Florence, Italy Apartment Rental. 22 New Flats in City Center

New large Florence apartment rentals. 22 different apartments located in historical center. 1-8 people 1-3 bedroom. New construction, Secured parking on site, Internet, AC, Laundry, private courtyard. Cost less than many hotels. Book online now at http://www.italy4real.com/florence_italy_apartment_rental.php



Travel 4 Real Radio Show March 1st, 2010

Listen to the latest Travel 4 Real Radio Broadcast. In this show we discuss the new lie-flat seats in coach class, packing ideas and a review of the BIT trade fair in Milan, Italy

http://www.travel4realradio.com/Download/Travel4realradio_03_01_10.mp3


2010 BIT Trade Fair in Milan with Italy 4 Real

The largest Italian travel product exhibition in the world; the International Tourism Exchange or better known as the BIT is held in Milan each year.

The first BIT debuted in 1985 and since then has become one of the most important travel fairs in the world. Held in 8 pavilions that span 57,000 square meters the BIT pulls impressive numbers. The four day event involves over 153,000 visitors including 100,000 professional operators from 150 countries. 3,400 journalists produce 4,000 articles, 100 TV broadcasts and 18 live radio broadcasts from the show.

Italy is impressively represented with nearly all known tourist products, regions, provinces, municipalities and operators; each having impressive and sometimes massive displays.
Craftsman and artisans from throughout Italy come to promote their regions historic past with live demonstrations throughout the venue.

While Italy is the main focus of the BIT; the fair is also an international presentation of tourism worldwide with over 150 countries represented. Each country presents it best products for buyers from around the world.

This year’s event included BIT “sport land” dedicated to open air sport tourism with a focus on three outdoor sports; golf cycling and mountain biking.

The fair includes one of the most productive elements called “buy Italy” which is in its 25th year and is the most important workshop for Italian tourism products. The two day workshop is a meeting point for 2,200 sellers and 540 international buyers from over 55 countries.

Travel 4 Real is the parent company of superior travel products such as www.Italy4Real.com , www.greece4Real.com and www.france4real.com . Travel 4 Real can provide 360 degrees of booking coverage for Europe, North and South America.

Travel 4 Real Selected as Top 50 Women Owned Businesses in Washington State

TRAVEL 4 REAL, LLC has been selected as one of the Top 50 Women Owned Businesses in Washington by DiversityBusiness.com.

Travel 4 Real owner; Deborah de Maio has distinguished herself as one of the top entrepreneurs in the country and are most deserving of this award and recognition.

Over 650,000 businesses in the United Sates had the opportunity to participate in the 10th annual business survey. The awards are based on annual gross revenue and the business profile.

This award is the basis of the annual "Top Business List" which is seen by over 15 million people and is used by Fortune 500 companies and large buying organizations to find new business partners.

The list is the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the United States economy - America's privately held companies. This esteemed, elite list is coveted by the most successful companies in the U.S. The list has become the most recognized and respected compilation of companies that truly differentiate themselves in the market place in a time when doing so has never been more important.

As an award winner Travel 4 Real will be honored at the "10th Annual National Business Awards Ceremony and Conference". The event on April 27 - April 29, 2010 brings together America 's "Top Business Owners" and the "Top Fortune 500" companies for promoting business opportunities. Attendance is expected to top 1200. The ceremony and conference will be held at Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

About Travel 4 Real
Travel 4 Real is DMC (Destination Management Company) and tour operator committed to providing you with the highest quality and most unique travel experience available. Travel 4 Real LLC is the parent company of some of the most unique travel brands available such as: Italy 4 Real, France 4 Real,
Greece 4 Real and Brazil 4 Real just to name a few.

Each travel resource is a dedicated treasure trove of information, services and solutions for any travel need. Each brand offers completely customizable travel solutions, escorted tours and detailed information to research the perfect trip.
Travel 4 Real corporate philosophy is to provide the public and corporate sectors with destination management, event planning and travel resources through our network of travel brands.

Travel 4 Real practices and promotes the Global Code of Ethics of Tourism which has official recognition by the UN General Assembly through its resolution A/RES/56/212.

Travel 4 Real’s dedicated tourism resources are committed to the sustainable development of tourism for all. It is our obligation to provide tourists with objective and honest information on our places of destination and on the conditions of travel, hospitality and stays and that we ensure that the contractual clauses proposed to our customers are readily understandable as to the nature, price and quality of the services we provide - this is what "real" travel is all about.

Owned by mother and son; Deborah de Maio & Rem Malloy with headquarters in Everett, Washington and satellite offices in Italy, France and Greece.

Download the latest Travel 4 Real Radio Show Feb 8th, 2010

Hi everyone you can download this weeks show. Take a listen and let us know what you think

http://www.travel4realradio.com/Download/Travel4realradio_Feb_08_10.mp3

Download the latest Travel 4 Real Radio broadcast Feb 1, 2010

Hi everyone you can download todays show. Take a listen and let us know what you think

http://www.travel4realradio.com/Download/travel4realradio_feb_1_2010.mp3


Travel 4 Real – Your Ticket to Ride the World radio show is one of the most entertaining, informative and funny radio broadcasts about travel and life. Hosted by a mother and son travel team who are professional guides, lecturers and founders of Travel 4 Real LLC; Deborah de Maio
& Rem Malloy.

Broadcast by KLAY 1180am and part of the USA Radio Network; Travel 4 Real Radio offers a new prospective on the travel industry with commentary on current events, destination reviews, the latest travel deals, local events, international travel, and suggestions for planning your own vacation. The show gives our listeners the practical information not found in guide books to help them plan any trip across the world or in their own back yard.

Visit the show website: http://www.travel4realradio.com/

Visit all of our travel products

ITALY4REAL.COM http://www.italy4real.com is the premier source for information and travel services to Italy. Featuring over 100 pages of info to research your trip, fantastic escorted tours, unique sightseeing and the ability to connect LIVE online to an Italy travel planning expert for FREE

GREECE4REAL.COM http://www.greece4real.com Athens or Santorini, Ios or Rhodes? Greece 4 Real offers a select group of escorted tours and custom trip planning options to spark your imagination and help you plan the perfect trip and live life as a Greek!

FRANCE4REAL.COM http://www.france4real.com How about getting out of Paris on you next trip to France? France 4 Real offers the solo traveler to France custom trip planning options to spark your imagination and help you plan the perfect trip. Sightseeing , Paris apartments, Normandy and more!

BRAZIL4REAL.COM http://www.brazil4real.com Brazil is the host the 2016 Olympic Games and we’re ready with a selection of custom designed tours from Copacabana Beach to the Amazon rain forest.

Travel 4 Real Radio Show Jan 25th Listen Now


The Travel 4 Real Radio show on KLAY 1180 in the Seattle radio market show number 001 can be heard at http://www.travel4realradio.com/Download/travel4realradio_CL_interview.mp3

Travel 4 Real – Your Ticket to Ride the World radio show is one of the most entertaining, informative and funny radio broadcasts about travel and life. Hosted by a mother and son travel team who are professional guides, lecturers and founders of Travel 4 Real LLC; Deborah de Maio
& Rem Malloy.

Broadcast by KLAY 1180am and part of the USA Radio Network; Travel 4 Real Radio offers a new prospective on the travel industry with commentary on current events, destination reviews, the latest travel deals, local events, international travel, and suggestions for planning your own vacation. The show gives our listeners the practical information not found in guide books to help them plan any trip across the world or in their own back yard.

For information and airing schedules visit http://www.travel4realradio.com/index.html

Sign up for a email reminder to listen to Travel 4 Real Radio LIVE

Sign up on this link for a email reminder to be sent as the radio show goes LIVE on Monday Jan 25th Click HERE to sign up to listen!

For more information on the show go to: www.travel4realradio.com

Travel 4 Real Radio Show Starts January 25th, 2010

Starts January 25th! Travel 4 Real - Your Ticket to Ride the World is a compelling, entertaining, funny and informative travel related broadcast on KLAY 1180 am in the Seattle radio market. KLAY 1180 is part of the USA Radio Network.

Hosted by a mother and son travel team who are professional guides, lecturers and founders of Travel 4 Real LLC; Deborah de Maio & Rem Malloy.

Broadcast by KLAY 1180am and part of the USA Radio Network; Travel 4 Real Radio offers a new prospective on the travel industry with commentary on current events, destination reviews, the latest travel deals, local events, international travel, and suggestions for planning your own vacation. The show gives our listeners the practical information not found in guide books to help them plan any trip across the world or in their own back yard.

Visit: http://www.travel4realradio.com for show schedule and times.

Listen LIVE Link

Travel 4 Real given an "A" rating by The Better Business Bureau

Travel 4 Real the parent company of travel brands such as http://www.italy4real.com and http://www.greece4real.com has been given the second highest rating a business can receive by The Better Business Bureau.

Travel 4 Real is proud that they have achieved this goal in serving its customers.

Christmas Day Terrorist Attack Creates Safest Time to Travel

December 25th, 2009 created the safest environment so far for air travelers since 9/11 after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab went through airport security with hidden explosives on his body in an unsuccessful terrorist attempt.

I recently heard someone say “the best time to eat at a restaurant is after it has been closed by the health board” It makes complete sense; after a big slip up, things get fixed.

After September 11th global air traveler security measures took a huge leap forward as new technologies and screening techniques were deployed.

The recent botched attempt just took the “terrorist to do list” and made it even smaller and harder to accomplish.

Every time vulnerability is discovered it makes it that much harder to try again; and eventually terrorists may not even look at airliners again as possible targets.

Terrorists know they can’t get anything in passengers’ luggage since the Lockerby attack; they know they can’t get in the cockpit since 9/11.

The latest failed attempt now takes “items hidden on the body” off the list. There’s not a whole lot left in the terrorist handbook in the chapter on airplanes which makes it that much safer for flyers like you and me.

Airports and airlines around the world have begun the most stringent security measures in airline history; making the future of air travel the safest so far.

Dutch airport authorities plan to make new, more sensitive passenger scanners mandatory and legislation is underway to place them in US airports as soon as possible.

The airline and security industries may look to countries like Israel for advice and to learn how the Israelis keep air travel safe into and out of their country. No flight out of Israel has ever been hijacked; which means no terrorist has ever gotten on a plane there.

Passengers boarding flights at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport go through a series of interviews before even reaching the ticket counter. This type of pre flight hassle has become the norm and has created the toughest security and safest flights anywhere.

While these measures may create a hassle for travelers, after the excitement is over a “new normal” will be created for the security line at the worlds airports. A small price to pay for knowing your safe while flying.

So before you reconsider that flight to Europe this summer take a moment and ask yourself “if I were a terrorist, would I try anything now?” … enjoy your flight.

Travel 4 Real Adopts The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET)

In an effort to support sustainable tourism and responsible industry standards; Travel 4 Real and its family of travel brands have adopted the United Nations Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

Travel 4 Real is practices the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism which sets a frame of reference for the responsible and sustainable development of world tourism. It draws inspiration from many similar declarations and industry codes that have come before and it adds new thinking that reflects our changing society at the beginning of the 21st century.

With international tourism forecast to reach 1.6 billion arrivals by 2020, members of the World Tourism Organization believe that the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is needed to help minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and on cultural heritage while maximizing the benefits for residents of tourism destinations.

The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) is a comprehensive set of principles whose purpose is to guide stakeholders in tourism development: central and local governments, local communities, the tourism industry and its professionals, as well as visitors, both international and domestic.

The Code was called for in a resolution of the UNWTO General Assembly meeting in Istanbul in 1997. Over the following two years, a special committee for the preparation of the Global Code of Ethics was formed and a draft document was prepared by the Secretary-General and the legal adviser to UNWTO in consultation with UNWTO Business Council, UNWTO's Regional Commissions, and the UNWTO Executive Council.

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development meeting in New York in April, 1999 endorsed the concept of the Code and requested UNWTO to seek further input from the private sector, non-governmental organizations and labor organizations. Written comments on the code were received from more than 70 UNWTO Member States and other entities. The resulting 10 point Global Code of Ethics for Tourism - the culmination of an extensive consultative process- was approved unanimously by the UNWTO General Assembly meeting in Santiago in October 1999.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in its substantive session of July 2001, adopted a draft resolution on the Code of Ethics and called on the UN General Assembly to give recognition to the Code. The official recognition by the UN General Assembly to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism came on 21 December 2001, through its resolution A/RES/56/212, by which it further encouraged the World Tourism Organization to promote an effective follow-up of the Code.

Download a copy of the Tourism Global Code of Ethics

Download in PDF format the text of the Code translated into national/local languages by the following countries/regions or territories

ENGLISH

ITALIAN

FRENCH

GREEK

CHINESE

JAPANESE

PORTUGUESE

The Code includes nine articles outlining the "rules of the game" for destinations, governments, tour operators, developers, travel agents, workers and travellers themselves. The tenth article involves the redress of grievances and marks the first time that a code of this type will have a mechanism for enforcement.

ARTICLE 1
Tourism's contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies

ARTICLE 2
Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment

ARTICLE 3
Tourism, a factor of sustainable development

ARTICLE 4
Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement

ARTICLE 5
Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities

ARTICLE 6
Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development

ARTICLE 7
Right to tourism

ARTICLE 8
Liberty of tourist movements

ARTICLE 9
Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry

ARTICLE 10
Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

Trust your travel services with Travel 4 Real; a company that supports sustainable and responsible tourism practices for its clients and its destinations.

Visit all of the Travel 4 Real travel brands now:

http://www.italy4real.com

http://www.greece4real.com

http://www.france4real.com

http://www.brazil4real.com

http://www.travel4real.com

Boycott Italy for Amanda Knox, NO WAY

The intensive trial of Amanda Knox in Perugia, Italy has been a long and complicated process that on December 5th, 2009 resulted in a 26 year sentence in prison for the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher.

Since the sentencing there has been a small movement to boycott Italy as a protest to the trial result. Twitter, Facebook members and famous figures such as Donald Trump have taken on the cause of the boycott.

While boycotting may be a traditional method of getting your voice heard; in this particular case it is the most ridiculous and absurd way to support Amanda Knox or get the attention of the powers that be in Italy.

  1. Italy is the #1 tourist destination in the world and the impact of an Amanda Knox boycott would only produce a ripple in the sea of tourists who flock to Italy from all over the world.
  2. Italians don’t boycott and don’t respond to boycotting. Boycotts only work in societies that recognize them. Italians respond to face to face negotiation and have for centuries.
  3. An Italy boycott will hurt Americans more than it will anyone else. So what does “boycott Italy” mean? Stop going to Olive Garden? Stop buying olive oil and pasta at the supermarket? Stop traveling to Italy? Return all of your Italian shoes to the store? All these options hurt business owners, employees and organizations here in America.
  4. A lovely young person; Meredith Kercher was brutally murdered and Amanda Knox was her roommate. In American courts the saying “beyond a reasonable doubt” is the gauge used to determine innocence or guilt. No matter if you think Amanda is innocent there was a murder and her involvement is foggy at best.

Historically boycotts surround cut and dry issues such as African Americans during the US civil rights movement (notably the Montgomery Bus Boycott) the movement that advocated "disinvestment" in South Africa during the 1980s in opposition to that country's apartheid regime. When a person is murdered in cold blood there may or may not be extenuating circumstances that lead to a result; it is far from cut and dry, right or wrong and in the Knox case we don’t know enough to boycott an entire country.

The Italian justice system may be a factor in the verdict, but boycotting Italy is not a way to be heard. Italians are strong and proud people who stick by their decisions no matter if they are right or wrong. The way to get an Italian to change their mind is to speak to them on an eye to eye level; threatening them will only result in a deadlock.

Those that propose a boycott of Italy are ignorant and if they took the time to understand how Italians work they can put their energy and intentions to good use.

Here are some useful ways of protesting the Amanda Knox sentence in a way that Italians will hear.

  1. Travel to Italy and submit your protest in person. Don’t go over in a WTO sit in the street until the police drag you away method, but go to the courthouse and submit a letter in person of your protest. Local authorities who realize that someone came across the world to give a letter of protest in a respectful way will be heard much louder than a few less tourists in town.
  2. If you can’t afford to go in person then write letters, post video commentaries and write blog posts but BE RESPECTFUL and don’t use threatening verbiage. Imagine you are a hostage, would you go to your captures and say “listen if you don’t let me go, I’m going to (put your favorite threat here) compared to “I see why you are doing this but here are my reasons why you might let me go. See the difference?

It’s time for fresh thinking. It’s time to negotiate. Americans, business owners and the travel industry have been bludgeoned almost to death with the economy, war and uncertainty; let’s not throw a boycott boomerang that will just come back to hit us while we are down.

Small Group Trip to Greece April 2010

Introduction to Athens



Big Fat Greek Trip
(8 days/7 nights)

April 22 - 30, 2010

Download Reservation Form NOW

1. Download the reservation form
2. Send in reservation form with your deposit
3. Get ready for a great trip!

Place your deposit now

Send your name or questions to: customerservice@travel4real.com

Call: 1-800-554-5170 for information and to place your deposit.
Deposits are $350 Per Person, non refundable. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. We will be happy to assist you with locating low cost airfare, just ask when placing your deposit.

  • Day 0 - Depart USA

  • Day 1 – Arrival to Athens Airport. Transfer from airport to Athens hotel with Private Bus & English Speaking assistant. Overnight at Hotel in Athens .

  • Day 2 – Breakfast at Hotel. Organized (collective) Half Day Panoramic Athens City Tour including visit to the NEW Acropolis museum. Overnight at Hotel in Athens.

  • Day 3 – Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to Athens Port with Private Bus & English speaking assistant. Embarkation on Hydro (fast) ship to Santorini. Arrival at Santorini & transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

  • Day 4 – Breakfast at Hotel. Organized (collective) Half Day Santorini Bus Oia Sunset & villages tour (visit Episkipi Church – Mesa Gonia – Pyrgos – Imerovigli- Oia). Overnight at Hotel.

  • Day 5 – Breakfast at Hotel. Organized (collective) Half Day Santorini Bus Tour (This tour is an introduction to Santorini's traditional villages, countryside and most beautiful black sandy beach of the island, such as Kamari or Perissa or Perivolos. Pass by Megalohori, Pyrgos with short stop to stroll around, visit a local winery for a tour and introduction to the local wines followed by a wine tasting & screening of informative film. Head up to Profitis Ilias for a short photo stop and then drive to one of the famous black sandy beaches of the island with some free time on own before return back to the hotel.) Overnight at Hotel.

  • Day 6 – Breakfast at Hotel. Free day. Overnight at Hotel.

  • Day 7 – Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer from Hotel to Santorini Airport with private Bus & English speaking Assistant. Flight from Santorini to Athens, transfer from airport to SAME hotel in Athens for overnight.

  • Day 8 – Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to Athens airport for departure flight with Private Bus & English speaking assistant.

INCLUDED SERVICES:

7 nights hotel with private bath and breakfast.

In/ Out Transfer in Athens portion (Apt/ath – hotel, hotel – port/pir, port/pir-htl, htl-apt/ath) with Private Bus & English speaking assistant

Organized Half Day Panoramic Athens City Tour including visit to the NEW Acropolis museum

In /Out Transfer in Santorini portion (port/jtr – hotel, hotel – apt/jtr) with Private Bus & English speaking assistant

Organized (collective) Half Day Santorini Bus Oia Sunset & villages tour (visit Episkipi Church – Mesa Gonia – Pyrgos – Imerovigli- Oia)

Organized (collective Half Day Santorini Bus Tour (visit: Kamari or Perivolos or Perissa – Megalohori – Winery)

P/P Boat Ticket for the Route Piraeus – Santorini on Economy Seat

Flight from Santorini to Athens


Prices per person
Single Double Triple
$2,300.00 $1,999.00 $1,799.00

Italy 4 Real now rents Ferrari's by the hour in Tuscany, Italy

Want to drive a $320,000 dollar super car? Well now you can. Only Italy 4 Real can offer Ferrari rentals by the hour in Tuscany. A great and thrilling addition to any trip. Get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F430 F1 for one hour as you twist and turn through the Tuscan countryside. insurance included, valid drivers license required. 3 hour also available. More info here: http://www.italy4real.com/index.php?mainpage=products_info&pID=115












See a video of a drive around the Ferrari Factory in Maranello, Italy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vKSQt3GOPg

Ferrari F430 Fun Run Around Ferrari Factoy Italy 4 Real

Need another reason to see a cool Ferrari video? We didn't think so

Top 5 Reasons to Travel This Holiday Season

The economy, recession and unemployment are all good reasons not to travel this holiday season, but there are some pretty good reasons as well to get away and play.

1. Prices will never be lower. Historically travel overall has never been the less expensive, many companies including airlines, hotels and tour operators have drastically lowered pricing to encourage travelers to take to the roads, seas and sky’s. In the near future not only will prices go back to pre-recession levels but will likely increase to compensate for lost revenue over the last year.

2. Travel clears your head. No matter if you journey a few miles from home for a weekend getaway or travel 10,000 miles; travel gets you out of the daily grind and gives you a new perspective on your current situation. By going outside your bubble, it gives you the opportunity to look around and think a different way about the daily life. Getting away may give you a perspective on your life that you couldn't see before within the walls of your own home. If you're one of the many Americans who is unemployed or is struggling in this economy a simple road trip within 100 miles of your house to see something in nature, to visit a museum, to get out of the daily grind of worry is a great benefit to the ability to think your way out of a situation that you find yourself.

3. Experiences are more valuable than possessions. A study by Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University found that experiences make us happier than possessions. That's in part because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred. Giving the gift of travel this holiday season will reap rewards much longer than another pair of socks.

4. Reconnect with friends and family. Pricing for travel has never been so low so now is the time to reconnect with old college friends or family members you haven't seen in many years. This is a great opportunity to reach rekindle the bond of friendship and family through the amazing offers you can find for travel in the United States and abroad. During this holiday season hotels and resorts are offering complementary nights as well as dining perks during your visit. The back to back holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Quanza combined with overall industry savings makes a short holiday very reasonable.

5. Contribute to economic recovery. Stimulus, stimulus, stimulus; these are the words we hear every second on TV and read in every other page of our newspapers. The concept is simple, spend money and the economy will improve. The travel and hospitality industries are some of the hardest hit by the economic downturn. There is no better time to support your local economy by going for a trip, calling your local travel agent or booking a hotel for a romantic evening away from home. It is only by working together that we will all benefit from recovery.


Rem Malloy is owner and President of http://www.travel4real.com a tour operator and custom trip planning company with offices in USA and Europe. Visit the site for information and ideas for planning your own trip for the holidays

Italy 4 Real helps make teen’s wish to tour Italy come true -- Make-A-Wish Foundation teams up with local travel company

Italy 4 Real helps make teen’s wish to tour Italy come true
-- Make-A-Wish Foundation teams up with local travel company --

SEATTLE–Italy 4 Real, a Pacific Northwest-based travel company specializing in small
group tours to Italy and Europe, was approached by the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to
grant a local teen her dream to experience Italy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a
national non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening
medical conditions.

“Italy 4 Real is proud to partner with the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” said Deborah de Maio, chief executive officer at Italy 4 Real. “If we can play a part in realizing the dream of a young girl who has gone through so much in her life, then we feel we’ve accomplished something good and meaningful.”

Italy 4 Real is a local tour company that offers exclusive small group tours to Italy of 16 guests or less, visiting handpicked locations, quaint inns, with unique itineraries.

Seventeen-year-old Brittany Fugatt, who has end-stage renal disease, will depart from
Seattle on June 26 and return July 7. Brittany’s wish is to travel to Italy with her family to experience its rich history and culture. Her trip includes a tour through Venice, Florence and Rome where the family will visit the forum, the ruins and the coliseum.

“Also, while I’m in Italy, I would like to look around the small markets and stuff like that; the whole touristy thing” said Brittany. “I would also like to do a little bit of shopping cause you have to get leather in Italy.”

”While the special memories of a wish experience cannot be measured in dollars and
cents, it can cost thousands of dollars to grant each wish,” said Sandra PĂ©rez, Make-A Wish communications manager. “Yet, thanks to all our donors and volunteers, no child who qualifies for a wish is turned away.”

According to Jill Dean, Make-A-Wish wish coordinator, Italy 4 Real has expertly
organized all the details of Brittany’s upcoming vacation.

“They have been wonderful to work with,” said Dean. “I am so impressed with their
professionalism and the contacts they have in Italy. No request has been too big or too small. We were very lucky to find them.”

About The Make-A-Wish Foundation®
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with dozens of chapters across the United States and its territories and international affiliates on five continents. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 100,000 wishes to children around the world since 1980. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.northwestwishes.org or call 800-304-WISH.

About Italy 4 Real Tours, Llc.
Italy 4 Real, www.italy4real.com, is a subsidiary of Pacific Northwest-based travel
company; Travel 4 Real specializing in small group tours, custom itinerary and event
planning to Europe. Owned and operated by mother and son team, Deborah de Maio
and Rem Malloy, Italy 4 Real brings the history and culture of Italy to life.
Each tour is hand picked -- every hotel, room and restaurant. On its 13-day tour,
travelers are escorted by the owners of the company who make certain the highest
quality and customer service is received. Italy 4 Real is focused on providing travelers with a unique experience at a reasonable price without hidden costs.

Italy4real.com - Quarkbase, Easier way to find website information

Italy4real.com - Quarkbase, Easier way to find website information


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Vintage Cars and Lemoncello in Sorrento

This post is from a great friend of www.italy4real.com who is in Italy scouting for the company some great places to stay and great things to do. Thanks Lynn!

Vintage Cars and Lemoncello in Sorrento

Alessandro and Paula take us for a ride in the vintage cars – 1971 Alfa Romeo cars around the streets of Sorrento. It is raining so we could not take the tops down, but the cars were great fun anyway. He has 3 of these cars and several other types for his business of organizing the car rally for www.italy4real.com . Today he takes 2 vintage women for a lovely ride and of course a stop at a local cucina for the 4 course lunch….the hand-rolled pasta with pomedoro sauce is fantastico!

Later in the afternoon we go (by regular car) to the main downtown full of high fashion clothes, stores for beauty products and cosmetics, shoes, produce, pharmacy – all 1 story shops in a busy downtown. We visit 2 or 3 hotels for inspection of facility for future tours to be included in Italy4REAL venue. We stop at a pasticerria for the cappuccino and as we leave the owner follows us into the street to talk our ears off for 20 minutes yak yak yak about himself. He decorates the wedding cakes in his shop and we think he does not get out much beyond that.... Read More

Our last stop is at Villa Oriana Relais – very near the downtown- with a garden full of olive trees and lemon trees. We are served fresh lemonade from those very trees and I begin the exchange of lemoncello recipes with the owner, Maria, who makes the cooking classes in her beautiful kitchen. Her recipe takes only about 10 days, while mine takes about 120 days to soak properly. Of course, you must use the special Sorrento lemons for good lemoncello – it is all about the lemons - and I tell her that I have friends with the lemon tree and get my lemons there ----NOT the store! May be one day we will return and take a cooking class – Raviolis anyone? – and stay at the villa. She has 8 rooms (fitting 2 people each) and a roof-top deck with a spa. Too bad the rain……we could have used a nice hot soak.

This post is from a great friend of www.italy4real.com who is in Italy scouting for the company some great places to stay and great things to do. Thanks Lynn!

A great company!

This is a family run company that has one of the best levels of knowledge of Italy found anywhere. During a simple call they give you more useful information over the phone than any other company out there. They live in Italy, work in Italy they just don't sell Italy - They ARE Italy! choose no other!

in reference to: Trip to Italy:Travel package,Sightseeing,Escorted & Group Tour to Italy (view on Google Sidewiki)

The World’s Best Driving Road: The Stelvio Pass

If you are passionate about driving and also like to travel then you must experience firsthand a drive through the world famous Stelvio Pass.

The Stelvio Pass starts just 16 kilometers or 9 miles from the town of Bormio nestled at the foot of the swiss alps. I recommend starting your journey from this quaint ski village. Bormio is just over 249 kilometers or 154 miles from Milan’s Malpensa airport making it easily reachable in about 3 hours.

Bormio is filled with Swiss charm, lovely boutique hotels and cobblestone streets. Bormio is a year round destination. In the winter months it is a skier’s delight with lifts reaching 3000 meters or 9842 dizzying feet above sea level.

In the summer, Bormio is the starting point of one of the world’s best driving roads; the Stelvio Pass.

Open from June to September each year; the Passo Dello Stelvio as the locals call it is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps at a staggering 2757 m or 9045 ft.

The original road was built in 1820-25 by the Austrian Empire to connect the former Austrian province of Lombardia with the rest of Austria.

Today, the Stelvio is part of Italy with a segment that will take you to Switzerland, when I drove the pass this summer I stayed on the Italian side.

The passes’ sixty hairpin turns are a thrill for drivers of any skill level and offer amazing crystal-clear alpine views and straightaway’s through thick forests featuring some of the best scenery Europe has to offer.

Roads are perfectly maintained but traffic on the SS 38 during the summer can be heavy on weekends so I recommend enjoying the pass during the weekdays.

There are plenty of places to pull over and enjoy the views and once you reach the top of the pass a cluster of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops await you. Make sure you bring home a keepsake to prove you made it to the top of the Stelvio.

While you are at the peak of the pass enjoy one of the loud and talkative vendors selling grilled sausages with onions and sauerkraut.

Coming down the opposite side of the pass you will drive through some lush and green landscapes as you make your way through the valley.

Allow at least two hours to get completely through the Stelvio pass. The largest town over the pass is Bolzano and on the way you'll pass through quaint little towns and and miles of apple orchards.

The Stelvio Pass is not only considered one of the world’s best driving roads but I also one of the most scenic and diverse.

For more information on The Stelvio Pass or to plan a trip there; visit www.italy4real.com today!

Ancient Rome in 3D Rome Sightseeing Venue

Join http://www.italy4real.com and company owner; Rem Malloy as he takes you on an informative VIP tour a new sightseeing venue in Rome, Italy. Learn the travel tips you need to know before you go.

Ancient Rome in 3D; new sightseeing venue in Rome, Italy

There is a new world class sightseeing venue in Rome and when visiting the eternal city it must be part of your experience. I got a VIP tour of the new virtual journey through imperial Rome during my trip to the eternal city in September.

The facility is modern well lit and clean. Get your advanced tickets online and when you arrive pick up your stereo audio headset available in several different languages. Join your guide as they take you through a modern archeological dig and into a recreation of the famous Tunnel of Commodus.

Decorated with majestic frescoes, stuccos and mosaics the tunnel connected the gladiator warm up area to the coliseum in ancient times and was also used by the emperors to secretly enter the coliseum to enjoy the game of the blood sport.

After the Tunnel of Commodus, enter an interactive area with moving floor, ancient artifacts and a high definition video ceiling that opens up to bring to life the feeling of being lifted to fight the lions as the roaring crowds cheer above.

The shows main attraction is revealed through secret doors where you enter a modern and comfortable 3d theater. Unfortunately at the time of this article it was standing room only, but the management tells me that seating is planned for the future.

Relax and dawn your 3d glasses as you are taken by a virtual Roman citizen through the famous forum on an interactive tour of ancient Rome.

Experience life in Rome in 310 AD, see what the city looked like in its prime and experience a front row seat to a gladiator battle that will send chills up your spine.

The tour continues to the modern and air conditioned lower floor that contains interactive games, mini documentaries, the wheel of time and other ways to learn about the history of ancient Rome.

The gift shop has lots of unique items and has a café for a refreshing drink or coffee. When you finish you can latterly walk across the street to the real coliseum and Roman forum.

Until now Rome had no modern world-class sightseeing venue; but now it does and I recommend it be a part of any itinerary.

To purchase advance tickets to this new sightseeing venue; visit http://www.italy4real.com today!

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