What better way to get to know a country than by travelling with a local? Someone who not only knows the place like the back of their hand, but also has plenty of experience in knowing what visitors will love most plus local contacts to rely on every step of the way. A private escorted tour is the best way to see any country, and Italy is no exception!
The trip you want
One of the biggest advantages of a private tour of Italy is the chance to create a trip organized completely around you. Whether you’re interested in art, culture, history, food, wine, or sport, to name but a few, a private tour allows you to plan a trip that is exactly what you and your traveling companions want. There is no “one size fits all” approach with a custom tour.
Everything is catered to your tastes, something that is not the case on a large group tour planned to tick the boxes of all the major sights but with little to offer in terms off-the-beaten-track appeal. Keen to stay away from crowded big museums in favor of small jewel box churches? Want to sample low-key neighborhood trattorias rather than big name Michelin-starred restaurants? It’s all in your hands with a private tour. You don’t even necessarily need to know where you want to go beforehand; when it comes to planning your trip, expert tour designers at a private tour company will make suggestions that match your interests to their experience.
Freedom and flexibility
There is no one to please but yourself. On a big group tour there is little room for last-minute changes or detours. If you’re traveling around Italy with a private tour guide or private driver, however, there’s nothing to stop you adding in an unplanned visit or exploring something unexpected.
Your visit may happen to coincide with a local festival you were unaware of, which, thanks to the spontaneity that an escorted private tour allows for, you can stop off and explore before moving on to your next destination.
Local knowledge and expertise
Italy is very much a country in which it’s not about what you know but who you know. Taking advantage of your own dedicated guide for a luxury private tour in Italy is like having all the information you need at your fingertips. Knowledge and a network of contacts are everything when it comes to creating and making the most of a tailor-made trip.
It is only possible to get under the skin of a country if you experience it as a local and having a private guide at your disposal really allows you to do this in a way that an off-the-shelf trip would never be able to do.
Extra care and attention
A private tour company, just like Dragonfly Tours, will make you feel special from day one. Travel experts will work with you from your first contact, helping you create the perfect itinerary for you and supporting you throughout the process, from designing your trip to pre-departure and once you finally reach Italy. Your travel expert will be in constant contact with on-site suppliers to make sure everything exceeds your expectations at all times. Make no mistake, this kind of one-to-one individualized support is not something that an off-the-peg trip can offer. Should any issues arise on your trip, your travel designer will be able to resolve them for you and will be constantly working behind the scenes to ensure your trip runs smoothly.
Being looked after by a private guide who is traveling alongside you also means you never have to worry about anything, from what time a museum closes to where the best photo spots are or where to go for dinner. If you’re also using a private driver, you never have to worry about directions, parking, or travel time. Everything has been put in place to make sure all you have to worry about is making memories with your loved ones and enjoying your vacation to the full.
Trained professionals
Traveling with a private guide means much more flexibility in terms of what you want to see or learn about. A private guide is not bound by a pre-set schedule as one working with a group of 20 or 30 people would be; large tour groups are by nature unable to cater to their participants individually. Traveling with a private guide is almost like having a friend in every city you visit, one who can give you your own tailor-made tour focusing on the things that interest you and really getting beneath the surface of your destination.
If you’re traveling with a family of four or more, a private guide usually works out at around the same cost as a small group tour.