Goodfriend Posted July 16, 2005 #1 Share Posted July 16, 2005 I am looking to book an excursion for the Amalfi Coast, etc and received a very reasonable quote form this driver. Has anyone used him or do you know where I could find references? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kare8ear Posted July 17, 2005 #2 Share Posted July 17, 2005 Do a search on him and you will find lots of reviews (positive too). We have already booked him for our excursion too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degas Posted July 21, 2005 #3 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Do a search on him and you will find lots of reviews (positive too). We have already booked him for our excursion too! How do you do a search for this guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degas Posted July 21, 2005 #4 Share Posted July 21, 2005 How do you do a search for this guy? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kare8ear Posted July 21, 2005 #5 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Tyleen: You simply go to the 'Search this Forum' or 'Search' tab/link at the top of this website and type in his name. If you use the 'Search' link, just do a search for the 'Europe' forum. Hope you can follow my directions. Let me know if you need help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degas Posted July 21, 2005 #6 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I tried and didn't find anything on him. But that's OK I think I'll book him anyway. His e-mail was prompt and very courteous. This is the 1st cruise for me and the 1st time in Europe so I'm soooo excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kare8ear Posted July 21, 2005 #7 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Sorry, but I just realized that you are spelling his name incorrectly. It is Francesco Marrapese (only 1 e). Try that, you should get ~11 hits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cakamhi Posted July 23, 2005 #8 Share Posted July 23, 2005 I tried and didn't find anything on him. But that's OK I think I'll book him anyway. His e-mail was prompt and very courteous.This is the 1st cruise for me and the 1st time in Europe so I'm soooo excited. We used him and he was great. My teenagers loved him and so did we. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETRA4U Posted August 2, 2005 #9 Share Posted August 2, 2005 We just came back on 7/23 from a cruise on the Splendour. we used francesco and he was terrific. Our family voted it as the best day on the trip. here is his information below if you need it. enjoy.... I wish I was still there! Francesco Marrapese cell.: +39 3383387393 website: http://www.francescomarrapese.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenprincess53 Posted September 7, 2005 #10 Share Posted September 7, 2005 4 more weeks and away we go! We have a tour booked with Francesco Marrapese. Has anyone returned from one of his tours. Would be interested in hearing how the day went and where you visited, ate etc. Where did you visit first etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kare8ear Posted September 8, 2005 #11 Share Posted September 8, 2005 YES YES YES!!! I posted in here earlier we returned last week from our cruise and we LOVED Francesco! I had typed up a review of our trip, but CC deleted it when I went to post it...grrr. Francesco was wonderful! He speaks excellent English and is very funny and entertaining. He is a great driver...doesn't drive too fast and takes the turns nice and easy on the coast drive. He was early to pick us up and then brought us straight to Pompeii. He waited a couple hours for us while we rushed to get through Pompeii. Then drove us near Sorrento (I don't think we actually went all the way through there as it would have been too long), the Amalfi Coast, Positano, and then Ravello. He made reservations for us at a great restaurant in Ravello with magnificent views of the water. (If you eat Pasta anywhere in Italy, be sure to ask them to cook the pasta longer. Al dente there is undercooked to us here. Everyone in our tours complained about that throughout Italy.) Then we had some free time to walk and shop around Ravello. Along the way we also made a couple stops for pictures and shopping. We stopped at a ceramics shop and a produce stand. Buy the produce...we got peaches, grapes, figs, and they were delicious! The lady also sold these spices for pasta sauces that we all bought (she let us try the bruschetta and it was so yummy). He drove us back to Naples through the back way or through the mountains; we were very high up. He got us back with time to spare and all of six of us thought he was fabulous. Our only regret was that we did not give him a larger tip (miscalculation on our part). Have a great time...I hope you enjoy him as much as we did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chanelsmomma Posted September 9, 2005 #12 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Hi Karen, Robin here. We were part of Karen's tour and Francesco was magnificent! He was very professional and, at the same time, hysterical. He kept us amused the whole day and also lavished us with unlimited information on the areas we were touring. Thanks for letting us be a part of your group Karen!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisingmimi Posted September 9, 2005 #13 Share Posted September 9, 2005 My friend used Francesco on the Galaxy July Med cruise & she absolutely loved him! Said he was very professional, a good driver, spoke excellent English. Her sister is going to Italy this month & booked him also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kare8ear Posted September 9, 2005 #14 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Awww Robin, we miss you guys already! Sorry about not responding to your email yet, will do this weekend. It was great that you guys joined us and we had lots of fun with you both and Francesco!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmc7704 Posted September 10, 2005 #15 Share Posted September 10, 2005 Can those of you who have used his service give us an idea of his charge? I realize that it will vary by where you want to go, but the only reference I could find to cost was that the charge was for the vehicle, not per person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisernan Posted September 14, 2005 #16 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Francesco is WONDERFUL !! His charge is per vehicle. His van was very comfortable. We had four people - six would be very comfortable - eight might fit but someone would be in the middle. He will advise you on number of people, but the charge is the same regardless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisernan Posted September 14, 2005 #17 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Francesco is WONDERFUL !! His charge is per vehicle. His van was very comfortable. We had four people - six would be very comfortable - eight might fit but someone would be in the middle. He will advise you on number of people, but the charge is the same regardless. He is very reasonable. Our tour was from Naples down the coast and to Pompei on the way back. He knows how to avoid the worst traffic to make sure you return to the ship on time. He reserved a separate guide for us at Pompei who was well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kare8ear Posted September 14, 2005 #18 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Francesco charged us based on the number of people, but the cost went down per person when you had more people. The car he took us in would only fit up to 7 passengers in addition to Francesco. He took us to Pompeii first since it is cooler in the morning and then we drove along the coast. To return to the port, he takes you the back way through the mountains and we hit no traffic in either direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare itsanita Posted September 14, 2005 #19 Share Posted September 14, 2005 "Our only regret was that we did not give him a larger tip (miscalculation on our part). What IS an appropriate tip for tours of this type? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kare8ear Posted September 15, 2005 #20 Share Posted September 15, 2005 We just tip according to how we feel about their services, as if we were in a restaurant. If you want to by "standard", I would think 10%. But a tip is a subjective and personal decision. We gave more than to some and less than that to others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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