Traveling on the Essence of Italy 10-day vacation tour was an exhilarating journey filled with breathtaking sights and a whirlwind of activities, all supported by expert tour guides. For the September 3-12 2023 tour, our group of six friends joined up to form a total of 15 travelers. We were all Americans, in middle to late-middle age, mixed men and women, mixed marrieds and singles and mixed experienced and newbies to Italy.

One of the undeniable strengths of the tour was the infectious high energy of our knowledgeable, meticulous and very fun tour guide Ilaria Mercuri. “Allora!” she exclaimed, as she kicked off the tour with great enthusiasm and set the tone for an immersive exploration of Italy's gems. Ilaria provided critical logistical guidance as we navigated each location. In addition, the three local experts for walking tours of the Vatican (Julie), Volterra (Annie) and Florence (Paola) were exceptional in presenting fascinating historical insights and local anecdotes that enriched our understanding of the stunning destinations.

The itinerary offered a nice mix of big cities, small towns, coastline and countryside. The tour, however, moved along at an aggressive clip and the physical demand of the trip should not be underestimated. The strenuous walking and luggage handling made the tour challenging – mostly, in a good way. For example, over our 10 days, we logged 155,804 steps or 68 miles and we burned 26,344 calories. Whew!

We typically plan and execute our own trips and this tour was our first experience with a commercial tour operator. We thoroughly appreciated that the tour managed all the usual and voluminous details. We also loved having our friends with us and found that this tour offered something for everyone. We did find that, overall, there wasn’t as much unscheduled time as we imagined from reading the brochures - - that is, we had enough time to do a bit of shopping or catch up on a nap but not much time to do alternative excursions. Indeed, we arrived 1 day early and rode the hop-on bus around Rome and we stayed for 3 extra days back in Rome; this time allowed for exploring Trastevere, Testaccio and the EUR district south of central Rome, with the Coloseo Quadrato and historic Art Deco architecture, at a leisurely pace.

Some highlights and some feedback:

• Cinque Terre: cruise ships unload tourists further south and they swarm and clog these towns during the day by using the local trains. These same trains are also the fastest way for you to move between towns and cover a lot of ground. Try to take a ferry back to Monterosso. Evenings are quieter and much less crowded.

• Volterra was our group’s favorite stop and the large group dinner at Podere Marcampo was an unforgettable experience. Some participated in the cooking class to help prepare the meal, while others arrived in time for the beautiful Tuscan country sunset. Very, very special.

• Hotel Etruria in Volterra boasts a back patio leading to an archaeological, open park with some ruins. It is both very beautiful and very quiet.

• Train travel was really fun but the trains were always late - - thus, eating into the limited time in these locations.

• There was an unscheduled detour from Cinque Terre through Pisa on our way to Volterra - - which was a major letdown, as it proved to be a total waste of time. We lost most of the day checking bags at the train station, schlepping over to the Tower and back, retrieving bags, and grabbing the surface rail to meet the mini coach. Our time would have been better spent going straight to Volterra and having more time to explore there.

• Siena was a fun and interesting stop but could have been handled as a day trip from Florence, thereby, reducing the number of hotel changes.

• The tourist crowds and the heat were crushingly oppressive. We bought the recommended portable fan and grabbed a second room key to keep the electricity running. Obviously, these issues come with the location…but, by the 8th day, I thought I was in a fever dream.

• Hotels in city locations were near the train stations which, in the case of Florence, was an uncomfortably dodgy experience, especially at night. It’s time to identify a better hotel.

• Meals: hotel breakfasts were generous and helped fuel the day. Tour dinners ranged in quality (lots of pasta), with the Rome kick-off dinner as the most disappointing. Boiled pasta and red sauce were served outside on a tilting sidewalk on Via Cavour, competing with bus fumes and dust. Not the best for opening night. Photos of Da Tudini 1969 show a lovely interior; maybe, let folks eat inside, next time.

• Pickpockets seemed to be most aggressive at the Rome Termini station subway stop. They work the crowds who are rushing for the doors. One thief will block you from entering the subway car while their partner stays outside pulling on your handbag. The thief who blocked us was a tall, sturdy adult male and his partner was a tiny female in an oversized visor and a surgical mask – thus, posing as tourists. We had locking zippers on our crossbody handbags and, thankfully, avoided a problem. You’ll see local Roman women riding the trains with a very tight grip on their handbags.

Some restaurant ideas:

• Baccano, Via delle Muratte, in Rome off Trevi Fountain square

• La Regina di Manirola, in Manirola up on Via Ettore Cozzani. Climb uphill on Via Antonio Discovolo. At Chiesa di San Lorenzo, turn right and back down a small alley. Via Ettore Cozzani is tucked into the hillside; enjoy for patios, umbrellas and great views.

• L’Osteria, in Monterosso on Via Vittorio Emanuele

• Ristorante Da Beppino, in Volterra on Via delle Prigioni

• Antica Trattoria Papei, in Siena on Piazza Mercato

• Casa Toscana, in Florence on Via Giovanni Verrazzano near Santa Croce

• Ristorante da Meo Pastacca, in Rome/Trastevere on Piazza dei Mercanti

The Essence of Italy tour delivered an exhilarating adventure, blending breathtaking sights and a flurry of activities. Led by the infectious energy of tour guide Ilaria Mercuri, our diverse group of 15 travelers explored Italy's gems with expert guidance from local specialists in the Vatican, Volterra, and Florence. The itinerary, though vigorous, offered a mix of big cities, small towns, coastline, and countryside, demanding physical effort but in a rewarding manner. Highlights included the unforgettable large group dinner in Volterra's countryside, Hotel Etruria's patio access to a serene park, and the captivating experience of Cinque Terre evenings. Despite some challenges, such as unscheduled detours and oppressive crowds, the tour provided an overall immersive and unforgettable journey through Italy's diverse landscapes and rich history.

David provided a private tour for my family and myself. Our tour included Athens, Santorini and Mykonos. My favorite location was Mykonos. The Villa we stayed in Mykonos was gorgeous.

This was our first trip to Europe. David made us feel very safe and confident to do some exploring on our own. The small group atmosphere was wonderful, and we met wonderful people, shared meals together, and enjoyed local music. The hotels were clean, the restaurant choices were fabulous, as was the food. David gave us a good overview of the land and its history and culture. Our bus drivers were excellent and added a local's view of the differences and conflicts between The Republic and Northern Ireland.

We look forward to exploring more of Europe with David McGuffin!

We had an awesome trip. I enjoyed meeting you and the other travelers. My first big trip with a personal guide. I think you set the bar very high for future trips. I felt very comfortable and appreciated getting to know you and all the other travelers. Good luck in your travels and will definitely reach out to you for future travels. God bless.

I just returned from the Taste of Ireland tour with David McGuffin-- it was a wonderful trip. His selection of hotels, sites to visit, restaurants, and activities were well thought out. He is a knowledgeable tour guide and engaging group leader; my family and I enjoyed our time with him. We definitely recommend his tours and hope to book a future trip!

Marlene and I just came back from the twelve day Ireland tour; we had David McGuffin as our tour guide. Hard to believe we saw so much and connected with so much history and culture in less than two weeks.

David's itinerary provided a great balance between educational stops (e.g. Trinity College, Dublin Post Office, Derry walled city, Titanic), esthetics (e.g. Glendalough national forest, cliffs of Moher, Blarney castle), and physical involvement (every day the itinerary included walking, often with options for a more or less strenuous route).

Hotels were good, food was good, and numerous nightlife options provided a great way to connect with locals. Pubs and restaurants in the Republic are very welcoming to visitors.

As the small group (8-14) bussed and ate together, it encouraged folks to make friends as we experienced new vistas together. Even though there were several time slots providing for free-time/down-time from the group, we usually ended up roaming with our new pals.

Bus drivers were excellent - the unsung heroes of the trip.

Even when it was pouring rain, which it often was, we were smiling.

Had a great time, and already looking forward to our next McGuffin experience.

We just finished the Best of Ireland, August 2023. We had the pleasure of David as our guide. The tour was the perfect mix of planned activities and free time. Hotels were nice and transportation was comfortable. There were so many highlights along the way. Here are a few: the beauty of the Dingle peninsula (including Blasket Island Museum), the fascinating gardens at Blarney Castle and the poignant history at LongdonDerry/Derry & Belfast. And we won't forget the sheep. Sheep everywhere. In your free time in Dublin, consider visiting the Emigration Museum (EPIC) and the Little Museum of Dublin.

Jim and I recently returned from Ireland. It was a wonderful trip that we have wanted to take for a long time.

We experienced so many wonderful sites and took so many pictures that it’s hard to pick just a few. We saw beautiful churches and stonewalls that covered the countryside. We had delicious food and enjoyed the bakeries, along with lattes. There were flowers everywhere. And, of course, there were cows and sheep (lots of sheep!) dotted the countryside everywhere. We even visited the town of Bray!

We had a history lesson every day and learned so much about this beautiful country. Everything you’ve ever heard about Ireland’s shades of green are true.

I would also like to give 5 stars to David McGuffin, who guided this tour. Take some time to explore all that he has to offer,

Our trip was called Taste O’ Ireland in 8 days and it was wonderful.

Gone are the days of trying to plan a trip abroad on my own. David McGuffin's tour of Ireland was a God send and a fantastic experience. Our tour guide, Molly, was incredibly knowledgeable, timely and fun! The tour itself is structured expertly to get you the most out of every minute that you are there. After my visit I can say that David has done his homework MANY times over and truly has everything done quite well; from the places I stayed, the restaurants we ate at to the sights we saw. This trip allowed us the thrill of an adventure without the stress of having to know everything and plan it on our own! I'm confident in saying that there is no better way to tour Ireland!

I was a member of David McGuffin's Ireland tour in June 2023. I had a wonderful time! The hotels where we stayed were great and the food was wonderful. I loved the areas we toured, and our tour guides, John and Audra Dupuis, did a wonderful job giving us information about and a history of the areas we toured. The tour was so well organized and we had plenty of time to see the sights and plenty of free time. I had a wonderful time on our tour buses. The bus drivers were great at giving insights and the history of different areas we passed as we traveled through Ireland, and they were so funny!!! I would love to take another tour in Europe with David McGuffin and would highly recommend using his company, David McGiffin's Exploring Europe if you are thinking about traveling to Europe! His tours are the best and so well organized!