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Testimonials

The Avanti Italy experience, in their words

There’s no better way to understand the Avanti Italy experience than through the voices of those who’ve lived it. From hillside villas to unforgettable cooking classes, these stories capture the moments, memories, and magic that make our journeys truly special.

A couple standing on a terrace with a scenic landscape of mountains and trees in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
A couple smiling and holding hands on a stone pathway in a lush, green garden with a large tree, colorful flowers, and statues in the background. Several people are standing near a railing overlooking a lake with mountains behind.
A group of five people smiling in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, with a blue sky and clouds in the background.
Two women standing on a stone pathway overlooking a historic Italian town with terracotta roofs and rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky.

  • “My husband and I spent 3 weeks in Italy to celebrate my 50th Birthday. Emily from Avanti Italy, took care of all of the details so all we had to do was show up with our passports. From ensuring safe transfers from airports to our hotels with English speaking drivers, to amazing personalized tours, to incredible dinner experiences, Emily thought of everything. It really did make for a trip of a lifetime and some of our favourite experiences of the trip we wouldn’t have even known about if it hadn't been for Emily and her expertise. Thank you, Emily. We would highly recommend you to anyone wishing to visit Italy.”

    April Saunders, Victoria, Australia

  • “Thank you once again for creating such a fantastic experience for us. The level of detail regarding our tours, transport and accommodation was second to none. Having private transport organised from airport return and everywhere in between removed all the stress from either driving or switching between various modes of public transport dragging luggage with us. The drivers were all very friendly and courteous and easy to talk to. The accommodation selected by you was perfect. The personal tours were perfectly selected for our brief time in Italy and the guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly with advice on eateries and other areas to explore on our own. Having a personal guide for the two of us meant maximum information input and also no long queues.”

    Rob and Simone, Adelaide, South Australia

  • “Thank you so much for everything! It was a fantastic and unforgettable trip. Definitely better and went smoother than we had anticipated. We always reminisce about beautiful Italia and the great job you did planning our honeymoon! You made it so easy planning it via Skype and took care of all the details and really met our needs.”

    Tony and Katerina, Los Angeles, USA

  • “A big thanks to Emily from Avanti Italy for organizing a simply amazing Italian experience for us. Our trip was planned to perfection and all details were covered, enabling us to travel from Venice, Florence, Rome and the Amalfi coast with no worries and absolute ease. Your knowledge of Italy directed us to see and do things that suited our individual personalities which heightened our experience. Thanks again for the time and effort you put into tailoring the perfect trip for us, we can’t wait to set our eyes on that stunning Amalfi coast again sometime soon!”

    Chris and Julia, Mildura, Australia

  • “We thank you for all the effort you put in to make our holiday so special. You covered every detail making it all so much easier for us. We recommend your services to everyone we mention our holiday to.”

    Mary and friends, Victoria, Australia

  • “Emily, I want to thank you for the wonderful trip you organised for my daughter and I last September. To be able to take my daughter to Italy was a significant commitment, but I need not have worried as the trip went very smoothly, with cars, drivers, hotels, and tour guides all included in the price, and all being excellent. We both had a wonderful time together, I even managed to keep up with her, and she joins me in endorsing the ability of yourself and Avanti Italy to deliver on your promise of a holiday to remember!”

    Alan Donald, Queensland, Australia

  • “Recently my sister and I spent 6 nights on an Amalfi Coast tour that Emily arranged for us. We had a fantastic time from the time we were picked up in Naples to the time we left again. Amalfi was a lovely central spot to stay and is a gorgeous little town. The Amalfi Coast is just divine and Emily’s arrangements for us were perfect – nothing was too much trouble – she met us upon our arrival to give us some info and tips and then another day to help us out at the local Post Office to send a couple of parcels back to Australia (so many shopping opportunities in the area!) and then sat down and had a coffee and chat with us. These personal touches and knowing that we could call on her if we needed to certainly made our holiday a breeze. Thanks so much Emily for an unforgettable holiday!”

    Cindy and Shanlee, Tasmania, Australia

  • “Emily made my trip one to never forget. Emily has that personal touch which you get a sense of in everything she does. She catered to all our needs and requirements. It’s almost like she “puts herself in one’s shoes” and just “knows” what you’re envisioning which she translates from paper to reality. Also, she was “on the ground” at all times during the trip so even when last-minute changes needed to be made, they were done immediately without any haste. Extremely organized and very thorough, I would recommend her to anyone and everyone.”

    Vishaal Pawani, Dubai, UAE

  • “Back in Australia and settled back into daily life but still dreaming of our wonderful experience in your beautiful homeland Italy. Everything went according to our tailored itinerary. The trains, personal drivers, boats and the wonderful hotels with their great hospitality. We enjoyed the food, wine and the beautiful scenery. There were so many highlights from Venice to the stunning Amalfi coastline. Thank you for your hospitality also during our stay in Amalfi Village. It was a treat. A holiday we will never forget and plan to return again. Please keep in touch. Hope to catch up when you are next in Adelaide.”

    Wayne and Carol, Adelaide, Australia

  • “We want to thank you very much for your wonderful assistance and friendliness whilst we were there. It was fantastic to have personal representation and help from someone of your calibre to assist us especially when we were novices to the area. We have espoused your business to many people who think you have a great idea and would use you if they were thinking of a holiday on the Amalfi Coast. Please accept our grateful thanks and appreciation of your assistance and pass on our best regards to all in the piazza.”

    Wendy and Judi, Adelaide, Australia

  • “I would like to thank you so much for everything you did to make our trip so beautiful. You made everything so easy and relaxed, and the people involved in the experience you organised were so accommodating and made us feel so welcome. It really was a trip of a lifetime, and for that Chris and I thank you with all our heart.”

    Chris and Lisa, Mildura, Australia

  • "When planning for our recent family holiday to Italy, the best decision we made was to contact Avanti Italy. Whilst we gave Emily the outline of our intended travels and some key destinations and experiences to include, we trusted her professional judgement to add the 'meat to the bones' and piece everything together. The end result was a seamless and amazing experience, and the guides and tours she selected added so much more to the whole experience than we could have imagined. We have memories of this family trip to treasure forever. Bravo!"

    Daniel Linklater, New South Wales, Australia

A stone house with ivy climbing its facade, illuminated by outdoor lighting at dusk.
A cheerful man dressed as a chef standing against a weathered wall with a small black graffiti of a cartoonish rat or mouse in the upper right corner.
Sunlit cityscape of Florence, Italy, featuring the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its large dome, surrounded by historic buildings and mountains in the background.
A stone house with vine-covered walls, lit windows, and outdoor furniture around a swimming pool at dusk.
View of an outdoor swimming pool with poolside chairs and umbrellas, surrounded by green grass, trees, and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.

 Italy with Stefano Food & Culture Tour

  • “Loved every moment of the tour – the accommodation, the food, the buses and bus drivers were exceptional, and the local guides were brilliant.”

  • “Both Stefano and Donata were wonderful hosts; always looking out for everyone and making sure each person was comfortable and happy.”

  • “The itinerary covered both areas exceptionally well. The fact that we were taken back to Florence twice to cover different aspects was wonderful.”

  • “We have not stopped singing the praises of every aspect of the tour to all and sundry since we returned home.”

What were your favourite highlights of the tour?

  • “Great cooking with big Mammas, Stefanos cooking and delicious lunch with Australian wife and Italian husband, too many things to mention.”

  • “Sara’s tour of Florence, Ann-Maree’s lunch at home, Mammas. The view from Positano Villa,….actually, just about every event was a highlight for me…the “Last Lunch” was very well done…but then so were all the others…and the dinners, breakfasts and the coffee breaks….Amalfi, Artani...EVERYTHING!!…I’m stopping right here!”

  • “Both Brian and I especially enjoyed the afternoon we spent with Stefano cooking in the Tuscany villa. We learnt so much and being hands-on with the master was wonderful!”

A family of four posing inside the Roman Colosseum with the ancient amphitheater's ruins in the background on a sunny day.
Family of five enjoying a scenic overlook by the coast on a sunny day. Mountains and the sea are visible in the background, and the family is smiling and dressed casually.
A couple standing on a stone viewpoint with a scenic coastal background, including cliffs, ocean, sailboats, and a clear blue sky.
A stone church with a red-tiled roof and a small bell tower, surrounded by a garden with trees and shrubs, set against a green hill and blue sky with clouds.
A smiling couple stands together under an arched stone doorway with a gate, with white buildings and hills in the background.