The hotspots tour, to don't be missed!

Package 3 - The Hotspots

7 Nights / 8 Days

Local Tours

INTRO

Experience an unforgettable 8-day tour, spotlighting Venice, Florence, and Rome
Explore the city centers with guided tours, then delve deeper with private visits to iconic landmarks like the Vatican and the Colosseum
Glide through Venice's canals on a classic gondola ride, and enjoy hand-picked 4 or 5-star accommodations with breakfast included
Visit charming cities like Modena, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and Rome, immersing yourself in Italy's rich history and culture

HIGHLIGHTS

The Hotsposts - 7 Nights / 8 Days

8 day tour highlighting Venice, Florence and Rome
Guided tours of, Venice, Florence and Rome city-centers
Private guided tours of Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Classic Gondola ride in Venice
Hand-picked 4 or 5-star accommodations with breakfasts included
Visit Venice, Modena, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Rome

our safety measures

English speaking driver at your disposal for 10-11 hrs per day
New luxury mercedes vehicle
Vehicle sanitized prior to pick up of guests
The vehicle will be used exclusively for you for the duration of the vacation/tour
The driver and vehicle is exclusive the same from the start till the end of the vacation.
Our tours frequent off the beaten path locations, less frequented by tourists with a greater authentic feel.
No hidden costs: guides and tickets are always included in our packages
Company representative available by phone 24 hrs per day
Flexible, risk free bookings and penalty changes*
Changes to land portion of tours up to 30 days prior to the travel date without penalty*

Why choose our tours vs big groups

Customize your days and timing at sites directly with your driver
Private, comfortable luxury vehicle exclusively for your party for the duration of your tour
Our private vehicles (which can hold a maximum of 8 guests) can arrive directly in the main center of the cities, while taking a bus involves a considerable amount of walking which is a significant amount of lost touring time.
No need to wait around for groups members to arrive and designated meeting times
More time to spend actually visiting sites
Air conditioning (temperature control) and wifi on board
Water, snacks and refreshing cotton wipes with aloe vera, provided everyday
Friendly, local, english speaking driver/guides who engage with guests and share information to optimize your touring experience
24/7 assistance and support from our ground operational office in Italy
Private small groups of 3, 4, 6 and 8 + price per person will be lower
For groups more than 8 guests, we’ll use 2 minivans and the service provided will be the same
For custom made tours we work with any reasonable budget

AVERAGE PRICE

Average Price for this package is 6250€ per person based on private party of 4 guests in a 4 or 5-star hotel in standard double occupancy rooms. If there are additional guests in your party, the price per person decreases, please fill the form to get the best offer for your private tour of Italy 🇮🇹.

When

All year

Level

Very Easy

What’s included

7 Nights in 4 or 5 star hotel
8 Breakfasts
Vehicle and driver at your disposal for 10/11 hrs a day
Water - snacks - refreshing cotton wipes with aloe vera
Local licensed guides
Entrance Tickets to sites as indicated

Not included

Gratuities

Itinerary

Venezia
Modena
Firenze
Siena
San Gimignano
Roma

Venezia

Venice, VE, Italia

Modena

Modena, MO, Italia

Firenze

Firenze, FI, Italia

Siena

Siena, SI, Italia

San Gimignano

San Gimignano, SI, Italia

Roma

Rome, RM, Italia

The Hotspots "Venice - Florence - Rome" 7 Nights / 8 Days

Day 1	Arrival at Venice Airport. One of our representative will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim, you’ll boat transfer from airport to a 4 or 5-star accommodation in Venice. Two night stay in a double occupancy room. Remainder of the day/evening at your leisure.
Day 2	Today we’ll explore the extraordinary city of Venice. Visit Murano and observe the mesmerizing art of glass blowing. Discover the magnificent architecture, art and history of this city during a private 4 hour guided walking tour with a professionally licensed, English speaking guide. Visit St. Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace. See famous landmarks such as Giotto Bell Tower and the Rialto Bridge. Complete the day with a 30 minute gondola ride along the Grand Canal.
day 3	Check out of Venice hotel and we’ll transfer you by boat from your hotel to main land, and continue onto Florence. Your private driver will transfer you between these two cities, stopping in Modena en route to enjoy the home of balsamic vinegar. We’ll visit a balsamic vinegar farm and experience it. Light lunch and tasting included. Upon arrival in Florence, check in to your 4 or 5 star hotel, for a two night stay in a double occupancy room.
day 4	Full day in Florence. Private tour of Florence with a professionally licensed, English speaking guide. Visit iconic sites such as The Accademia and see Michelangelo’s famous Statue of David, see Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, The Duomo, and visit The Uffizi. Skip the line entrance tickets to Accademia and Uffizi included.
day 5	Check-out of Florence hotel. Your driver will transfer you from Florence to Rome via Siena and San Gimignano. Upon arrival in Rome, check in to your 4 or 5 star hotel, for a three night stay in a double occupancy room.
day 6	Day tour of Rome part 1. Private 8 hour guided tour of Rome city center with a professionally licensed, English speaking guide. Sites include: Navona Square, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, St. Peter’s Basilica. Includes skip the line entrance tickets to the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel.
day 7	Day tour of Rome part 2. Private 8 hour guided tour of Rome city center with a professionally licensed, English speaking guide. Sites to be visited include St. Peter in Chains, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, Caracalla's thermal baths, Aventine Hill, Capitoline Hill and Venezia square. Includes private, guided tour and skip the line entrance tickets to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Also includes a visit to the Catacombs, tickets included.
day 8	Departure from Italy 😔. Private transfer from Rome hotel to FCO Rome Airport.

What is the appropriate attire when visiting churches?

When visiting churches in Italy, it is important to dress modestly and respectfully. Both men and women should avoid clothing that exposes shoulders, cleavage, or knees. It is recommended to wear long skirts or pants and tops with sleeves. If you plan to visit a particularly conservative church, consider bringing a shawl or scarf to cover your shoulders.

How do gratuities work in Italy?

Gratuities are not mandatory and never included, but if you've been pleased with the service, it's customary to show appreciation, and workers are very thankful. Generally speaking, gratuities can be 100€ full day guides, 50€ half/partial day guides, driver 75-150€ on full day use of vehicle, skipper 150-250€ for full day tours, hotel porters 3-5€ per bag, restaurants 10-20% on the total, guest ambassadors, based on service received, 1-5% on rhe total amount. Gratuities in Italy run anywhere from 10-25% depending on the services and your satisfaction with them.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Italy?

While major credit cards are generally accepted, it's advisable to carry some cash, especially in smaller establishments. Notify your bank of your travel dates to avoid any issues with card transactions.

What are the opening hours for shops and businesses?

In Italy, traditional business hours are observed, with most shops opening around 9:00 am and closing for a few hours in the afternoon (usually between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm). Shops then reopen at around 5:30 pm. Some smaller businesses may close on Sundays, so it's advisable to plan shopping accordingly.

How do you greet people in Italy?

Greetings in Italy are typically warm and involve a handshake. It's common to greet people with a friendly "Ciao" or "Buongiorno" (good morning) during the day. In the evening or when meeting someone for the first time, "Buonasera" (good evening) is more appropriate. Italians value politeness, so don't forget to use "Grazie" (thank you) and "Per favore" (please) when appropriate.

What are hotel taxes in Italy, how do I pay them and how much are they?

In Italy, hotel taxes, known as "tassa di soggiorno" or tourist tax, are fees charged by local municipalities on guests at accommodations like hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals. These taxes vary based on location and accommodation type, usually calculated per person per night. They're not typically included in the room rate and are paid directly to the provider upon check-out, often in cash or added to the final bill. Exemptions may apply for certain guests, such as children or those with disabilities.

Do I need a Visa to travel to Italy?

Whether you need a visa to travel to Italy depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Citizens of many countries, including those in the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, can enter Italy visa-free for short stays as tourists

What is the currency used in Italy, and where can I exchange money?

The currency in Italy is the Euro (€). You can exchange money at banks, exchange offices ("cambio"), or ATMs. Banks offer competitive rates but may have higher fees. Exchange offices are convenient but compare rates. ATMs are widespread with favorable rates, but watch for bank fees. Major credit cards are accepted, but carrying cash for small purchases and emergencies is advisable.

Neil D

From

We took a 21 day private tour of Italy. Everything was perfectly planed and executed: We have traveled the world using tours from A&K and Tauck.The Joe Banana's Tour was better than both. Our travel coordinator Milena and our driver Rafaela were both professional and personable. We were well taken care of for the whole 21 day trip. We would highly recommend them to our family and friends.

roxyblackbu

From Houston, Texas

Best guided tour in italy: We enjoyed a 10 day private tour of Venice, Florence, Rome with day trips to numerous smaller cities for wonderful experiences like balsamic and wine tasting, cooking classes and gondola rides. Our driver Giuseppe’s was fantastic and the van was very luxurious. All aspects of the trip were delightful with plenty of down time, personal requests attended to and highly knowledgeable guides who enriched our experiences immensely. Our guides ensured we saw all the highlights in the many museums and churches we toured and helped us to understand ancient and Italian history and art. Would definately use Joe Banana again and highly recommend to anyone traveling to Italy. The entire experience was professional and excellently planned and carried out

Mike M

From

My wife and I had a personal driver tour of Italy for a once in a lifetime adventure, and Joe Banana's did not disappoint. Our trip included Rome, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Assisi, Venice, Florence, and Cinque Terre. We had private tours of Rome, Venice, Florence, and Cinque Terre. Our driver was engaging and entertaining as we drove from place to place. We had a private tour of a cheese factory and a cooking class, but the highlight was a private tour of a family run balsamic vinaigrette that included a meal up in the hillside. From working with their staff, to the all the details they took care of, we would highly recommend using this company for your Italian Tour needs.

Gordon C

From

Our family of four just finished a three week European vacation which was organized and executed by JBL Tours. This was the best travel experience we have had so far. This was our fourth trip with JBL but first one to include other countries besides Italy. The arrangements were complex but Cindy and Milena were awesome at meeting all of our specific needs including hotels, tours, guides and any thing else we requested. Our trip started in Paris and France, went thru Switzerland and then Italy from Lake Como to the Amalfi coast. Our driver, Antonio, picked us up at the Paris airport and served as our driver and sometimes guide managing all the details with local English speaking guides, tours, restaurant recommendations and multiple cruises over a three week period. Thanks to him and all the JBL staff, we never had to worry about any details. Antonio feels like part of our family now. We had the pleasure of meeting Joe in Sorrento and saw his dedication to individualized travel experience. We will definitely be using JBL in our future European travel.

Andrew

From

Our private tour through Italy with Joe Banana was incredible. They arranged a beautiful journey with stays in Rome, Florence and Venice, as well as side trips to Naples, Pompeii, Orvieto and Modena. Milena helped us craft a perfect itinerary and was always readily available, when we wanted to make changes. Our driver, Giulio was an absolute pleasure to be around, and he took such great care of us. The guides in each city were so fun and knowledgeable, that we were always sad to only have a day or two with each. I cannot recommend Joe Banana highly enough. There was always someone there to help us. We wanted for nothing. This was truly a trip of a lifetime!

U9770EOmarkb

From

We built a customized tour with Joe Banana that was centered around Sorento / Amalfi / Pompei / Rome / Vatican City. It was an INCREDIBLE trip. Everyone we interacted with from Joe Banana was great. Our main driver Raffaele and main contact Milena were always above and beyond and the fact that we found our own VRBO places to stay and Joe Banana worked that in so easily made it even better! Our local guides in Rome and Pompei were extremely pleasant and knowledgeable and we even planned a private boat day with our Captain Luigi out to Capri (HUGE BONUS)! All in all would HIGHLY recommend Joe Banana and will absolutely use them again for our next visit to a different part of Italy!

968hollys

From

Anna at JB was amazing at helping me plan a whirlwind tour of a ton of Italy. She tailored the trip to be everything I asked for and more. Their communication throughout the trip was perfect, and we had 10 days of amazing adventures that I will never ever forget. A trip of a lifetime. I am already plotting my return to Italy, now that I have a taste of so much of it. I couldn't recommend Joe Banana more. Nothing will ever be perfect, but they are as close as it comes. I don't think anyone else would have helped me cram so much in, in the timeframe we had. We were never left without communication or a guide. From the start to the finish- TOP NOTCH planning and communication. Trust me, and use JB for your Italy travel. They KNOW Italy!

Daniel Febbroriello

From South Carolina

I highly recommend Joe Banana and his crew for any of your vacation needs in Italy! We booked a 13 day tour with them and it was fantastic. From our first contact with Melana our entire trip was handled without us having to worry. She planned the perfect vacation for the 6 of us. All of our local tour guides were phenomenal and offered the best recommendations. Our driver Giuseppe was great and went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of. Wouldn't hesitate to book another trip with them!