TOUR COMPANIES/GUIDES

The following is a list of tour guides, taxi drivers etc that I have used or heard about in different port cities around the world. Lots of these have been recommended on the boards and I just put together a list. In some cases I have who recommended them on the boards.

Many are simply English speaking drivers who may give you some information but should not be considered guides. Others are more knowledgeable, more expensive as a rule and are true guides imparting knowledge of the area visited. This is a personal choice. Some want all the information whereas others find guides too detailed and prefer a driver and to set their own pace. Where I have personally used their services I have noted accordingly.

Limo services in most major cities for transfers from airports to hotel and piers
limo@travelagentdeals2.com

AMALFI COAST
Gennaro: owner
Mario: tons of fun and a wonderful man (cruise critic post: joannapvb 10/26/03)
info@sorrentolimo.com

BARCELONA
veronica.tallstrom@transfer.se
Arranges tours and transfers I have used them personally.

Jordi: Our flight from the US was 6 hrs. late and he actually went to the airport and discovered we would be late and then came back at the appropriate time. He was an excellent guide. (cruise critic post: patw 10/26/03)
jborellas@worldonline.es.
cell phone from Spain: 639180915

BORDEAUX
Alain (pronounced “Alan”) – tours set up by JD Coulon. Email: jdcoulon@bordeaux-map.com

CANADA – QUEBEC CITY
Luc – Taxi driver, but classy and a great guide – can get additional guides and taxis. I have used him and would recommend him highly.
leolav@globetrotter.net

GREECE - ATHENS
Akis and Johanna Fountis
Akis drives, Johanna answers emails and makes arrangements.
akisfountis@hotmail.com
He is a taxi driver but is wonderful, know the area and history and is almost like a guide. Extremely accommodating a GREAT find.
akisfountis@hotmail.com

ITALY: FLORENCE, LUCCA, PISA, CINQUE TERRE, SANTA MARGHERITA, PORTOVENERE, PORTOFINO
Paolo Fanti
Cell: 39 0 335 6579545 / Fax: 39 055 6539203
dguide@hesp.it
They were all excellent and so flexible. I am always surprised at how much the private guides can do in one day. (cruise critic post: patw 10/26/03)

MARSEILLES

Michele. Was a guide in Rome for years. Now drives a taxi but acts like a guide. Very knowledgeable.
Phone: 0033 442 839395 Cell: 0033 612 364949 Fax: 0033 612 364950
Michelemarseille@fr.

Provence Travel: Catherine or Henrietta
pointsoleil@provence-travel.com
www.provence-travel.com

MONTE CARLO, NICE

Silvie deCristo
silvie.di.cristo@wanadoo.fr

Alain or Frederic
infos@dream-tours.com
www.dream-tours.com
ROME

Bob’s Limos - $35 an hour
Bobfraz@libero.it

Max Leotta – Used Max, and his brother Fabio
max@maxleotta.com
www.romelimousineservice.com

Barbara Carabetti – arranges multiple limos, vans, hotels and pre and post packages. I have used her numerous times exceptionally reliable. She uses Max, Fabio and another good driver is Antonio. She can also provide licensed guides.
Bcarabetti@dockdiscover.com

Scala Reale - series of 2-4 walking tours, groups of no more than 6, led by art historians, architects, etc. (cruise critic post: mrlevin 10/26/03)

SORRENTO
Marcello – guide
Marcellomaresca@tin.it
http://www.seesorrento.com/contatti_eng.html

ST. PETERSBURG
RED OCTOBER
Escorted St. Petersburg Tours
Rols@redoctober.spb.ru
Redoct.@mail.lanck.net
Tel: 7-812-232-47-80
Fax: 7-812-325-40-05
Used them personallly recommend highly.

TURKEY
Istanbul and Kusadasi
Used them a lot - excellent.
Ekol Travel
ekol@ekoltravel.com.
www.ekoltravel.com


VENICE
Walks Inside Venice: walking tour
Roberta: Very knowledgeable, personable and, above all, professional (cruise critic post: nyfeds 10/26/03).
Christina: Good but no Roberta.

Samantha Durell: Guide: Conducts tours of Venice and makes special arrangements
Contact Venice Travel Advisory Service – 22 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10023
Telephone: 212-873-1964
Maximum four people.
Price: 5 hours for $250.00 for two people and $350 for four people.

I must add my experiences in regard to touring arrangements through Samantha Durell, who conducts tours of Venice.

I had read glowing reviews of Samantha Durell in several guide books. Wanting to go with the best guide I could find and afford, I decided to pursue information and book her guide services.

I was in contact with her ex-husband, Marvin, who oversees all of Samantha's touring arrangements, through his office in NYC. I arranged, through Marvin, to reserve Samantha's services. I completed and sent him paperwork indicating what we wanted out of our touring experience, per his request. I was sorely disappointed in his lack of follow-through in assisting me. He essentially dropped the ball and never responded to any inquiry besides the initial one. I left numerous phone messages, sent several e mails, all of which went unanswered. I then made arrangements with Walks Inside Venice, who was more than happy to assist in any way possible to make our visit to Venice a memorable one. They never faltered.

Therefore, in light of the experience I had with him, I cannot agree with this recommendation. I know of at least two other people, on CC, who had the very same experience with Samantha/Marvin.

Ngaire, thanks for the information.

I would also add that Daniele and his father Remo do an excellent job in Rome and Florence. You can check them out at www.driverinrome.com I booked with them last year and they were truly fantastic.

We will probably use them again this year while on the Diamond.

I will second the REMO suggestion
John <img border="0" alt="[jump]" title="" src="graemlins/jumpjoy.gif" />

Ngaire,
I was looking for a guide in Athens and emailed your suggestion of akisfountis@hotmail.com. For some reason the email came back undeliverable. When was the last time you used the services of Akis? Is there anyone else you would recommend?
Also, my family of 4 is on the Aug. 9th departure of the Diamond. Is it worth getting a guide for Kusadasi? The arrival into Istabul is Sunday Aug. 15th at 5pm. Will there be anything open or any tours available at that time? Our flight on Aug. 16th leaves at 1:50pm so I don't know if there is any time on the morning of the 16th to do any sightseeing.
Thanks for your help.
Cheron

Cheron,

I wrote to Akis about 2 weeks ago and have not received a response or an e mail back indicating the mail was undeliverable.

I have contacted George, a Greek taxi driver, after reading some positive reviews. Here is his website:

http://www.greecetravel.com/taxi/

We have reserved his services for our arrival in Athens, Oct. 4, the day we embark on our cruise. He is picking us up at the airport and taking us on a half day tour prior to our embarking on the Diamond.

Hope this helps.

Denise,
Thank you for the information about George. I actually used his services about 2 years ago from the airport to our hotel. Ngaire usually has the best information so that is why I was trying to contact her recommendation. I will contact George though and see what he has to offer. Maybe I can let you know how everything goes with his tours since we would be using him in August.
Cheron

Denise:

My try at a guide for Athens struck out. Is George bringing you to Athens prior to the port. Any chance we can hitch a ride?

I am still looking for a guide for Sat and Sun. We may have to hoof it with guidebook in hand. Driver doesn't make much sense since most things are close and you have to get out and walk the sites.

Marc,

We are still stuck with arrival at 4 AM on Monday, Oct. 4. I am hopeful that things will change and British Air will make some major changes to schedules.

Are you looking to share a ride with us to port on Monday?

As of now, George is picking us up at the airport on Oct. 4 at 7:30 AM. We plan to do a half day tour of Athens with him. While not ideal, this is what will work for us for the time being. We wish we could get into Athens a day earlier. It may change as time goes on, but for now, we are in a holding pattern over Athens!

Did you get my e mail about guides for Turkey?

Cheron,

I would be most interested in hearing of your experiences with George, so please keep me posted.

If you are looking for guides for Istanbul and Kusadasi, I have firmed plans for private guides for both ports. Please let me know if you want the information, which was recommended by a CC member.

I was in contact some time ago with Ekol Travel, whom Ngaire recommended. They responded several times and then I held off on plans, due to uncertainty with the situation in Turkey. Upon writing them again, twice within the last two weeks, I have not received a response. I, therefore, am going with the two guides that I spoke about.

Denise:

I got your email. I am going to need you to resend. I thought you had sent to my work account which forwarded to my government account. So, I deleted it off govt acccount thinking I would keep it on work account, but you must have sent to only govt account.

Whatever, it sounded good. Count us in.

As for Monday in Athens. Do you think you might be able to stop by and pick us up on the way out of town? I will probably email George to see if he or his son can provide transfer from Airport to town on Saturday...I don't want to try shuttle bus again.

I brought an Athens guide on road with me this week. I'm going to see if this is something we can do on our own. I don't think a driver is that useful when you spend so much time at individual sites (your situation is different in that you only have a morning). Apparently you can hire guides at Acropolis. I think that would work with other sites too. I will probably hire a munchkin on the streets to show us around the market place.

I have been to Athens a couple of times but it has been over twenty years.

Marc,

We will surely work something out. Maybe if you contact George, you can ask if he can pick you both up to head off to Piraeus with us. I would imagine it would not be a problem, but please go ahead and inquire.

Please e mail me so I can see which e mail address you want me to use to forward the e mails I sent you previously. I have about 3 e mail address for you! Thanks

Denise,
I would love the guide info for Kusadasi and Istanbul. I also contacted ekol travel and thus far have not received any reply. Do you also know any guides for Mykonos and Santorini?
We are all set to use George in Athens from Aug 6-9th. He is picking us up at the airport and taking us to the hotel. On the 7th we are doing Athens and Cape Sonuion. On the 8th we are doing a day trip to Delphi and then on the 9th he is taking us to the pier.



Marc,
FYI I've read on many different sites to be careful of using the guides that are at the Acropolis. Not only are they very expensive but they don't speak very good English.

Cheron

Cheron:

Thanks for the info! Is George going to climb up Acropolis and give you a tour or do you have a separate guide arranged? How about for Agora and Kerameikos?

I also would like to find a guide for the Monastiraki and Plaka; any ideas?

thanks,

Dear Cheron,

Good to hear that you have George all set up for your visit.

How long ago did you e mail Ekol?

Here is the information you requested for Ephesus and Istanbul.

Ephesus:
Ms. Emek Evin
emekevin@hotmail.com

Istanbul:
Fatos (I don't have her last name readily available)
fatos65@superonline.com

I have not personally used their services, but will do so in October. Please tell them that I referred you, as they have written to me for some time now are are well aware of my name. You may want to indicate that somewhere in your subject line.

I have found them both to be very prompt in responding and very helpful with touring suggestions.

Please let me know how you do in making contact with them. If you do decided to use their touring services, I'd be very interested in hearing how it went, as well as your experiences with George.

I hope this helps!

Hello, again, Cheron,

I forgot to mention in my last post, that I don't have any guide information for Mykonos or Santorini. I did, however, ask Emek if she knew of any. She was going to look into this.

If you hear of anyone, I would appreciate you passing it on to me.

Thanks!

Marc,
George will be our tour guide at the Acropolis as well. That is the nice thing about having a private guide. They will do what ever you want to do and see. On our day trip to Athens I'm sure we will walk the Plaka as well. We are also driving to Cape Sounion. George is also taking us to Delphi.
Hope this helps you.
Cheron

Denise,
Thank you for the Turkey guide information. I have found a guide option for Rhodes (nick-ax@rho.forthnet.gr)which seems to be a similar rate to George. On Santorini I've found oceanwavetours@oceanwavetours.com but the rate is very high. I've heard that Fira and Oia are really nice towns on Santorini. Apparently, the excavation of akrotiri is not worth the trip now because it is kind of a tourist trap. On Mykonos I haven't found a guide but everything I've read says that a 1/2 day trip to Delos is a must. I might just take the cruise tour and then walk around Mykonos by ourselves.
I will definitely let you know what we decide to do and how it all works out.
Cheron

Cheron,

Thank you for the information. I have sent e mails out to Ocean Waves and Nick and hope to hear back soon.

I'm still searching for a service in Mykonos. If I come up with anything, I will pass it along.

So glad to read Ngaire's post today about Istanbul. Very positive!

Thanks, again.