Gabriele, Roberto, and Salvatore held our hands as they guided us through the sights and sounds of beautiful eastern Sicily. They listened to our hopes, and added some great suggestions that we wouldn’t have thought of (for instance, our trip to the tiny island of Salina, just north of Sicily, was a true highlight). Although there are always small hitches along the way, Martina’s team was very responsive and positive, and booked us into some of the most lovely accommodations we could hope for. We loved their attentiveness and positivity!

I used Martina’s office for about a week total of travel in Rome and Naples on both sides of a separately booked small group hiking tour of the Amalfi Coast. The planning process went pretty smoothly and the Rome portion was generally fine–I really liked the walking tour and catacombs visit they suggested, as it’s probably not something I would have found/chosen myself and the guide was great. The scenery was beautiful, and it was nice to get out of the crowds in Rome for a day.

The other activities I did (food tour, Fiat 500 tour, and wine tasting dinner) were nice, if pretty equivalent to those I’ve found/booked myself on past trips. Since I was traveling alone it would have been nice to have known about the option for a porter at Termini station for my train to Naples—I had two suitcases (one large) and someone I met in Rome mentioned that booking/having a porter to get bags on/off the train was helpful; unfortunately at that point when I inquired I learned it was too late, as a porter has to be booked a certain number of days in advance. Thankfully it was fine as strangers helped me get my large bag on/off the train—I would not have been able to do it myself.

Unfortunately some problems occurred when I arrived back in Naples after my Amalfi Coast tour. The afternoon I arrived back in Naples, the guide for my scheduled walking tour was a no show, and after reaching out to Elisa on Martina’s team I learned that it was due to family emergency, which I understand. However, I specifically asked that my full day tour the following day to Pompeii/Vesuvius/a winery be confirmed, as I noted that the same guide was scheduled to be my guide in Pompeii the following day. Elisa assured me that they would obtain a replacement guide and the day would go as scheduled. Nevertheless, the following day the driver arrived an hour later than the scheduled time on my itinerary, and once he did arrive it became apparent in speaking with him that there had been a communication breakdown as he was unaware of the planned winery stop, and thought he was just taking me to Vesuvius and Pompeii. The late arrival (when I could have slept in and not rushed through breakfast) and itinerary confusion made for a stressful day. And finally, on my last day in Naples I was supposed to go to Reggia di Caserta, but realized that the same guide who was no longer available was scheduled to be my guide for that tour as well and I’d not been provided a replacement guide, so I ended up simply spending the day on my own in Naples. I’m used to things running smoothly when I use WOW List specialists (including addressing any complications when they arise), and unfortunately that didn’t happen here.

Response from Martina:

We deeply regret the inconveniences Heidi encountered during her trip. The guide for Heidi’s walking tour in Naples had a family emergency. As soon as we were informed, we arranged for an alternative guide to be available within the hour Heidi chose not to proceed with the tour. We also sent a complimentary bottle of wine to her room.

Heidi asked us to reconfirm the next day’s tour. We secured a replacement guide and provided Heidi with the guide’s contact details. Unfortunately, the driver arrived an hour later than expected due to a communication mix-up. Although the driver was initially unaware of the winery stop, he promptly adjusted the itinerary and the day continued as planned.

Heidi preemptively canceled the tour for her final day, communicating directly with the driver and without reaching out to us. Had she contacted us, we would have confirmed that the tour was set to proceed as planned.

During business hours, Heidi had direct access to her dedicated on-the-ground specialist Elisa, while after hours, our emergency line was available at all times, as outlined in her travel booklet. We regret that Heidi did not consistently rely on these channels, which would have allowed us to intervene more promptly when issues arose.

We reached out to Heidi the day of her return to the U.S. and offered a full refund for the activities she chose not to attend, even though our cancellation policy typically does not cover last-minute cancellations. We deeply value Heidi’s feedback as it helps us improve our services.

Our trip to Italy began in Rome, and right away we experienced the benefits of hiring Alberto and Martina’s company. Our driver was waiting for us at the airport, helping us seamlessly navigate the busy Rome train station, where we caught our train to Florence. As a traveler with disabilities, hiring a travel planner made all the difference. Our guides met us at our hotel for each tour, and everyone was incredibly accommodating. Martina and Elisa were both easy to reach and always available to address any issues that came up during our trip.

The experiences they curated were truly unique, but I can’t recommend their Positano team enough! Every step in Positano was worth it once we arrived at their stunning spot, overlooking the breathtaking Italian coast.

Additionally, having drivers to take us from our hotels to train stations and tours made the trip so much smoother. Vieri, who drove us through the Tuscan countryside, was particularly attentive and offered numerous tips we wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Overall, the exceptional service provided by Martina, Elisa, and Alberto truly made our trip special, and we can’t wait to return to Italy!

We were extremely pleased with Martina’s expert planning and ease of execution for the Lake Como leg of our holiday. On our e-bike tour, we enjoyed climbing breathtaking vistas while being gently active. In Varenna, our views from Castello do Vezio were stunning and well worth the cardio-workout climb. The private boat tour with Federico was perfect. We stopped in Mennagio and then lunched in Bellagio. Finally, our tour at Villa del Balbianello was terrific.

We enthusiastically recommend Martina and her team!

The trip was amazing. We loved the hotel/villa Martina found for us—it was beyond perfect. We needed one of the bedrooms w/a bathroom to be on the first floor for accessibility for my parents, and Martina found the most perfect accommodations.

In fact, I would say that the villa & the hotel were the wow on this trip. The service was outstanding, the villa luxurious and understated. Having the private pool in the August Tuscan heat made our days relaxing, cooling and fun. The breakfasts every day were so delicious and abundant. We loved having breakfast served at the villa on the days we had afternoon or evening plans. I would not have found this place without Martina’s help.

The activities that Martina helped me select and put together were wonderful. As a family, our cheese and wine tasting day in Chianti was probably the highlight. We celebrated my son’s birthday on that day, and Martina arranged for a birthday cake to surprise him at the end of the day after wine tasting and lunch. He loved it and felt very celebrated. The other two stand out activities were the food tour w/Streaty and the private tour of the Uffizi. The food guide tour was so knowledgeable about food history that we learned a lot and were beyond full by the end. The guide at the Uffizi was also very knowledgeable and made the visit highly educational, even for my 15-year-old son. Although we enjoyed visiting Livorno, I would not say this visit is a must. My family is originally from there so that was the draw for us, but we found there was not that much to see there. Our guide there was very good too, though she wasn’t as good a listener as the other guides we had on the trip so we did not connect with her as much as we did w/the other guides we had.

And lastly, I cannot sing Martina’s praises high enough. She listened to what we wanted and created exactly the right trip for our family. She was very helpful w/all the different needs of our family, ages 15 to 81. When at the last minute my parents could not come on the trip, she helped rearrange what needed to be rearranged and was available by phone and text throughout our vacation. I would definitely use her services again. Martina could not control the weather and warned me that Florence in August would be tough, but she helped plan our days w/the activities early in the day or after sunset to make it more manageable. This was our only time to take this trip and I’m very very glad we did, but I would say that if at all possible do not go to Tuscany in August.

Gale Donoghue and family at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

This was our first trip to Italy and we can’t wait to go back! It was a combination vacation — a week with our three sons and one fiancé (ages 27-30) in Tuscany and Rome and a week on our own in Florence and Venice. We contacted Wendy with the basics and were directed to Alberto Buzzanca and Martina Venturi. Alberto and Martina listened to our vision for this important family trip and brought it all together for us. Our main interests were history, art and food and we were anxious to have highlights for varying ages.

Starting at the beautiful Podere Val d’Orcia, a Tuscan agriturismo just south of Siena, was the perfect way to relax and have some fun together. We enjoyed horseback riding, hiking, truffle hunting and side trips to Siena and Pienza. Back at the resort, we created great memories together with a cooking class, olive oil tasting, hanging by the pool and just enjoying the beautiful grounds and view over a glass of wine and great food. The cadence picked up in Rome. We saw the usual highlights, I am sure, but with top-notch private guides and some unique experiences, including a street art tour in Vintage 500 Fiats and a special ticket to tour the lower level of the Colosseum (our guide was as excited about that as we were!).

The cadence really changed when my husband and I continued on alone to Florence and Venice. Such beauty and so much fascinating information, all delivered at a personal level. In Florence, we enjoyed private tours of the museums, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. These local guides wandered the streets with us, highlighting local artisans, local food specialties and sharing their city’s history and culture. There was unstructured time built into the itinerary for us to rest or to revisit some of these vendors for local crafts and delicacies. Our guide, Paola, walked us through the Mercato Centrale, a public market and food court-type place. We returned the next day for lunch and put together what was to be one of our favorite meals of the trip. Still dreaming about the Firenze sandwich from La Schiacciata and the amazing plate of risotto in pomodoro sauce topped with burrata that we found in the back corner of the Mercato! In Venice, we loved the obligatory gondola ride, but also enjoyed a boat tour of the Northern Lagoon, with stops in Murano and Burano where we purchased some beautiful embroidered linens and handmade Venetian glassware. For our anniversary, Martina and Alberto surprised us with an upgrade to our walking tour of Venice’s Secret Gardens, a tour of an outstanding private garden and home, given by the owner.

My husband and I have never done a trip of this caliber or used a travel consultant to this extent and we did not take the cost lightly. We quickly saw the value, though — guides highly educated in their fields, tours tailored to our interests, and so many truly unique experiences, all carefully orchestrated to the smallest detail. Once they are out in the world, it is a challenge to schedule family vacations with grown children. We were grateful to relax and truly enjoy this special time with our kids.

I was very happy with our trip organized by Alberto and Martina. I decided at the last minute to visit my daughter studying abroad in Rome, and Alberto and Martina managed to arrange everything for me, even during peak tourist season.

The activities planned for us were the highlights of the trip. In Sicily, we enjoyed an all-day private boat tour, where we had the chance to swim and snorkel in beautiful bays along the coastline of Taormina. Despite my initial nerves about spending a whole day on a boat, our skipper Davide took excellent care of us. When I got seasick, he promptly brought us ashore and arranged a lovely lunch at a beachside restaurant, deviating from the original plan to dine on the boat.

In Rome, Martina had arranged a private pasta-making class and dinner at a cooking school. The chef was fantastic, guiding us through making pasta from scratch, including gnocchi, cavatelli, ravioli, veal saltimbocca, and a simple but delicious peach dessert.

Having a point of contact throughout the trip was very reassuring. When our car broke down on the way to the airport in Sicily and our driver didn’t speak English, I called Gabriele on Martina’s team. He promptly arranged for a replacement driver and car. Similarly, when I had trouble securing a reservation at a popular restaurant in Rome, Gabriele managed to get us a booking for the next night.

Martina had suggested some amazing private access tours in the initial itinerary, but I had to decline many of them to stay within my budget. In hindsight, given the overall cost of the trip, I would have appreciated more customization in our itinerary — activity ideas, insider tips, and restaurant selection and bookings. For instance, in Sicily, we discovered on our own that we could take a gondola ride to Mazzaro Bay and spend a relaxing day at a semi-private beach of a five-star hotel.

We recently returned from a family holiday in Italy, and I can’t recommend Martina highly enough!

Initially, we set out to plan our trip on our own, but as soon as we started looking for hotels that could accommodate our family of four—two adults and two teenagers—we quickly realised we were in over our heads. On top of that, we had a long list of activities we wanted to do, and the whole process was becoming overwhelming.

That’s when we contacted Wendy Perrin for advice, and they connected us with Alberto and Martina. From the very start, the planning process was smooth and stress-free. We provided a rough outline of what we were looking for and our initial budget, but as we worked with Martina, we found ourselves tempted by so many of her excellent suggestions that we ended up spending more than double our original budget. In hindsight, it was absolutely worth it! The additional experiences Martina recommended truly elevated our trip from great to fantastic. Our kids especially loved the 6-hour bike ride through the stunning Roman countryside and the private boat tour along the Amalfi Coast—definitely highlights of our trip!

Martina was incredibly patient and accommodating with all our requests and changes. Everything was meticulously planned. All our transfers were on time, and the hotels they selected for us were in perfect locations—we could not have picked better ourselves. While most of the tours were enjoyable, some were simply outstanding.

Martina even surprised us with some no-cost extras. We tried to get tickets to see The Last Supper, but they were sold out. However, at the last minute, she got tickets for us and provided them free of charge. She knew my wife and daughter wanted to buy some bags while in Milan, so she arranged a private session at Prada, which they fondly enjoyed.

Additionally, we wanted to cancel one activity because it was almost a two-hour drive away on winding roads, which would have likely made our kids carsick. Unfortunately, we could not cancel even with more than 24 hours’ notice, so we decided to skip it and absorb the cost.

Despite these small hiccups, our overall experience was extremely positive. Martina and her team made our trip completely fuss-free, allowing us to focus on creating wonderful memories as a family. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, we’ll cherish this holiday forever. If you’re considering a trip to Italy, don’t hesitate to reach out to Martina!

We traveled for 2-1/2 weeks in early June 2024 to northern Italy with the help of Alberto and Martina, recommended by Wendy Perrin. We had a specific budget and time frame (family wedding) and they met both. A pre-planning phone call allowed us to share our likes and must-haves, and the trip was very well planned to take advantage of all this region has to offer.

We especially appreciated the line-ups of drivers and tour guides as well as hotel selection (the thing that drives me crazy). Overall, the planners’ knowledge of how to get from here to there easily to maximize the time in each place was a huge help. We loved Verona, Siena, Florence and Ortisei. Rome is just a must-see, though next year (2025) is the Jubilee and many sites are right now under renovation and next year there will be huge crowds, so take that into account.

This was our first time using a travel planner, and I’m so glad we did. Definitely made the most of our budget and time!

We went to Italy during the first week of April 2024. Martina planned an incredible itinerary for our family of four (mom, dad, teenage daughter and elementary school son), and worked closely with us every step of the way to make sure we were able to do all of the things we wanted, as well as others we didn’t even know about that she had suggested. Before the trip, we had several Zoom calls together as we worked collaboratively to create the optimal itinerary for our family. She was also great at checking in with us the week before we left to make sure we were all set with our itinerary and travel documents.

Once we got to Italy everything was great. The drivers and tour guides we had were all incredible. We had the perfect balance of free time to explore the cities on our own as well as tour guides who could take us to the best parts of the cities we were visiting. On our trip we were lucky enough to visit Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Rome and Pompeii. It was so seamless getting around the country and Martina was spot-on with the timing for everything to make sure we maximized our experience in each city/region we visited. She also was in contact with us during the week to make sure we had contact information of our tour guides and to make sure our hotels were what we expected. In the one instance where it was not, she and her team acted swiftly to find us more suitable arrangements that ended up being perfect for us. It was so wonderful to have someone to work with every step of the way.

I would recommend Martina and her company to everyone. She was thoughtful, diligent, accommodating and available. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. Thank you Martina!