When in Rome Tour: The Ins & Outs of The Eternal City

Kudos to Zicasso’s tour operator! This is our second time using them, and they didn’t disappoint us. They had to deal with two families, seven in all, all adults, with two separate trips. One trip for all seven to Rome and Florence. Two for Naples and Ischia.

The apartment in Rome was in a good location for us, as we usually stay near there. The only problem I found in this apartment was the smaller unit had a step down into the living room. The floors are dark, and the step needs to be highlighted so one remembers to step down. Several of us kept missing it, and luckily no one fell. Other than that, it was a nice apartment.

In Florence, our apartment was perfect. My husband and I would stay there again; however, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a nice kitchen, and a large living room, so it would be a little big for two people. It was perfect for families. It is on the third floor.

Since my husband and I have been to Rome and Florence many times, we did not have too many requests for tours. My cousin and her family were first-time visitors. I suggested a tour of the Vatican Museums, Ancient Rome, the Accademia Gallery, the Duomo Skywalk, a private tour of the Uffizi Gallery, the Vasari Corridor, and the Boboli Gardens. In Rome, all seven of us did a golf cart ride at night, which seemed to be a big hit. We also had a wine tasting and olive oil sampling in Chianti, which was very nice.

At one point, we thought we were going to have a wedding proposal. A place was planned for the proposal at one of the wineries. Unfortunately, the groom-to-be decided not to do it there since the future bride’s parents would not be there. I felt bad with all the work the travel company did to make this day special for the couple.

Since we were two families, all adults, sharing vacation rentals, the tour operator found two apartments to meet our needs. All of our drivers and guides were on time and very knowledgeable.

We made some last-minute changes on our trip from Florence to Ischia. Changes to the train tickets were made, but we were asked to check with the ferry service to see if they could take us earlier. Our driver went with us to the ticket office and was able to exchange our ferry tickets. Then we notified our travel agent, so they could call the hotel to send our driver earlier than planned.

We have used this tour operator before and would highly recommend them. The hotels they selected were excellent. We stayed at our hotel in Naples last year and asked for the same hotel again. The views were fantastic from our room, and the rooftop bar had views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. The staff were superb, and there was a wonderful breakfast.

We also asked for the same hotel in Ischia, but that hotel closed earlier this year. Another property was selected, our resort in Ischia. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to use the spa this time, but the hotel had beautiful views from the restaurant, terrace, and our room. Both hotels were beautiful, and the staff were very attentive. Our resort in Ischia was not far from Ischia Porto. A bus stop was a short walk away, and the return stop was right in front of the hotel. The food and drinks were great, and we even walked into town one night, which took about 15 minutes.

I can’t wait to use the travel company again next year.

Everything went perfectly. We had such a good time. All our tour guides were expert historians. All the car pick-ups and trains went smoothly. We added a last-minute tour in another city and Zicasso's travel specialists were so accommodating. I highly recommend them.

The travel company and staff were excellent. The trip coordinators accompanied us through the trip via WhatsApp. They were terrific. The service was top-notch, including the drivers, tour guides, and accommodations.

The one thing I would change about the trip is to have longer stays in each city visited. Moving to a new hotel every two nights prevented us from really enjoying each city we visited. I would also forgo Palermo and substitute a smaller city like Noto or Agrigento. But again, the itinerary was based on my interests and time. It is not an indication of the tour company's abilities. However, it may be good for the agency to suggest longer stays to other customers. Otherwise, we had a great trip and once again, I have recommended Zicasso and the tour company to family and friends.

Thank you again for a great time!

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.

Overall, the trip was excellent. The hotel choices were terrific and several of the guided tours (especially Naples, Pompeii, and the Colosseum) were outstanding. There were some train/transport issues in Rome that the travel company didn’t know about and no alternatives were arranged beyond take a taxi.

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.