5 Star Italy Tour Reviews — 61 to 90 of 452

We had the best of many worlds on our trip. Patient, helpful and friendly guides; outstanding chefs; competent and patient captain and crew. The scenery was gorgeous and we especially loved the areas around Venice and Murano. Our cabin was super clean and comfortable. And our fellow travelers were so easy to be with. We noticed the shower was actually the biggest shower we used during our three weeks in Italy! A little rain towards the end of the trip, but nothing anyone can do about that.

This was our fifth bike and boat trip in Europe and was by far the best one yet! The captain Salvatore, first mate Angelo, and chef Vanessa are the boat owners, and took great pride in making this an unforgettable adventure. The Sundial is a very comfortable and clean boat, our room and private bath had lots of space for clothing, suitcases and all essentials. Bed and pillows comfortable. Air conditioning was kept on until midnight, so we kept windows open and fan on throughout the night so that it didn't get hot after AC was turned off (we went in mid/late September so the night temps were pleasant). There is good space on the boat for lounging after biking, either in sun or shade. Each day after biking the captain found a place to anchor so we could swim. The food was phenomenal, with a variety of seafood, pasta, cured meats, cheeses, breads, desserts, etc. There were always baskets of chocolates in the dining area for us to enjoy anytime. Bar was well stocked, and we enjoyed the Sicilian wines that were offered. Our biking tour guide, Vera, was exceptional, as her knowledge of the islands, flora, and myths was text book worthy. Each island has its own story, and one of the highlights was the night boat ride around Stromboli to view the erupting volcano -- natural fireworks! The biking was easily manageable with e bikes. We would suggest that your rent the e bike rather than regular bike, as the uphill climb will slow you down and thus slow down the entire group while they wait for you. You'll still get a good workout if you keep the the bike on OFF while biking normal terrain or ECO when climbing. Helmets and towels for swimming are provided, so you don't have to bring your own if luggage space is an issue. We wish this boat did other tours, because we would sign up immediately!

What wonderful views in Puglia. in addition to the biking, loved the cooking class and wine tasting- best guide ever, Julia went out of her way to help us and spent extra hours every day making sure our trip went smoothly and was fun.

The fun interaction with all the other people on the barge. Also, the fantastic guides and crew - all were great. Food terrific as evidenced by the 5 lbs. I gained!
While the terrain was flat, there was a couple of days when we had gravel and tree roots which made the going a little tougher and hard on the butt and lower back. An additional cushioned seat cover would have helped. Many people had Emile’s which were helpful over the rougher terrain. I never thought I would need one but I am almost 85 and have a broken down lower back. I really struggled on the second day when we did 50 km and some lengthy rough patches. People with e-bikes felt they were very good bikes, heavier than a regular bike but expected. The regular bikes were excellent other than a little more cushioning would help. The scenery along the way is not very interesting.
but earlier reviews mentioned that. It’s more about the fun of the group. This is likely my last bike trip but it was a great one. All of the bike & barge trips are terrific.

EVERYTHING about this trip was spectacular. We were so impressed with our guide Antonio in his expertise and knowledge of the area of Tuscany. The friends we made are memorable and probably lifelong. The food, the trails, the villages, the group dinners, the pizza lunch— all of it is memorable. We’ll be back for another Tripsite Trip!! Caio!

The riding was fabulous. The routes were challenging, yet doable for me (on e-bike,) and the towns and views were just breathtaking. My husband is a strong rider, but opted for an ebike, and enjoyed challenging himself by keeping it at the lowest level.

This trip was unlike any other! The guides were extremely knowledgeable, kind, respectful, and patient. Cycling through Tuscany will be forever replaying in my mind!

Hard to pick any single thing - the staff was likely the best part, with great tour leaders, followed by how good the food was!

Fabulous trip! Tripsite personnel were great and the Ave Maria and staff were outstanding!

It was a great trip. Everything went smoothly. Sophie from TripSite was very responsive. The hotels were all located in central locations, clean and had great breakfast buffets. The Art Hotel Commercianti in Bologna and the Agriturismo La Razza were fabulous. The food in this region is top notch and the people are so friendly.

Don't let hills deter you from doing a bike trip - I used an e-bike and it was so easy to do the hills. Bike is such a great way to travel!

The six “ crew members” , especially Sylvia who’s English was great and energy outstanding! Next the food! Amazing. Finally the biking and scenery and tours along the way.
I would definitely recommend others to plan an extended stay in Venice before the cruise begins as it is such a wonderful place and more time is needed to see it all.

Just returned from this tour. This is one of my favorite bike tours of all time. Our guide Antonio and driver Felix were outstanding in meals, information, and great personalities. My wife and I rode e-bikes for this trip and were thankful we did. While some others struggled at times we were able to enjoy the scenery and still get as much of a workout as desired. The route is heavily roads and gravel making the wider tires a much better choice. If your hard core be prepared.
The food and accommodations were very good. Definitely would recommend.

This ride was so well organized and memorable in so many ways. The places we rode to, the food we ate and the local wines we drank made this ride one to remember. Riding through back farm roads with little traffic, seeing the olive trees, dry rock walls and cactus plants, all touched our hearts. The reason we love bike riding is to connect with the land, absorbing the atmosphere of who the people are and how they live. The rides each day were so good, the accommodation was exceptional, you will not be disappointed. Staying at Lecce, Otranto, Santa Maria de Leuca and Gallipoli were highlights along the way, as was walking to the tip of the "heel" of Italy. So special and memorable.

It was a great trip, with an additional special treat. I decided to skip the second-to-last day of biking. Rain and maybe thunderstorms were predicted. I REALLY dislike biking in the rain. Plus, I was dehydrated. (Three others stayed behind, too.) I walked into the bow, book in hand, and turned around to wave to captain Andrea in the pilot house. He motioned for me to come up. I climbed up, and we spent a lovely time of ~30 minutes or so, listening to music - Mozart, Vivaldi, Rossini, Luciano Pavarotti. He said that he especially likes Rossini's operas, since they end well. I told him that I will sing the Vivaldi Gloria in December, here in Vermont. As we got very close to the "doors" of a canal lock, he played the beginning of Also Sprach Zarathustra. It was very funny! I'm "smiling out loud" thinking about the unexpected treat - yay!

Also sprach Zarathustra

There were countless unforgettable moments on our trip! Every day was filled with excitement, from leisurely bike rides along the River Po through picturesque cornfields and poplar tree groves to tasting grappa and exploring the captivating carnival museum. Arriving in Venice by boat was an absolute blast, and witnessing the mesmerizing glass-blowing demonstration on Murano Island was genuinely fascinating. The food on board surpassed all expectations, and the crew's warm hospitality, wealth of knowledge, and lively spirit made the journey even more enjoyable. The delightful surprise of receiving a cookbook on our final night was the perfect ending to an already incredible experience. My advice to anyone considering this tour is simple: book it for an unforgettable adventure!

This tour was wonderful! We had mostly good directions on the navigation system (getting in and out of town was sometimes tricky), we stayed in great resorts, we enjoyed the food and wine tastings, and we loved the coastal and inland rides (though some roads were a bit rough). The E-bike made it very enjoyable. The best thing was doing this with friends and family and appreciating the various activities provided in the tour, especially the food! I’m glad we arrived to Lecce early and did a city tour - great city! Wish we’d had another night in Otranto. We had an extra night in Leuca which we probably wouldn’t recommend because there’s not much to do there, but those who did the ride around Leuca enjoyed it. Our favorite city was Gallipoli - riding in along the coast was stunning. Three of us used the extra day to explore the town rather than biking and are glad we did as it is such a cool city! It would be helpful to have the stopping points on the GPS directions (only the wine tasting was on the map), as we had to go back to find the bakery (glad we did as the samplings were amazing) and never found the farm along the road. All in all, TRIPSITE and the local bike company did a fantastic job. I’d highly recommend this tour.

Great crew and food. I thought stops and rides were well planned for a vacation in Europe .

The guide, Giorgio, made the trip memorable with excellent stories, helpful translations, and kept the group together with sweepers and corner helpers. He had a good sense of humor. Also we appreciated the intimate tours of a glass blowing place, a cheese factory, carousel, and fire brigade museums in small towns. The flat roads and bike paths were well chosen, and the bicycles, helmets, and saddle bags were excellent quality and made the rides comfortable. We enjoyed all the Italian food made by the cooks, and dinners were very enjoyable in our cozy dining room. The rooms on the barge were small and a bit tight for tall people like someone 6'6". We would do this again.

The daily stops were so fun as we discovered the culture of Italy away from the big cities. The merry go round museum, the cheese factory & the distillery were all so enlightening. Daniela was a perfect guide. Our chef Sylvia had such a creative way of cooking that I ate so many things I never would have & all were wonderful!

Very nice landscape and interesting visits. The logistic worked perfectly and the guide was very good

The beautiful landscape,the bike ride, the points of interest. Our tour guide George was excellent and the crew did a great job.

The meals were delicious, staff professional and knowledgeable!

I was a last minute addition to the tour and the staff was extremely helpful in getting me oriented as I had 2 weeks to prepare. In looking back after a couple weeks and in sharing highlights with friends and family I think of the food on board, the beautiful scenery along the bike paths in the countryside's, the comfortable pace of the guide, the stops along the way to learn more about some of the little towns and the support I felt from the staff on board as well as the group of new friends I made as barge mates. Daniela was the perfect guide. There was a choice for self-guided but everyone chose the guided tour. We learned so much from her. From tips on riding in a group, to how to catch a water bus and ferry in the Venice lagoons. As well as the history of the places we visited. She was an awesome teacher, care-giver when riders needed assistance, patient leader when some weren't on schedule and just a great person. Everyone in our group of friends raved about our experiences. I had read reviews and many mentioned the food. Well they were on point. Sylvia prepared some very high quality meals that you might find in a fancy restaurant. Exquisite! All in all, I would highly recommend this trip.

It’s hard to pick one thing. The ride leaders & rides were awesome. They took the time to make sure there was a great bike fit. Food was spectacular everyday. Fresh and delicious. The crew were funny and knew their boat. Rooms were clean and ready for us when we arrived. And Venice to Mantova—perfect. I highly recommend this trip and this boat.

We had a great time on this trip. Everything worked out perfectly. We would definitely repeat it.
As for suggestions for future travelers note that in some hotels you will be able to check in early but others won’t let you. Also that your luggage arrives later during the day so if you have plans in the afternoon make sure to pack a change of clothes for after biking.

The Mantova to Venice trip cannot be broken into more or less memorable. It is just one great memorable experience. From the skipper who manoeuvres that large ship in tight spaces, to the chef and sous chef with their delicious meals, the skippers mate who cuts breakfast fruits with such delicacy and the guides who have such a knowledge and love of their country. All are top knotch. The itinerary varies with stops on the way to visit local places of interest so that one gets both exercise and to learn about the area.

We stayed in Assisi and Spello and both were amazing, but we really loved Spello - less people. A local person there said that Europeans come to Spello, Americans go to Assisi. But it was great to have both experiences. Petra met us at our hotel and outlined everything and helped with maps on our phone. There were times that we thought we were following the written instructions, only to look at the map and see that we had strayed from the route. Although, it would be difficult to get lost. The hotels were perfect and the dinners and wine tasting at Sporletti when we walked from Assisi to Spello was such a bonus. Matteo, whose family owns the winery, was so good and we learned a lot about wine and the region. We stayed an extra day and had a great bike ride from Spello on the Appennino Bike Tour route. Petra was going to deliver bikes to our hotel, but at the last minute, the weather seemed questionable, so we cancelled, but then the sun came out. It was easy to get bikes in Spello. Everything was seamless. This is our second self-guided walking tour with Tripsite - and they have both been amazing. The Umbrian countryside is spectacular.

The excellent Tour Guides! I felt totally safe on every outing! They were so attentive to everyone's needs and requests.
Informed us about the areas we visited.
They were very respectful at all times.

I loved everything about this adventure.
My ebike was easy to understand and to ride. The whole crew were so amazing, welcoming and attentive. Our meals were delicious. We rode through the countryside and along the river. At times we were on main roads..but not for long.
I had a memorable time on the Ava Maria, a very positive experience.I would definitely do it again.

What a great trip. This is the perfect choice if you are looking for a smaller boat and small crew. We really got to know the crew well and the other passengers. I enjoyed the guided bike tour and the Italian countryside is beautiful.