picnics, dinners, or free time on our own.  We got a real flavor of Italy and its friendly people.  Cooking classes, wine tastings, shopping – what a wonderful variety!  Joan and Steve did a wonderful job of assuring that everything ran smoothly.  The group of 18 travelers became a family.
Thanks for a trip that we’ll always remember as one of our best!

Greg and Mary Faith Hunt
Quincy IL
Berries@adams.net

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If you want to see Italy in a unique and special way, make new friends, hike your behind off in beautiful scenery, eat great food, and drink fabulous wine (though not nearly enough), this trip is for you.  It’s the “non-tour tour”.  All our hiking friends are jealous and our wine tasting friends, well, they don’t hike.  This trip, Tuscany and the Cinque Terre, was our second trip with Lost in Italy, (Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast was the first), and we’re hoping to go again.  Although this is an organized trip, you feel more like you’re traveling with great friends you’ve known for years.  Joan and Steve, you’re the best – and yes, you too Jeff and Amber!
 
Thank you again!
 
PS  If you read this and are contemplating this trip…GO FOR IT!

Jeff and Hope Rabinovitz
Sacramento CA
jjrabinovitz@pol.net

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The Lost in Italy trip (Tuscany & Cinque Terre ) was by far the best travel experience we've ever had, and we've traveled to Europe quite a bit. And that is truly saying something about the incredible job Steve did in planning and orchestrating the trip! These are just a few of the reasons why we cannot wait to partake in another Lost in Italy trip and would adamantly recommend it to all of our friends:
1 )Focus: Food, wine, hiking, & camaraderie. If you like those things, you will love this trip--and we cannot think of a better place on earth to enjoy them than in Italy. Every part of the trip is geared toward letting you learn about the landscapes in a relaxed, social atmosphere. Our group meals were happily more like Roman banquets, with dish after dish of incredible food being placed in front of you and a wine glass that magically seemed to be re-filled all the time.
2) Logistics: Having every last detail attended to and planned for by Steve was truly priceless. Not having to deal with pesky concerns of train & bus schedules, reservations, picnic lunches, museum tickets, etc. was worth the price of the trip alone (considering, for instance, it once took us 2 hours alone to release the emergency break from our rental car in Rome a few years back).
3) Local Interaction: The Lost in Italy claim on the website of seeing the "real Italy" was decidedly true. Never would we have had so many of the colorful memories that come only with real interaction with locals - from wine experts, trail guides, chefs, to hotel owners - without this trip. Steve's efforts made us feel like special guests of the Italians at each stop along the way.


Tom and Pam Leveroni
Chicago, IL

The whole trip was a lot more than I expected in many ways. There was a feeling of spontaneity and relaxation while still being well constructed and orchestrated.
The little things make a great trip… The unexpected breathtaking view around the next corner… The simple yet exquisite meals… The frequent laughs of new found friends. Not to mention the amazing treats Italy has to offer everyday. I would love to take another tour in the near future; it’s a great way to travel alone and not feel lonely.

Jane Randall
Sydney Australia
Tuscany and the Cinque Terre
jrandall@sydneycounselling.com.au

This trip has spoiled me for all others - I don’t know how I’ll top it!!
Thanks for the awe inspiring hikes, the wonderful trail-side picnics, and breathtaking views from the hotels in Sorrento and Positano.
A GREAT TRIP!! I couldn’t believe what I got for the price!

Tina Belanger
Valparaiso IN

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I rarely do a “group tour” and I travel a good deal, but this is my second trip with Jeff and Steve. The first time I did it on the basis of a favorable impression from talking to Jeff on the phone, it was a small group, and it included places I wanted to at a great price! So, what makes this group tour such that I am back a year later? First is that Jeff and Steve’s personalities really come through. They see to the logistics and run this tour without being driven or overbearing. They want you to have a good time and a good experience. They also do little surprising things during the whole time for each person to help achieve that goal. Second this is no ordinary “group tour”. The hotels and restaurants have a “non-tourist” feel to them so you feel you are experiencing the true Italy ¯ and that reflects their whole approach.

Jim Ould
Rochester MN
Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast
Tuscany and the Cinque Terre
jould@msn.com
T uscany and the Amalfi Coast

This trip ranks at the top of my vacations. I enjoyed the local tour guides that were used, especially Giovanni. The wonderful hotels and food gave us the strength and inspiration to do the hikes. At times, I felt that they were more moderate than easy, but they were always worth it and wines we enjoyed during and after added to the experience.
There was a lot of effort put into this tour by Jeff and it showed. Whenever a problem (like weather) occurred, changes were made so that we were never inconvenienced and our enjoyment was always considered first. What made it even better is great group of people that were attracted to this tour and shared the adventure.
Italy is a beautiful country and I believe we saw some of the best of it. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is not afraid to go out and see what the real Italy is all about, not just the big cities.

Ken and Alice Johnson
LasFlores CA
Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast
gryhund@cox.net

Ciao- Thanks for the best vacation I have had in years! Being an Italy addict on what must have been my tenth trip to Italy, the trip with your tour was the best yet!
Spending days exploring the Italian country side with a lunch that was always delicious and a little different and the fantastic food in the evenings. Sharing an experience with a fun and interesting group of people who share a common interest… walking, made it really special. With such a busy and stressful career, it was wonderful to have everything organized and to know you would deal with any hic-up that came up, yet still you kept the tour fun!
I am checking next years diary to fit in another trip and I raved so much about the wonderful experience I had, I had to send the link to your website to all my friends, and they are also planning to go next year. So, expect more European customers!
Thanks again for the really special vacation

Diane Slykerman
London England
Tuscany and the Cinque Terre
d_slykerman@hotmail.com

Words alone cannot express how much my wife and I enjoyed this trip, anyone looking for an Italian adventure and enjoy good food and wine would thoroughly enjoy this trip!

Gary Stevens
Springfield IL
Tuscany and the Cinque Terre
gstevens@springnet1.com

Dear Jeff,
We really did enjoy our trip with you this fall. The best thing (next to Italy) was you and your balanced approach to leading a group and the knowledgeable way you led us and taught us while there. Certainly, all the arrangements were well planned. I came away having learned and experienced so much more than I might have on my own. I feel like I know something about Italy and Italians, even that I learned some distinctions between Tuscans and the people in Campagnia. The local guides were great and led us to so many places we wouldn’t have seen without them. The focus on the two areas of the country was also helpful, especially for someone who didn’t know much about Italy before.
Good job and thanks-

Sam and Jeanie Darby
Roanoke VA
Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast

The trip was carefree for us. We’ve never enjoyed a vacation more. We enjoyed everyone in the group and I think the way you guys organized it put everyone at ease. I’m definitely looking forward to another trip with you guys!
The food was great, the walks were amazing and although we over indulged at every opportunity, we didn’t gain any weight.
You guys have a great feel for choosing accommodations, restaurants and hikes. I can’t wait until our next trip!

Cheryl Berger
San Rafael CA
Tuscany and the Cinque Terre

Best trip ever! Wonderful balance of walking and recovering. Group activities and time on our own, plus country and city. Never felt rushed or bored. Amazing attention to every detail by Jeff & Steve. Would highly recommend. Can’t say anything about the trip without lots of !!!!!!!!!!!!! PERFECTO!!!!!!!!!!!

Christine Carmen