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Testimonials
November 01, 2011
No fair! Just drive me crazy! I wish I could go!! Am swamped with work...but hope to be able in Spring to let Leo work his magic.... Everything that you've arranged for me has been absolutely wonderful; I recommend you to everyone all the time and my favorite telephone calls are always the ones I make to your office- because it means that my life is just about to get exciting! Some people are just travel agents- others are dream makers! The day I opened the New York Times in 2007, saw your ad and decided to call was like winning the lottery. Dave Carnivale
October 22, 2011
October 20, 2011
July 20, 2011
July 8, 2011
July 7, 2011
July 5, 2011
May 16, 2011
April 26, 2011
Dear Fred,
From “Benvenuto a Venezia to Arrivederci Roma” two wonderful weeks traveling in Italy. This fabulous vacation was due to your ability to understand our needs, suggest hotels and restaurants and your coordination with the Donna Franca Tour Group. The Donna Franca people in Italy were simply great! All of the Donna Franca staff were prompt, knowledgeable, responsible individuals who added a personal touch to our vacation.
Thank you for providing us with the “vacation of a lifetime.”
We will not hesitate to call upon you for our future travel plans!
Sincerely,
Xavier and Antonia C.
October 20, 2011
BRAVO!!
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN.... !
NOTHING BUT GREAT FEEDBACK AND RAVES ABOUT YOUR FANTASTIC GUIDES, AND DRIVERS. ALL ARRANGEMENTS RAN LIKE CLOCKWORK, AND OUR CLIENTS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN HAPPIER. MY SINCERE THANKS TO ALL YOUR STAFF, HERE IN THE STATES, AND IN ITALY FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE OUR CLIENTS VACATION TO ITALY THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME,
Frederick F. Bencivenga
Solamar Travel Bureau Inc.
July 20, 2011
Hi Leo,
Just wanted to let you know they got back and had a great time!
They felt the Villa was beautiful but far from everything which we did tell them in the beginning. They were happy and that’s all that counts!
So thank you for everything and my commission check…received it Monday.
Have a great week, good summer and until next time…..
Irene
July 17, 2011
Dear Maria -
I wanted to thank you for putting my party together with all of the ladies. You provided the best service and I thought that Donna Franco's service was exceptional! I realize that putting a group trip together is a huge challenge - and you gave me the best options for my guests of excursions and transportation helping us avoid disasters like the hydrofoil boat! I can honestly speak for all of my good friends that traveled on this trip that they had a great time and are more than satisfied with your service. The transportation buses were clean, well air conditioned and allowed us maximum views of the sea and city while were in them.
From the time that I saw the DIXON sign at the airport where Cherro picked us up - I knew we were in for some kind of fun. Cherro our driver was so amazing - not getting at all flustered over all of the over packing that the ladies did (they did not follow the vouchers). His driving skills were so amazing as he took our mini bus down the street to villa to get us directly to the front door for easy unloading. This was no easy task....as the road was steep, narrow and winding! I really appreciate that you accommodate all of our requests. Since we had Cherro doing most of our driving we got to know him well and his felt like he really was part of the group! On the last day he even surprised us with Champaign as part of our fond farewell. He made us feel very special.
The excursion to Capri had to be one of my favorites. We were a bit tired from the day before but Ernesto gave us a wonderful experience on Capri. He even purchased tickets for all of us to take a boat ride around the island when the blue grotto was closed due to high seas. All of us clammered to the front of the boat to get the best bird's eye view. There were not many people on the boat - so it felt like our own personalized boat experience. The boat got into many caverns so we had a unique blue grotto type ride. We even saw the Gerber yacht....it was quite impressive!
The fact that you were available at any hour of the day or night to help us and to make us feel safe while traveling was greatly appreciated. My friends have been to Europe many times, and this trip was one of their favorites. I have heard about many horror stories of group trips - but you made sure to take any potential problems out of ours! There are always a few bumps when traveling - but because my friends are seasoned travelers those bumps did not upset us in the slightest. We loved every minute of the trip and I look forward to you planning all of my future pleasure travel. I would recommend you, Donna Franca, Villa Maria and the area of Massa Lubrense to all! Thank you again Maria - I had the time of my life.
Best Regards,
Carolyn D.
July 8, 2011
Good Morning Leo.
I just heard from Dr. Jett about the trip to Venice and Rome.
Loved it. It was wonderful. Venice guide was outstanding. Gladiator activity super.
All in all- a wow! Thank you.
Maureen Eschbacher
Galavanteers Travel Company
Annapolis, Maryland
July 7, 2011
Hi Leo,
Just wanted to let you know that Marc and his girlfriend Bess had a fabulous time. He said everything was magical. The seafood restaurant you recommended for the driver to stop at was the best meal they had on the whole trip. They were the only Americans in the restaurant and of course he loved that.
Thank you again for all of your help and assistance with this booking. You are a pleasure to work with.
Michele D.
July 5, 2011
Thank you for putting together a wonderful trip. Donna Franca does a great job. First class!! Please pass onto Donna Franca for me our guide Laura was excellent and really took care of ALL of us and our needs. Top of the line company and I would use them again.
Thank you again for all of your help in putting this together.
Ciao for now,
Catherine
May 16, 2011
I want to let you know what a wonderful trip Ron and I had. It was our best trip ever. All of your planning was perfect and went off without a hitch. The drivers were all on time and the hotels were fantastic! Your years of experience truly paid off for us. For example, having a driver take us from Napoli to Sorrento and then having a driver meet us at the Napoli port to take us to the train station was perfect. We would have never known what is was like to travel in Napoli. All of the hotels were in great locations and the views in Capri and Sorrento were spectacular. You made the difficult part of traveling worry free. We will definitely use you for future travels to Italy and recommend you to our friends. We are also available if you are ever looking for a reference.
Kind regards,
Ron & Michele
April 26, 2011
We loved it. Great itinerary! We planed, trained, boated, funiculared, walked, cooked, make pasta and gelato, ate, drank and were merry! Talk to you soon. MMR Tell Donna Franca I love her!!!!! Ciao Bella!!!
Marilyn S.
December 23, 2010
I just want to wish you and all Donna Franca's Team a healthy and very happy holiday!!! All the best for 2011!!
This year, I went in a Fam trip with your company and it was a dream!!! Sicily is an incredible place and my experience with you is one of the very best. I wish you can see my photo album of this Fam trip (sorry, regular old camera, no digital!).
I hope I can do another Donna Franca Fam trip in 2011.
Best regards,
Terry
December, 2010
In the hub bub of the holiday season, we came back from a fabulous vacation in Italy. You had everything perfectly set. Everything ran like clockwork. The hotels were great, the drivers pleasant & always on time. And the guides were so knowledgeable & nice. Sandra in Florence, Laura in Rome (fabulous), Sabrina in Naples was also great. Not to mention Mary in the Amalfi coast, & the one in Venice (Anna Bigai) as well. All GREAT!
The food was to die for. I will send a note to your company telling them what a fine job you did in organizing our trip.
Dan and Elizabeth
October 26, 2009
I took your "A Taste of Emilia Romagna" trip a few weeks ago. I have to tell you that it was absolutely wonderful. I couldn't have asked for anything better. The Hotel Monte Del Re was picture perfect. Our cooking classes with Bruno, the hotel's chef, taught us fantastic authentic Italian dishes. The entire hotel staff made us feel like family. I came home with some wonderful recipes as well as memories. This is a vacation I would recommend to anyone who likes to cook or just wants to learn how to cook "Italian". I can't wait to go back.
Sincerely,
Bernadette Kennedy
October 14, 2009
“Hi “ to all those who were involved in the planning of our trip to Italy,
My husband and I just recently returned from a spectacular two-week vacation to Italy. We just wanted to thank you for planning such a beautiful trip for us! Everything ran so smoothly from the transportation, to the hotel accommodations, to the restaurant selections and tour highlights.
We received VIP treatment everywhere we went! Donna Franca’s villa was breathtakingly beautiful! Pio was a gracious host! Lunch at the San Pancrazio Wine Estate was simply wonderful!
All of the drivers and the tour guides were more than kind and helpful! They were all so warm and hospitable. In spite of the fact that neither of us spoke more than a couple of words and phrases in Italian, we were able to communicate with them very satisfactorily. The lines of communication were always open and to risk being somewhat cliche, it was clear at all times that “the right hand knew what the left hand was doing.”
All transportation arrangements went very smoothly. There were really no glitches to speak of. Everything was so extremely well planned out for us. The cooking class was not only informative (we learned how to make home-made pasta) and enjoyable, but relaxing as well. The meal we prepared together was simply delicious! Francesca was such a gracious hostess!
The Italian people, the sights, the food, the ambiance - it was all there. It was nothing less than fabulously intoxicating! Half the time it seemed like we were in a movie. We can’t wait to go again - soon. It was all so beautiful!
We would especially like to thank you for making up our first lost day to us. Remember our original flight was cancelled and we were held up overnight in Boston. We’re so glad we got that extra day in Rome that we would have missed otherwise. Being a little more rested when we got there on the last day, we were really able to take it in and enjoy it. We visited the Colosseum that day and other archaeological digs, that otherwise we wouldn’t have seen. Also, that night, at Ristorante La Cabana we actually met the two couples that were on the next tour you arranged. Both couples were lovely and we spent time chatting with them over dinner. Later we took a stroll together.
We would like to personally thank Stefano for always being not more than a phone call away when we needed him. It was so reassuring to know that we could call him at any time in case of an emergency and that he would actually be there with help and advice.
We would also like to thank Leo for setting our trip up, and Barrett for faxing us updated changes that were made along the way. Everything was done so promptly and precisely
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for planning this beautiful trip for us. It is a trip we will always remember! Even the other couple that toured with us was wonderful - Liz and Louie. We so enjoyed their company! The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the two weeks we were there. It was somewhere between 80-85 degrees every day. Every evening was warm, too. We never even needed a sweater!
Thank you all so very much for everything!
Sandy & Allen
Bravo! Bravo! An excellent tour, each activity well planned, enjoyable and educational. The tour manager, cooking instructors and local guides all were excellent. The accommodations were very good. The highlight of the trip was Il Falconiere. What special evenings we enjoyed Under the Tuscan Sun!
My thanks for all your assistance.
Mary Zappone
Professor Culinary Arts
Our honeymoon was GREAT! We want to thank you for all your attention and efforts to make our trip an unforgettable experience. You’ll hear from us next time we go to Italy.
Arrivederci,
Hidee and Gilberto Molina
I wanted to express my thanks for a wonderful trip. I was on the Italian Fever and three-day pre-tour. The hotels, food and tour guides exceeded my expectations. The small size of the group and the stop at the villa added tremendously to the satisfaction of the trip.
You might be interested to know that our main tour guide, who was a doll, said that your company was the best he’s worked for.
I’ve already recommended your company to many friends and associates!
Keep up the great work!
Marsha Freedman
We’ve just returned from out Italian Fever trip. A huge compliment to our tour guide, Tommoso, and to Donna Franca. The trip was exceptional: well-planned, well-paced and the food was excellent!
Barbara Bostick
I just had ten people return from Italy on a booking I did with you. The clients called to say that everything was fabulous! The hotel was perfect, everything went like clockwork. I just wanted to pass this on and say “Thank You”!
Angie Sundling
Angie’s Travel Shop
Dear Donna Franca,
I am writing you from our final destination on our honeymoon trip.
Thank you for arranging an unforgettable trip of a lifetime.
Mille Grazie
Mark and Shirley Camst
Just a short note, long overdue, to tell you what a wonderful time my daughter and I had on Italy. We had a great group of people in our tour. We’ve all become friends. Having small groups is the way to go.
Paulo, our guide was wonderful; so funny, caring and knowledgeable.
We hope to do it again!
Sincerely
Maureen
WOW!
What more can we say!!! The trip was fabulous, probably the best we have ever had.
Mille grazie
Michael Philopena
Vacation Station Travel Center
We are back and what a wonderful time we had! I can’t thank you enough for all your efforts. Everything went perfectly. I’m forwarding you a note from my sister for your help for her son and future daughter-in-law.
Susan Keilman
My friends and I took the Sicilian Fever tour. I just wanted to compliment Donna Franca on the choice of hotels and on all the staff members. They did an outstanding job when it came to helping us, as did all the staff members at every hotel on the tour.
Again, thank you again for a wonderful trip.
Ann Ricco
All your arrangements for the private tours were perfect. We only had one snafu and it was the cruise line’s fault - not yours. Their on-shore excursion called for Florence and Pisa on your own with a stop in Pisa on the way back to the ship. So I figured on meeting the tour guide in Florence around 10:30 to 10:45 AM. Well, we stopped at Pisa first! Best laid plans of mice and men.....
Our little guide, “Tia” waited for us in Florence until we arrived at around noon but was only able to stay with us for 1 and 1/2 hours because she had another tour at 2 pm. She kept apologizing and we kept assuring her that it was not her fault and to please not worry. We hustled through Florence with her and soaked up as much as she was able to pack in. All in all, we saw the highlights and had a small amount of time to wander the sqaures and take lots of pictures.
Rome was incredible. Using the tour group was awesome because we bypassed all the large groups on buses at the port and sped into Rome (the driver was going very, very fast) and met up with “Laura’’ (the guide provided by Donna Franca Tours) for our tour of the museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, Laura is also a professor of archeology at the Univ. Rome. Very smart and so full of information and history. She was my age and I fell in love with her...she had no children and just loved our grands all the while trying to educate them as to what we were seeing. I could have spent days with her and we decided we would have been great friends.
The Millers
Just wanted to thank you for putting together such a great trip. My family and I enjoyed it immensely. The hotels were wonderful, the guides were great; everything worked out beautifully. We loved Italy, the people, the food and the wine. Thanks again.
Susan Crane
Dear Leo,
We just got back from Italy yesterday and I cannot thank you enough for the trip you planned for David’s Birthday for all of us. It was the best European tour we ever had!
The meals were sensational, especially the first night in Treviso, the hotels were nice and both flights left on time, arrived early and were enjoyable! You really planned well.
Everyone on the tour enjoyed themselves immensely and Tom and I said that you will be the only travel agent we ever use again.
Thank you for doing a great job, for all your hard work and for making our vacation one-in-a-million.
Arlene Guadgano
Dear Donna Franca,
I want to thank you and your staff for assisting us in planning and arranging an absolutely wonderful trip to Italy. The drivers were so pleasant and helpful, the guides and lecturers were very informative and equally pleasant as well. Everyone was on time and knew exactly what our plans were for the day. You handled everything. It was the perfect 35th wedding anniversary celebration.
My wife and I were especially fond of Laura Tani (our expert guide/lecturer in Rome) and Marcello Giovannini (our private driver in Rome).
I hope this will be the first of many trips to Italy and my wife and I are looking forward to contacting you to plan these trips as well. Again, thank you for all your patience and assistance.
Fondly,
Anthony & Rosemary Patrick
Dear Donna Franca,
I would like to truly thank you for our wonderful experience with Donna Franca Tours. My wife and I just completed a nine day Sicilian Fever tour and words can not express this wonderful experience. From my first phone call to inquire about a tour, your staff was professional and displayed a great concern to make this an unforgettable experience for my wife and I. Your tour guide, Laura, who was with us for the nine days, demonstrated daily her complete knowledge of all the areas we visited and also was completely sensitive to needs of all the people on the tour. Once again, “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.”
John Pollina
Leo,
We just got back from our trip to Sicily and our trip was excellent. I want Donna Franca to know that our guide, Laura (Laura Bonica- Tour Manager), was one of the best tour guides I ever met. She was efficient, organized, knowledgeable, caring, friendly, and fun. She made our trip very special. Tell Donna that we are very pleased with the trip but Laura certainly made it special for us.
Ciao,
Joe and Mary Del Guercio
Hi Leo,
Katie, Dave and I have just returned from our Italy trip and had a wonderful time. THe arrangements all worked out well - we like the hotels, were pleased with how central they were for what we wanted to do, and were especially charmed by Alla Giudecca in Syracuse. Our drives with Giuseppe in Sicily were excellent, too - he is very knowledgeable and interesting to talk to, and gave us inisughts into the country. And we loved Sicily - being there at Easter was a special treat. Thanks for all the arrangements you made for us - we’ll certainly recommend you to anyone else we know planninga trip to Italy.
Dee
Hi Leo,
I just wanted to let youknw how wonderful our trip was and how beautiful we thought the hotels were.
Colonna Palace was in such a great location and we appreciate your e-mailing the hotel to request a room facing the plaza. Hotel Grand Royal in Sorrento...well, what I can I say? It was perfect! We had a room on the top floor with a magnificent view. Le Agavi...again...what is there to say? It was better than perfect. We visited the Le Sirenuse while there and though that the view from Hotel Le Agavi was much much better...no comparision. All hotel staff were wondferful to us.
Sabina, our tour guide in Pompeii, was a delighful and knowledgeable tour guide.
I want to thnak you again for your service.
Regards,
Clare Habif
Dear Donna Franca,
First of all, I would like to express how much we enjoyed our recent “Italian Fever” tour with Donna Franca Vacations from July 6th to July 15th, 2009.
One of the most memorable parts of the trip was the rustice luncheon and wine tasting in the Chiantio region. We enjoyed the wine veery much and ordered a number of bottles to be shipped home.
Regards,
John Glaubitz
Dear Leo,
I hope all has been well with you. I just thought I’d let you know that Alitalia did right by me regarding that nice leather bag which got destroyed; I thought I’d have a big problem trying to get reimbursed, but instead today in the mailbox was a check for $900.00 (the value of the bag less a standard $100. deduction for wear and tear....). Though I’d rather have the bag, the generous reimbursement will pay for a two week trip to S.F. I’m going on later this month. S.F. is nice- but no trip will ever, ever match how wonderful the Rome vacation you arranged for me was!
It had been decades since I’d traveled, but when I was in my 20’s, I was in a different city every weekend for 10 years; I lived in Rome, Paris, L.A.,San Jose, Cape Cod, and a dozen other places....but the trip you put together for me in Rome and the place in Venice was probably the most fun trip I’ve ever had, I am very grateful- you’re very, very good at what you do. Ask for a raise!
Dave Carnivale