Travel Review: Luxury Italy Vacation, Rome, Florence, Sorrento, Naples, Capri, Tuscany Wine Tour, Pompeii, Blue Grotto, Vatican

It could not have been scripted better than what we experienced on our trip. The recommendation to hop the train to Florence upon arrival in Rome was exactly right since we got into Rome in the morning, and after sleeping on the plane had a great afternoon and evening start in Florence. The 4 star hotel was quaint and gratefully non-American, as well as being a perfect location for the sights as well as great restaurants close by. Other than one shortened outing with a guide for our food tour, the quality of the information about what we experienced was flawless. I wouldn't want to see the Uffizi without a personal guide. The wine tour of Tuscany was outstanding and I learned a lot about Italian wines. From Florence we took the train again, and by the way Italian trains are wonderful, we arrived in Naples and found our driver who took us to Sorrento. The hotel was a great and quiet location with a wonderful view of the water. Sorrento was relaxed and low key after the sights and culture of Florence, and the guide and driver who took us to the Amalfi Coast was awesome, and the restaurant we went to in Postone was terrific. We also took the Ferry with a guide to Capri, and yes the Blue Grotto is a tourist attraction but worth it none the less. We were lucky that we only had a five minute wait to get in, and Capri was worth it. I also want to thank our travel agent for the two hours in Pompeii before we left the area. From this relaxed atmosphere we took the train again to Rome and did the antiquities tours, but not just the normal sights. Again our travel agent did a first class job of getting us into places and sights you don't normally see. May I also say that if you are worried about security, don't, I never felt safer in American cities. I have to mention the quality and the price of food. Please seek out the "Mom and Pop" places, not the expensive or well known restaurants. Our dinners we never more than 62 Euros except once. The house wine in Italy is spectacular, and at normally 6 Euros was better than almost any wine I get in Oklahoma City restaurants up to $45. Our agent at this travel company could not have planned a better trip. The timing was perfect, the middle portion of the trip in Sorrento was a great break from crowded and hectic cities, and her desire for us to get a true Italian experience was much appreciated. We plan to go back next year and this agent will be our planner again.