Adriatic Sea Wine Tasting Trips & Packages Tours & Trips

What travelers are saying

"We had a trip of a lifetime. Tim was very flexible in handling the planning of the itinerary. I wanted this to be a special trip for myself and my husband to celebrate our milestone birthdays and have always wanted to visit Italy to experience the sights, culture, food and warmth of the people. Tim was cognizant that my husband’s knees were not the best and so advised on the hotel proximities to the activities and events with that in mind. He also understood that I wanted to do this trip in as cost effective manner as possible and so was flexible when it came to allowing me to utilize our RCI points to book hotels and just advised on location. Tim passed the baton over to Alessio when it came to executing on the itinerary and Alessio did a marvelous job despite the time crunch given the trip was still within busy season of end of Sept - beginning of Oct. A week before the trip, my husband fell and damaged his knee but luckily was able to address this with an orthopedic doctor and we were able to proceed on our dream trip. We visited Rome, Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri island, Amalfi Coast, Florence and Lucca and experienced many of the activities and sites through private tours arranged through Amal Italia with the most knowledgeable, accommodating guides who worked together with the transfer personnel to make it all happen seemlessly. On trips to the Vatican, Uffizi Gallery and Pompeii as examples, the tour guides knew exactly how to condense the time spent to focus on the key highlights, telling the history while linking the intricacies and nuances of the artifacts being shown. Whether it was booking a cooking class in Sorento, visit to a vineyard, spa massage in Pompeii or a dinner overlooking the sea, Alessio did his utmost best to make this truly a memorable experience. We would not have been able to cover half the activities on our itinerary were it not for the very professional, flexible, knowledgeable and accommodating help on logistics and events through Amal Italia. Thank you Tim and Alessio for a once in a lifetime experience!"

What travelers are saying

"The guides were knowledgeable, informative, and courteous. Accommodations were what we expected and the food was the highlight of the trip! As wine lovers, the wine tasting was a delight to experience and I cannot rave enough about the food."

What travelers are saying

"We were blown away by the beauty of the area of each and every walk we took. We loved waking up each morning excited for the adventure ahead. The people, the food, the hiking gave us respite from the "busyness" of our daily lives. Best trip you can take to feed body and soul!"

What travelers are saying

"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."

What travelers are saying

"Until Covid clears, I would steer clear of Backroads. We were partially through their June 2020 Costa Rica tour when a guest tested Covid positive. She and her husband were isolated. The rest of the group were offered wimpy masks. Nobody was offered Covid testing daily and masks were not required of the guests or staff. The guides kept repeating "not in the CDC guidelines." Our group of six decided that the Backroads response was inadequate so returned home mid-excursion. The hotel and food was excellent, but the provided bikes were inadequate. The front derailleurs were poorly adjusted, and most of the riders had the chains come off during the first ride. Hikes or bike rides were conducted in downpours. Disappointed for charging such a premium price."

What travelers are saying

"We purchased two backpacks from Rick Steves Europe. One of them arrived damaged and unusable. Their website says that you must contact them if you receive damaged merchandise. I have attempted to email them through their website and I have left 3 voicemails (nobody answers the phone, ever!) and nobody has contacted me back. At this point, it seems like I've been ripped off. Buyer beware. Extremely disappointed."

What travelers are saying

"Great routes, guides, hotels and bikes!"

What travelers are saying

"This was out first trip with KE and part of a longer stay in China. We had a fantastic time and the trek was the highlight of our extended holiday. The scenery was stunning and enhanced by the heavy snow fall we got at second camp. Whilst unexpected, the tour leader was able to modify our schedule and we completed the trek by staying at the second base camp for an extra night. We had active and passive acclimatisation and didn’t suffer from any altitude sickness. The days were relatively short in terms of walking but that was good as it left time to adjust the schedule when the unexpected happened. Whilst walking poles are listed as recommended, we think they were essential. Also make sure you have a good quality thermal sleeping mat as it is cold at night. The only negative is the use of single use plastic which is common throughout China. In summary a fantastic adventure and the panda bears are very cute too!"