Travel Review: Italy Mother & Daughter Trip, Florence, Viareggio, Cinque Terre, Monterosso Al Mare, Gnocchi Cooking Class, Shopping

Review by traveler

Martha H.

6.7.2019

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Italy

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

When my daughter surprised me with a trip to Italy with her, we weren't certain where to begin. We checked out tour companies but they didn't seem to match our needs; then I came across zicasso.com. After completing my wish list, Zicasso seemed to perfectly choose this travel company to plan our trip. Our travel specialists were so competent and created a definite bucket-list quality tour for us. The itinerary, vouchers and information that preceded the trip made us so ready to begin the journey.
The hotel selection was great with excellent staff and food choices. I would return to all of them. Was surprised by the size of the bathrooms - they certainly beat most bathrooms I've had in New York City!
We were excited and expected a wonderful experience, but the travel company trip surpassed all expectations. If we could give more than five stars, we would. I have already recommended them to friends. You cannot go wrong with this travel company.
Thank you Zicasso.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

Our trip was in three quite distinct segments and each was terrific. Florence gave us the Italian city activity with its art, cooking, food and wine, and lots of walking which was actually okay with my cane. Viareggio was a delightful beach with its long beach walkway, its market of local fishing boats, its mix of shopping, terrific fresh seafood (I even learned to eat something that still had its eyes), and the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Alps on the other. And then it was off to Monterosso and Cinque Terra, a truly magnificent place to visit where we learned how to make incredible gnocchi, actually puffs of heaven to eat. I know my daughter will return for a longer stay in that area.
On our last evening after dinner in Monterosso, we were walking back to the hotel and a flutist began to play Memories from Cats. Suddenly a stray cat joined us on our walk and we knew this was magic. How serendipitous since this vacation was for memory making for my daughter and me, especially as I am now getting older.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

I would add a couple of more days in Cinque Terra just to sit on that gorgeous beach and go in the Mediterranean again and again.
I'd also try to pack in two smaller suitcases and leave one back in Florence rather than have to take it along on the trains.
And as a older traveler with knee issues, I should have been more realistic. My daughter was wonderful at coaxing me to keep walking with stops for sparkling water and cappuccino. One day we totaled two and a half miles which allowed us to see a great deal of Florence. There was, however, a cooking class that we could not attend, the Pizza and Gelato class out of Florence. When I arrived with my cane, the tour guide kindly but firmly told me that I should not be a part of this tour. I was disappointed since I promised my grandchildren I would come home fully ready to show them how to make gelato. Guess this will have to be done through Food Network. The other tours were more than accommodating and well chosen.

Photos

Travel Review: Italy Mother & Daughter Trip, Florence, Viareggio, Cinque Terre, Monterosso Al Mare, Gnocchi Cooking Class, Shopping

General Info

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

Real Customer Reviews

Other Reviews for Travel Agency 126493

Small Footer