Imagine the thrill of a marvelous experience that showcases some of the astounding jewels of Italy.
Add to that some luxurious signature hotels at the most glamorous addresses right in the heart of the action, a personal tour director, and private tours with a local expert. With all-inclusive signature dinners of local specialties and Italian wine, this Epicurean adventure is further infused with unforgettable activities like pasta making, cooking lessons and wine tasting.
Have I tickled your travel interest with all these exciting scenarios? Then make sure to check out Luxury Gold by Insight Vacations, with its special itineraries in amazing destinations that allow travelers to taste their award-winning vacation tours.
I recently had a first-hand experience of Luxury Gold on the invitation of John Boulding, CEO of Insight Vacations.
Together with some of Insight Vacations’ key members and select media from around the world, our tour director Daniele Nanneti took expert care of the group. He arranged all the rooms, dinner reservations, tour guides and every detail each guest needed. He even granted my request of additional shopping time!
Personalized service
The Luxury Gold experience starts once you arrive at the airport. You have nothing to think about from that point until the end of the tour, as everything is perfectly arranged and ready to go. You receive unmatched personal service and attention from Insight Vacations’ Travelling Concierges, true local experts in each of their assigned destinations, as you journey in style in Wi-Fi-equipped luxury motor coaches that have limousine legroom.
On all Luxury Gold journeys, expect exceptional service, a personal airport welcome with round-trip private transfers, luggage personally delivered to your room, and coverage on all restaurant, hotel and guide tips.
With strong Wi-Fi on board, everyone was able to share photos of our wonderful vacation using the tags @insightvacations and #InsightMomentsLG.
My Instagram is filled with posts of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and sightseeing wonders. Thanks to Insight Vacations photographer Simon Boucher-Harris, every adventure was captured so beautifully.
Private tour
In Rome, we enjoyed several unique events that truly made the trip feel like the ultimate VIP experience. We viewed the Sistine chapel’s majestic treasures during a private tour with our local expert before the Chapel was open to the public. We walked into the glorious Colosseum through a special entrance with no lines. And between the tours, I was so delighted that we even had time to listen to Pope Francis deliver a message at St. Peter’s Square.
In Florence, where the Renaissance period took root, our group gained exclusive access to the world-famous Vasari Corridor atop Ponte Vecchio, the iconic Florentine bridge. This kilometer-long passage houses portraits of famous artists.
Our local art historian gave us an in-depth tour of the Uffizi Gallery and brought us to admire Michelangelo’s original statue of David in the Accademia Museum. After the tour, we were able to explore the city on our own. As I walked around the beautiful streets, I bumped into my good friends Pops Fernandez, Ina Ayala and Anton San Diego.
Exceptional dinners, culinary classes
The Luxury Gold Signature dinners were wonderful. One of them was held at a family-run restaurant that served many of Tuscany’s famous food. Another was at Villa Dianella in Western Tuscany, where we had a culinary master class to discover the secrets of Italian cooking. The four-course menu with wine paid homage to Tuscany’s delicious flavors. Another day even had a wine tasting at Enoteca next to our fabulous hotel, Villa Le Maschere.
Between our tour’s excursions, Luxury Gold ensured that we had all the time we needed to make our vacation uniquely our own. For me, that only meant more time for shopping and eating gelato.
The Luxury Gold Ultimate Italy Tour included Perugia, Umbria, Pisa and the beautiful island of Capri. Through the course of our itinerary, Daniele, our traveling concierge, played many roles: welcoming host, guide, local insider, travel companion and even chocolate supplier. His ability to perform flawlessly was what set this Luxury Gold Travelling Concierge apart.
Daniele demonstrated uncompromising attention to detail with so much passion for providing the unforgettable experiences that define Insight Vacations. He also has a charming sense of humor.
Choice hotels
Our journey ended in Venice, my favorite Italian city. We entered via water taxi and stayed at the Hotel Bauer, which is right next to Piazza San Marco. Each Luxury Gold hotel is carefully selected to provide outstanding quality and style, while still offering a well-situated base from which it is possible to live like a local and explore the place.
While in Venice, we visited the island of Murano and witnessed a glass-blowing demonstration. For dinner, we went to the colorful island of Burano, which had candy-colored houses and artisan lace makers. My favorite Venetian Insight Moment was the gondola ride with our Italian opera singer and guitarist.
At our celebration dinner, we listened to wonderful songs and had a lot of fun that we will treasure forever.
The delightful culinary experiences with gastronomic excellence will surely leave lasting impressions of this incredible journey.
On my last day, I was able to visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, thanks to lovely friend Sandie Palou who lives in Venice. Because of her, I was also able to send a balikbayan box home!
The Luxury Gold by Insight Vacations journey was beyond my expectations. I can’t wait to discover another destination with this ultimate travel tour, as they have tours packed with authentic Signature Experiences all around in Europe, India, Bhutan, Nepal, North America and South America.
Somehow, even a multitude of awards and international recognition for service aren’t able to capture the superlative experience of a Luxury Gold vacation.
Visit www.insightvacations. com, www.rajahtravel.com. Turkish Airlines is the partner carrier of Luxury Gold in the Philippines.
