Rome

The pair kicked off their Italian adventure in Rome with two memorable small group tours. Their first evening out took them through the Rome at Twilight tour, taking in Piazza Navona, the Temple of Hadrian, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, and the iconic Trevi Fountain as the city came alive after dark. Later, they dove deeper into Roman culture on the Twilight Trastevere Food Tour, exploring the charming neighborhood of Trastevere with food and wine tastings alongside a visit to Santa Maria. For Charles and Kristen, Rome stood out as the undisputed winner when it came to history.

Florence

From Rome, they made their way to Florence. Their evening in the city included an Evening Food Tour with Florentine Steak and Tuscan Wine, weaving through Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio with food and wine tastings throughout. For Maria's clients, Florence represented authenticity, a city with its own distinct personality, unlike anywhere else on the itinerary.

Venice

The final stop brought the couple to Venice. Their Venice in a Day tour covered it all: St. Mark's Square, the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, the Rialto Bridge, Doge's Palace, and a gondola ride on the Grand Canal. Venice, they said, felt like a fairy tale, one-of-a-kind in every sense of the word.

Tips & Takeaways

Maria's clients came home with advice worth sharing. They highly recommend traveling to Italy in March rather than peak summer for fewer American tourists, more manageable crowds, and a more authentic feel. That said, they noted that St. Patrick's Day still drew school groups from Spain, France, and the UK, so it's worth avoiding major holidays when planning. They would return to Italy in the spring rather than summer without hesitation.

Three nights in each city turned out to be the ideal pace, giving them enough time to absorb each destination's distinct character without feeling rushed. Their guides made navigating the rail and transfer logistics stress-free; their patience, step-by-step guidance, and warmth were a standout part of the experience.

Their biggest piece of advice? Slow down. Italy runs on its own rhythm; laid-back, unhurried, and deeply enjoyable once you stop expecting American-style urgency. Go with the flow, embrace the alleyways, and give yourself permission to get a little lost.

"Five stars fall short of the overall service, care, and attention we received at Brentwood Travel and their talented agent, Maria Kazanas. From the very start we were filled with the upmost confidence that we were in the capable hands of an experienced and knowledgeable expert who would guide us every step of the way.

She authored, if not tailored an experience within our budget that captured the dreams and wishes of our heart’s desire. She gave us industry expert advice, recommendations, and suggestions to enhance our travel experience; everything we were told played out perfectly while we were on our trip. Even in the event of travel disruption or potential issues, we were confident there were multiple layers of help that would assist in navigating potential problems.

In closing, we wound up enjoying the European vacation of our dreams and were blown away with the service and attention that we received through Brentwood travel. There was no better feeling than walking into a hotel room or seeing our lodging accommodations and thinking out loud 'This is perfect.'"

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