“We love Scappare Travel! My husband and I went on a STC trip to Puglia and it was fantastic start to finish, and we enjoyed a truly authentic experience. STC took care of us from the second we got off the plane but there was still enough time on our own to explore and discover things at our own pace. The trip was full of fun things which were included but it never felt too packed. We particularly loved that Amy was there with us the whole time in the background as she was always 100% accessible and a great help with language hurdles and reservation-making. She even taught us some Italian which was fun. I also loved that we met some of Amy and Maria’s friends and contacts in Puglia, and that now we are lucky enough to call them friends too! Ciao Giovanni! He is from Ostuni and led us through Ostuni, Poglinano a Mare, and Monopoli like locals, even took us to his house to meet his dogs and have pasta there which his wife cooked, and on the way stopped at his favorite local cheese shop without warning so we could taste the most incredible buffalo mozzarella which was still warm when they handed it to us. These are experiences you get with Scappare Travel that we would never have found on our own. Go on a trip with STC you will not be disappointed, they know what they are doing and they know Italy, and you will have a fantastic time.”
~Laura K.
“STC’s hotel choices exceeded our expectations! From other travels in Europe, we would have expected far less spacious rooms and grand furnishings. You’ve now spoiled us … the bar has been raised. We enjoyed the boutique nature of the hotels and were grateful not to be in a worldwide corporate facility. We would not change a thing.”
~Jan G.
“Scappare Travel was the best escape EVER! My husband and I went to Florence and Tuscany with STC and Maria and Amy were there with us acting as our own private concierge for our small group. We were led through Florence and the Tuscan countryside like a friend and local, not like a tourist, which was an amazing feeling and such a different way to travel. One of the things we loved was that STC had a pre-arranged aperitivo/happy hour the night of our arrival waiting for us – it was perfect. We were tired from travel but wanted to stay awake until bedtime and it was the perfect glass of wine (my husband had a Spritz) and small bites to get us to bedtime not to mention it was delicious better than anything we’ve had here. We absolutely loved our day trip to Montepulciano, and STC had everything arranged ahead of time – transportation was elegant and on time, and we were met with the most wonderful guide who showed us the town, and there was plenty of down time to sit and soak in some sun in the local piazza. With STC we felt very well cared for but also had enough time on our own, a great balance for us and we felt we got so much for the price we paid. There were plenty of great experiences built into the trip, things I would not have known to look for or book on my own so I now know what STC means when they advertise an “insider experience” – you will definitely get one here. We will be booking again!”
~James B.
“Scappare Travel is the best! Don’t call anyone else. They plan the most amazing trips to Tuscany, including a stay in Florence and you, too, can enjoy travel with a small group. The value is incredible in respect to all that is included. You will be comfortable and taken care of the entire time, feeling relaxed and at ease to enjoy Tuscany, with the exceptional Italian food and wine. Because Amy and Maria have a number of special contacts, visiting off the track spots is doable. Transport and hotel experiences are smooth, upscale and as advertised. It is the perfect balance of activities versus relaxing time to explore and be on your own. The group dinners are then a nice change of pace. Maria and Amy will answer any questions you might have before the trip begins. Chatting with them is so comfortable. Their love for Italy shines through all they do!”
~Carol A.
“I just wanted to share how happy I was with my Italian Adventure STC planned for me. As a first time, single traveler, I was a bit hesitant to embark on my Italian trip. But STC organized lovely accommodations and an itinerary that included wonderful cultural sights while still allowing me free time to enjoy the magic of my surroundings.”
~Diana M.
“If you want to travel to Italy and feel like more of a local than a tourist, then you should sign up with Scappare Travel. My wife and I are so thankful we did. We traveled to Florence with a small group and Maria and Amy were there waiting with our transport the second we got off the plane, and made everything easy and smooth. They both speak Italian and helped us navigate everything, we felt very well taken care of, and we liked that they keep the groups small. The hotel in Florence was ridiculous good for what we paid. We particularly loved when Amy took us to meet Paolo in Florence to show us the city and he was such an amazing guide and person that we were talking about all sorts of things by the end and my wife and I are still in touch with him. STC arranged the most wonderful private wine tour for us in the hills of Chianti Classico and we had lunch at the cutest town Panzano with the famous butcher there. The ease and pace of the trip, the thoughtful extras, the built in time on our own, the Tuscan touches all made for such a fantastic trip and we never once felt like an outsider or a tourist. We highly recommend Scappare Travel if you are going to Italy and already tell all of our friends about them. Thanks Maria and Amy!”
~Joe L.
I felt like I was visiting with a local as she speaks fluent Italian and took us to wonderful places and restaurants frequented only by locals. We would never have had such authentic experiences without her. I particularly enjoyed her introduction to the enjoyment of “aperitivo” as well as her gentle guidance as to the proper ordering of cappuccinos and pouring olive oil onto your bread (do notdip)! It was so nice to travel to Italy with Amy of STC who is personable, accommodating, and passionate about Italy and willing to share that passion with you.
~Linda S.
“Better than they advertise! My wife and I went in the Fall to Florence and Tuscany with Amy and Maria of Scappare Travel Club and we had a fantastic time. The trip was better than we thought. Very relaxed with a mind to “this is vacation, not a school project”. There were, of course, plenty of thoughtful and insightful planned activities…hard to go to Italy and not see some of the “touristy” sites. It was more than compensated by that “Tuscany feel” – live like a local…coffee and Maritozzi, some walking and touring, lunch, maybe some wine tasting, more touring, aperitivo, dinner…rinse and repeat. If you’re in Italy, you eat. The food is everything you expect and more…and then even better than that. It was so fun to eat in the restaurants that the locals do, not the ones you’re funneled to on a Google search. Needless to say, we ate extremely well. A big shoutout to Paolo in Florence, our tour guide for a couple of days in Florence. He is the best of the best, professional, fun, and his English is perfect (and you can practice your very poor Italian, as I tried…). We particularly loved Montepulciano and all the authentic places we saw and restaurants we ate in. The views there are striking, and Amy and Maria know the town so well they were able to bring us to the best spots including a particular venue every evening for aperitivo with a postcard view. Traveling with STC you really do feel more like a local hanging out with friends than a tourist. By the end of the trip we made friends with people in the towns. I was on a first name basis with Matteo and Cinzia in Montepulciano…and Vittorio of Rosso Rubino even bought me coffee one morning. We were invited to an olive oil farm on a family estate…you don’t have these experiences going with a “canned” vacation plan. Amy and Maria took us to places we would never have known about – wineries, restaurants, farms and even shops in the small towns. They truly know what they are doing, and their love of Italy shines through. They were aiming for authentic, local experience, which we 100% did. After traveling for work internationally for 30+ years, I have never enjoyed the hotel/tour bus/ “popular” restaurant approach. I always prefer to “live like a local”. Scappare Travel Club provided that on a daily basis and we recommend them without hesitation. Besides…we’re going to go back with them and do it again!”
~Mike M.
The trip blew our expectations out of the water. It wasn’t just a trip – it was truly the experience of a lifetime, total Tuscany. I went with my husband in the Fall and we had so much fun, the perfect balance of planned activities and we also had time to relax and soak it all in. We had so much fun at cooking class making pici pasta and gnocchi, and also loved wine tastings, private truffle class, olive oil tasting, winery tours. Throughout all of these activities we felt like insiders and friends rather than visitors, it was so relaxed and fun. We went to restaurants that they knew of but we never would. We met the locals – chefs, proprietors, baristas and it was so much fun talking with them and getting to know them. We had a great time with Paolo in Florence and loved that we got to hang out with him both on a fun walking tour of the city (which felt more like hanging out with a friend than a tour) and then again when he expertly led us through the Ufizzi gallery. Skipping the long line at the Ufizzi was so nice and Paolo was right there waiting for us to take us inside. The food on the trip blew our minds every meal was wonderful, we enjoyed some excellent Tuscan meals with our small group. It was so fun to travel together and STC made it so stress-free and easy like traveling with friends. And after all of the fun in Florence to get to Tuscany visit a winery and farm was magical, we never would have known about them. The family who owns the winery where we visited couldn’t have been nicer and we plan to go back again and again. Maria and Amy definitely showed us Italy and Tuscany the insider way, thank you!
~Rosie M.