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- I can help you to set up a customized travel itinerary, for example to include Rome, Florence, and Venice, including transportation, accommodations, tour sites at each destination, suggestions for places to eat, places to shop, etc.
- With a knowledgeable guide to help you plan your trip, you can arrive in Italy to pursue your vacation in a relaxed and secure manner that allows you more freedom to enjoy your stay and wander off to explore less touristed sites.
- Consultations are offered in person, by phone, and/or by email for $150 for up to two hours of customized trip planning in Italy and $75 per additional hour.
- See below some recent testimonials from travelers about the customized tours I organized for them:
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Thank you so much for the great itinerary you planned for our May 2014 trip to Italy. For every city I told you we wanted to visit you provided good information on lodging, places to eat and drink and the attractions we should visit. Some of these were not even included in our guidebook. You also provided invaluable heads-up on prices so that we could budget and go with various alternatives which you also gave us. Your extensive written itinerary as well as the verbal information you provided was worth far more than your price. Thank you again and if we go back to visit different cities in Italy, you will be the first person we call. James and Constance, Seattle, Washington
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Doug Merrell helped me arrange a trip to Italy with my middle school son for the summer of 2014. Doug gave me excellent advice on the nuts and bolts of lodging, transportation, budgeting, safety, etc. He also gave valuable insight into which venues and sites were more appropriate for my trip and which could be rushed over or even skipped. He was especially knowledgeable on a number of less known attractions which were less advertised and less available to the general tourist audience. Some of these required ticket purchase well in advance and could not otherwise have been completed during the trip.
Our 19 day trip began in Rome. As neither of us had been to Italy before we began with the list of well known sites such as the Colosseum, Pantheon etc. After about a week in Rome we traveled by train to Venice for a few days and then returned to Rome after a short stay in Florence. Doug had talked frequently about the many places a little off the beaten path and suggested we make day trips to them. His experience and depth of knowledge would be useful for a first trip to Italy or even for more frequent visitors who have the time to make adventures to the less commonly visited places. Matt, Seattle, Washington
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We wanted to thank you for all the amazing Rome and Amalfi coast ideas. We ended up spending more time in Capri on your recommendation, and it was worth it. We had perfect weather and it wasn't too crowded. The hotel on Capri you recommended had an amazing view and the owners were fun and helpful, not to mention a fantastic bargain and location. In Rome, the Palazzo Valentini was hands-down the best museum and tour I've ever seen. Finding the right area to stay in town was great, Campo De' Fiori was perfect for us. The restaurants, sights, and even alternatives were all spot-on. We couldn't have enjoyed this trip as much without you. Thanks for everything! Mitch, Seattle, Washington
