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Guided tour by car in Rome | Print |
logo rome driving tours.jpgWe are here interviewing Luca Orlandi, partner of the touring company RomeDrivingTours.com
We know Luca, because we have utilized his services and we are happy to let people know how great of a job he did for us.

So, Luca tell us how did you start working as a tour guide?
Well, the word "Tour Guide" is not maybe the correct one, I would call myself and all my collegues who work with me in this field, "art-history-food-beverage expert", because there is not really a word, good enough, to express what we do, but for sure if you like it that way, you are more than free to call me Luca, the tour guide.
As a “Tourism lover” I majored in Linguistics in college with following courses or art and history because I thought that would have been the base of my future.
Well believe it or not, while studying in Rome in college I was already escorting groups throughout the beauties of The Eternal City but also around Italy to try to make hands meet!
More than a job I thought, this was a passion because it gave me the possibility of showing other people what I knew about this town, making me proud of being Italian. By seeing that tourists really enjoyed my way of touring them around then - once out of college - I thought to start something more tangeable: my company.
I started with an 8 seater van to pick people up from airports and ports in different parts of Italy and while driving them around, I was even able to explain to them what all our monuments were about.
The success came in very early because when you do something that you like you really make it better.
Today after almost 9 years of experience and after having cooperated with other major Italian touring companies I just set up a new Joint Venture with other 3 good friends and collegues of mine: www.romedrivingtours.com
 
Where do usually your customers from?
dsc00773 (2).jpgOur Customers are mainly from English Speaking countries, more often from over Seas (Canada or USA) or even from England or Australia. They reach Italy by plane or on a cruise ship and me or one of my associates or drivers pick them up and start a full day tour with them in search of the beauties of Italy!

What are your best 3 selling tours?
Leaving in Rome it is even too easy for us to have business because everybody loves Rome: somebody wants to do the tour alone but a good part of tourists choose to use us as a cathegory that can make you feel home and you dear visitors can explore Rome or other parts of Italy sat on our first class Mercedes vans in full comfort  and relax.
So I d say the best 3 selling tours are as follows:
1) The best of Rome tour ( 8/9 hour visit of the city including also 2 hours spent at the Vatican starting from their accommodation in Rome or from the Port of Civitavecchia where their ship docks at)
2) 12 h day trip to the Amalfi Coast (from Rome accommodation to Sorrento, Positano and Pompeii to explore this unpolluted area south of Rome mixing together great views and landscape, awesome food and wine and breath-taking excavations)
3) Tuscany Countryside tour with wine tasting stops (from Rome or Florence or even Tuscan villages to the amazing parts of the Tuscan countryside for a great experience)

 
Do you go to Abruzzo often and what is your relation with Abruzzo?
Good question! I must admit that I was unaware about the beauties of this Region because unfortunately not being one of the main places that tourists visit, I really never had the chance to do that myself. I had been to Abruzzo just once in over 20 years, but now the story is different.
I got married indeed with a lady from Abruzzo and apart from the love that links the two of us, I fell in love with her region too, Abruzzo!
Wow now I can say: What a shame that people from abroad do not choose to visit it.
I now go to Abruzzo at least once a moth because my in-laws live there, but what a pleasure. Great Food, Great People and great historical and art sites! The place to visit!

What’s there to do in Abruzzo?
I usually rely on one of my friends that has a castle on a hilltop town and he offers cooking classes and guided tours to unique spots. There is no other place like that one.

vatican luca.jpgLet’s go back to Rome, How many days, do you feel are necessary to visit Rome in depth?
Well Rome is not a city that can be visited in depth in a short time whatsoever!
It all depends on how you feel. If you are interested just in a touch and go, one day is enough. But if you really want to know Rome, want to experience the night life of the city, explore all hidden corners, eat in the best Trattorias, see the underground parts you need at least 5 days..

How big are your groups?
90% of our groups are small, from 2 to 8 people. We chose to work mainly with these little groups for a better service, more direct contact and familiar atmosphere.
We also have bigger groups but the majority are small.

On average, what are some of your costs for a typical one full day in Rome?
It all depends from the number of people in the group, their ages, and what kind of visit they require, but generally they all start from around 80 euro per person for the whole day starting from a number of 5 people. In the prices are generally included fuel, city check points, tolls, van disposal all day long, driver assistance, parking fees etc.
The one given is just an example but there are many services that are cheaper and some other that are of course more expansive!  There is not unfortunately a flat rate!

Luca, Give us your contact information
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www.romedrivingtours.com
logo rome driving tours.jpg
 
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