THE AMALFI COAST & ISLANDS in 9 days

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.

We did the Best of Italy tour in May 2023, our first David McGuffin tour. Ilaria was our Exploring Europe tour guide and she was wonderful. We were shocked to find out that we were the only ones on the tour (except for another couple in Rome) and very happy to see that David didn't cancel the tour because of that.

Ilaria was very easy to be with and extremely helpful - a wonderful guide. We even invited her to stay with us if she travels to this area.

We loved all the destinations (the tour covers a LOT of ground) but have decided that moving every other day to another place is a bit more than we prefer, especially as we traveled mainly by train although there were some private vehicle trips which were much easier. When David suggests packing light, listen to his advice. It was tough pulling myself and my luggage onto the trains each trip.

Hotels were a mixed bag. Usually located near a train station, but in some areas (Volterra, Lake Como, and Venice in particular), we had either a good 15-minute or longer walk to the hotel from the town. We stayed in Lido, not Venice, which added at least 30 minutes to our trip to get into and return to Venice, which was less than ideal.

Water pressure in some hotels left something to be desired, so shampooing was sometimes postponed as I wasn't certain I could rinse out the soap. Keep in mind that you will have food, entrance, and transportation fees in addition to what your tour costs. We were on our own for lunches and half the dinners (and all drinks are on you). Usually, we had a day to ourselves in each city, which allowed us to do and go where we wanted.

Without pinching pennies, we spent approximately $800 each in addition. Ilaria would often give us suggestions on places to eat and give guidance on how to get around when we were on our own..

The other guides in Rome, Volterra, and Siena were all wonderful, although at the beginning, it appeared the guides weren't well informed that tips were included, which made it somewhat uncomfortable for us at the end of each tour not being sure if the guide was aware.

This tour is great for people who are comfortable getting to and from the airport on their own, want to see a lot of places in 2 weeks, are physically able to maneuver their bags on and off trains and up and down stairs and enjoy the mix of group travel and time to do what you want.

Suggestion - remove some items from your bags; you don't need as much as you think.

My husband and I had the good fortune of meeting David McGuffin at the Washington DC Travel and Adventure Show and were impressed by his years of experience in leading small group tours. Equally fortunate, he was offering the 10-day Tuscan Villa experience on the exact dates we wanted to travel - we booked immediately and never had one regret! David has traveled so frequently to these areas that it’s like a second home to him. Even more importantly, he intimately knows the people who live there - the owners of the villa, restaurants, shops and the tour guides that he has done business with for years. The tour guide, Paola, who led us on a private tour of Michelangelo's masterpiece, David, at the Accademia and an impromptu tour of the Uffizi, knew her subject matter so well and yet made it understandable and relatable. Annie’s tour of Volterra brought the town’s history to life, and her husband Francesco’s wine tasting taught us how to select and appreciate wine in general, not just the one label you happen to be sampling.

The itinerary for the Villa experience is very well cultivated. The opportunity to spend multiple blocks of time in Volterra allowed us to get to know the city, explore the back streets, and eat a meal at leisure without feeling rushed to see everything at once. The day trips to Siena, Lucca, and Pisa were an excellent balance of history and time to explore - don’t miss biking the castle walls of Lucca or climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

The stay at the Tuscan Villa at Marcampo is an idyllic setting, the room comfortable, the hostess/owner so gracious. Being able to come back to the same location makes the whole experience much more relaxed. Claudia’s cooking lesson was definitely a highlight - the hands-on experience not only taught the secret tips to making bread and pasta from scratch but had us each making our own bread and pasta dough, rolling out ravioli, collaborating on zucchini souffle, chocolate souffle, and sausage stuffed guinea fowl. The final result? Delizioso! And paired beautifully with the family’s Marcampo wines, which we also got to tour, taste and enjoy throughout our stay.

We were lucky enough to travel with David as our tour leader and enjoyed his easy-going manner and willingness to shift and add to the itinerary. Overall we heartily endorse David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe tours - an experience of a lifetime!

First-time traveler to Italy,(Amalfi Coast), and the tour did not disappoint!

Not being familiar with travel to Europe, we decided to travel with an experienced tour company, and David McGuffin's Exploring Europe was everything that we had hoped for. Everything on that tour, from the quality of the hotels, the comfortable transportation, the great food & wine, and the guided excursions, was everything that David said they would be.

The views were absolutely amazing! There was a nice balance between group tour activities and the individual time that you have to venture out and explore on your own.

Group dinners were filled with wine and laughter!

David's passion for travel and his sincere willingness to teach and encourage others to discover and experience new cultures and destinations is contagious.

Thank you, David, Charlotte, and all the wonderful people in our group, for making our trip a memorable one! We will definitely be exploring Europe again with David and his wife.

Our small group of friends just returned from the fabulous Tuscan Villa vacation with David McGuffin, Exploring Europe.

The itinerary was great: we explored big cities, many day trips to small towns, great restaurants, cooking class, wine tastings & relaxing days at a gorgeous small villa.

All our accommodations were first class: very clean, considerate staff & good breakfasts.

The eating experiences at the restaurants were superb! The local tour guides were excellent! They were all experts in their area, personable & fun to be with.

David had everything planned out but was flexible if we needed to vary the day's activities. We also enjoyed having the delightful Mrs. McGuffin on our tour! If you are looking for a full Tuscan experience, we highly recommend this tour.