Why Travel With Us?

Do you find being informed in an informal way adds to your appreciation of places visited? Enjoy elegance, without pretence in accommodation with wonderful regional fare each day? Seek un-spoilt landscapes and genuine interaction with hospitable locals?

We hope the following will allay any fears for those of  you who  may have reservations about group or organized travel.

• Concentrating on one Italian region allows sufficient time to be properly immersed in the local culture and history of an area. Benefits of this form of travel include the short distances travelled  overall on tour and on a typical day- some days with no travelling at all.
• We aim to remove as many barriers as possible to allow  the  fullest appreciation of the essential nature of Italy, 'off the beaten track' that elude many foreign travellers and to providing a similar richness of experience that Italians travelling within their own country innately know how to find and enjoy.
• Benefit from the depth of preparation, attention to detail, our broad local knowledge, and the  network of delightful local people you will enjoy meeting. Our professional backgrounds in architecture, botany, art, and archaeology add an additional informative perspective not every tour can offer.
• Value for money. We have taken care of the decisions which might impede your freedom to savor each moment to the maximum. The independent traveller could not achieve a remotely equivalent experience that Authentic Italy Tours enables you, through our years of research and experience, professional background, and dedication.
• Personally vetted and experienced restaurants, trattoria, the occasional special picnics and meals at interesting private homes are all rated highly by our guests. Superb vineyard visits and wine tasting for many, are highlights.
• Cuisine is  often cited as a key to the understanding of local culture. We have treated food and wine with the greatest attention in order for you to sample the widest range of fabulous food of a particular regional cuisine in memorable settings.
• Experienced hand picked boutique hotels known in Italian as 'charm hotels' including converted  'palazzi' or convents of character, interest and elegance without pretension.
• Group travel allows us to organize certain events or visits that are otherwise unavailable to the independent traveler. This assists in providing you with a richer and more varied  adventure. A maximum group size of 16 travelers accompanied by two or three Italian and English speaking guides (depending on number in group).
• A high ratio of return customers attests to our efforts to make each day  special and memorable. Every aspect of each day has been carefully considered. Over time we have scoured each region to find the  for you those  special places, occasions, people and experiences that  enable our guests to partake in an unforgettable journey.
• A tour book given to each traveler provides additional information and maps of the region, towns and villages visited. It is a great asset on tour and a lasting memento that people find very useful as a record of the itinerary.
• We appreciate and enjoy the ongoing associations and friendships made with our past travelling companions.
• Our intention to stay small, family and non-corporate in nature. A dedication to being good and courteous hosts, we will show you from different angles, an authentic slice of Italy.

The tour you took us on made us feel we could dip into Italian life both past and present - in a way which had not been possible on our previous trips to  Italy. In fact the trip was up there with the best experiences in our lives.
Ian and Margaret - Wellington - New Zealand - participants
Lazio tour September 2003

"My enjoyment and understanding of the country, its history and culture has been much enhanced. We felt welcomed and looked after really well, and had so much fun. Thank you all, my appreciation is enormous. I can't wait till my next trip."
Janet - Auckland - New Zealand - participant
Apulia tour June 2002