Romantic Spirit of Paris and Rome Itinerary

Zicasso's travel agent was like our “patron saint of hassle-free and VIP vacations!" Every step of our trip was planned for us; we were greeted by private guides at each airport or train station, and met in the lobby of our hotel for each privately guided tour. We went to the front of the line at the Vatican on a day when the line stretched over a mile. Each night she sent us a detailed itinerary for the next day’s tours and on our free days she even gave us suggestions for local restaurants.

I have traveled pretty extensively for work and pleasure, and this trip was so well organized by this travel agency. I cannot recommend them any higher. If you want a truly memorable and hassle-free vacation, you must use them; you will not be disappointed! Thank you so much for creating a true “trip of a lifetime."

This was our fourth time using Zicasso and, once again, they delivered an exceptional experience. What we love most about Zicasso is that they do all the hard work in the vetting process, saving us hours of research and ensuring we’re only matched with the best travel agencies and designers. Each time, we’ve felt confident that we were working with top-tier professionals.

One feature we especially appreciate is that Zicasso gives us the opportunity to personally review and choose from each agency referral. In this case, we selected this trip planner, who designed a two-week tour for our two families traveling through Italy. As an experienced traveler, I can confidently say that she truly listened to what was important to our families, balancing the needs of seasoned travelers and first-time visitors to Europe.

From private, expertly guided tours (including a standout Vatican experience) to seamless transfers, centrally located hotels, and on-time professional drivers, every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Once our itinerary was finalized, our travel specialist stepped in and ensured any last-minute changes or requests were handled quickly and with care, even helping us find the perfect photo spot at the Colosseum before heading to a wine tasting in Anagni.

Zicasso continues to be our go-to platform for curated, high-quality travel experiences. Their ability to connect us with trip planners like this one is what makes them stand out. We’re already looking forward to our next adventure!

Zicasso’s tour operator planned the most amazing trip to Italy for us! My requirements were culture, romance, and relaxation. She delivered on every aspect. Although we missed our tour of the Vatican due to the Pope's funeral, my husband and I actually attended his funeral!! Our hotel, though planned many months before, was next to the basilica where Pope Francis was laid to rest. Talk about being a part of history!

We stayed in a beautiful converted villa to boutique hotel in Florence; got whisked away through the Tuscan countryside in a vintage Fiat 500; took cooking classes; sipped lovely wine, accompanied by excellent lunches on our winery tours; soaked in Italy's rich culture and museum scene; and even ticked the relaxation box by spending time by the pool, in the spa, and resting on our large deck overlooking the Amalfi coastline.

Every tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable, and it was evident they loved their jobs. Between memories of the boat ride along the Amalfi Coast, tips from the cooking classes I have already started using at home, and the cases of wine we are eagerly awaiting delivery of, my husband and I will forever hold Italy in our hearts and la dolce vita it provided us. 

Talk with our tour operator; you will be glad you did!

I've always been the family trip planner. I opted to use Zicasso and specifically got to work with our travel agent. Our trip exceeded expectations by far. The small groups on boats, making pasta, guided tours of the Vatican, and every detail was perfect. I would recommend 1000%.

I apologize for the delay in writing this review, but was very busy the last few months and wanted to dedicate the time it deserved. This review will address my wife and my trip to Italy from September 26, 2025, to October 6, 2025. Please feel free to share all or any portion of this review.

Trip Planning:

As a bucket-list event, I spent a great deal of time doing research, but would not have been able to put together the ideal vacation without the support of Zicasso and the travel company. Upon hearing my general interests, Zicasso provided two groups whom they thought would be able to plan and implement my trip. Both groups interviewed me and my wife about interests and price range, and then prepared an initial itinerary. Both groups would have done a fantastic job by their presentation, but it seemed I was slightly more in tune with the travel company and selected them. This proved to be a very wise choice, as the entire team at the travel company, particularly the travel specialists, were the absolute best and I would recommend their service without reservation. Fully responsive to my many questions before the trip, addressing all potential itinerary changes, and providing invaluable guidance throughout the entire process. Their response to inquiries while in the country was unbelievably prompt and thorough. At our request, the travel specialists made restaurant recommendations and reservations that were spot-on. I can’t say enough good things about these ladies.

Transportation and travel between locations:

Although not involved in the flights, the travel specialists provided great guidance concerning flights, trip insurance, and other logistics.

One key point that I fully expressed was that I did not want to flounder at the various transportation points and did not want to lug luggage in foreign areas on the way to and from lodging. The team took this to heart and provided me with either an escort or driver to and from every terminal. Everyone providing this task was friendly and provided information that made the travel much easier. Particularly valuable were our escorts, who adeptly negotiated our entrance and exit from Venice, and provided great insights into this historic city.

Venice:

Our hotel in Venice seemed to be right in the middle of everything, which allowed us to explore, and we have never had so much fun getting lost. At night, we opened our windows and fell off to sleep listening to nearby music; it was idyllic. The staff was professional and friendly. Breakfast was the best of all the hotels we stayed at in Italy.

The first full day in Venice, the travel company leveraged “skip the line” so we could make the very most of our time and is essential to any planning. Both guides were great and really good company. One guide’s knowledge of the Doge Palace really brought it to life for us. Another guide had a real insider’s view of Burano, as this was her family’s island. As private tours, we could go at our own pace, which we really liked. Probably the least enjoyable tour was the glass factory in Murano. We got the impression most of the tour beyond the initial exhibition was an attempt to sell their products. My wife succumbed and purchased a pair of earrings that broke the first time she wore them. Really disappointing, and I would advise you to spend more time in Burano.

Florence:

As with all the trains, the travel was very comfortable and we enjoyed watching the scenery. Our lodging in Florence was right on the Santa Maria square, superb for people watching. The staff was fine, nothing more. The hotel was near the world’s oldest pharmacy, famous as the world's oldest perfumery. Although there is a line to enter, it goes quickly and is historical, to say nothing of buying a scent more than 400 years old. I strongly recommend you go.

While knowledgeable, our tour guide for the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries was a little too technical for us, leaving us with the feeling that we were taking an art history class.

Dinner was based on the travel specialist's recommendation and it was delicious. A strong recommendation.

Day trip to Pisa:

The travel arrangements were perfect. The purpose of the trip was to take the obligatory picture holding up the tower—hokey, but we loved it.

The private cooking class with our instructor was a lot of fun. The view of the city from her window at sunset was beautiful. My wife and our instructor fell into a real rhythm cooking, and she was kind enough not to scoff at my ham-handed attempts. Her directions were simple enough for me to follow, theoretically. She followed up her lesson with an email containing detailed recipes. We have purchased all necessary utensils and are planning a pasta-making party soon. This was a fun change of pace.

Rome:

Our bed-and-breakfast in Rome was our least favorite lodging. Entry into the building was confusing and, as a B&B, the desk was not manned all the time, which made it difficult to secure a taxi early in the morning (we had to walk to a nearby hotel) or get assistance after 8pm or before 6am. When we came in, we attempted to coordinate laundry service with the person working the front desk, followed his instructions, but when we returned the next day, our dirty clothes were still where we were told to leave them. The initial response from the on-duty staff, who I believe was the owner, was that the individual was no longer an employee. Ultimately, the hotel comped and completed our laundry, which was nice. We would have preferred different lodging.

Our first afternoon, we took a four-hour golf cart tour, which was our favorite tour of the entire trip. Adding an extra hour to the traditional length and having only my wife and me allowed us to do everything we wanted to do. Our driver took us everywhere. He would drop us at the top of the Spanish Steps and meet us at the bottom, and would conveniently bring us closest to all other locations. I can’t believe how much we did in four hours. Our driver brought all these iconic sites to life with his marvelous insight and provided a great insider view of these monuments. This is a must-do for all first-time visitors to Rome. The only thing we were not able to do, due to no fault of our driver, was the Aventine Keyhole. When we got there in the afternoon, the line was 45 minutes and not a wise use of our time. If this is a strong interest, he recommends going early in the morning.

The travel specialists arranged tickets for the Papal general audience on Wednesday. Rising at sunrise was worth it to get the seats as close as we were able to secure. Most online sites suggest getting there an hour and a half before the start time, but I think that is much too late. I recommend you get there three to four hours ahead to get the best seats. The best seats are on the end near where the Pope drives by, ideally near an infant, and His Holiness will stop to personally bless these children. Facing the stage, the right side filled up quicker than the left side, so go directly to the left side of the audience. Being so close to the first American-born Pope was a memory I will never forget. His Holiness blesses all items in the audience's possession, so load up on rosary beads; they will make great Baptism and Communion gifts.

The afternoon was our first group tour at the Vatican Museums. It might be that we were spoiled with the previous private tours, but linking up with the group was chaotic and the quality of the tour was contingent on those in our group. Fortunately, all our groups were good, considerate, and friendly people. The main value was skipping the line for entrance. As with the Doge Palace, our guide was a little too academic and didn't really manage time well, potentially a victim of being in a group, but I would have rather spent more time in the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica. Taxis were extremely hard to get back to the hotel and I would arrange a ride if I were to do it again.

The Thursday tour of the Colosseum and Forum was also a group tour, but led by a guide who brought this ancient land to life. An archaeologist by trade, our guide seemed to know everything and also took a great picture.

The end of a very long but enjoyable day was another group tour of the catacombs and Santa Maria Maggiore. While the catacombs were the main attraction, the after-hours and behind-the-scenes access to Santa Maria Maggiore was an unexpected gem. Going through a second Holy Door, viewing the magnificent nighttime skyline from the roof, seeing the location of a relic from the baby Jesus’ manger, and being struck by the modesty of Bernini’s and Pope Francis’s tombs were all highlights. Unfortunately, taxis were again hard to come by.

Sorrento:

We took a train from Rome to Naples. While there was a national strike, it did not prove more than an inconvenience, no worse than New York City on a regular day. Our driver from Naples told us this simply provided us with a genuine Italian experience. I wish I could remember this driver’s name because he was the best of a very good group of drivers during this trip. En route to Sorrento, we stopped for a tour and meal at a winery and a private skip-the-line tour of Pompeii. We were so impressed with the quality of the winery that we made a large purchase of wines and olive oils that, thankfully, included free shipping.

During our drive to Sorrento, our driver took us through his hometown, which we really enjoyed. Going through the town, he pointed out the birthplace of Bruce Springsteen’s mother. Little did he know, we were from New Jersey and are HUGE Springsteen fans.

Our hotel in Sorrento was a nice place, close to the center of town. I would have preferred a hotel with a view of the coast.

On Saturday, we took a private tour up the coast. This was the most comfortable car I have ever ridden in, with heated and cooled seats, and a convenient icebox. The driver made clear he was at our disposal. The scenery was marvelous and it was a thrill to dip our toes in the Med. Our driver hooked us up with a restaurant on a cliff overlooking the water—beautiful and scrumptious.

Our last day was supposed to be the Gozzo tour of Capri, but was canceled due to weather. We refunded the canceled boat tour, but ate the driver and ferry fees. In hindsight, knowing this day was largely contingent on weather, I would have liked to have a contingency plan and would advise the travel company to plan this in the future.

Based on how smoothly things went, we will be contacting Zicasso to arrange a trip to Iceland and Ireland next fall, and hope they can refer a team as talented as this travel company.

It was 5 stars for the entire trip except the last day, during which it was 1 star!! That last day, however, was our lasting impression!! I sent this via email, but wanted to make sure you received it.

You connected us with two providers, and we ultimately chose this travel company because they proposed a number of exceptional hotels and high-end experiences.

To their credit, the majority of the trip was superb. The hotels were unique, spacious, and beautifully appointed, and our private tours were top-tier — often in limousines or aboard elegant boats. Everything was handled with precision and attention to detail.

However, the final night in Rome was a major and disappointing breakdown — and it overshadowed what had otherwise been an incredible experience.

We had made it clear from the outset that this trip was to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and that we wanted something romantic, luxurious, and memorable. We also paid a premium for that level of experience — for a one-week trip that included hotels, breakfasts, and a few tours, but no other meals. That was well above our original budget, but we trusted that Zicasso and this travel company would deliver on their promise of luxury.

For most of the trip, they did. But on our last night, when we specifically asked to stay in the historic center of Rome to enjoy the city one last time, we were placed in a tiny attic room. It was on the top floor, barely large enough to hold our luggage, and we literally had to climb over the bed to reach the bathroom. It was an absurd and uncomfortable situation — especially for what was meant to be a romantic finale to a milestone trip.

I called the tour company immediately to request a room change. What followed was hours of unnecessary back-and-forth, with little initiative on their part to resolve the issue. Only at 6:30 p.m. — an hour before our dinner reservation — did they finally offer to move us to a different hotel if we agreed to pay the price difference (with a small contribution from them). By then, it was too late to make such a change without losing our evening altogether.

The real problem wasn’t just the room — it was the handling of the situation. Instead of adopting a customer-first approach, they focused on justifying the problem, emphasizing that “rooms in central Rome are small.” That excuse doesn’t hold water. The same hotel had larger rooms, just not the one we were assigned — and we had specifically asked for upgrades and premium options weeks before departure.

In short, Zicasso and the tour company delivered an exceptional experience until the very end, when the service completely collapsed. For a trip of this cost and purpose, the final impression should have matched the quality of the rest of the journey — but it didn’t.

This was absolutely not the way to end a high-end dream vacation meant to celebrate our 25-year wedding anniversary. We took several photos of the room and are happy to share them if you’d like to see exactly what we experienced.

Warm regards,

Ariel.