We'd be pleased to arrange for you
to contact some of our past clients to gain
insight into our company and services. Here
are few things our clients have said about
us:
Hi Ning -- I'm really remiss in not letting you know sooner how our trip was. Whenever we take a vacation, we have the "Ross family vacation from hell." However, this was our best vacation ever! The drivers and guides that we had were all amazing and we enjoyed our time with them. Paolo and Raffaele, in particular, were wonderful. They went out of their way to make our time in Italy great. We learned a lot, had a lot of fun, and managed to relax. I don't remember the name of the guide at Pompeii, but he was just wonderful.
Your suggestions to stay at the Hotel Rafael and the Savoy were great. Both hotels were wonderful, especially the Rafael. It's location was perfect.
I think we're planning on going back next year, so when we do,
I'll contact you for help again. Thanks so much for making our trip so enjoyable!
Katy Ross
Custom vacation Italy
July 2010
Hi Jacqueline - just a note to let you know that our tour to Verona was wonderful. Raffaele did a very good job and we have a really fun time. The cheese plant tour and Balsamic Vinegar tasting were really a highlight to our trip and I wanted to let you know that you really should offer these things as a half day tour out of Florence (maybe with lunch, we had an excellent lunch (one of the best of our trip) at Restaurant Tito on suggestion from Raffaele. The people were very nice and the tours were informative and tasty! Thanks for again for assisting us with the arrangements. It was a trip of a lifetime but we are all very HAPPY to be HOME!
Best,
Janis Kramer
July 2010
I want to thank you for providing an excellent tour guide (in Normany) for us. We have used private tour guides in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, England, Ireland and Scotland. The Normandy tour provided by Ezzadine Hosni (Dino) was truly outstanding. Dino’s knowledge of the tour area and history is comprehensive and impressive. The tour and transfer to Paris, provided by Dino, exceeded our expectations.
Richard Fried
July 2010
Private Tour of Normandy
Hi Jacqueline
I have just returned from France – via Toronto – and wanted to thank you so much for arranging our tour of Versailles. Our tour guide Claude was most pleasant and informative. Versailles is much as I remembered it – with the exception of the appalling crowds. I would pay a great deal more to be in the company of a great deal less humanity, but the gal I was traveling with had never been there so it was a first time experience for her.
In any event, I do not recall ever seeing the Grand and Petite Trianon’s so that was a real bonus for me.
Thank you for organizing this for us on such short notice. It was greatly appreciated!
Stevie Mitchell
Private Tour of Versailles
June 2010
Just wanted to share some info with you. Our day trip from Rome to Pompeii and the Amalfi coast was wonderful. We had a marvelous driver......Paolo di Gangi. He was around fifty or so and very safe driver. He was lots of fun and was determined we have a wonderful day in spite of rain showers on and off all day. So thanks again for arranging it!
Lois Bryan
Day Trip from Rome
June 2010
Our Normandy tour guide was so fantastic that we still talk about him and the wonderful time we had that day. In addition to being a pleasure to spend time with, he offered the most fascinating information about the history of the battle and the region. He truly made it an unforgettable experience
Chrissy Dooley
Private Tour of Normandy
June 2010
Hi Jacqueline -
We have returned and wanted to let you know how happy we were with our Paris tour guide Jean and our day trip to Versailles and Giverny! It was a really great day and everything worked out beautifully. Jean was very knowledgeable and easy to be with so we would definitely recommend you to our friends.
My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy in November. I noticed on your website that you offer private tours to Italy as well. We have been to Italy several times and are looking for a guide to do some wine tours - specifically in the Brunello region of Tuscany. We want a real look at the winery's - not just a driver to take us around to the different towns and then tell us to do the tastings in the local wine stores. Do you have a guide who can help us with something that specific? We are also interested in doing a cooking school for a day or two - so are interested to see if you can help us out with that, too.
Thanks
Kaye
Private Tours from Paris
June 2010
Jacqueline,
Thank you so much for the "Welcome Home" wishes!
First, please let me tell you how wonderful your Tour partners were in Italy. They were all wonderful, especially Tiziana. She went far beyond what would normally be expected from a Tour Director and we all really appreciated it. She often translated for us and it was often times a life saver! Everyone was pleased with the itinerary. The days were long, but no one complained. I know that our Villa location was a bit out of the way, but the view was spectacular and we would not have enjoyed our stay had we been in the city or a more populated area. I can't tell you how relaxing and pleasant it was. I would not change that.
I would be happy to recommend your services to other potential customers. Thank you again for helping me in my complicated planning. I will keep your services in mind if I ever attempt to undertake such a monumental task again in the future!
Thank you again!
Mavis Richardel
Custom Private Tours Italy
June 2010
I just have to tell you . . . you are so on the ball and such a pleasure to deal with! I'm so sorry we didn't book the whole shebang with you, but Jim and I are new to this and we just followed the crowd. So . . . the next time we book something, I will be in touch with you. I don't guess it makes a lot of difference that you are in CA and I am in PA. Thanks again for all your help!
K. Tomamichel
May 2010
A word from our clients who signed up for our private tour from Rome to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius...
Hi Jacqueline,
Hope you are well ?? Just a quick line to say a big thank you to all the team who looked after us!! Christian our Driver for the day was friendly and most accommodating... especially given the traffic home was horrendous...He did a first class job !!
Antonio our guide at Pompeii was again friendly.....amusing... most informative !!
I would strongly recommend Well Arranged Travel to all... we will most certainly be travelling with you again !!
Once again many thanks to all !!
The Fair and Pumphrey Clan !!
Day Trip From Rome: Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius
April 2010
A word from our clients who did a private tours from Cannes and a private tour from Naples...
Ning and Jacqueline,
We just wanted to drop you a note and let you know how much we enjoyed the tours. We booked two private tours. Panaramic Tour: Nice, Monte Carlo & Eze and Pompeii and Herculaneum private tour from Naples.
Maria was our tour guide in Nice and she was great! She showed us all of the sites and was so knowledgable on the area. And she was too funny -- she kept us laughing all day. We really enjoyed spending the day with her. My most favorite part was Eze. I'd love to go back and stay in one of the quaint hotels there.
The guide in Pompeii was Antonio Passaro. He took us through Pompeii and Herculaneum and answered all of our questions. Both places were simply fascinating! It is hard to believe how the artifacts have been preserved for so long. Antonio answered all of our many questions with such patience. Antonio took us to a wonderful pizza restaurant in Naples by the water for lunch. The pizza was fabulous and we left very stuffed. Our driver was Rafael. He was so kind and always ready to drive us to the next stop.
Thanks again for the great tours. We'll definitely recommend you to our friends and hope to use your services again in the future.
Rita & Kevin Riley
Liz and Randy Lawlis
Private Shore Excursions from Naples - Pompeii & Herculaneum
Private Shore Excursions from Cannes - Nice, Monaco , Eze
June 2010
Hi Ning,
Well I’m back in Vancouver and wishing I was still on holiday. Mom, Tedi and I had a great time and were very pleased with all the accommodations and wonderful guides you organized for us. Paolo always delivered us safe and sound … he’s a very nice man.
Take Care and I’m sure we’ll be in touch with you some other time for our next adventure.
Regards,
Dana
Tuscany & Umbria Tour - Sept. 2009
"Ning, we really enjoyed our second trip with your company. The trip is well planned, from delicious meals to nice, well-run hotels with attentive service. Our group was delightful. Everyone was glad to take a suggestion and go with it. We thoroughly enjoyed each other's company and even scheduled dinners together when they were not planned.
Raffaele, our guide, did a wonderful job at shepherding us through cities, towns, villages and countryside. Raffaele is quite knowledgeable and truly enjoys talking to people. He has a great sense of humor and shared his relationship with his family, which gave us an insight into the Italian family life. He also kept us moving and so we never were bored.
We all loved having beautiful and lively Lucca as a home base for three days. It is beautiful and has an active night life. Our visit to the small village of Pienza was also a nice change of pace from busy Lucca and the other cities we visited. The visit to the winery there was great...we ate fresh figs off their tree, tasted wine and bought some for home. York, our guide from the vineyard, was knowledgeable and pleasant. He helped us appreciate the challenges of wine making. Thanks for a great trip."
Brad and Louise Eisenbrey, Best of Tuscany and Umbria Group Tour, Sept. 2009 - A Tuscany Escorted Group Tour
Ciao, Luca,
This is Gail Thomas of Melissa, Ina, Carol and Gail--Your Louisiana friends.
First, let me say how much I appreciated your guidance on our recent Italian tour. You were the perfect mix of teacher and
companion. I do so appreciate what a fine line you walked. You made sure we had fun and shopped, but you also saw to it that we saw what was MOST impressive and important everywhere we went.
Second, Remember the list I left you--Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the book written
by the travel writer about Savannah, Georgia? He has written a second book---about Venice!!! I have ordered it, but not read it yet. The author is John Berendt.
Third, You may remember when we were in Siena, I left the group and ordered a beautiful plate at Antica Siena there on the square--I paid 108 Euro--the most I spent on anything---and paid 45 euros to have it shipped, but it has never come. I remembered how you checked for something a former client needed in Lucca, and wondered if when you are in Siena you could check on this order for me?
Lastly, we are so sorry about the earthquake damage. How sad for so much to be gone so suddenly---and the terrible loss of life! We do hope you will come for a visit. I'm heading to Ina's for a glass of wine as soon as I finish writing. We are still talking about our trip, and I am still writing up my notes---I am up to the day we left Florence for Rome!
Thanks for everything,
Gail Thomas; Custom Private Vacation - Italy
" Thank you so much for planning such a wonderful trip for my family to Italy. It was simply marvelous. Everything went smoothly. The accommodations were beautiful, well-located, and luxurious. The guides were friendly and informative. The transports were punctual and nice. It couldn't have gone better. Special care and attention had to be given for my parents, and everyone was just wonderful. Thanks again!"
Vicki Omeara, Private Family Vacations- Customized Family Vacation in Italy
"I am still glowing
from the fantastic trip with you, Luca
and the ladies. I can't
tell you how much fun I had, and how much
I appreciate your expertise in picking cities
to visit (a great mix of large and small),
fabulous guides, beautiful hotels, YUMMY
food, and the amazing Luca. I've always
had an allergic reaction to the large group
tours, and this was the perfect combination
of having details taken care of and having
plenty of free time and choices in the mix.
You
were such fun, Ning, and I really enjoyed
getting to know you. You have really
found your niche and are so great at your
job. It was such a benefit to have
your expertise in traveling--thanks so much
for letting us benefit from your years of
seeing many cities, sites, accommodations,
restaurants, shops, etc. Thanks again
for all of your work, and for being a fun
travel companion. I'm looking forward
to another 'Ning adventure'!" -- Laurie H., North Carolina;
Rome, Florence, Tuscany & Umbria
Tour, Women's Tour
"How can I even begin
to tell you what a wonderful trip you planned
for us. It went far beyond our expectations.
I don't know how you did it, but thank you!
Everyone in our group was so pleased with
what you had scheduled and arranged for us.
And we cannot tell you enough great things
about Luca, our guide – we all agree you
have a jewel in him! He was exceptional,
as well as all the other tour guides you
arranged. Each one of them was so knowledgeable,
considerate, and fun to be around. We enjoyed
each and every one of them. I hope you have
already heard from some people we have given
your name to. I cannot tell you thank you
enough for all the planning and details that
you put into our trip. All the places to
eat that you suggested... well, let’s just
say you know where to eat, they were all
fantastic. And the hotels...WOW... your choices
for us was great. Thank you again!" —M.
Slaydon & Friends, Louisiana,
Custom Private Vacation, March 2009
"We just got back last
weekend from our Europe trip. You
made our trip so special. We
loved meeting Sara and her family at the
farm. We actually met other people
there from Texas that knew of you too so
you are a popular person. We loved Rafaele
as well. Please let him know again
how much we appreciated his special touch
on the tour of the region.
Dolores was awesome
too who took us to Pompeii and then to
a last minute place to see fresh mozzarella
made and a lemon grove. We
had lunch there and it was way too special
for all of us... THANK YOU again and again. Keep
us on your mailing list. We'll definitely
be using you again when we go next year." --
Deborah G., California; Shore Trips - Private
Tours: Civitavecchia for Rome, Livorno for
Volterra & San
Gimignano
"My
husband and I are finally settling back
in at home, so I had to write to let
you know how the transfers and private
day-tours that you arranged for us worked
out. In short, they made our Paris trip an
extraordinary, over-the-top experience,
the memories of which we will cherish forever!
Even the airport transfers
were enjoyable, with the charming Phillipe
as our driver. He
is just delightful! So personable and
funny and very much in tune with the passenger's
needs and moods. His English, as well as
that of ALL the driver/guides, was wonderful,
too. He also went above and beyond
the call of duty. The Mercedes sedan
was beautiful, spotless, and very comfortable.
It also accommodated our extensive luggage
quite nicely.
The 12-hour Loire
Valley tour with Paul was nothing short of incredible. He
is a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge regarding
the chateaux, the royalty and their many
intrigues and escapades. His in-depth knowledge
of French history wove a dimensional tapestry
for us, filled with living, breathing residents for
each chateau we visited, that allowed us
to envision what life was like in the days
when people actually lived in, rather
than just looked at, these magnificent castles...
these treasures of France.
And our afternoon at
Giverny, with our tour guide and driver,
Salvatore, was absolutely spectacular.
We felt like we had a friend in Paris who
was taking us out to Monet's exquisite
country estate. As with both Phillipe and
Paul before him, Sal was exceedingly knowledgeable.
He anticipated our questions more often
than not. He was extra-ordinarily personable, witty
and totally accommodating. He made our
afternoon at Giverny a time we did not
want to end and a memory we will always
treasure.
All in all, Ning, I
am so very glad that I found you online.
In all honesty, I had my concerns initially,
since this was a very special trip for
us and I wanted it to be perfect in every
way. Never having done business with your
company before, and not knowing anyone
who had, I was very apprehensive. But you
and your partners in Paris far exceeded my
expectations in every possible way. I would
not hesitate for an instant to recommend
you and Well Arranged Travel to anyone." --
Claire Padelford, Arizona; Independent Traveler
- Private Tours from Paris: Guided Tours
- Giverny Tour, Loire Tour
"Dear Ning, I just wanted to drop you a note about our day in Tuscany.
We were so impressed with Raffaele our tour guide. He was so informative and
accommodating. He picked us up promptly - something I value immensely. His
car was clean, new and a Mercedes van which was very comfortable. I was very
impressed with the overall quality. We visited a small winery, lunch in a neat
medieval village, Siena, and finished with some shopping in Florence. We decided
not to go to the outlets since there didn't seem to be any big savings. He
was so accommodating and helpful that I would recommend him to anyone. Thanks
again and please share my appreciation to Raffaele. We will do this again and
look forward to our next trip in Italy! Warm regards Judith A. Huntington,
CPA"-- Judith H., New Rochelle, New York
~ Private
Tour of Tuscany
"My husband Dave and I used your services
to arrange a personal tour of Versailles
and were very impressed and pleased with
our tour! The tour guide we had was phenomenal. She
provided us with exactly the right amount
of detail and flexibility that we needed
to make this trip and our niece's first trip
to London and Paris absolutely enjoyable.
In fact, Dave and I have recommended your
tour services to others that we know travel
to London and Paris as well as our travel
agent.
Dave and I are planning
another European trip in October. This
time we are going to Rome. We are very
interested in pricing information for a
full day private personal tour of Rome.
We look forward to receiving your information
and working with you again."
-- Kristine and David Tomzik, Private Tour
of Versailles
"I had an absolutely
fabulous time during the entire trip --
No awkwardness at all! Everyone
was so nice, and we were a great group! I
had a blast! I even got to go
for a ride on one of the motorbikes through
the streets of Sorrento, and see what the
inside of a private home looked like. I'm
sure I will travel with you again at some
time in the future." --
Cheryl Thomas, Solo Traveler; Rome & Amalfti
Coast Tour - Women's Tour
"We had a fantastic
time in Paris. Thank you for all your help. Our
guide was "Jeff" (apparently
short for Jean-Francois) was superb. He
was extremely polite, spoke excellent English,
and accommodated our every request. He customized
the tour for us, showing us exactly what
we wanted, and then more. He took us precisely
where we wanted to go, then showed us some
extra sights, and also found a fantastic
place in Montmartre for us to have lunch.
I admire people who are good at what they
do, and Jeff is definitely great. Thank
you for arranging this for us. Please
once again send our thanks to Jeff for giving
us a day we will always remember." --
Loren Rolak & Family,
Independent Traveler; Private Tour of Paris
"I wanted to let you
know how much we enjoyed our private tours
in Paris. We were just delighted with Aurelie.
My traveling companions had not had the
pleasure of touring a museum with a private
guide. After our tour, they were amazed
by the thoroughness of her knowledge. We
have two new converts to the word of custom
guides! She was able to turn the visits
into meaningful educational experiences.
Our time with her was a true delight.
When my travel plans take
to Italy or France, I will be sure to contact
you for our guides. Again, thank you and
your team for a truly exceptional museum
experience. " --Craig Branan,
Independent Traveler; Paris - Private Guided
Tour of Louvre
 "The 16-day tour of
Italy that Well Arranged Travel arranged
for us definitely exceeded our expectations. The
hotels we stayed in were not only centrally
located but had their own unique charm. The
included meals were well planned and almost
always offered us the chance to enjoy the
local delicacies. (My husband and
a friend tried the horse and donkey meat
in Verona!) The
pace of the tour was just perfect because
each day we had time to do our own thing
(exploring more museums, go shopping, or
simply taking siesta). The local guides
were most impressive both in knowledge and
good looks. (Who can forget Alessandro in
Rome?) We thoroughly enjoyed visiting the
little towns that were not accessible to
the big tour groups. Ning Bond looked
after every little detail to make our trip
memorable and worry-free.
Well Arranged Travel has set the bar too
high for our future travel plans. This
trip is certainly one of the best that we
have taken so far. It was a totally
different experience. We wouldn't want
to go with the big bus tours again! And
we recommend Well Arranged Travel to anybody
who wants to get excellent value for their
money." --Lou & Bien
E., Canada, Custom Private Group Vacation
- Italy
" We thoroughly enjoyed
the tour, and we are still basking in the
vacation "after
glow". We find ourselves extending
our Italian experience by exploring Italian
wines in our local wine stores, sipping cappuccino
whenever possible, and buying Italian deli
goods at a new Italian Food Centre that recently
opened in our city. It is not quite the same
thing as the real Italy, but it keeps the
memories alive.
We wanted to extend our thanks for a well-arranged
travel experience that showcased a wide range
of experiences and sights. We really appreciated
the guided tours, which added an important
dimension to the trip since we are both very
interested in learning as we travel. We also
wanted to pass on our warm regards for tour
manager Max. We found Max to be very professional,
conscientious, helpful and very keen to make
sure that the group needs were met.
We sincerely hope that there will
be future opportunities to travel
with you again. I have also forwarded
your web page to a number of my
single female friends who may be
interested in exploring some of
your Women's Tours." --
Marie & Terry,
Canada, Custom Private Group Tour - Italy
" I just want to let you know we
had a great time in Italy. Everything
was perfect. What a great vacation! Too bad
we decided on just a quick tour of Florence. By the way Gresi was extremely knowledgeable
and certainly made our time in Rome more amazing than we ever imagined. Definitely
the best guide we've ever had.
We appreciate your energy, knowledge and
enthusiasm. Thank you for planning everything
perfectly." -- Darryl,
Elsa, Helene, Fremont, California, Custom
Italy Tour
" I want to say thank you for the personal
care you've taken to make this trip in Italy
so memorable! I am grateful for the
high standards you maintain for the accommodations,
which have been a perfect blend of European
charm with modern conveniences.
You also have chosen
a wonderful asset in having Brigitta to
assist in guiding us throughout the various
cities with her knowledge of the language
and cultural attractions. She
has been more than patient and generous with
our needs throughout the tour.
I'm so thankful for
your gifts & abilities
to be in the touring business and offer the
excellent itineraries that you do. I hope
to experience more travels with your groups,
to see you again and enjoy your company.
Thanks again for the memories of a lifetime!" --
L. Henderson, Solo Traveler to Italy, Tuscany
Tour - Women-Only Tour
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