Create Your Own Tour of Italy

My first solo trip was something I had dreamed about for years. I wanted it to be more than sightseeing. I wanted adventure, comfort, safety, and freedom without the stress of planning it all alone. Through Zicasso, I was connected to two specialists and Zicasso's travel consultant stood out immediately. She delivered an itinerary that gave me everything I asked for and more: maximum cities, maximum fun, and maximum value, all without compromise.

Before deciding, I researched and compared tours, packages, and individual prices online. The travel consultant’s proposal came out on top for value and content. While the other agent offered fewer cities and activities at a higher price, her plan was ambitious without being overwhelming. She booked my trains, arranged private transfers where needed, and selected boutique-style hotels that exceeded expectations. I was honestly surprised at how good they were. I stayed at hotels in Interlaken, Florence, and Sorrento. Each was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located for exploring. I had prepared myself for budget trade-offs, but instead, I found thoughtfully chosen hotels that balanced affordability with real quality.

Every document, train ticket, and activity confirmation was uploaded into the app. It became my lifeline throughout the trip, with every detail at my fingertips. The structure gave me confidence, while still leaving me free to explore.

Switzerland came first: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, and Zermatt. Each city felt like stepping into a postcard. Interlaken gave me the adrenaline rush of skydiving, while Zermatt charmed me with its close-knit magic and alpine beauty. Italy unfolded with equal ease: Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Rome. Every destination felt curated, yet natural, from gondola rides in Venice to boat tours on the Amalfi Coast.

What I loved most was the balance between structure and freedom. Pre-booked activities and restaurant reservations gave me a strong framework, but I could just as easily decide to spend an afternoon wandering Florence, eating gelato, or sitting in a piazza. The rhythm of the trip was perfect, structured enough to tick off bucket-list highlights, yet relaxed enough to feel like a real vacation.

Food was freestyle, but memorable. Highlights included a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant in Zurich with its elegant Japanese-Peruvian flavors, a different Japanese restaurant, a restaurant in Como with its modern fusion menu, an Indian restaurant for comforting classics, and international favorites like those in one of the restaurants in Rome. Between those meals and plenty of gelato and crepes, every stop added its own flavor to the journey.

As a solo traveler, safety mattered. I felt comfortable walking around in the evenings and was usually back in my hotel by 1am to stay rested for the next day. What really gave me peace of mind was the travel consultant’s constant support. Communication was fast and responsive. I never had to wait long for answers, whether through the app or email. There was a moment when I made a mistake with the trains and missed an activity. She immediately stepped in and worked to reschedule it or secure a refund that same day.

Earlier in the planning process, I also had a card issue due to an address error. Even though policy would not normally allow it, she and her team patiently waited until I received the refund before finalizing the booking, just weeks before my trip. That flexibility and care spoke volumes.

The difference was clear. She used my budget to its fullest potential, giving me more destinations, more experiences, and better hotels than the alternative option. She managed to combine the efficiency of a fully organized tour with the freedom of independent travel. Everything was planned, yet everything was still mine to shape.

This trip was everything I wanted: good food, beautiful views, safety, and absolute reliability. It was an organized journey with freestyle flexibility, which is exactly what solo travelers dream of. The travel consultant’s planning let me chase adventure while always knowing I had a safety net. Switzerland and Italy gave me memories I will never forget, but it was the behind-the-scenes planning that made it possible. If you want a trip that is your way, your budget, your pace, but without the endless hassle of managing it yourself, the travel consultant at this agency is the person who can make it happen. My first solo trip became my dream trip and that is the highest praise I can give.

When we started planning our trip to Italy, I knew I wanted to work with a travel agent—specifically, someone who specialized in Italy and was based there. After reaching out to several agencies and reviewing their responses, we chose Zicasso and, more specifically, our travel agent. She is based in Milan and from my very first interaction with her, I knew we had made the right choice.

Our trip could not have been more perfect. Our agent put a lot of thought into every location and planned activity. At the outset, we had a few discussions with her about what we wanted from the trip and, after that, we were happy to leave most of the details in her capable hands. Our goal was to explore mid-to-northern Italy and everything—from the hotels and tours to the free time and transportation—was beautifully organized.

Our 11-night trip started in Milan and ended in Florence, with overnight stays in Milan (one night), Lake Como (three nights), Venice (three nights), and Florence (four nights). Initially, I was hesitant about staying at Lake Como for three nights, but our agent encouraged me to do a little research. I’m so glad she did, as it turned out to be incredible. We had more self-guided time at Lake Como, which was perfect as we adjusted to the time change. In Venice, our itinerary became more structured, but we still had plenty of time for our own explorations. By the time we reached Florence, we had activities and tours planned for every day, which was just what we wanted.

A highlight for my family was a full-day trip into Tuscany, where we visited San Gimignano, an organic vineyard in Chianti, and finished with a tour of Siena. Our day trip to Rome allowed us to see the main attractions and we concluded the journey with a tour of Florence and the Accademia Gallery. Every tour our agent arranged was spot on.

Throughout our trip, she was wonderfully communicative—always available when we had questions, but never intrusive. She even helped us with a couple of last-minute requests: booking a hotel in Milan for one night and arranging train tickets to Verona for an impromptu visit to Juliet’s balcony. Whenever we needed something, she was there.

When we return to explore the mid-to-southern part of Italy, there’s no question that we’ll be asking her to plan our trip again. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a seamless, thoughtfully curated Italian adventure.

Hello there.

This was our fourth trip with Zicasso. We would consider this trip more of a tour not a curated travel experience. Felt more like tourists than travelers.

Not sure if we received great value working with an extra layer of operators.

Although we would rate logistics and client interaction 10/10 (staff of the travel company were very lovely and professional) not sure there were any great special "treasures" other tourists wouldn't have seen.

Additionally, the descriptions of expectations were way off on a few occasions and totally touristy when local staff suggested alternatives that were what we expected in the first place.

Examples of this were firstly in Bled, Slovenia.

No guide was necessary and we spent a lot of money unnecessarily. It was touristy and should have been a suggested quick stop. The much better choice was a lovely 20-minute drive away (we had our own car at this point) to Lake Bohinj.

Our very sweet bellman in Ljubljana suggested we visit here. It wasn't crowded and spectacular. We would have had a picnic packed for the day and enjoyed the hike here.

Another example is Capri. It was described by the travel company as beginning with an easy motorboat ride with a group (which was fine) a leisurely half-day on the island with shopping and lunch in a romantic cafe.

This was life in Capri maybe 30 years ago. Today it is a shoulder-to-shoulder nightmare.

We were greeted by a guide who informed us that this day was like Formula One. Every second counts! Don't be late for anything!

What anything we thought? Isn't today about just a romantic lunch and leisurely shopping?

We were loaded onto a ferry with 400 people (everyone seemingly much more informed about what lay ahead), then shown cue cards for where to meet and when.

Confused, we were then loaded onto a bus and off to the Grotto. What is the Grotto?

Thankfully my husband and I are good sports and went with the flow. We were ushered into yet another line and lay down flat in a rowboat and ventured through the cave. Although an adventure, the point is we were not informed of this. Next was the chairlift up the mountain. Beautiful. Yes, but more unexpected lines and waiting.

Group lunch next.

Crowded funicular ride down and another 398 people on the ferry home.

No romantic lunch and leisurely shopping for us.

It was all fine in the end. Our guide was excellent. But, you see my point. The travel company needed to explain this. I do believe I suggested Capri as part of our itinerary, but the expectation was as to how it was presented by the travel company. We would have either skipped this and chosen a different way to spend a beautiful day on the Amalfi Coast or been better prepared.

Our hotel in the in Vienna was lovely in an excellent location. The restaurant however was only open for breakfast. Very disappointing. When traveling we like to have the option of having dinner in the hotel and a nice drink in the bar after a day of discovering or a nightcap before bed. All said, in Vienna it felt like we had only a partial home base. Not a great beginning to the trip.

We had the pleasure of working with Zicasso’s travel agents to create the perfect Italian adventure. I had quite a few specific requests, from travel logistics to hotel preferences, and they were incredibly patient and collaborative, offering multiple variations of the itinerary until it matched exactly what we envisioned.

Our journey began in Venice, where we were seamlessly picked up by a private driver, transferred to a water taxi, and dropped directly at our hotel. After a wonderful stay, we were taken by private driver to the train station for our ride from Venice to Florence, our one and only train trip, as we opted (based on their smart recommendation) for private transportation for the rest of our travels to avoid potential delays and enjoy added convenience.

From Florence, we were driven into the Tuscan hills, where we experienced magical wine tastings, vineyard tours, olive oil tastings, and unforgettable meals with wine pairings. 

Next, our private driver brought us to Pompeii, where we enjoyed a fascinating tour with our private guide, and then continued on to Rome. In Rome, we loved the private golf cart tour of the city’s major landmarks, as well as a delightful cooking class that was arranged for us; it was a real highlight!

Finally, we traveled by private driver to Sorrento. From there, we had a breathtaking driving tour of the Amalfi Coast, a lemon farm tour, and an amazing day trip to Capri. Every detail was thoughtfully planned and executed.

Summary:

Planning and Itinerary Creation: Zicasso’s consultants made the entire process easy and stress-free. They worked closely with us to perfect the itinerary and were always receptive to changes and feedback.

Hotels: My sister and I requested adjoining rooms and were provided with beautiful family suites throughout the trip. Each hotel was ideally located, comfortable, and well-appointed, with all the amenities we needed.

Transportation: Every transfer was smooth and punctual. The private drivers were professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. (A special shoutout to our driver in Florence/Tuscany – he was the best!)

Communication: Throughout our trip, the travel company’s team was always accessible. Whether we needed to make adjustments or had a question, they handled everything promptly, allowing us to relax and fully enjoy our vacation.

We spent just over two unforgettable weeks in Italy and it was absolutely perfect, all thanks to the hard work, attention to detail, and excellent communication from Zicasso’s travel company! I highly recommend them and would not hesitate to use them again for future adventures.

First, our travel agent was fantastic and helpful!

Our trip was to visit Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi, and wrap up in Rome.

The private cars and drivers were on time and excellent.

The hotels and private bookings, like the boat tour in Como, the coastal ride to Amalfi, and the Vatican in Rome, were just incredible and personal.

I believe we got back every cent we invested in this trip, with Zicasso's help!

We are looking to Zicasso for our 2026 adventure.

It is a must-use resource.

CF

Our trip to Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Lake Como, and Milan was exceptionally well planned and executed by Zicasso's tour operator.

The transportation from one location to another was efficient, even when challenged by the high tides in Venice. Overall, the hotels selected were very good. The one in Montalcino was exceptional. Every guide was knowledgeable and professional. We appreciated their willingness to be flexible. Our driver for the ride to Como and back to Milan was personable and exceptional as well.

We really enjoyed the truffle hunting experience, the first wine tasting in Montepulciano, where we met the entire charming family, the cooking class in Bellagio with a chef who treated us like family, and the boat rides on Lake Como and to the islands in the lagoon of Venice. All of the dinner reservations were spot-on and when there was a slight misunderstanding regarding our wine tasting in Bellagio, where the staff at the hotel in Bellagio had no idea what had been arranged by our agency, this was quickly resolved by our guide through texts and emails with the agency.

The only aspect of the trip that could have been improved was day eight, when our activities, travel time, and late dinner reservation resulted in a late-night drive back to the villa. The hotel in Milan was difficult to find at first due to its location not being visible from the street. Once we found it and settled in, it was in an excellent location for our sightseeing. The gifts of sparkling wine at two of our stops was thoughtful and appreciated.

We thank our agent and the staff at the agency for a wonderful trip and would not hesitate to recommend the firm to our friends and family.