Good Morning, Peter!

We finally got our sea legs back after our trip and I wanted to take some time to write to you to let you know how much we loved the trip you planned for us.

I was so happy I had an opportunity to talk to you while we were at the Goretti winery. By the way, Sarah was wonderful and of course, Nonna was adorable. So proud and well she should be. Their products are fabulous!!! I think we're going to have to put an addition on our house toaccommodate all the wine, cheese, honey, etc. that we had sent home!!!!

From start to finish, our trip was absolutely perfect! The drivers and the guides were so knowledgeable and friendly.as a matter of fact, we almost adopted a few of them into our family!!! We especially appreciated their flexibility because as you well know, there is so much to see and do and there were some days, we just couldn't do it all (although we managed to do most of it!!!) All the hotels and restaurants exceeded our expectations.I think our group favorite was the Hotel Bellevue Syrene. That was really special!! Looking out over the Mediterranean from our balcony every day was an image we'll never forget!! Our day on the boat, as I told you, was a dream. The weather was perfect and going to Capri and Anacapri was so special! Guilia, our guide in Sorrento, was fabulous. We honestly almost took her home!!!

Of course, one of the highlights of our trip was the opportunity to see our daughter, Olivia, in Florence. She has become a part of the Italian culture and is loving her experience so much. Listening to her speak the language and watching her living the day to day life so comfortably was a true gift for us. Between Olivia and Lucia, we got to experience the very best of Florence. What a city!!! We definitely helped the economy, as five of us bought leather jackets!!!

Our days in Tuscany were priceless and probably our favorite area that we visited in Italy. I think our mouths were open in awe the whole time. The views were truly breathtaking and the food. Mamma Mia!!!! There were times we felt like we wanted them to pour the olive oil in our water glasses we loved it so much!!! Our experience cooking with Laura and then having lunch and wine afterward was amazing! Once again, your choices for our itinerary based on our wants and needs was right on!!!

Going to all those Medieval towns built on hilltops was so special. Each one was so charming and unique! Paola, our driver, was wonderful. Patient and flexible and interesting. We loved getting to know her!

John was especially looking forward to Rome because of his love of history. When we first got there, it seemed so big by comparison. But as we walked around and got familiar with the city, we once again felt at home. Our hotel was so perfect. Right near the Pantheon. It was so wonderful listening to the violin, accordion, and guitar players right outside of our window every evening! Seeing the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Forum, the Trevi Fountain, etc. It was amazing!!!

Peter, we cannot thank you enough for planning our trip of a lifetime! Every single part of our trip was planned perfectly. The hotels, the restaurants, the museums, the wineries. You knew just the right places and things we wanted to see and experience and it made our trip so effortless. No hassles. And if there was ever a small glitch, your drivers and guides knew just how to handle it. You have a wonderful network of people working for you and you can be proud of the team you have put together.

Our lifelong dream of traveling to Italy has been fulfilled thanks to you and the memories will forever be etched in our minds and hearts!!

It has been such a pleasure working with you and getting to know you!

Fondly,

Dear Peter,

My sister and I would like to thank you for organizing our trip to Italy. It was a trip that we we will remember for the rest of our lives. The custom itinerary you created for us perfectly fit our needs and interests. Our trip began in Rome where we had two half day private tours of the Vatican and the ancient city. Our tour guide made us feel like we were walking around the city with a friend who new all the secrets of this amazing place. In the evening, we went to the restaurants you suggested and we weren't disappointed. They weren't the tourists traps where one would usually go, but authentic family restaurants where much pride was taken in the food they served.

Our next adventure was Florence, where you had already made our train reservations and arranged for a private driver to the hotel. Not having to worry about all these details allowed us time to enjoy the sights and relax because we knew you had taken care of everything! We saw all the sights with our private tour guide, walked around and shopped on our own, and went to dinner at Trattoria Mamma Gina. We were welcomed with open arms by our waiter, Principio, who you recommended.

We spent the rest of our stay at the Querceto di Castellina Wine Estate. Our day began with a knock on our door where we were greeted by Puja who brought us a basket filled with coffee, cheese, fruit, and warm baked goods. A day was spent with Laura, the owner of the estate, who gave us a private cooking class. She customized a menu to our tastes and provided us with recipes so we could recreate the meal when we returned home.

Another highlight of our trip was our afternoon spent at the Goretti Wine Estate in Perugia, where you arranged a light lunch and wine tasting with Sara. We had to pack a separate suitcase on the way home to carry all the wine, honey, and balsamic vinegar we purchased. While we were there, the wine pumps which looked like gasoline pumps were open and the locals came to fill their empty jugs with wine. Only in Italy! The best part of the afternoon was spent talking with Sara and her Nonna, who truly made us feel welcome.

Peter, we can't thank you enough for the wonderful trip you arranged for us. The memories you created for us will be with us for the rest of our lives.

Grazie Mille!

Hi Pete,

I want to thank you, from the bottom of all our hearts, for the wonderful trip to Italy. It was everything we'd hoped for and more. The guides were fabulous and incredibly knowledgeable. Please make a note of our guide in Rome, Elisabetta Interdonato, as she really made the tour come alive for us. (Also, I had broken my foot prior to leaving, and she kindly interceded in every way to make it easier for me to avoid standing in lines and walking up and down stairs.)

We are still in awe of everything we saw and did. John commented the other day that he had expected to enjoy the trip but it was wo much more than he could have imagined. Annie has thanked us profusely for treating her to the best vacation she has ever had. The sights, the amazing food, the hotels - the worry-free travel - all made for an amazing journey. We still can't believe we were there and talk about our next trip!

Thank you ever so much,

"Peter You are GREAT! You are masterful at what you do. Thank You for a beautiful and exciting trip!!"

"DEAR PETER, I wanted to contact you about our FANTASTIC TRIP TO ITALY! LAURA was everything you said she would be. She made our trip effortlessly. THANKS to you who carefully crafted our trip and made the MAGIC OF ITALY POSSIBLE. The proof is in the disc of the photos we are sending you. I am sure you will truly enjoy it! Again FRANK and I want to really extend our sincerest thanks for all your efforts in making it all possible."

"All the fine details were well taken care of! We feel lucky to have experienced such a trip at this point in our lives. It was a true vacation especially knowing that Peter had taken care of all the fine details. It was truly a ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP and MORE! We've have already been talking about our trip and sharing your business card with many other people."

"AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. DEFINETILY THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME. WE CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK!! BETTER THAN WHAT WE COULD’VE ASKED FOR. WOULD RECOMMEND YOUR COMPANY AND SERVICES TO ANYONE !! PETER YOU REALLY CUSTOMIZED IT TO OUR TASTE. We especially liked the HOTEL MEDITERRANEO and IL BUCO restaurant in SORRENTO. The private tour of the AMALFI COAST was breathtaking and our private driver GAETANO GASBO made it even more enjoyable!!"

"It was certainly hard coming back to work after two weeks….and from such a fabulous trip to Italy. It’s definitely one that our group will never forget. We absolutely loved having dinner with you and Donna in Florence and taking in the fireworks over the Arno River. What an evening!"

"Wonderful Experience of Italy! We felt “VERY SPECIAL” – every place we stayed made us feel very welcomed. Your partners in Italy called us frequently to offer additional assistance and make sure that we were very happy with the program. We truly appreciate all that you did for us in making this an extraordinary trip."

"Thank You for a magnificent custom Tour!! The itinerary you designed for us was wonderful!! Your recommendations of restaurants , personal services, private tours, wineries, & drivers made it extra special. Your knowledge and suggestions made the Italian experience very special. An amazing trip and an amazing way to celebrate our 25TH. Wedding Anniversary. We will definitely recommend DAVINCI CUSTOM TRAVEL TO EVERYONE WE KNOW!"

"Thank you for making this trip so memorable for me. I had a wonderful time and look forward to my next trip to Italy!"

"We loved our two weeks in Italy. Thank you for working with us to customize a trip of a lifetime!"

"Just wanted to send a quick note to tell you how much we enjoyed our perfect vacation. The memories we made will last a lifetime. Next time we will travel to southern Italy and we would not think about going without your expertise!!!"

"I saved your address so that I could give you some feedback on our trip arranged by you. It was beatiful, coordinated beyond expectations of Rita and mine, with perfect weather. The time we spent in Toscana was totally worth every penny we spent. Food of course better than better. Peter you know that we have been to Italy three times before so we had very high expectations. You did it, surpassing what we both anticipated. We spent time in Radda and Greve with chocolate from Perugia and that was just beatiful. Rooms in all hotels including the Villa were top notch. Just a quik note for you to make note of and we are recommending you to everyone who asks us how our trip went."

"Ciao, Peter! We are back home, and we had a wonderful time Grazie mille. The arrangements were great, and Laura Boccaccini was a marvelous guide and companion. The cooking sessions were extremely interesting, and both of the ladies were personable and engaging. The weather was awful, but we managed to have a great time anyway. We took 200 plus photos and 2 and 1/2 DVDs. You have a lot of friends in Tuscany."

"My husband and I had the great fortune of traveling to Italy last fall with your help through Essence of Tuscany and DaVinci Custom Travel. Although this message is so very late, it is still very sincere in expressing our gratitude for your work in making it the trip of a lifetime. There were so many special moments that created memories for us that we will always hold dear. Of special note, we loved staying at Relais Borgo Pietrafitta. Luigi could not have been kinder, and the accomodations perfect. Another particularly special day for us was the cooking class we took with your mother-in-law. What a dear lady! We enjoyed shopping with her, and are grateful for her generosity in sharing her cooking secrets with us. Dining on the terrace at Querceto, just the 2 of us, was like a dream."

"I once again wanted to say thanks for doing such a wonderful job with our trip to Italy. Cheryl and I had a great experience. Hopefully when our children are older we will contact you to make arrangements to return."

"The trip you planned for my family and I was phenomenal. You did an amazing job! We really loved our hotel in PERUGIA and appreciated the upgrade we received. Our visit that you planned for the day at the RELAIS BORGO BRUFA in TORGIANO was very special. It is everything you told us and more! Our local guide in Rome was great and made our visit to the sites very special. We loved all the special touches. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"

"Molto Molto Bene! What a great trip. You did an outstanding job. I can't thank you enough. You are not good, you are great at what you do. Italy is beautiful and I want to return again with my family. I will contact you to plan our family trip for next year. Once again GREAT TRIP! Grazie Mille & Ciao."

"It was just like being in a movie, with the cozy alleyways and gorgeous shops. Pete really gives each trip his personal touch. He knows about small towns that you won't find with the big travel companies. He helped us find our true personal niche in Italy, which is very meaningful to any traveler. We were just wild about it. My wife and I can't wait to do it again - we'd leave tomorrow if we could."

"At first, we go to the Basilica to wait in the crowd just like everyone else. Next thing we know, Pete makes a few phone calls and we're 40 feet away from Pope John Paul II for a special service. Next time we go, Pete said he could arrange for us to renew our vows at the Vatican! I haven't the vocabulary to describe our experience in Italy. It was truly breathtaking."

"We stayed at the finest hotels and dined at the best restaurants. No matter where we went, everyone knew Pete as he took care of us with special arrangements. Pete went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and we can't wait to travel with him again next year."

"The custom tour of Italy you planned for my wife and I couldn't have been any better. We especially enjoyed touring the lovely villages of Bellagio, Bologna, Ferrara and Volterra. We would never have imagined visiting these cities without your recommendation and knowledge. We can't wait to return and will definitely use your services."

"Just a great Big Thank You from both of us for a super trip to Italy. We loved every bit of it particularly the sights, shopping and restaurants you recommended. Thanks again!"

"Dear Peter, Thanks for helping to make our trip to Italy so comfortable. The guides and drivers you set up for us were very helpful and informative. They recommended great restaurants, gave us tips on how to avoid long lines at museums and galleries, not to mention the many laughs we had."

"Your expertise, personal service and attention in planning our custom tour of Italy were exceptional. This is a trip that my wife and I will always treasure."

"The hotels you recommended for Rome and Florence were wonderful. We were in great locations and could walk to many of the major sights. We especially enjoyed the Hotel Rose Garden in Rome and the Bernini Palace in Florence. Mille Grazie!"

"The villages you incorporated in our Tuscan itinerary were charming and lovely, especially Castellina in Chianti. We especially enjoyed the wine tasting and Tuscan lunch at the Fattoria Dei Barbi. Great trip!"

"Thanks to your help you made our 25th Anniversary celebration in Italy very special. Our hotels in Venice and Positano especially our rooms with the view of the Grand Canal and the sea in Positano were beautiful. We're already planning our next trip to Sicily and we wouldn't think of calling anyone else."

"All the arrangements for our trip went very well thanks to you and DaVinci Custom Travel. We especially loved our full day private driver and guide tour of the Amalfi Coast – You were right, Ravello is also now our favorite."

"Thanks for making our reservations to the Accademia and Uffizi Gallery in Florence. We simply walked up to the window and gave them our confirmation number and entered without waiting in the long lines."

"Peter on behalf of our group thank you for meeting with all of us and helping our group to formulate an exceptional program. We're all anxious and can't wait to go!"

"Our Great Cities of Italy Group Tour was great in every respect. We loved our tour directors, Francesca & Laura, who were so helpful and informative. The hotels, local guides, and the wonderful unexpected surprises along the way made this a tour we will never forget. Keep us informed on your future trips."

"Peter, on behalf of myself, my wife, and daughters thank your professional advise and assistance our family custom tour of Italy couldn't have been any better. We would not have been able to do this on our own."

"On behalf of my entire family we are grateful for your quick response and planning in putting together our trip to Sicily in such as short time. We were referred to you by one of my close friends since I was having no luck with our local travel agent. We had a great time re-uniting with our families in Sicily."

"Dear Peter, We are very excited and can hardly wait for our departure date. The Castello di Spaltenna you recommended is awesome. As you said – we may never leave! Your services are greatly appreciated. Grazie."

"We have been home from our wonderful trip for several weeks now. The memories are just wonderful. Thank you to Elesia for all your help while we were there. Everything was beautifully planned thanks to Peter at DaVinci Travel and Essence of Tuscany. All of our guides, Lorella in Milan, Lucia in Florence, Marco and Juliano in Rome, were just terrific. We couldn't have asked for anything better. We will definitely keep you both in mind should we decide to return. We know there is so much more to see of your beautiful country. Grazie mille."