Fantastic Tour

The best way to see a Southern European country.

Cinque Terre Was Superb!

The Lake Como area and Cinque Terre exceeded my expectations. The small town of Venere is a perfect jewel. Visiting Milan should be omitted. The physical challenges of Venice are enough for visiting cities on this tour. Our hotel in Milan was too far away from the city center, especially when our tour director left us alone for one complete day. I think that she, too, did not care to deal with the Saturday crowds and the rain.

A Great Introduction to Italy

This is a great way to experience the best Italy has to offer. The small fishing villages on the coast of the Ligurian Sea were spectacular in terms of cuisine and good old fashioned hospitality. Venice is a great city to see in terms of art, history and the special culture of the Most Serene Republic. The north of Italy has the best mix of urban and pastoral flair.

Great trip

We enjoyued it immensly. Big screwup at beginning-not the fault of the guide. But after that it was fine. Should have started in Milan and then to Como.

When I Close My Eyes

This summer my husband, our adult daughter, and I had the trip of a lifetime! We traveled to Northern Italy and visited Como, the Italian Riviera, Milan, and Venice. Our lives, normally, are very busy and sometimes even chaotic. For several years, we have not made time for any sort of summer vacation. This year, we decided early on that we would MAKE this trip happen! And, oh, I am SO glad that we did! We knew from the moment we were met by our energetic guide in the Milan airport that we were in good hands and that the trip would be a delight. It was immediately clear that she truly was listening to us and to each of our travel companions and trying to get a handle on what would be of most importance to each of us. Our time in Italy will forever be a part of us. We had "done our homework" properly. I mean, we'd read the brochures, picked up travel books, etc., talked to others who'd been to Italy, and these tasks did help us prepare for the trip.... in the academic sense. Italy itself, however, seemed to take us by the hands and guide our hearts to fall in love with its people, geography, and culture. We've returned home now to our still chaotic lifestyle. But, when I close my eyes, I see the pastel buildings of the town of Porto Venere with sunshine illuminating them....just for us...as we gazed from our hotel room balcony. When I close my eyes, I see the adorable shop clerk in the Lake Como village of Bellagio patiently teaching me to tie a scarf properly around my neck.....so many times repeating the lesson because I'm not that clever. When I close my eyes, I see our precious tour guide taking the time to actually escort us into the Milan subway system and practice buying tickets and rehearsing our shopping strategies and quizzing us on how to return to the hotel (safely!) When I close my eyes, I see my husband begin to trade his blackberry for his camera. When I close my eyes, I see and hear the beautiful voice of the man singing in italian from a passing gondola. Northern Italy was an experience that has proven to last far longer than the number of days we were actually there.

Go Ahead...Italy Charm

A server at a famous Chicago restaurant tells guests to "travel the world seeing all you want to see and then save Italy for last, because nothing is better that Italy." I love Italy. From Lake Como, to Porte Venere, to Lucca, to Colle Verde, to the shopping in Milan (now, shopping is not my thing), to Venice...when asked to describe Italy to my family and friends in one word, my word is charming. Go Ahead planned lots of charm into our active tour with our fabulous tour guide. The scenery, the food, THE WINE, the Venice Gondola ride, all simply charming. With the photos you will see charm at it's best, the people of Italy! Grazie to Go Ahead Tours!

I tell all my friends about go ahead tours.

I enjoyed my tour so much that I tell my friends and co workers about the trip. I always dreamt of going to Italy and was able to make my dreams come true. Northern Italy is beautiful and it was truly an experience. The tour director is wonderful in explaining the Italian culture. The individual tour guides gave detail descritions of the particular regions. I enjoyed the time we had for touring and time for ourselves to go an explore.

venice, como & the italian riviera

another 5 star go ahead tour

Villages, Romantic lake,A city built on water

We had been so blessed with good weather and lucky timing on the trip. We saw beautiful scenery and a good mix of big city and tiny villages. -A taste of the rich and famous at Lake Como, Villa Carlotta and Bellagio -Delightful boat and train ride exploring the enchanting hillsides towns of Cinque Terre, Portefino and Santa Marguarita -Magical bridges of Venice -Wonders of Scala and the Cathedral in the fashion town of Milan We never ran out of things to see or do and we recognized our good fortune, good weather, lucky timing and safe and good health throughout our trip.

Italy At Its Best!

My wife and I took our first Go Ahead Tour to Lake Como, Venice, and the Italian Riviera. I was somewhat sceptical, at first, since I enjoy cruising so much and am not fond of packing and unpacking every few days. Well, this trip changed my feelings. Staying in each location for several nights is the only way to really soak up the culture and ambiance of each beautiful location. Our hotels were extremely well appointed and in locations that were close to the action but not right where all the noise might disturb our sleep. Out tour guide, Sylvana, could not have been better. She took us to all the scheduled sights, plus off the beaten path to sights tourists do not usually get to experience. Our trip was so wonderful that my wife has already booked our next vacation with Go Ahead to the Amalfi Coast.