Southern Italy & Sicily featuring Taormina, Matera, Alberobello and the Amalfi Coast

06/21/2019

Service

We enjoyed a wonderful trip with a excellent guide Francesca from Naples. She was so warm & full of life. All of the trip details were perfect. She made us laugh, had us singing on the bus & even thought us some Italian I found my self practicing on the street sign as we traveled. We saw incredible UNESCO world heritage sites that were so unique & that we had never even heard of before. I would take another trip with Collette.
Tour

We went to family farm in Sicily for a tour & a meal. They showed us how to make rice balls the family was really adorable & the woman who was our host was so funny. We could easily see how genuine they are & how they enjoy sharing what they love doing. The food was amazing!!

06/20/2019

Service

They tried to keep me updated in flight plans that were changed. An explanation for the changeswould have been appreciated.
Tour

I chose the tour for the itinerary and that was up to my expectations! However, there was at least one day that we were on the bus too long although there were stops. When we had dinners arranged, a choice would have been better than a fixed menu. A map included in our packets would have been helpful, as well as our tour guide displaying our daily trip.

06/18/2019

It was a nice trip. quick views and visits of places.

Service

The service was fine. Restaurants OK, hotel location ok. Can be improved. The thing I was not informed about before booking this trip is that it is a senior citizen tour. I was the youngest person in the group. I had a good time with my fellow travel companions but I think you should let people know in advance. Stops at factories are a waste of time .
Tour

Some of the hotel locations I didn't like.

06/18/2019

Service

They were most helpful with my air travel selection.
Tour

This was an outstanding tour of a very interesting and picturesque area. This was our seventh tour with Collette and while they have all been very good to great, this one stoodout because of our Tour Manager Paola Balzo. She did an outstanding job and should be commended for the way she did her job.

06/16/2019

Service

Southern Italy was our fifth trip with Collette. We have been very pleased with all of our Collette trips. Tour guides and experiences have been amazing.
Tour

Tour guide and driver were excellent. Tour provided some amazing experiences

06/16/2019

Excellent Organization for a memorable tour

Service

The pre tour package was excellent. I appreciated the prepared hotel page to leave with family and the preparation tips. The choice of optional tours was excellent. When my husband and I were the only two to choose the Allied Landing Museum we were still accommodated, virtually a private tour. Our tour guide Paola made an extra effort to meet us afterwards so there was no stress to rejoin our group. The pace of the entire tour was excellent, no need to pack up every night. The local guides chosen for each city were excellent.
Tour

This tour covered all the highlights (and I am already longing to return to see more of Sicily. As a tourist you do not always feel welcome if you are visiting an area that has perhaps seen too many visitors. Not so in Sicily, we felt so welcome everywhere we went. This was most evident at my favourite optional tour, the Agriturismo Case Varisco. Cinzia was a delight, and having the men on the tour helping her prepare food was a definite highlight.

06/10/2019

Service

Well organized. Everything that was promised was delivered.
Tour

Scenery was great and Mt. Etna had a small eruption when we were there.

06/10/2019

Very good/helpful customer service

Service

Very good/helpful customer service when we need inquiries,
Tour

1)The perfect time of the day to see the smoke coming from the mouth of Mt. Etna, amazing. 2) The sight seeing ride on the Amalfi Coast 3) the Fish Market in Catania, amazing to know that man still there shopping and waiting until the end to find “bargain” for the sale of day 😅😅😅

06/07/2019

Service

Hotel food could have been better[dinner]
Tour

The tour guides were great.

06/07/2019

Tour guid was very good could have used more relaxing time

Service

Tour guide was very good
Tour

The scenery Did not care for activities to not opt out because already checked out of hotel such as cameo factory, inlaid wood out of date

06/03/2019

Service

Too many extra costs after initial high cost. Meals provided were not very good. TOOO many people on the tour...47. Very little time at some stops.
Tour

Stops at very high end places and very touristy places. Matera was very interesting but Arbolobello was terrible and it rained very hard. Also tour manager often talked for ever when we had little time to see some shops and sights. She had a hard time counting so many heads! Would have enjoyed more time in Sicily at less touristy sights.

Thank you for traveling with Collette to Southern Italy & Sicily. We're sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced on tour. Your feedback will be reviewed by the Product Design Team in order to improve the overall touring experience for our guests.

Collette Support

06/03/2019

Service

Very organized. Yes I will
Tour

The Roman ruins and Sicily

06/03/2019

Service

Great tours. Coordinations were great
Tour

Day at the winery. Informative and delicious food and wine

06/03/2019

Service

We worked with a travel agent so we didn’t have much direct contact with them.
Tour

We had a lovely experience except for the group was too big. And there were two groups within that group that were each about 16 people. It didn’t make for people mixing well

06/03/2019

Service

One of the best trips I have ever been on...everyone was amazing!
Tour

All of it...trip was fabulous...winery was wonderful!! Oranges were delicious, wine was tasty, also!!

05/20/2019

Best trip ever!

Service

Enjoyed experiencing Sicily and Southern Italy. Our trip was excellent mainly because you have a great Tour Manager, Daniel Boghen. He provides information of the area and makes each day enjoyable.
Tour

Seeing Pompei was really thrilling.

05/20/2019

Service

The tour manager was great and kept us well entertained on the coach journeys. My only problem was so little time to look around towns by yourself and shop. I had to buy souvenirs to take home to my family horribly quickly and was thus disappointed with my purchases. It was suggested we wait to shop at certain places as they were family run etc. These places turned out to be purveyors of really beautiful things, diamond, pearl, emerald and coral jewelry at one place; genuine cameos at another and exquisite inlaid woodwork at another - all well beyond my means, and those of others (but not all).
Tour

Not enough time to wander around towns and shop, as previously mentioned. Our tour manager was truly great; I was impressed with the hotels but would have preferred smaller meals.

05/20/2019

Service

My husband makes almost all of the arrangements and is in a much better position to comment on Collette's service. However, it seemed that the response time with the company was good and we had no issues with service.
Tour

Our guide, Daniel, was very organized and knowledgeable. We especially enjoyed the Amalfi Coast and Pompie.

05/20/2019

Southern Italy and Sicily

Service

Excellent tour guide who made the trip especially wonderful!
Tour

Detailed view of impressive sights. All things taken care of so could just relax & enjoy!

05/20/2019

Daniel was the best tour guide ever! He took great care of all of us.

Service

Everything went smoothly, with one exception, the guide at Hellenia, who ignored those of us who moved more slowly on the uneven terrain; I would never recommend him for anything.
Tour

Having Daniel was the highlight of the tour; he patiently explained everything we asked about; he provided maps and other helpful handouts, and he made sure that everything ran smoothly.

05/16/2019

We love Collette!

Service

Traveling with Collette is a pleasure! They tour managers are very knowledgeable of the regions they are assigned and organized. We enjoy the variety of experiences and the centrally located hotels.
Tour

Taormina was our favorite overall. It was beautiful! We would have loved to have stayed longer.

05/05/2019

Service

Tour director (Marta) was great. Experience +knowledgeable + attentive. Bus driver not talkative but very good at dealing with Sicilian drivers and roads.
Tour

Southern Italy and Sicily are beautiful areas of the world. We visited several incredible places (Matera). Because we staid 2-3 days in each hotel and did not leave hotels until 8-8:30 am the tour was not very tiring. Bot my husband and I loved the tour. (My only issue was that Collette website did not let me check balance owing if I booked the tour through the third party)

05/02/2019

Service

Suggest having a group of maximum 20 people to help make every junction of the path more efficient. The Tour Manager should NOT repeatedly make the tipping sound like mandatory and not discretionary, as it should be.
Tour

Amalfi coast drive was one of the highlights.

04/29/2019

Very good tour

Service

timely updating of information, presentations made at group meetings.
Tour

Touramina and Matera were the highlights and the drive on the Amalfi coast.

04/29/2019

Great tour, great tour guide, just what a bus tour should be.

Service

Kept us informed, provided info when needed.
Tour

Just what we expected a bus tour to be. Fast moving but we saw a lot.

04/28/2019

Beautiful country and knowledgeable, wonderful tour manager

Service

Worked well with my travel agent. Everything done and received on time. Trip was represented well in Collette information.
Tour

Great local tours especially liked Matera. Also tour manager was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Local tour guides were all very good.

04/22/2019

Very Enjoyable Trip

Service

This was my second Collette tour to Italy. Previous tour was to Rome and then to the North and depart from Milan. The recent tour was to Sicily and then North to depart from Rome. In both cases I was most impressed with the Tour Guides provided by Collette. A Happy smile and a warm greeting from Luciana every morning began the day of beauty and entertainment. The Tour Guide provided Local guides in each city or at each attraction who were knowledgeable of the History, Customs, and points of interest and who were passionate to share their knowledge. To me, this makes the experience much more enjoyable.
Tour

Our tour began in Sicily with 5 nights there and then across to the Toe of Italy and over to the Boothill area and finally to Pompeii and Rome. So much Beautiful country and History to enjoy. Our tour was in the Spring of the year and is the most beautiful time to see Italy. Snow on Mt. Etna while Almond trees bloomed below. The first green leaves sprouting on the grape vines and gardens being prepared by the local people. Visiting Pompeii on the last day was a truly memorable experience which was improved by a knowledgeable local guide. The tour bus driver was amazing. In Sicily I don't think that there is a mile of road that is straight and he maneuvered that bus as if it were a sedan around curves and over roads which seemed impossible. A truly enjoyable trip !

04/22/2019

Service

Attentive and professional
Tour

The group is too big (40 people). Overwhelming for Luciana. Time/day is too short. We started at 8:30. In few days, we were done half day. We were not told that there is group (29 persons) within this trip, leaving us (11 persons) awkward and out of place in the beginning. The group did not want to rotate seats; only within themselves. Dinners should be in local authentic restaurants; not in the hotel. Breakfast should be combined with other hotel guests. Otherwise, menu is limited (mostly American Continental); tables are assigned. We want to enjoy local Italian dishes. Luciana and local guides were excellent (Jackie, Diana). Matera guide was good. But in Pompeii (Pasquale?) was not good (not engaging, boring). Bus driver (Giuseppe) was excellent. We did not visit Salerno due to traffic, but this should be expected. Shopping should be optional; or after the tour is done. Otherwise, we wasted our time.

Thank you for traveling with Collette to Southern Italy & Sicily. Your feedback will be reviewed by our Product Design Team in order to improve the overall touring experience for our guests.

Collette Support

04/22/2019

Service

This was our fourth trip with Collette and have already signed up for two more.
Tour

The only bad thing about the trip was the number of miles traveled by bus. I think we could have skipped a UNESCO site and stayed longer on the amalfi coast or in Naples area. Great dinner last night in Rome.

04/15/2019

Service

Excellent site choices.loved seeing places.
Tour

All the city and sites I visit was great!

04/09/2019

Service

They were able to answer questions prior to departure. Yes I would recommend them and use them again.
Tour

Our tour guide was great. The Farm Dinner and tastes of Sicily are highly recomended. I felt our hotels where not located close to other events that you could do on your own. had too much free time in hotel....felt stuck in area with nothing to do.

04/09/2019

Service

The food in the pre-selected restaurants was below quality. There was no choice of entrees and most important on Fridays during lent the food served was meat. I feel the only food I enjoyed were at the restaurants we selected when meals were on our own. Also the hotels, although were quite nice, were in remote areas where we did not have the option to walk into town. Hotels need to be nearer to town. We were not happy when we arrived at a hotel at 2pm with dinner at 7 (at the hotel) and we had nothing to do.
Tour

Saw a lot with an exceptionally wonderful tour guide. Would have liked to spend more time in the bigger cities.

Thank you for traveling with Collette to Italy. Your feedback will be reviewed by the Product Design Team in order to enhance the overall touring experience for our guests.

Collette Support

04/08/2019

An amazing trip with beautiful scenery like The Amalfi Coast. Breath taking

Service

It was well organized. Mattia Di Carlo was very helpful with notes in the main entrance. Hotels were great. Meals were very good. The farm at Sicily was delicious and amazing. Her and her family were so warm and friendly. Tour guides were so informative and I enjoyed the historical facts and their insight on stories in the area and in the past. Wine tour was very good.
Tour

Cefalù was great with her and her family at the farm. The food was amazing. So much, so good. They were warm and friendly. Amalfi coast ride unforgettable! Positano was beautiful! Naples was were my grandma was from , so meaningful to me. Pompeii had so much history and and interesting facts. The Greek ruins showed how much they influenced the area. Loved the churches. We were able to attend mass at St Agatha church on Sunday that Deanna told us about. Loved Jacqueline knowledge of the area. All tour guides were super. Mattia and Massimo the bus driver made the trip!

04/08/2019

Spectacular!

Service

Well organized and detailed. They delivered what they said they would.
Tour

Our guide, Mattia di Carlo. was informative and personable. He educated and entertained. The various structures, buildings, churches and cities came to life because of him.

04/08/2019

Service

Everything on the tour was great especially the tour guide. Very cairing knowing a lot about everything. Hotels need to be closer to towns so you can go outside and do something.
Tour

Favorite was the farm dinner

03/18/2019

Service

The time of year that we went it was cold and in one case snowing. The free time was to long some of the shops were closed. Our guide was excellent very friendly, smart and very attentive to everyone on the trip. For us she made the trip!
Tour

Because of the time of year

03/18/2019

Service

no one at collette could explain how we go from terminal 3 to terminal l at Rome airport. Tour guide was phenominal. The weather was too cold. Too much free time in cold weather. Meals were not as good as in previous trips
Tour

the dining out with group and music

02/04/2019

Service

I like that I was picked up at my home and driven to the airport. Our guide was outstanding. She did a wonderful job educating us about Sicily and Italy. I thought our rooms were fine and the beds were comfortable. Overall it was an enjoyable bus tour and I have never taken such a tour before
Tour

Sicily has so much to offer. Before I took the tour I knew little about this region. I definitely would go back again

01/05/2019

Service

Both trips, Portugal ad Italy, where very good. I travel extensively and was very pleased with the service that your representatives gave everyone. Mary Dalton and Jarius were excellent. The hotels and restaurants were great. Thank you! I would go again this year on the trip they have planned but I have already booked two trips for the fall. Can’t be in two places at once! If I am available, I would certainly travel again with Collette!
Tour

Already explained how I felt about my trips!

01/04/2019

Our tour almost made me wish I was born Italian!!

Service

Our Collette CA contact (Jarius) was so very knowledgeable about our destination and then the Italian tour guide (Savio) that we hooked up with was the icing on the cake. Both made this trip an experience to remember!!
Tour

The pace of the tour, the quality of the guide and the hotel accommodations were top notch. Our bus driver was also multi-talented.....and I'll leave it at that as a surprise to the next tour.

01/04/2019

Sicily is an interesting country and we saw the best of it.

Service

We went to the higlights of Sicily, a trip I couldn't have planned better myself. We also went to a private farm and visited with a family. I loved that. The pacing was rigorous but balanced.
Tour

The travel to and from on international flights could have been better arranged for the follks from Baltimore. Overall, the pricing, what we saw and travel on the tour bus was quite good.

01/04/2019

Service

Quality tour guides who know the culture and daily life of their country. Also know history and food of their country.
Tour

Staying across the sea from Sorrento and seeing Mt Vervisous from the shore.

12/03/2018

Everything was superb!

Service

Excellent trip, itinerary, guide, fellow travelers, booking agent - everything was wonderful from beginning to end! Thank you!
Tour

There were so many memorable experiences...Darion was awesome, the Greek Temples were amazing, the beautiful seaside villages or Taormina and others were a vacation spot we would come back to in the future, the winery was so much fun!, and Matera and Pompeii were so impressive historically...I really can't pick my favorite, as we loved the whole trip from beginning to end!!

11/13/2018

Service

I have travelled with Collette quite a bit and they always go above and beyond to make our tour experiential. The optional tours were a great value.
Tour

There were so many memorable moments but we especially enjoyed our visit to Matera where we met a local artist.

11/12/2018

Service

Our tour guide , Mattie was excellent. The bus driver was terrific too. The places we visited were outstanding
Tour

Pompeii was so very interesting

11/12/2018

Service

This was my first time traveling with Collette. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.
Tour

The entire tour was memorable.

11/09/2018

very good tour.

Service

We have traveled with Collette for seven trips. This was a very good trip. I do think that there was too much time spent traveling instead of visiting towns or cities. We basically spent two full days traveling; although our tour guide did stop along the way for some short town visits and some shopping. Unfortunately, we did have three days of heavy rain, but that certainly is NOT the fault of Collette or the tour guide. We made the best of it. The food was excellent and we truly enjoyed the little towns and local tour guides. We are planning another trip back to Italy in the future.
Tour

see the previous comments.

11/05/2018

Service

Too many people on the tour.
Tour

Too many people on tour never again

Thank you for traveling with Collette to Southern Italy & Sicily. Your feedback will be reviewed by the Product Development Team.

Collette Support

10/29/2018

Service

Tour guide was fabulous, Mattia DiCarlo was very knowledgeable and quick to assess the personalities in the group.
Tour

Beautiful tour of the Amalfi Coast.

10/29/2018

Out of This World!

Service

Well worth it! Our guide and driver were tremendous! All the stops and sight seeing were out of this world! Would do it again! Great memories!
Tour

On the the beach at Naxos, Sicily.

10/26/2018

Service

Tour director Mario Villanis was the best
Tour

Farm Case Varisco in Cefalu - Hostess had exceptional personality, food was great, very entertaining optional tour

10/22/2018

Tour needs refinement

Service

Hotel selection good but would prefer locations within city centers. Long day trip to vineyard for a 30 view of operation and dinner was very disappointing. Would have preferred Sorrento, Amalphi coast and Matera sequence. Palermo visit could have focused on major sites within walking distance of hotel versus bus trip to visit a cathedral.
Tour

The visit to Matera was highlight of tour.

10/17/2018

Collette is the best!

Service

This was our third trip with collette and each trip has been wonderful. Sicily and southern Italy was just beautiful! Our tour guide was excellent! Hotels were centrally located !
Tour

So manywinderful experiences that it is difficult to choose .. Cefalù , an optional tour was one of my favorite stops- the setting , the host and the food just outstanding!

10/15/2018

Professional, informative, delicious!

Service

Hotel accomodations were excellent quality and very modern. Our guide was very informative and he handled every problem with utmost professionalism. The trip gave us a "glimpse" of many towns and cultures.
Tour

There were so many memorable experiences - swimming in the Meditterean Sea, having sandals made in Amalfi, the views from Taorimina and Mt Etna.

10/08/2018

Efforts should be made to negotiate early openings for breakfasts.

Service

Good choice of hotels with one exception. The visits and the chance to eat at excellent sites was a real bonus.
Tour

Eating at good restaurants especially the night where we had live music. The visit and meal at an agritourismo was a treat.

10/08/2018

Great fun

Service

It was a lot of fun and having the tour guide made it stress free.
Tour

Going on a tour made it Stress free travel

10/07/2018

Service

I was a little disappointed with Collette on this trip. We missed our connecting flight in Rome because our origin flight was delayed 1 1/2 hours. We only had 1 1/2 hours of connection time. When we did arrive in Palermo, it was upsetting to learn that our Collette rep had left. We found another one and really had to convince him to help up, which he finally did. The tour manager in Sicily and Italy was not what we are accustomed to with Collette.
Tour

Pompei was probably my favorite.

Thank you for traveling with Collette to southern Italy and Sicily. A member of the Guest Relations Team will follow up with you.

Collette Support

07/09/2018

Wonderful

Service

The overall experience was very smooth and hassle free. The site selection and tour guides especially Jacquline in Palermo and Diane in Catania and Mt. Etna were great. Salvatore was an excellent driver and extremely pleasant and knowledgeable. Monica was super and made the whole trip unforgettable.
Tour

Mt Etna, Taormina, Matera, Pompei

06/18/2018

We saw all the things we were interested in, in Scicily and the Amalfi Coas

Service

The tour was well paced and we experienced all the places we wanted to see. The guide did an excellent job and was well versed in the areas we visited.
Tour

It was a good experience.

06/13/2018

So. Italy, leave the driving to Collette

Service

Great tour, guides and hotels. We learned so much about So Italy that we didn't know and saw some wonderful sights. Thank you for the ride to and from the airport too.
Tour

All of the details were so well organized for us from buses, hotels, route and sights. Great guides too.

06/11/2018

Exceptionally one of the best vacations!!

Service

What a wonderful experience we had on the Southern Italy 🇮🇹 & Sicilly tour. Everything from the tour itinerary to the staff and accommodations was a five star adventure!! We were treated to wonderful, delicious and authentic cuisine in every region that we visited throughout Italy. Collette was able to culturally immerse us in the various activities and tour explorations. Our tour guide Tony and driver Salvatore were exceptional to making the most out of our travel experience. Thank you to Captivating Journeys on Maui Hawaii for making this a effortless and flawless vacation. Ciao!!
Tour

Exceptional experience in 🇮🇹 Italy!!

06/11/2018

Service

Firstly I must say this tour should be a level 4 not 3 it was much more strenuous than my last years level 3 trip to Spain & Portugal was .I would have chosen a different vacation if I had known. In spite of that fact It was very well organized, went to interesting places & hotels were good.visits & dinners included were excellent. Our tour manager was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the visits to Aerobella.Do please continue to offer this part of the tour . In the Palermo hotel the pillows were like a couple of rocks ,the only place they were not excellent .Also please find a hotel in Palermo which doesn’t have a hike to get to the bus,first time ever with many holidays with different companies I have ever not had the bus at the hotel door. Thank you for your holiday offerings they are excellent,just need a couple of items attended to .
Tour

Read what I have written today about activity levels to truly help customers judge which tour to go on.

Thank you for traveling with Collette to southern Italy and Sicily. Your feedback has been forwarded to our Product Development Team. They will use your comments to enhance this tour for our future guests.

Collette Support

05/28/2018

Service

The mini bus you put us on was terrible....knees touched seat in front, had to sit sideways with legs in aisle, every bump was exaggerated, a fine tour ruined with 1600 miles of discomfort....rest of tour was great, good director, guides meals, hotels etc. I could not take another Collette tour knowing the lack of concern shown for customer comfort...shameful!
Tour

Terrible mini bus!!!!! Totally uncomfortable

Thank you for traveling with Collette to Italy. A member of the Guest Relations Team will be reaching out to you to discuss your feedback.

Collette Support

05/16/2018

Service

Yes, I would recommend Collette
Tour

The tour met my expectations. I think you should have non- smoking groups. Some of our tour group were smokers and did not show much courtesy to others by not taking their smoking away from the group. When they returned to the bus, you cold smell the smoke on them. I thought the dinner meals at the hotels were not very good. Better to allow more free time so 43 people are not trying to be fed at once and can have better selection of what to eat.

Thank you for traveling with Collette to southern Italy & Sicily. All feedback is influential in addition to being an important means through which we work to improve our product, service and customer satisfaction. We are grateful for your business and hope to see you again on another Collette tour.

Collette Support

05/16/2018

Excellent trip.

Service

Collette is very organized and experienced. A well thought out tour at all locations. Very well planned and executed. Our tour guide Christina and driver were absolutely amazing. This certainly makes the trip relaxing and fun. Every need was thought out and delivered.
Tour

It was all our favorite. Every stop had a great and memorable experience.

05/16/2018

Try another tour group!

Service

Guide was mediocre at best. Did not take individual needs or questions . Avoided conflict. Amalfi Coast... we spent 1 hour and 45 minutes total there. Too many side trips to retail shops. Food at group dinners was very poor. Steak inedible!. Quality of food with group functions not good at all.
Tour

Mattera, Taormina Small towns of Sorrento and Salerno--very authentic.

Thank you for traveling with Collette to southern Italy & Sicily. A member of the Guest Relations Team will be reaching out to discuss your feedback.

Collette Support

04/09/2018

Well organized

Service

Well organized, Bryce is a professional tour manager
Tour

Taormina Greek theatre was a highlight

04/01/2018

Service

Great trip leader. Flexible.
Tour

Liked the places we saw as well as th food and wine.

03/21/2018

Service

Great trip, ***** the tour manager was outstanding! Even when the weather was not good she did a great job of making the day wonderful.
Tour

Great trip and outstanding tour manager, *****

02/22/2018

Try Touring Off Season. It is a great experience.

Service

The January departure of Sicily and Southern Italy was an enjoyable tour. Zero crowds due to the off season, and a real feeling for what the average, not tourist, Italian citizen's life is like. Our tour guide, *****, was well versed in all the destinations, friendly and resourceful.
Tour

Great tour, just the right length. Was surprised at the history and cross culture heritage of the region, and very much enjoyed the food and sights.

02/21/2018

Service

Marta was excellent, she made every minute wonderful.
Tour

Amalfi and Catania were highlights for us.

11/15/2017

Service

The guide was excellent and most hotels were very good.
Tour

My favorite was the bus tour around Rome

11/08/2017

Don't miss Sicily and southern Italy tour!

Service

This is our third tour with Colette and we couldn't be happier with this company. Our guides have been exceptional and everything runs smoothly.
Tour

The itinerary for this tour was great. Our guide ***** was exceptional. He's very knowledgeable, patient and organized. Our driver *******, always made us feel safe. The local guides and our side tours were great too. We had a wonderful group of people on this tour which added to the positive experience.

11/08/2017

Outstanding in every way!

Service

This was our 3rd tour with Colette and we have been very happy with all three tours. We've had EXCELLENT guides and itineraries. Our latest trip was exceptional in every way.
Tour

Every minute was terrific. Loved the itinerary.

11/08/2017

Great vacation - would tour with Collette again!

Service

Excellent tour manager and interesting and somewhat unique side tours. Accommodated my vegetarian requests extremely well. However, I did hear some complaints about the included meals from others in the group, so perhaps some research into improving those could be done.
Tour

I thought the tour was managed very well. Good hotel choices, tours, tour guides, and bus driver.

11/08/2017

Worth the trip

Service

The tour manager was exceptional. He was always on top of all the coordination and the people. He had extensive knowledge of the country and lots of interesting stories. The local tour guides were very informative and interesring as well.
Tour

The Amalfi Coast is a place I have wanted to photograph for over 28 years. It was worth the wait.

11/08/2017

Wonderful trip....can't wait to book another Collette tour!!

Service

First of all, the discount for being a loyal customer added to their booking discount and the free transport was so great. The tour guide and their pick of the local guides in Sicily were excellent. They were so knowledgeable and one of the even published books, which I purchased and am enjoying I have taken other tour s with different groups, but have found Collette to be better in terms of content, ease on the trip, exciting places to see, fun and most of all the best in terms of what you get for your money. The people on this tour were also a lot of fun and great people to be with for 10 days! I will always use Collette for other trips and highly recommend them to my friends! Thanks for making my trip so memorable and pleasant.
Tour

The places we visited, the excursions offered, the guides, hotels and meals all made for a great experience.

11/03/2017

Service

great guide and very informative - was so grateful guide was so well-versed in English - great local tour guides for all included and optional tours - beautiful hotel rooms with great views - was so grateful for transportation to and from my airport - can't say enough good about my experience
Tour

so much information provided - favorite was bus through the Amalfi Coast - very professional bus driving necessary for this - stunning scenery - unforgettable

11/03/2017

Well organized tour -

Service

I felt the tour was well planned. I have specific food allergies and our tour guide was always careful that my needs were met. the pace was good, I choose to do all the extra tours so one of the days was very full, but rewarding. The driver got us everywhere safely. The city tour guides added a personal touch for us for the places that we visited. The hotels were in good locations. One did not have good WiFi but I indicated that on our survey, other than that it was fine.
Tour

We visited cities and places that were rich in history - Matera, Pompeii. places - valley of the temples - saw natural wonders = Mt Etna and Mt Vesuviues. Seeing the cathedrals in Palermo and Monreale and Chefalu were very special to me. ;I cannot find just one place that was more memorable than the others. Perhaps the Amalfi Coast comes the closest.

11/02/2017

Recommend the tour for others with a few changes.

Service

Travel days are too long. Need some downtime before dinner. Too many local guides and the need for more tipping costs. Bus drivers were excellent. Collette guide was excellent. Hotel choices were great. Food was good. Vineyard visit was A1 as was the meal there. Checking in was smooth and timely at every hotel. Washroom breaks while travelling were not great. Not enough time to stand in a long bathroom line and make a purchase. Washroom choices could have been cleaner/more equipped for bus loads of tourists. History lessons were a little too detailed. Overall a great trip.
Tour

Some changes required regarding washrooms, additional tour guides

11/01/2017

Outstanding tour.

Service

The trip was well-arranged...all connections made, everything on time. The Tour Director was outstanding...well-organized and responsive and caring for the clients needs. Everything happened perfectly. The various destinations were outstanding.
Tour

There are many things to do and see in Sicily and Southern Italy...this tour provided a good sampling of those things.

11/01/2017

Service

We saw a whole lot of southern Italy. Our tour guide was very passionate about her country.
Tour

Only negative is that the days were jam packed. Sometimes starting at 6 A.M. and ending at 10 P.M.. The days were too long for many of the seniors on the tour. Many people got sick. There was also A LOT of walking.

Hello, thank you for sharing this feedback with us about the pace of the tour. We have passed this along to members of our team for review. \n\nWe appreciate you and value your insight as it helps us to improve our tours for future guests. We look forward to traveling with you again soon.

Collette Support

10/24/2017

Service

Collette were a great tour company. Our Guide and drivers were very friendly and knowledgeable and provided a great tour. The accommodation was mostly very nice and the added excursions were lovely.
Tour

The most favourable memory we visiting the family on the farm and dining in their restaurant and seeing the Sicilian way of life. The drive up the Amalfi Coast was also a treat.

10/08/2017

Would travel again with Collette

Service

First ever tour with Collette and enjoyed it. Marco Our guide was excellent. Hotels good , meals good. Sometimes I think we spent too much time in some towns for lunch but I understand bus driver can only drive so far without a break. Loved the 2 and 3 day stays at same hotel gives you time to rest if you need it. 43 on bus but with 2 doors easy to get off and in plus seat rotation is good when everyone follows the rules.
Tour

Loved the tour. Marco our guide excellent with full bus of 43. Made frequent toilet stops. Enjoyed 2 and 3 night stays. Travelers friendly. Sicily is a must to see as is Southern Italy. Hate the traffic and hustle and bustle if major towns, this tour is for you.

10/08/2017

Enjoyed travelling with Collette

Service

Husband and I very happy with our first Collette tour. Our guide Marco was the best and looking after 43 he did very well indeed
Tour

Every town in Sicily I enjoyed, I am not a big city person and prefer smaller towns, hate the traffic but unavoidable on Amalfi Coast. Had choices in meals that were included, only one buffet dinner. Took an optional excursion to Savoca and enjoyed that. Told that the excursion to farm was excellent but unfortunately we didn't take it due to arriving late. Always wanted to visit Southern Italy and viewing Truili houses there. Love Pompei been before and could go again.

10/07/2017

great

Service

Our guide was terrific! She was full of energy and enthusiasm for her country. To improve the trip for seniors like us, more washroom breaks would be appreciated. The hotels were great, and the entertainment & sights. We enjoyed the music & dinner night. Would like to have more music.
Tour

good hotels, good food, interesting stories & sights

10/06/2017

Service

Outstanding!! Our guide ******was so informative and kind. That really makes the trip enjoyable. Hotels were fabulous and spotless. Local guides were also great. I didn't enjoy stopping at the jewelry store or woodworking shop. I would have liked to enjoy the town's more.
Tour

Love Sicily, but mainland was great, too.

10/04/2017

Service

Your representatives were always there when we asked a question or had a concern.
Tour

Your brochures said "moderate" walking....I think it should have said a LOT of walking up hills, cobblestone pavement, etc. The tourguides walked way too fast for some of us to catch up to them & unfortunately we missed some of the comments, etc. Also, the last supper in Rome...why did we have to walk over 20 minutes to get there when there were other restaurants we passed that would have been just fine. Plus the restaurant was too small for our group. Dinner was adequate but we were crushed in that room. In fact, one couple had to sit in another room by themselves. The food in this establishment was sub-par compared to the rest of the places we ate at. Also, the only reason my wife and I went on this tour was because my wife always wanted to go to the Almalfi coast. Your brochure said explor the Almalfi coast. We only stop at a tourist little area for 10-15 minutes to get some pictures & soveneirs. Then we got on the bus and rode the rest of the way. Where is the "EXPLORE"". Plus we unfortunately has the driver's side of the bus. We DID NOT get to see the coast only the buses coming at us the the moutains. Why did I save so much money to explor the coast, and only get to see the road, busses, etc. VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED. Maybe the tour guide (half-way through our drive) could have asked the people to trade seats so EVERYONE could get a view of Almalfi coast, etc. My wife was very, very DISAPPOINTED. This was supposed to be her dream vacation.....NOT!

Hello Archie, thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have forwarded your feedback to members of our product and tour management team for review. They'll use your insight about the tour elements to improve the experience for future guests. \n\nIf there's anything else you'd like to share with us, we'd be happy to set up a call with our guest relations team. Please let us know if you'd be interested in speaking with them. We appreciate your business and look forward to traveling with you again soon.

Collette Support

10/01/2017

Would use Collette again.

Service

Customer service was very accomodating whenever I called for info. The itinerary booklet was very helpful and informative. The limo service, Blue Bird Global was very professional and on time. However, I do have some issues with the tour which I will describe further into this survey.
Tour

Too much walking due to bus not being able to park in a convient location when dropping us off to visit a site or going to dinner. Worse night was in Rome, we walked a good half hour to get to the restaurant when there were many restaurants much closer where we did not have to walk so far. The restaurant was very small and could not accommodate the group in the dining room and some people ate by themselves. The food was not up to par based on all the other wonderful meals we had. Very disappointed, we were not able to see the beautiful coastline of the Amalfi Coast due to the fact that we were sitting on the opposite side of the bus. The tour manager should have switched the people over halfway on the Amalfi Coast so everyone would get a chance to see the beautiful scenery.

Hello, thanks for bringing this to our attention. We have shared your feedback with our team and they will review it and use it to improve the tour for future guests. If you'd like to share more about your experience, we'd be happy to set you up with a call with our guest relations team.

Collette Support

10/01/2017

Service

Great tour guide, local guides , and nice hotels
Tour

Agri tours, Agrigento, Pompeii

10/01/2017

Stressful, rushed and too much time on a bus

Service

The tour to Salerno and Amafi Coast was very stressful. There were too many cities to visit in eleven days. We spent hours in the bus and a short time on the Amalfi Coast. The winery tour, inlaid wood tour and Cameo factory should be optional. I,wanted time in Sorrento. I bought a ring at the Came Facory for over 900 Euro that was supposed to be sent to me. I have not heard from the Cameo Factory and not received my ring. The shop was supposed to be sponsored but Colette. The food at the hotels was awful.
Tour

I explained too many stops and forced to visit inlaid wood shop, winery, Cameo shop

Hello Karen,\n\nThank you for bringing this to our attention. A member of our guest relations team will be reaching out to you to learn more about your experience.

Collette Support

10/01/2017

Friendly tour director

Service

Good service.
Tour

Love Amalfi coast, Mt. Etna, Albero Bello

09/17/2017

Service

Yes. I would recommend
Tour

Places we visited were really great

09/17/2017

Sicily and Souther Italy is a wonderful scenic tour with lots of History

Service

The tour was very well organized and was a treasure to have a local Sicilian Tour Manager
Tour

The favorite experience was the Amalfi Coast drive.

08/13/2017

A little disappointed

Service

At the beginning of our trip we were alerted by Delta that there was bad weather going into JFK airport and we could change our flight with any charges.. I call Collette and told them and they said they didn't have any weather warnings. So then I called the airlines and asked if l could change our flight and found out because it was purchased by Collette I could not. Make a long story short we missed our connecting flight had to sleep in the airport because no hotel rooms were available. It was horrible no. We did missed one meal and one day at the whole Day in Palermo . I was surprise that collected not get the Weather alert that I did for their customers.
Tour

Our favorite moments were at the farms the food was excellent and it was nice seeing how the Italians live. We were disappointed at one of the farms because in your ad it said we get a tour of the farm and we did not.

Hello Cynthia, we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We have passed along your feedback about your experience with the flights and other accommodations on tour to members of our team for review. \n\nYour insight is valued and appreciated as it helps us to improve the tours for future guests. If there is anything else you wish to share about the tour, please feel free to reach out. We look forward to traveling with you again soon!

Collette Support

08/09/2017

Service

I agree with my wife's comments.
Tour

The people on the tour and the beautiful scenery.

08/09/2017

We enjoyed the tour.

Service

My husband and I were both pleased with the over-all experience of the tour we took with Collette. The accommodations were all clean and comfortable. We enjoyed all of the "included" meals and dining experiences. We were not impressed with our guide, however. Throughout the trip, she made many inaccurate generalizations and derogatory comments about the Italian people's habits and customs. My husband, being an Italian who was born and grew up in Italy, took offense to many of these comments. I, personally, think it is very inappropriate for anyone to make negative comments about others' way of life!
Tour

There were many nice people on the tour that we enjoyed meeting. Sicily was beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed the experiences each day.

Hello, thank you for sharing this feedback with us about the tour manager. We have passed this along to members of our team for review. \n\nWe appreciate you and value your insight as it helps us to improve our tours for future guests. We look forward to traveling with you again soon.

Collette Support

06/21/2017

Service

My wife Gwen and I both enjoyed the itinerary, professionalism and our guide and bus driver.Daniel our guide was so knowlegible and helpful that we felt he went above and beyond to make everyone safe and interested. The tour and choice of hotels was most enjoyable except the first hotel Frederico 11 central palace Palermo was so dark and low lit that we had difficulty finding things . We have been on tour with Collette before and would definitely go with them again Also our travel agent Kathy Hamilton with Golliger Travel Brantford is a great asset in our travel needs
Tour

Difficult to pick one thing. Everything was great and out of the way places were well chosen

06/21/2017

Service

The tour leader was terrific - very knowledgeable about history and the areas. Enjoyed the two hotels on the Mediterranean. Other than Sicily, really enjoyed southern Italy. Well organized with lots to see. Especially liked the additional bus tour of Rome and the walkabout since Rome was not a scheduled visit.
Tour

Tour Leader was excellent. Very knowledgeable about the history and the areas we visited. Loved Sicily and especially southern Italy. Though Rome was not a tour visit, we did do a bus tour and a walkabout to see several select sites. Terrific!

06/07/2017

I have booked 2 more trips with you and hope to see improvement.

Service

The itinerary, the tour guide, and the driver were excellent. Some of the hotels had issues and should be replaced, especially The Hellenia Yachting Hotel ( not certain if the name is exactly correct ). I did not care for some of the main dishes/choices on some of your included meals. You did not provide free water on the bus or in the hotel rooms. You asked the guests to tip the local guides and even the replacement driver on *personal info removed by Feef* mandatory day off. I did not.
Tour

I loved the Sassi di Matera and Alberobella.

06/07/2017

Service

Our tour manager, *personal details removed by Feefo*, and our driver *personal details removed by Feefo*, were excellent. . Our hotels were not as "comfortable" as expected. The tour guide at Pompeii was so bad we did not extend a gratuity in the end. Had we not toured Pompeii another time, with Collette, we would never have seen so much with an explanation. This tour guide didn't even let us take pictures.
Tour

Taormina was just so nice.

05/25/2017

Spectacular views of Sciliy and So. Italy.

Service

Tour manager was excellent. She kept a large group (41) together, on time and happy, which wasn't easy. We had many different personalities, varying needs and opinions. But we were a cohesive group much to the credit of *Personal details removed by Feefo* Luggage transfers, bus drivers and tour guides made the transition from hotel to hotel seamless, plus the guides made the sites come to life with their knowledge of the area and history.
Tour

I enjoyed the mixture of historic Italian cities, the charm of the smaller towns and the beauty of Amalfi and Capri. Plus acres of farm land with orange, lemon, olives groves and grapevines.

05/24/2017

I would say the tour was just "okay." Wouldn't recommend it.

Service

Not really fond of the tour. The hotels were nice, but the some of the restaurants we were taken to were terrible, especially the one for lunch by the sea. That was the worst menu and everyone complained about the food and the price. I did not care for Palermo's portion of the tour. We enjoyed Mt. Etna and once we crossed over to Italy things improved a lot. At Mt. Etna there was nothing to do but wait until we were ready to board the bus again. It was boring because we were not dropped off anywhere near shopping so we just sat there. The food was better in Italy and the tour became more interesting. Our guide was great, just did not care for the first half of the tour. Not sure we will be doing a Collette Tour again.
Tour

I loved the hotel on the Bay of Naples. We had a wonderful room and it was beautiful. The hotel in Rome was beautiful too, but we only stayed one night so couldn't really enjoy it. Loved the shopping in several places. I think my favorite though was Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Those were very interesting.

Hello Bonnie,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We have shared your feedback about the first part of your trip with our team for review. They will use your insight to improve the tours for future guests.

Collette Support

05/24/2017

Overall very good holiday. very dissapointed with thw airline carrier

Service

Overall we were very pleased with the holiday and the excellent services provided by (personal details removed by Feefo). We were also very impresses by our chuffer services from home and back. The hotels were very good and the attention to detail whilst in Sicily and Italy was again excellent. Our only complaint was the Airline (Vueling) which was very poor. The lost our bags for thee days out of ten days which almost ruined the holiday. On our way home we discovered that our baggage had not been paid for, a mistake you have acknowledged and repaid us for that! We would like to think that if we choose Collette again we would not encounter poor airline services. Are you able to re-assure us?
Tour

I have already outlined my reasons.

05/24/2017

Best trip ever!

Service

This was the best tour we have experienced and our first with Collette. Our leader was very knowledgeable about history and customs and had very good connections in each location we stopped at. Our hotels were all clean and well placed. We really liked that on the meals that were included with the trip we still had 3 choices. Our driver was excellent, he always was on time and in a prime location. There also was a great mix of scheduled time and free time. Based on this experience I would highly recommend Collette. I should mention that we were impressed from the beginning because of the customer service any time we called with questions!
Tour

The city of Metera, had no idea it even existed.

05/17/2017

Service

Good travel guide with knowledge of the variety of places and venues visited
Tour

Pompii, Matera of prior human habitats

03/16/2017

Great tour guide. Great itinerary. Did not deal with office direct....ou...

Service

Great tour guide. Great itinerary. Did not deal with office direct....our travel agent did all.
Tour

Ancient sites...awesome, foods delicious, wines good and beUtiful,scenery...Amafi coast ...

03/15/2017

I have traveled on 7 (other companies) tours, but Collette was THE BEST!!

Service

The places we visited were wonderful. Our tour leader *Personal Details removed by Feefo*, was extremely knowledgeable. The information and history he gave us was exceptional! (I would love to travel with him again) The accommodations were wonderful and the planned meals were fantastic. The motor coach service and driver were great. The entire experience was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
Tour

Personal interaction with a working family farm in Sicily. My husband and I own a farm in Virginia & naturally I was interested in this optional choice. Every day's planned schedule was so memorable that I can not choose just one experience.

03/15/2017

Good service by Collette

Service

Your instructions for changing money in Sicily were wrong
Tour

Enjoyed tour and Sicily, hotel in Naxios was bad

Hello Steven,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We have sent your feedback over to our product team to make sure the info is correct for future guests.
We appreciate your business and hope to travel with you again soon.

Collette Support

11/30/2016

Excellent service by Collette US

Service

Perfect trip, everything was excellent

11/27/2016

Good customer service, but flight arrangements didn't allow enough time in ...

Service

Good customer service, but flight arrangements didn't allow enough time in JFK for me to get my bag, go through custom, and reach my connecting flight. I had to leave my bag behind (it was sent through on a later flight), and RUN for my connecting flight two terminals away.
Tour

Too much time on the bus going from Sicily to Catania, which I could have skipped altogether. To much emphasis on shopping instead of suggestions for other cultural sights during our free time.

11/27/2016

PACE OF ENTIRE TRIP WAS EXCELLENT. OLDER GROUP WAS GREATLY CONSIDERED. NICE...

Service

PACE OF ENTIRE TRIP WAS EXCELLENT. OLDER GROUP WAS GREATLY CONSIDERED. NICE BALANCE OF SIGHTS AND FREE TIME. SUPER GUIDE.

11/24/2016

Great trip, entertaining, informative, fun; good value.

Service

The guide was GREAT. The hotels had very poor WiFi, and should either have in-room coffee kettles or a 24 hour coffee/tea station readily available. This is important because due to jet lag, many of us wake up at very early hours, before the restaurant is open. Most hotels did not have simple exercise facilities, and even the few that did, had very limited operating hours, or equipment was out of order.

11/23/2016

Good service by Collette US

Service

there is always room for improvement
Tour

a lot of favorable moments. the best is Alberobello.

10/26/2016

enjoyable trip--could have had a little time on the bus

Service

they make a great effort to show as many sites as possible in the time frame.
Tour

Self Explanatory This is not the right time, but we found the food at Collette Dinners very poor

10/23/2016

amazing tour. the tour guide, Monica, was fantastic. Very professional and...

Service

amazing tour. the tour guide, Monica, was fantastic. Very professional and very informative. we had problems with suitcases not arriving when we did and she went beyond her duties to help get them.

10/12/2016

Wonderful trip

Service

Our tour manager, Marco was wonderful, very knowledgeable and he always keep things moving. The local guides were great, very informative and interesting! The sites were beautiful. I enjoyed them even more when I got home and looked at my pictures.

10/12/2016

Loved the experience.

Service

Our tour guide was fantastic. She was funny, informative and very accommodating. The places we went too and stayed at were well planned out and most interesting.
Tour

Agrigento and Matera had great history to see and hear about. Taormino had beautiful gardens and vistas, while the Amalfi Coast was just spectacular.

06/08/2016

Service

We had 3 dimentia travelers on the tour that we were always looking for. It took away from our trip. I realize that this isn't Collette's fault but it still affected our experience.
Tour

The drive along the Amalfi coast was breathtaking. I enjoyed visiting the wineries. The ruins of Pompei were awesome! Climbing Mt Aetna volcano was great. Weather was freezing!

05/18/2016

Very helpful service.

Service

The service staff answered all questions in a timely and helpful manner. They were helpful in planning our travel which was different than the tour itself. They allowed us to connect with the tour transfer from the airport to the hotel despite our having arrived four days earlier. We were, therefore, able to rent a car from the airport for personal touring and then return it to the airport, before joining the transfer. It made things so easy!
Tour

Although we were delighted with the itinerary, we were disappointed in the superficial approach to seeing this history-rich island. The tour of Palermo was merely a drive through on the way to Monreale - which was a wonderful and focused visit. The Valley of the Temples showed us three temples but gave little exposure to why the community developed in the "Valley" or how extensive it was. The hotel here was exceedingly poor with littered grounds, failure of the water system, out in the boon-docks so there was nothing to do or see during free time. (Wish we could have visited Piazza Armerina since we traveled very near it on our way to Catania.) Materna and Alberobello were fascinating and a selling point for this itinerary. The Amalfi Coast spectacular. "Free time" gave us very little time to really look around a town - 1-1/2 hours is not much when we had to find our own lunch and look around, too. There was quite an emphasis on "shopping" which is not at all our emphasis. We would have preferred to visit museums that would have enhanced our understanding of Agrigento and Pompeii. The limoncello and cameo factory stops added nothing to the tour. The dinner tour to the family farm in Cefalu was superb! The dinner in Giardini Naxos with the musicians was a trial - the food and wine were not tasty and the musicians were so loud and constant that it made dinner conversation all but impossible. The Sorrento seaside hotel was lovely. We were amazed at the number of people on this tour - which definitely required a lot of walking on cobblestones - that were not able to walk very far or on hills. There were some travelers who frequently grumbling about having to get out of the bus "again". (Please note: a woman on a scooter NEVER caused any delay - she was marvelous!) The tour director always had good alternatives for these folks, but the comments got a little old. We came home thinking we had only skimmed the surface of Sicily. The local guides were all very interesting in their focused tours, and our tour guide was an efficient and fun tour director, but overall we felt the need to buy informational books along the way to fill in the holes that we felt remained in our exposure this magnificent island.

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Southern Italy & Sicily From £2,049 pp* Featuring Taormina, Matera, Alberobello and the Amalfi Coast

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Southern Italy & Sicily featuring Taormina, Matera, Alberobello and the Amalfi Coast

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Southern Italy & Sicily Featuring Taormina, Matera, Alberobello and the Amalfi Coast