Awards & Press
Trip Reviews
Maria came through with a well-thought-out plan that covered all the places I had requested.
I have been personally planning our trips for the past 40 years, but wanted the focus of this trip to be on food and wine. Maria came through with a well-thought-out plan that covered all the places I had requested. I really enjoyed the cooking classes. We did three different
A great trip and a wonderful way to celebrate our 40th anniversary!
We had an amazing trip! Maria really set up some wonderful experiences in Umbria for us, we especially enjoyed the private food event up in the hills of Umbria. Very happy she added Orvieto onto our first (arrival) day. Our hike on the Walk of the Gods was spectacular with tremendous views.
The CIU team went beyond my expectations!
EXTRAORDINARY! I am an experienced and if I say so myself, a super critical traveler. Maria and her team went beyond my expectations. The guides were inspiring, the drivers wonderful. We had private cooking classes, meetings with a violin maker, textile designer, hunting for truffles, tastings of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, parma
Maria was also able to get us (very hard to come by) soccer tickets for the Rome vs. Lazio derby!
I cannot say enough good things about our recent trip to Italy planned by Maria Gabriella Landers. I traveled with my husband and 9-year-old son to Umbria and Rome. When Maria recommended making restaurant reservations in the weeks before our trip, I was too overwhelmed to even begin to choose,
Asolo, which we never would have known about, was a definite highlight for its charming serenity!
A terrific time was had by my husband and me. There were a couple of glitches and it was wonderful to have help from our concierge. A drastically delayed flight was no problem when the driver could be easily contacted and kept apprised of our ever later arrival. The hotels were
It is impossible to pick a favorite experience because there were so many!
I cannot thank Maria Landers enough for planning the perfect trip for my wife and I and our dear friends! Our trip included stays in Lucca, Siena, Florence and Lake Como. We experienced wonderful tours, cooking classes and wineries. It is impossible to pick a favorite experience because there were so many. We loved
Maria crafted the perfect, personalized itinerary, and it was all seamless.
This was my second trip to Italy with Maria Gabriella Landers. The trip was wonderful. Maria crafted the perfect, personalised itinerary. The guides and drivers were knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful. Our itinerary had us sightseeing many little towns in Umbria and everything went off without a hitch. Meticulous planning. Beautiful hotels,
Way past swanky!
When we decided to work with CIU Travel for our complicated trip to Venice and our friends’ wedding at Lake Maggiore, we were hoping for some expert help with logistics – but WOW, did we get that and so much more! The entire experience wasn’t just swanky, it was smooth
Thank you for orchestrating yet another Italian idyll for us . . .
Every single guide was outstanding! Special shout-out to C. for Turin/Langhe, she is one of the best ever. We hadn’t really grasped that she would be with us every day in Le Langhe in addition to the day in Turin, and once we had spent 10 minutes with her and
First of all…the whole trip was fabulous
Our drivers were not only excellent, but the info they shared with us was invaluable. . . Our tour guides were absolutely amazing and we said we probably wouldn’t have learned 1/10th of the info without them- not to mention all of the time that you gain going “skipping the line”. Also,
While I have always enjoyed planning my own trips, there is no comparison to the benefits of utilizing the talents of a travel specialist.
While I have always enjoyed planning my own trips, there is no comparison to the benefits of utilizing the talents of a travel specialist. Maria had access to the best guides and knew the right people behind the important scenes. We received early check-ins and special welcome gifts at the
this trip was so much more interesting, educational and memorable, thanks to Maria and Brian‘s planning
This trip focused on Emilia-Romagna (Parma, Ravenna, Modena, Bologna) with an additional stop in Lake Garda. We had been to each of those towns before (except Modena) but this trip was so much more interesting, educational and memorable, thanks to Maria and Brian‘s planning. What makes working with Maria and
“the best ever” itinerary imaginable!
Teresa and I would like to thank the CIU Travel team for “the best ever” itinerary imaginable. The agents, guides, and drivers were all exceptional. The excursions and lodging were incredible! And, the sun followed us throughout our journey making for wonderful weather. We have numerous stories to tell that
A Class Act!
Thank you so much for putting together such a wonderful trip for us and our friends in September. It was special, as your trips always are, but our friends were awed and amazed by their experience (first time out of the U.S.!) Highlights: Hotel Damaso rooftop bar/our room patios/the neighborhood,
Our trip was amazing!
I fell in love with Rome. Lake Como was enchanting and The Belvedere was a gem. We so enjoyed our time with Claudio and Anna on our venture to Switzerland. Amalfi by Sea was my favorite excursion with swimming, amazing views and fun crew. The drivers and guides were so
Thank you for such great memories of Italy!
We had a fabulous time in Italy and this was one of the best trips we have taken with one of Wendy’s WOW listers and that is saying a lot. All the guides and drivers spoke so highly of you, Brian and Cristina. It was a joy to be with

