Italy vacation with a private guide the whole time? is it right for you?

Happy New Year 2026. If this is the year you're finally going to "get to Italy or Sicily" either for the first time or a return trip, are you going to go on a pre-packaged tour with 25 other people you haven't met or are you going to attempt to plan your dream vacation all by yourself? If you have the budget and desire to just have someone plan your trip and then escort you while you're there, read on!

So you're thinking after looking on the web, that with all it's resources, it cannot be that hard to book a trip with Trafalgar, Globus, Perrillo, Tauck and those other tour companies or maybe try to put together a trip to Italy or Sicily by yourself right?

I research Italian travel everyday and see what's out there pre-packaged and a la carte - here's the difference - one itinerary doesn't fit all on these packaged tours and how in the heck are you going to book all your own tour when you've NEVER BEEN THERE or only been there once before?

Why not trust an expert who's been there so many times that he has destinations and experiences with Italians that are so personal that you'll feel like "you're home" while in Italy or Sicily.

I became really serious about my Italy travels in the Spring of 1997 with my then girlfriend who is now my wife since 1998. I wanted to learn enough Italian to impress her because I did not want to be that typical "American tourist" speaking English over there. I also knew there was no way I was booking a "cheesy" tour company either. We went with just a high end backpack each, a round trip plane reservation into and out of Rome 3 weeks later with only our beginning and ending Rome hotel and an Italian 3 week train rail pass. My guidebook wasn't even Rick Steve's yet but he ended up being my mentor after discovering his Italy guidebook years later - to the point where I asked him for a job before I started my own Custom Tours of Italy. Anyway, I found my passion - Italian travel.

here's what you get with me,..if we go to Venice, I look for my favorite Gondolier I met in 1997 - Marco Mingardi - he was my Gondolier then and I search him out every time I'm there - his son is actually a Gondolier now, this is the personal touch you get with me, AND, I pull out my Trumpet on the Gondola and play tunes - so much fun for everyone.

If we're going to Southern Tuscany south of Siena, then I take you to my favorite farm near Pienza and Monticchielo where I met the family in the fall of 2013 - I loosely base my tours when this farm stay is available - they don't put you to work but you'll see and experience their hard work treating you to the true Italian country life....the BEST!

If we're going to Sorrento, I have a friend who has a Michelin Star restaurant called "il Bucco" - the owner Pepe Aversa, I met him on that first trip in 1997 - he was the Mait're D of the main bar in Piazza Tasso back then - 2 years later he opened this restaurant and I bring all my travelers there very time there - you don't have to like Michelin Star places because he treats me like family and will make anything we want and give us his "family deal",....he is like my brother now,......

These are the experiences you'll have when you travel with me as your private guide on your Custom Tour of Italy - ciao for now.

Chris T