Planning our honeymoon seemed like a daunting task along with the many other activities associated with planning a wedding. Thankfully, after finding Fantastica Italia and our travel agent, Lavinia, all my worries were quickly put to rest. We soon had a detailed itinerary after an initial consultation phone call to discuss the cities/regions we wanted to visit (Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre) for our 14 day trip along with the basic activities we wanted to do. After a couple minor changes, our trip was booked and the planning was done! Just before our trip, Lavinia reviewed the detailed itinerary with us and provided all the required documents in a very well organized professional package, which included tons of useful guides, maps, and even a pocket dictionary. Once we arrived in Italy we were absolutely amazed and thankful for the attention to detail that was put into planning our trip. In situations where we might have been overwhelmed, a driver was there to meet us to ensure our safe arrival at our hotel. As for the hotels, they were all beautiful and unique with helpful English speaking concierge service. There was something truly memorable at each city. There were the beautiful coastal views in Cinque Terre and the amazing Tuscan wine country outside of Florence. Then there was Venice, which as a whole was one of the most unique places my wife or I had ever seen. In Rome, the Colleseum and many other ancient Roman ruins were truly awe inspiring, pictures just do not do them justice. The service, local knowledge, and attention to detail provided by Fantastica Italia are unmatched. I am truly thankful for their service and will be recommending them to everyone! read more

I used Fantastica Italia to plan an affordable trip for my mom and her 2 friends for their 75th birthdays. I asked her to arrange transfers, tours and hotels for 6 nights for 5 people. My mom has severe rheumatoid arthritis and mobility issues and one her friends had a serious heart condition. Maria Laura and her staff arranged an amazing trip -they listened to all our concerns and picked very affordable hotels that had elevators, security, breakfast, concierge and most importantly location. The hotels were perfect and and the hotel staff were quite patient in dealing with one of our passengers forgetfulness. Roberto, the person who handled our transfers went over and above to make sure we all arrived safely to our hotels, airport and train station. He sat with us at the train station to ensure we got on the correct train (we had some issues with the 75 year olds and word on the street was we needed an Italian chaperone) Roberto also was there to greet us on the train platform after our day trip to Florence to ensure we didn't get lost leaving the station! When we missed our appointment to tour the Vatican because of heavy rains - MariaLaura was a phone call away and got us in on another small group tour an hour later. When one of the ladies had her passport stolen MariaLaura was there to help us get a new passport processed in Florence. Traveling with three 75 year old women with health and mobility issues was a tall task and MariaLaura was able to hold hour hand while in a different country pick us up, dusted us off and made a trip of a lifetime and bucket list wish a wonderful memory. I don't know what we would have done without MariaLaura. read more

From my first contact with MariaLaura Boldini Creal of Fantastica Italia a comfort level was achieved. MariaLaura listened to my needs for a customized trip for my family of 6 traveling to meet and stay with our granddaughter who was studying in Florence. She made our flight arrangements, found comfortable accommodations for seven at Windows of Florence, set up a wine tour at the Verrazzano Winery in the beautiful Chianti region and organized a rail trip to Venice with a personal guide, as well as drivers to and from Milano on our arrival at Malpensa airport and departure from Milano where she arranged for us to stay at the Hotel Straff located in the heart of Milano close to the Duomo and Galleria. Ilaria Gabbrielli of Italdrive, the driver who took us to the winery and from Florence to Milano for our departure was an exceptional driver and person that impressed everyone in our party. She spoke excellent English and made the long trips interesting and fun. Issabella Bariani, the guide MariaLaura provide in Venice was also terrific. She gave us a comprehensive and enlightening tour of Venice including areas we would never have found on or own. We started planning this trip in October of 2015 and during the five months before our trip which took place in March 2016 MariaLaura was attentive to detail and always got back to me with answers to my many questions. All our travel documents arrived on schedule and she provided maps, useful information on gratuities, weather, currency etc. In addition she found affordable travel insurance that gave us peace of mind. Needless to say I would highly recommend MariaLaura and Fantastica Italia. read more

We had an amazing trip to Italy with the help of Alice at Fantastica Italia. Everything she arranged for us went like clockwork. We had never traveled to Europe and she was very patient. She made great suggestions and tailored our trip to our budget and the activities that we like to do. I really can't choose the "most enjoyable" part of our trip because I enjoyed it all! The tour guides were amazing. They were so knowledgeable and the hotels were perfect for our needs in each city we traveled to. Alice gave us suggestions for our free time and those suggestions made a huge difference in seeing things off the beaten path, which I loved. Some of the highlights of our trip: Venice City tour and view from the Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, city tour of Florence and Michelangelo Piazzale where you can see a city view of Florence, the coliseum in Verona, day trip to Cinque Terre with lunch and wine (this was especially good because we tried food that we wouldn't normally have ordered), Positano boat ride and hiking, plus awesome hotel where we had a sea view and could fall asleep to the water crashing on the rocks, Pompeii! And last but not least, Rome and the major tourist sights plus walking through Trastevere! read more

Fantastica Italia arranged a trip to Paris then on to Italy for myself and my daughter for her birthday celebration. It truly was 'fantastica'. The hotel we stayed in in Paris was a bit small but clean and the front desk people were very nice. Going on to Venice, the L'Orologio was just beautiful with it's modern decor and wonderful spot right on the Grand Canal. Once again, all the people there were very friendly and helpful and made us feel at home. We had a side trip to Verona which was great and then took the train ride to Rome. All the tours in both Paris and multiple locations in Italy were well organized with terrific tour guides. The 'food tour' in Rome was especially interesting and the side trip to Pompeii just blew us away. We had only one glitch with the reservation from Paris to Venice, but MariaLaura quickly got it resolved to more than our satisfaction. Both Alice and MariaLaura were wonderful to work with and I would highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Italy. The September weather was quite good and the trip will be long remembered by both of us. Thanks to Fantastica Italia for a lovely vacation. read more

Fantastica Italia 's name describes our recent luxury Italian vacation. MariaLaura was with us every step of the way! We had a spectacular visit through Rome, Florence and Venice. With day trips to Naples, Pompei and Cinque Terre. Every accommodation was beyond our expectations from small boutique hotels to actually staying in a hotel which was once a Veniciian palace! The tours consisted of small groups to just the two of us. We were left surprised with a unique walking tour of some of the small wine bars that served the deliciously famous "small bites". We were very fortunate to spend my birthday driving through Tuscany and having a luxurious lunch at Casa Emma dining amongst the vines and are anxiously waiting for our Chianti which we ordered to be delivered. The white and rose were delicious also. The thin pork, prosciutto, pasta and vegetables, along with dessert were delicious; all topped with the sweetness of the homemade balsamic vinegar. I would recommend Fantastica Italia tours to everyone, especially to first-timers to Italy. We can't say enough about MariaLaura who was highly accessible to us the entire trip! read more

We just got back from the most magical travel experience of our lives thanks to Fantastica Italia! We went to Florence, a day trip to Chianti, Montalcino, Positano and Rome. This was a two week trip with lots of logistics and specific requests from us about what was important in terms of places to stay, and things to see. Everything was absolutely perfect. The hotels were great -- all boutique and great locations --but especially Castello di Velona in the Tuscan town of Montalcino. Wow! Spectacular! Our private drivers were always on time, super professional and helpful, particularly Alessandro who toured us around Chianti to four different wineries -- all excellent! Each and every tour guide we had was bright, enthusiastic, spoke excellent English and was happy to answer questions. Again, we had a favorite, this time we especially loved Patrizia, our private culinary guide in Florence who took us off the tourist path and into the heart of how Florentines live and eat. I honestly cannot say enough about this trip and the excellent recommendations made by Alice and the team at Fantastica Italia. read more

We just got home from our fourth trip to Italy with Fantastica Italia (and it won't be our last!). On this trip we left Rome and the Ryder Cup with wonderful memories. Since our first trip with Fantastica Italia, MariaLaura and Heather have helped us plan the perfect itinerary that fits any budget. They know Italy intimately and offer tour options that always make for a very special trip. They only offer personally vetted tour guides and drivers in Italy. This fourth trip was planned around the Ryder Cup in Rome. Our apartment was in a great location near the Spanish Steps--close to delicious restaurants and fashionable shops. Before and after the golf, we enjoyed the private tour of the Borghese Gallery, with the best of Rome's art, and the private Food Tour, eating our way through the neighborhoods. The guides had great personalities and were very knowledgeable. Victoria Limousines did a great job getting us to and from Marco Simone Golf Club, making the Ryder Cup experience stress free. I highly recommend Fantastica Italia for amazing trips to Italy! read more

So a group of us decided that we want to travel to Italy. Since this was the first time for most of us we didn't want the typical tour but more of a customized tour of our choosing. After talking to many travel agencies we found Fantastica Italia and dealt with agent Maria Laura. Besides answering all our questions and concerns she built an itinerary we loved. Well all I can say is the tour was an amazing experience seamlessly orchestrated under the expert and passionate guidance of Maria.We enjoyed the variation in activities, choice of accommodation and restaurants, commitment of service providers (local guides, driver of vehicle etc;) knowledge, commitment and general demeanor of our tour guide. In my experience the best tour I have been on...Excellent value for money...Everything happened on time, as planned and seemingly without any effort at all (although obviously a lot of work went into assuring that). Maria is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, passionate, professional, kind, accommodating, gracious - everything one could ever wish for in a guide. read more

We had a friend recommend Alice at Fantastica Italia to help us plan our two week trip. We had never used an agent before but Italy had so much to offer we found it hard to narrow down where we wanted to go. We were very pleased with the information, suggestions and attention we received from Alice. We traveled to Venice, Verona, Siena, Umbria and Florence. Alice arranged for all of our transportation (including renting a car for a portion of the trip), all our hotels (we were very pleased wth each one of them ), private tour guides (each guide was on time, very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English) plus a private driver for a day out of Florence to visit two nearby cities. We also enjoyed a wonderful cooking class outside of Assisi and a fun evening food tour in Florence. The package of information, maps, restaurant recommendations and vouchers we received from Alice before the trip was nicely presented and well organized. We really were very pleased with Alice and Fantastica Italia and are happy to recommend them without reservation! read more

Heather at Fantastica Italia planned the most beautiful and seamless trip to Italy for us. This was our first trip to Italy and Heather listened carefully to everything we hoped for and created an experience that felt completely curated to us. Every detail was exceptional, from the boutique hotel selections in Florence, Chianti, and Rome, to the winery experiences, restaurant recommendations, and outstanding private guides. What truly set this trip apart were the tours and experiences Heather arranged for us. Each one felt personal, authentic, and incredibly well matched to our interests and pace. From special access tours to local guides who brought the history and culture to life, these were experiences we never could have organized on our own. The trip felt effortless from beginning to end, and every transition and detail was handled smoothly and professionally. We came home with unforgettable memories and are already dreaming about planning another trip with Heather and Fantastica Italia. read more

This trip was well planned and executed down to every detail. Our trip included Venice, Florence, Pisa, Sienna, Tuscany, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi coast. Our guides were fantastic, very knowledgeable and personable. Our drivers always arrived on time and were very friendly. Hotel accommodations were excellent. Our wine tours were great, and we loved the passion that went into making their wines and the pride they took in sharing their wines with us. Italy is a beautiful country and the people there are very charming and welcoming. Each area we visited had its own unique charm. The food, of course, is fantastic as well. Everything is so fresh and mouth-watering. Of course, we couldn't let a day go by without trying a new flavor of gelato! We are looking at another trip in a few years and will definitely book with Fantastica Italia again! Thanks to you and your staff for once again providing us with a very enjoyable and memorable experience! Cy and Jayne read more

Planning with Alice began in May for a November trip involving 6 family members with varying schedules, so there were a lot of moving parts. Thoughout the process, Alice was attentive to what we wanted, and also provided excellent suggestions for our itinerary. After two of us enjoyed several days based in Siena (with a car) and Bologna, four of our party converged in Milan to travel by train to the Cinque Terre to meet the first two, and then we all went together to Firenze and on to Rome by train. The hotels and the apartment in Rome were all marvelous. Small walking tours (usually just our group) in each place were wonderful introductions to those places, and the private transfers as well as small van tours for a food excursion to Emilia Romagna and for sightseeing in Pisa and Lucca helped to make the trip memorable as well as comfortable. I would work with Fantastica Italia again in a heartbeat! read more

I used Fantastica Italia for 2 weeks in Italy and they did not disappoint. They helped to plan one of the most memorable trips I have ever had to Italy! Alice was absolutely delightful to talk to, and she really went out of her way to make sure we were happy with every aspect of our trip. Further, when I needed assistance on the trip, she was right there to help! It is so comforting to know that you have someone there to help you! The itinerary was amazing. We went from Calabria, to Positano, to Naples, and then to Rome! They listened to what types of tours we like, and really created a trip that was specific to our wants, and desires! The hotels were absolutely fantastic in location, comfort, and service! Each tour was fantastic, and the local guides were always delightful! I would, without hesitation, use Fantastica Italia in the future! I am so impressed with them! read more

We had a fabulous family trip to Italy and Greece perfectly planned out by the Fantastica Italia group. It included the right amount of touring and relaxing event and even a cooking class that was really fun and super delicious. We visited some beautiful places that I wouldn't have thought to go had it not been for the experience of this travel group. We started in Florence visiting art museums and stayed at a exclusive hotel. Traveled to Montalcino and toured some local wineries. Visited Positano along the Amalfi Coast. Had a personal guide to show us local sites. Took a boat trip to Capri. Stayed on Santorini Island and saw the sites there including a winery and a boat trip. Visited some historical sites like Pompei in Italy and the Acropolis and Delphi in Greece. Amazing guides and smooth transports from place to place. Truly Amazing trip! read more

Fantastica Italia did an amazing job working with us to put to together an unforgettable trip in Italy. We worked with Lavinia and she took the time to listen to us, get to know us a bit and find out what we wanted to do on this trip. She put together a vacation that was customized to our personalities, our travel wishes and our budget. It was so perfect for us. Before you leave they provide everything from train tickets, driver schedules, hotel accommodations, maps, travel guides and contact numbers for mishaps (which we had none). You feel prepared, secure and relaxed on your trip due to the all the work Fantastica Italia does for you before you leave.If you have ever had reservations about using a travel agency try Fantastica, they won't disappoint, no hard sales they truly go by their motto "A trip built around you!" read more

We used Fantastica Italia to help plan a vacation for our 25th wedding anniversary. My wife always wanted to go to Italy, so we asked Fantastica Italia to help us plan a 13-day attempt to see the country. The took care of everything, and it all went off without a single problem. 5 major cities, numerous trains, private drivers, luxury and budget conscious hotels, countless tours all flowed like the complimentary champagne we received from our hotel in Florence. What do we do today? Pull out the next voucher in line in the packet. Where should we eat in Rome? Check the recommendations sorted by type. The trip was a magnificent, once in a lifetime experience, due in no small part to the efforts of Heather and the staff at Fantastica Italia. We cannot recommend them highly enough. read more

I had booked flights for our 20th Anniversary trip to Italy 10 months in advance. A new job and other distractions resulted in us not having any other part of our trip planned as it was quickly approaching. I was lucky to have found Maria Laura at Fantastica Italia, who listened to our likes and dislikes, the towns we wanted to visit and the types of attractions that were of interest. She built an amazing itinerary, exceeding all expectations. She found hotels that we would never have found online and all activities were exactly what we wanted. She even arranged a special dinner at a restaurant in Bologna where her childhood friend works and took great care of us. Very special trip that we could never have put together without her help. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! read more

We just returned from a trip to Italy and Greece. We spent 5 nights in Rome ahead of a cruise and heard about Fantastica Italia through a recommendation. MariaLaura was very responsive and helpful. We had some time on the phone to discuss our interests. Then, once we saw a draft itinerary, we had a chance to tweak it to our liking. We had already booked our own hotel, but everything MariaLaura scheduled for us was top notch. We had private transfers and tours all arranged for us. Everything exceeded our expectations. One local operator owner met us personally and also raved about MariaLaura. He said she personally travels to Italy and tests the tours, locations and companies. It shows in the service and plans we were provided. Would highly recommend. read more