Lake Como Itineraries & Vacation Packages

My husband and I just returned from a two-week vacation in Italy. With the help of Zicasso and our travel company, we were able to fit every wish into this short time.

We started out in Rome, then went on to Florence for some amazing history. We then traveled to the Tuscany and Chianti countryside for private cooking and wine experiences. We loved the small villages we explored and the little family-owned wineries and olive farms.

A highlight was staying in a bed and breakfast in Ponzano that overlooked the beautiful olive gardens and countryside. We explored the small villages of San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Montalcino, and felt like we had discovered authentic local life.

The tail of our trip was spent in the beautiful Lake Como area, with a day trip to Lugano, Switzerland.

THE BEST VACATION EVER!!!!

I must admit that I was somewhat uncomfortable arranging a group tour to Italy with someone I communicated with only via the Internet and telephone.  However, after my first communication with our agent -- I knew that she “had it.”  She understood exactly what we wanted to do.  She was right-on in both concept and execution.

Our ten-day adventure in Italy began with a private transfer with an English speaking local driver from the Rome airport to our fantastic 3 star boutique hotel located right in the historical center of Rome.  During our three days in Rome, we had fantastic private tours of Ancient Rome, the Coliseum, and the Vatican Museums.  Extremely knowledgeable, English-speaking guides led all of our tours.  Sense of Italy had arranged for VIP, skip the line, priority entrance for all tours -- saving us from long waits in long lines.

After our busy 3 days in Rome, we departed via private van transfer from our hotel in Rome to the Chianti Region of Tuscany.  The transfer included stops on the Val D’ Orcia to visit the amazing Villages of Montalcino and Montepulciano.  The “light lunch” and wine tasting we enjoyed in Montalcino was one of the highlights of our trip.  In Tuscany we stayed 7 Nights in a beautiful, historic villa located on one of the best wine estates of Chianti (Villa Le Corti near San Casciano) where we were met with a fantastic welcome dinner. During our time in Tuscany we were transported by private van from our villa to private tours of Siena, San Gimignano, Florence, Pisa and Lucca.  On each of our stops we were met by knowledgeable English speaking guides that clearly were proud of the history of their country, and were anxious to share it.  Interspersed in all of this activity were numerous exceptional meals with opportunities to taste (and drink) very fine Italian wines.

When we finally were forced to leave Italy, our agent arranged for private transport accommodating our varying departure times from the Florence airport and train station.

Thanks to this travel company and our agent for designing the perfect vacation for our group.  The only complaint that I heard was that we ate too much — wow was all the food delicious.  I really don’t know how she did it.  All of the tours were great — the van drivers friendly and helpful, the guides knowledgeable, and the sites spectacular.  Our stay in the villa was a great experience.  We were treated royally everywhere.  We all marveled at our agent's ability to get us, the vans, the guides, the food and wine, etc. all at the right place at the right time.  She is a genius!!!!

Jeff E

We took this trip last year, and I realized when I came back to Zicasso to plan our next trip that I had never posted a review.

This was a 25th anniversary trip for my husband and me. We splurged on this trip. We wanted something special. We were overwhelmed by a trip that not only met, but far exceeded our expectations. Our Italy travel agent planned every detail and stayed in contact with us throughout our travels. She gave us a flip phone and called us shortly after we reached each destination to make sure everything was to our liking. And when we did run into a slight problem with our gondola ride in Venice, I was able to get in touch with our agent on a Sunday, and she took care of it immediately. Every driver and tour guide she set us up with was professional and well-informed about their part of the country. And they all spoke English very well. We felt pampered every step of the way.

Even with 2 weeks to spend in Italy, it felt like a whirlwind trip. Our agent managed to fit in everything we wanted to see and do and some things we hadn't even known we wanted:  A gondola ride and a tour of St. Mark's in Venice; a guided trip to the Accademia to see the statue of David and to the Uffizi Gallery, as well as time to walk across the Ponte Vecchio in Florence; wine tasting in Tuscany, not only of Chianti but also Brunello di Montalcino (what a treat); visits to Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and others in the area; a guided tour of Pompeii; visits to Amalfi, Ravello, and an inland winery near the Amalfi coast; a private cooking class; guided tours of the Colosseum, the Forum, the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica.

My husband and I would wholeheartedly recommend this agent and her travel company to anyone who is planning a trip to Italy.