Home > Past Guest Comments > Reviews from 2009

Reviews and Comments


private shore trips reviews






Istanbul

Just wanted to let you know how great our tour in Istanbul was. We had an excellent guide - Yassim - who gave us an excellent tour. We are trying to plan a trip next year. Maybe to the Baltic. Will absolutely look into your tour company if we do go. Thank you again for your help.

Susan M., Brewster NY - November 2009

French Riviera

"Hello.....I just need to thank you so much for the wonderful private tour we booked with your company this past week. We enjoyed our day trip with Yanik very much. He was fun to be with, was waiting for us when we arrived off of the tender in VilleFranche. We appreciated all the extra info he gave us regarding the French Riveria, and we got to see all the places we asked to see. He gave us extra time at the flower market in Nice, and gave us great tips on where to have our lunch. Everything was perfect, including the warm sunny day. We only wished we could have had more time. I would recommend your company to anyone interested in a private tour. Thank you very much for making our day in the French Riviera the best!!"

Carolyn D., Omaha, Nebraska - November 2009

French Riviera

"We were very pleased with the arrangements you made for us. All positive comments, no negatives."

Bettyjane S., Allentown, PA - November 2009

Marseille, Villefranche, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples

“Our experience with your company's tours was exactly what we wanted. The drivers all spoke wonderful English, were prompt and very knowledgeable. We loved the little restaurants they directed us to and enjoyed the vacation immensely. Thank you for your help.”

Carol G, Upland CA - November 2009

Naples, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Barcelona, Villefranche, Santorini and Piraeus

“Well, we have returned from the most marvelous vacation of all time!!! I want to let you know, our shore excursions were perfect! The tour guides were the best, the motorcoachs very clean and comfortable, everything was just wonderful.

Even when we had a problem in Barcelona on the day we were to depart, Annabelle, helped me with our dilemma. We actually arrived into port late, and we all missed our flights home, so I had to transfer everyone to a hotel and then rearrange all the flights. It was a headache for me, but everyone else enjoyed themselves on the beach for three days!!!!

Once again, thanks for all you help and information you relayed to me. I will definitely be using your services in the future and I have already told several agent friends of mine about Private Shore Trips.”

Kathleen P, Maryville IL - October 2009

Villefranche, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Athens and Istanbul

“We cannot thank you enough for the shore trips you arranged for the five of us. We had so much fun and all of your drivers and guides were excellent. Let us begin with Pascal who drove us through Monaco, Monte Carlo, Nice, Gourdon, St. Paul de Pence, and to the Chapel of the Roses by Matisse. He was very informative throughout.

Next came Florence with Sylvia our driver who made sure some of us had time for shopping. The highlight was Elizabeta, our guide through the Accademia. She made the visit to the David come alive with her knowledge of art history. She spent 45 minutes pointing out the many subtleties of David and the artistry and craftsmanship of Michelangelo in executing this famous statue. She was equally knowledgeable about the Doumo and baptistery. Sylvia took us to Michelangelo Piazza where we had a good view of Florence before leaving. Our final stop was at Pisa where we had ample time to explore and view the leaning tower from all angles.

Constantino was our driver and guide for the trip into Rome both days. He was fun and considerate of everyone’s needs and treated us to some special insights of Rome including a neighborhood restaurant for dinner on our first evening when he did the Rome at Night Tour. Alfredo was our guide for the Coliseum, Forum, Capital Hill and Pantheon on the first day and the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s on the second day.

Then on to Naples and the Amalfi Coast with Rosario who provided us with a spectacular drive along the coast on winding, steep roads topped off with an absolutely fabulous lunch at a restaurant on the mountain above Positano.
During the afternoon we visited Pompeii.

Next came Athens with Alexandra as our guide. She was most informative and kind during the visit to the Acropolis, Agora, Plaka and the Acropolis Museum.

Finally came Istanbul with Murat as our guide. We made a stop at the Spice Market which was a wonder to those of us who ventured there – so much to choose from and so little time. Our tour through the Topkapi Palace was wonderful. And, we enjoyed the dinner and show in the evening; the belly dancers were very good. The next morning we were amazed at the Blue Mosque (it’s not all blue, that red carpet!), Hagia Sophia which is undergoing restoration; the hippodrome and finally the Grand Bazaar. Our best shopping trip happened at the Grand Bazaar.

Would we recommend your company to others, absolutely! We already have. We had great drivers and guides and enjoyed our trip so much. When we compared our excursions with others, we found that we got to see so much more and at a better pace. Again, thank you very much.”

Janet, Ross, Jane, Laurie and Kevin, San Diego CA - October 2009

French Riviera

"Your driver/guide was wonderful. He took us to all of the important places, was very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. Our trip was wonderful and I have two sets of friends who are planning this same trip next April and May and I have given them your name and raved about how efficient your company handled my request. Thanks again and if we plan another trip I will surely contact you."

Lynn W., Metairie LA - October 2009

Athens

"Thank you so very much for booking our Athens tours. They were absolutely unbelievable. We are so impressed with the service we received. Elsa our Guide and Kostas our Driver were amazing. I will definitely be referring you business and hope to utilize your company for myself in the future. Once again for the great service."

Margriet H., Langley BC Canada - October 2009

Athens

"The tour was great as was the tour guide. The cruise was fantastic and this shore excursion worked really nicely. I will keep you in mind for any further excursions!! Thanks again."

Sue H., Tamarac, FL - October 2009

French Riviera

“We had an amazing trip and the excursion your company provided in Villefranche was outstanding. We had more than ample time for all stops and never felt rushed. After some initial confusion about pick up in Villefranche, we were escorted to Nice to meet our driver/guide. He was wonderful and got us to Vence just as the Matisse Chapel opened, so we were the first there to listen to the sisters describe every inch of that beautiful chapel. It was then suggested we visit a non - touristy town nearby called Tourrettes, which turned out to be the stunningly enchanting center for violet production in the south of France (tried violet ice cream!)

From there we spent almost 2 hours at the Fondation Maeght, which was having a special Miro exhibition-what a treat! We visited Galimard and toured the factory for Fragonard before ascending to St Paul de Vence, where we had lunch at a place suggested by our driver that was excellent and very scenic. Colombe d'Or left the impression of being rather pretentious, so we were not sorry to have missed eating there.

We finished in Eze with a drink at Chateau Eza - at the highest point overlooking everything! This was a suggestion by the British couple dining at the table next to us in St Paul, who have a house in Antibes. We told them about the amazing town of Tourrettes, and they said they have been wanting to visit!

Spent a bit of time in lovely Villefranche before returning to the ship. Seeing it in writing, I can't believe all that we did, but I know it was a wonderfully relaxing day! Thank you for your services. We will definitely think of you when we return to Europe - hopefully soon!”

Karen and Len P., Parkland FL, October 2009

French Riviera

The Cannes tour was excellent. The mini bus arrived at the dock on time. We had to take a small boat from our ship to the dock, but it was no problem as NCL had it all worked out. The tour guide spoke very good English. The weather was perfect. I would say don't change the tour--its perfect. We visited the Church in Monaco and although we visited many churches on our trip, this was my favorite. The view from the Eze was spectacular. We stopped several times during the tour to view Nice and Monaco and take pictures. It was the last tour on our trip and we couldn't ask for a better ending. I have many grandsons and someday God willing I hope to take them to Europe. Thanks for all your help and cooperation. I certainly would use your services again.

Donald C., Carmichael, CA - October 2009

French Riviera

“We had a great time in France. Our tour guide was Stephaine and she was fabulous. We invited her to lunch with us which was a good thing as she helped with our ordering of food. She was prompt and informative and fun!!!! Also one heck of a good driver!!!! I have already given your name out to a couple others on the ship who wanted to know who we used!!! We will call you again when we need another tour”

Joanne A.., Richmond, VA - October 2009

French Riviera

We had a great time, the driver guides were excellent, and we all enjoyed it”

Raj G., Morton Grove, IL - October 2009

French Riviera

“Guido was certainly the most amazing guide I/we had on our European tour. He certainly set a standard for the other guides we had, who did not even come close to him. We had fun, we felt very special and he showed us things that would have escaped us had we done the tour on our own or even with another tour guide. We will definitely call you should we do another tour and I’m sure we will because we love Europe so much. Many thanks for a wonderful time.”

Kim & Garry G., Glenda & Mike B. Scarborough, Ontario - September 2009

Villefranche, Civitavecchia, Naples, Livorno

“Mainly you need to know how wonderful ALL of the guides were for each of our ports of call. Their devotion to their jobs, their cities and their culture was honest and fresh! And they were just down right GREAT DRIVERS!!

We never felt that we were a "job" for them. They were excited about the day. They had great energy and were excited to show us the same places that they had shown so many others before us. Over all, for me, the thrill of the drive was worth every penny!! These are "professional drivers" in places where there are NO rules! (Italy) Wow!

Aldo (our driver in Naples and Amalfi coast) is quite like a "rock star" around the Sorrento area. He is very well known by everyone. It was so much fun!! Aldo was my favorite as he was larger than life! He allowed me to see everything I wanted to see that day. The lunch at the Caruso was not to start for another 2 hours so we went on down the way to Positano for our lunch. This was a place were a lot of the guides brought their clients for lunch. It was called La Tagliata. It had a great view and the food was outstanding!!! And did I mention it was very well priced for the amount of food we got - at least a 15 course meal. Aldo was once again - a "rock star" at this place. We felt very special to be seen with him!!

Lucca, our driver in Rome was known as the "Gladiator" and yes he was!! He could get anywhere in Rome in no time flat! No matter the traffic. He knew every short cut and back alley. We never walked more than 30 feet to the site of what he wanted us to see. He pulled right up to the very front of every place we went to in Rome. He showed us so many different things that we didn't even ask to see. We saw double the amount of things listed on the original itinerary - just because he was such a good driver guide.

Sylvia, our driver in Florence was my father's favorite. The drive through Chianti was well worth it even though there was some fog in the beginning of the day. It cleared while we were in Greve and the sky was clear for the rest of the day. Florence was beautiful as we saw it from the park on the hill when we came into town. Our guide in the Uffizi museum was Sylvia (the same name as our drive guide). We were able to go slow and have her talk about the history of the museum and the history of the art in the museum. We learned so much! She was a fabulous teacher. We loved talking about art with her. We wanted to stay in Florence and be with her for several days.

Our guide for the Nice tour was Pierre. My husband, Victor, fell in love with Pierre. He was calm and laid back.. He took us to a beautiful place that was a state park. This park was on the highest mountain behind the town of Eze. It was perfectly clear that day and we could stand on top of this mountain and see: To our right down the coast, past Antibes, to St. Tropez . To our left past Monaco far into Italy. This was a huge surprise to find this pretty park. It was an amazing view. We were so grateful that he had decided to take us there. We would have never known to ask to see something like this. The view was spectacular. He also took us to see the row of Billionaire Yachts in Antibes. He had us walk down the long dock that held all of the ships for the very rich. They were also amazing.

Our guide in the Vatican was Daniella. She was fabulous. The Pope was speaking that morning so our Vatican tour of 3 hours turned into a 5 hour tour. She took us to see everything. She was extremely smart about art and history. Victor and I loved every moment of these museum guides as we are very interested in art history.”

Maggie M., Norman OK - October 2009

Civitavecchia and Cannes

We enjoyed our excursions with your company very much. The drivers and guides were professional, punctual, friendly and well-informed. The vehicles were comfortable, clean and generally of a superior quality. You and your staff were very helpful and responsive to our inquiries and requests; and your reservation information was complete, professional, and helpful. We will be sure to work with you in our future trips to Europe and abroad.

Nancy K., San Antonio TX - October 2009

Livorno, Villefranche and Malaga

The tours were GREAT! Thank you so much for all your patience, help and assistance. I also spoke to Joanne A. and their tour with you to Monaco, Eze, etc. was wonderful also. We ended up having extremely spacious busses and great drivers and guides at all of the stops. I am more than happy to continue to refer your company to my family and friends that are traveling in Europe. We do not have plans to return until late next summer but we may be in touch again at that time.

Debbie D., Richmond VA - October 2009

Athens and Istanbul

“I would like to thank you so very much for your excellent cooperation and attention, it has been a real pleasure working with your company and you can be sure that we would recommend your services to other friends and relatives, as for us, next time we travel, be sure I will contact you”

Maggie d. S., Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - September 2009

Civitavecchia

"Our private shore trip in Rome was the best part of our vacation. Out driver/guide Luca was just great - very professional, knowledgeable and we had a lot fun spending the day with him. We managed to visit all the places we were planning to and more thanks to Luca. I'd definitely recommend your service to all my friends. It was a great experience. Thank you very much for making our vacation even better and please send Luca our thanks as well."

Emily B., Brooklyn, NY - September 2009

French Riviera

"I wanted to thank you for arranging our tour of the French Riviera. It was a wonderful tour and we had a wonderful guide. Thanks again”

Anne G, Cincinnati, OH - September 2009

French Riviera

"We enjoyed our tour and Stephanie was great! We would be pleased recommend your company."

Marjorie R, Kingwood TX - September 2009

French Riviera

We most definitely enjoyed our European cruise; it would rate up there as the best vacation ever. We also had a wonderful time on our Monte Carlo Private Shore tour. Our guide was fantastic. We will definitely recommend your services to our friends and family traveling to Europe. Thanks again for your help, responsiveness and professionally it was most appreciated.”

Theressa F., Olympia Fields, IL - September 2009

French Riviera

“On behalf of all my friends, we want to send you a very big thank you for an incredible day we had in Monaco / Monte Carlo /Nice while on our cruise vacation. Our driver-guide for the day was Pascal and hats off to him. Everything about the day and what he planned for us will be forever remembered. Everything we wanted to do and see we did. His knowledge of the country and suggestions for lunch were right on. I will certainly pass along to cruise critic what a great organization you have and will recommend you for furture excursions to this unbelievable city as well as others. Take Care, Thank you again for everything.

Garrett Group, Baton Rouge LA, Tillson NY and Flushing NY- September 2009

French Riviera

“Absolutely Incredible! We had put together several other private tours in Florence, Bruges, and Lisbon. All were good tours, but the tour we booked through you was by far the best. The guide provided, Stephanie, was excellent. She was extremely knowledgeable, warm and personable. With her outgoing and friendly personality, it was more like she was part of the group, rather than a guide apart from it. She kept us on track time wise, and made sure we saw everything as planned. Put simply, she was very informative and lots of FUN! This tour was everything a private tour with friends should be. We could not have asked for more!”

Anthony M., Brooksville FL, September 2009

Dubrovnik

"Our recent trip in Dubrovnik was excellent. The guide was well informed. The car and driver were good. They were waiting for us as we got off the ship and got us back on time, We enjoyed our day! Thanks."

Lynda H., Stuart, FL - September 2009

Valletta

"We have been back from our trip to Europe for over a month now. For all of my family is was truly a trip of a lifetime. The Malta tour which you booked for me was a great tour to start with. I selected the three old cities in Malta--Mdina, Mosta, and Rabat for our tour in Malta and it was a good choice. The Our Lady of Assumption Church at Mosta was beautiful, particularly the dome. St Paul's catacombs were really interesting and hard to believe they did that by hand. Walking the streets of Mdina was also special. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. She definitely was proud of her country Malta. It was a great tour and someday God willing I'm going to take my grandsons to Europe and Malta will certainly be one of my stops. Thanks for all the help. You guys came up big.."

Donald C., Carmichael CA., September 2009

French Riviera

“We just came back from our cruise and I wanted to tell you that the tour guide Stephanie was fabulous and my wife Merle who works for Post haste Travel in Hollywood FL intends to recommend your company to her clients in the future.”

Robert F., Hollywood FL, August 2009

French Riviera

“I would like you to know how much we enjoyed our tour in Cannes. Our driver was Pascal and he was wonderful. He brought us to a scenic overlook that took our breath away. I would highly recommend him and your service. Thank you very much for being a part of our memorable European cruise”

Gail C, Middleton MA, Aug 2009

Monte Carlo, Naples, Kusadasi, Katakolon and Piraeus

"Our cruise was amazing, we had the time of our life. All our tours we had booked through Private shore went really well. They were all on time and very informative. Great service and very flexible. I would like to thank you and all the staff for helping us make this a great trip. Would recommend Private Shore Trips to everyone.
Again many thanks. "

Franca D., Sydney Australia August 2009

Malaga, Livorno, Cannes, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vigo and Civitavecchia

“I just want to let you know that all the tours were wonderful! They were on time and the tour guides were very nice and informative. Thank you so much for your help booking these tours and my family and I had an amazing time in Europe. I will definitely recommend you to all my friends and family. Thanks again!”

Khana F., New York, NY, August 2009

Villefranche and Naples

"So glad you asked for our feedback. The 2 tours were awesome. The tour in Nice with Breece, our tour guide, was so beautiful and relaxing. He was very knowledgeable and personable - we had a great time. The best part was being able to spend more time in St. Paul de Vence and foregoing another stop - we could make that decision "on the fly" because it was just our group. Agostino in Naples was also very good. We spent no time waiting in lines - he arranged everything and then stepped into the background and let us do our thing! We ended up with a private boat tour around Capri, a ride up on the chairlift to the top of the island, and a wonderful lunch at Columbus restaurant. My husband had the best raviolis of his life! We would definitely recommend Private Shore Trips to anyone who wanted to tailor their tours to their own interests and did not want to be part of a large, impersonal tour."

Dani M, Mission Viejo CA - July 2009

Villefranche, Naples, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Dubrovnik

"We're back home from Europe, we want to let you know that we were very pleased with all the tours that you organize for us, it was a great group of people (drivers and tour guides) they were always on time and they were all extremely nice. It was a great experience and we will contact you in future trips. Thanks."

Pilar G., Dominican Republic - July 2009

Athens, Kusadasi, Naples

“I can't describe the feeling I had when we arrived in Athens to find Maria waiting for us with a big sign and a bigger smile. I felt relief that she was there and that our journey could begin. Maria was incredible - whisking us off to Cape Sounion and then through the Acropolis with her wonderful story-telling and history lesson. She took us to a phenomenal restaurant at the base of the Acropolis and by the entrance to the Plaka. The food, the perfect weather and her lovely company made for a perfect day.

In Turkey we were met by Hakan, a true character and delightful guide in Kudashi. He was so knowledgeable about Ephesus and the Terrace Houses, we were rapt. He took us to a local restaurant for lunch and off to learn about Turkish carpets...another wonderful experience.

Finally, our last tour in Naples started off in Pompeii. Our guide Agostino managed to get us through the throngs of people and see the sights - managing to capture some shade along the way. We were supposed to do the Amalfi drive to Positano and Sorrento but the traffic was crazy so he took us through the mountains and off to Amalfi. Unfortunately, on our way we received a call that one of our party (who remained on the ship) was taken to the hospital in Naples. My brother- in -law hadn't been feeling well and went to see the ship's doctor, who promptly sent him to the clinic. We made the decision, heartbreaking though it was, to turn around and go back to Naples. Agostino stayed on the phone, translating the diagnosis from the doctors to our family. he had the driver, the wonderful Nicolo, take us directly to the clinic and stayed with my father and brother until they released my brother-in-law.

Though not the trip we had hoped for, Agostino came through for us and made a bad situation more bearable. I can't thank you enough for assisting us with our plans - I would have no hesitancy in referring other to you for their shore excursion needs. All the best”

Fay T, Bala Cynwyd PA, July 2009

Livorno

"Francesco arrived early and the vehicle was a very nice Mercedes mini-van type (we don't have this type in North America). I had chosen the Chianti wine region tour which apparently is not the best choice for first-timers to that area. Francesco pointed out that most tourists choose Pisa and Florence as a first tour in the region. He gave us the choice but since our teen daughter decided to come with us we knew she wouldn't be too keen on a 3.5-hour wine tour drive through Tuscany. Francesco had the perfect solution - a trip to Pisa, a tour of Florence, and still time to visit one winery. We enjoyed the tower in Pisa, strolled through Florence and had lunch there (didn't get to see all of it of course, that would be a day in itself), and Francesco arranged a tour of a winery/olive oil producer in Tuscany. I scored a fantastic deal on some premium organic olive oil that I would have paid a fortune for here in Canada, and a couple of bottles of their Chianti as mementos of a great, great day. We really appreciated Francesco's flexibility with the tour and his eagerness for us to have an enjoyable time. He did mention that he was filling in for the tour guide who was supposed to do our tour that day but was double booked or something, so he didn't give us his card in order to keep things honest. It didn't matter to us that he was a substitute as we thought he was great anyway. Whenever we got out to see something he was always waiting with the car exactly when and where he said he would. I would certainly recommend him for anyone."

Monique M., Callingwood, Ontario, July 2009

Naples

"We had a great time. Pascual did A great job. We really enjoyed it. Stefano also was a great help. Thank you."

Awilda L, Coral Gables FL - July 2009

St. Petersburg

"We had a wonderful tour and the guide you provided was very good. She took us to all of the places we wanted to go, handled the history of St. Petersburg well, and most importantly, gave us insight as to what life for a Russian is like now that the Soviet Union is gone. I would recommend your company and if ever you need me for a reference, do not hesitate to ask."

Shirley L., San Francisco, CA - August 2009

St. Petersburg

"The tour was excellent, the guide was knowledgeable, pleasant and flexible in meeting our requests (eg short lunch). Certainly better than being in a big bus tour with all the other passengers. Thanks!”

Susan W., Cheshire, United Kingdom - July 2009

Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Le Havre

"Just returned from London yesterday. Just wanted to let you know that all went well and the guides were outstanding. Had a fabulous time and looking forward to working with you again. The guides were very professional and on time. One was 30 minutes late, but we forgave him... He turned out to be a very good guide. I think it was in Belfast. Leaving for Honolulu for the month of August Wed, so have a lot to do before that date. Thanks again."

Ed J. Ventura CA - July 2009

Marseille

Marie-Helene showed up on time with a very nice, clean Mercedes mini-van type vehicle. She had gifts for us - two small bottles of a local liquor and some French perfume samples. I thought this was a very nice gesture. She had water bottles available for us throughout the day as well. She was definitely the most professional of the 3 guides. First we went to a fortress and after about 2 minutes we decided we had seen about one too many historical structures by this point in our trip. It was the last day of our cruise and we were quite exhausted. We just couldn't take any more photos or hear any more history. I talked to Marie-Helene about this and asked if we could have a very strange tour and could we locate a specific French sporting store that my daughter loves because it sells a line of French equestrian equipment. Not only did we do that (had to buy an extra suitcase for all the equipment we bought) but upon hearing that my daughter does horseback riding Marie-Helene called a friend of hers and we ended up going to her beautiful property in Provence complete with horses and a show ring. The friend is an accomplished equestrian herself and did a show for us. She even let my daughter ride her horse. Even with the language barrier between us and the friend, it ended up being a day we will never forget and by the end of the day we all considered Marie-Helene to be our dear friend. After the riding show we went to Cassis and enjoyed a couple of hours strolling around this beautiful seaside town and had lunch there. We found a local market and bought some wonderful handmade Provencal ceramics. Marie-Helene was always waiting with the car where and when she promised. I'm quite sure Marie-Helene will never do another tour quite like ours and I will never forget how she tailored the day to our needs and wants”

Monique M., Callingwod, Ontario July 2009

French Riviera

“The tour with Pierre was very good. Pierre did a terrific job for us. He was informative, engaging, and accommodating.”

Russ M., Vancouver Canada, July 2009

French Riviera

“We were very happy with the tour, and would not hesitate to use or refer your company in the future.”

Larry I., Woodbury NY July 2009

French Riviera

“We really enjoyed our tour. Our tour guide Yannick was fantastic -- very courteous, knowledgeable and friendly. Will definitely keep you guys in mind for future trips.”

Grace K., New York, NY, June 2009

Athens

"We were extremely pleased with the tour. Our guide was a delightful and very informative lady. We all enjoyed it very much".

Jim L ., Ooltewah TN, June 2009

French Riviera

We had great time on the tour. Our guide Brice was very informative. We look forward to travelling with you again. Thanks”

Kruti C, Dover NJ - June 2009

Barcelona, Monte Carlo

"One of the very first things that one should admire about a person or a company is integrity. Mr. Steven Hurley and Travel with Friends certainly has that. Not everything goes well all of the time. When my wife and myself had difficulties with a tour in Barcelona, Spain that Mr. Hurley arranged for us, the details were verified and without question or delay the issue was resolved. A few days later, Travel with Friends had arranged another tour for us starting in Monte Carlo. Mr. Hurley went out of his way to assure that this tour went 'without a hitch' - and it did. Thus, via integrity alone, I would recommend Travel with Friends and would use them again."

Walter F. Zoller, D.M.D. Titusville, FL, June 2009

Piraeus, Kusadasi and Naples

“I can't describe the feeling I had when we arrived in Athens to find Maria waiting for us with a big sign and a bigger smile. I felt relief that she was actually there and that our journey could begin. Maria was incredible - whisking us off to Cape Sounion and then through the Acropolis with her wonderful story-telling and history lesson. She took us to a phenomenal restaurant at the base of the Acropolis and by the entrance to the Plaka. The food, the perfect weather and her lovely company made for a perfect day.

In Turkey we were met by Hakan, a true character and delightful guide in Kudashi. He was so knowledgeable about Ephesus and the Terrace Houses, we were rapt. He took us to a local restaurant for lunch and off to learn about Turkish carpets...another wonderful experience.

Finally, our last tour in Naples started off in Pompeii. Our guide Agostino managed to get us through the throngs of people and see the sights - managing to capture some shade along the way. We were supposed to do the Amalfi drive to Positano and Sorrento but the traffic was crazy so he took us through the mountains and off to Amalfi. Unfortunately, on our way we received a call that one of our party (who remained on the ship) was taken to the hosptial in Naples. My brother- in -law hadn't been feeling well and went to see the ship's doctor, who promptly sent him to the clinic. We made the decision, heartbreaking though it was, to turn around and go back to Naples. Agostino stayed on the phone, translating the diagnosis from the doctors to our family. he had the driver, the wonderful Nicolo, take us directly to the clinic and stayed with my father and brother until they released my brother-in-law.

Though not the trip we had hoped for, Agostino came through for us and made a bad situation more bearable. I can't thank you enough for assisting us with our plans - I would have no hesitancy in referring other to you for their shore excursion needs.”

Fay T and Howard G. Bala-Cynwyd PA - June 2009

St. Petersburg

We had a wonderful Baltic cruise and stayed 4 more days in Copenhagen. We enjoyed the fantastic St. Petersburg tour very much. Dasha is a wonderful tour guide, she has explained the early Russian history to us well. I will definitely keep you in mind for the future European cruise. I will arrange another Mediterranean cruise to Greece and Turkey next year, will inform you later for the dates."

Helen L., Placentia, CA June 2009

Livorno

"THE TRIP WAS GREAT, and I highly recommend using you. Thanks again."

Jeff V., Henrietta NY, May 2009

St. Petersburg

“I would like to thank you for the wonderful tour you have provided us in St.Petersburg. The bus was nice and very comfortable, the driver is very good and the guide, Titiana was so nice and knowledgeable and also very helpful. We are very happy with them and the tour.It was very nice and St.Petersburg is wonderful.

I will recommend your company to anyone and again thanks for the wonderful service. I hope to book for more tours with your company in the near future. Sincerely”

Lucia P. Mississauga, On. Canada, May 2009

Athens

"I just wanted to let you know that the tour of Athens arranged through you and Private Shore Trips was (once again) fantastic!! Elsa, our guide, was more than knowledgeable of the history and current ongoing renovations. What a joy she was to be with for the day!! Please pass on our compliments to her. Thank you for recommending that we take a few hours to tour the Plaka... We had so much fun. Also, the driver, condition of the van, etc. were all superb.

Thank you again for arranging a wonderful day of touring for us. We will be sure to contact you next year when we make our travel plans!"

John T., Easton PA, May 2009

Dublin

“We had a wonderful tour of Dublin. Our guide Mary and driver Phillip were both very knowledgeable and accommodating. We were always dropped off very close to the venue we wanted to see. Everything ran very smoothly and we were able to see everything we had requested and more. We will be certain to recommend your company in the future to any friends going to Ireland and hope someday to make a return trip. Thank you again for such a pleasurable experience.”

Gilda S, Jonesborough TN, May 2009

Marseille

"Magnificent! Loved it, loved it! Guide was wonderful. We had William for both days and he was great!! Could not have been nicer, or more helpful or pleasant to be around. We were quite pleased."

Debbie D., Richmond VA, May 2009

Istanbul and Piraeus

“The guide was absolutely superb. Alexandra was nice, intelligent, and informative. We loved her. Turkey was also wonderful. I am very impressed with the way you handled things. We had set up a couple tours elsewhere with someone else and were not happy at all. Thanks for everything."

Stephanie M., University Place WA - April 2009