Italy Extravagant Escapes
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Gwynne Chafer
La Crosse, WI Travel Agent· 25+ Years of Experience
A full-service Travel Leaders Associate Agency
21 reviews
100% Recommended
25+ Years of Experience
5.0
(21)
100% Recommended
Gwynne was very accommodating in planning a rather complex family trip for 14 people, 5 of whom live overseas. All of Gwynne's arrangements went off... Read More >
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Italy, India, East and Southeast Asia, Ireland, LondonInterests:
European Culture, Luxury, Couples & Romance, Escorted Tours, All InclusiveSuppliers:
Delta Vacations, CIE Tours, Palace Company, Le Blanc Spa Resorts, VikingAbout Me
Visiting Italy is a feast for your senses … from the scent of lemons in Capri, to the delicious flavors of the many pastas and sauces which is known for, to viewing the crumbling ruins of the Roman Empire. Did you know that Italy has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites of any country in the world? 58 sites have been designated for either their natural beauty or historic significance!
I love selling Italy, from the archaic ruins of Rome to the hidden beauty of Venice. Roam the ancient streets of Pompeii and explore the medieval walls of Assisi. It is hard to describe the feeling of standing in the Colosseum, where so many years ago the gladiators fought for their lives. Wake up to the sound of a Venetian gondolier, warming up his voice as he meanders through the cobbled sidewalks of the island. These are all things I highly suggest you experience for yourself.
If you have been to Italy before and would like to go back, I can suggest visiting some lesser-known areas of the country, like Matera and Alberobello. I recently visited these areas myself and would highly recommend. There are countless destinations to travel to in Italy and I still have more to check off my bucket list.
For all of my foodie travelers, I had two of my favorite meals in Italy. They were both on this last trip in Matera! My taste buds rejoiced when taking the first bite of Pistachio Pasta at Baccus in Matera and Panzerotti. I am still dreaming of these meals 4 months after eating it!
I have over 30 years of experience as a travel professional. I have visited Italy numerous times. I have traveled from north to south and from east to west. I really enjoy selling the different areas of the country. Let's start planning your Italian dream vacation.
Areas of expertise
Destinations:
Italy, India, East and Southeast Asia, Ireland, LondonInterests:
European Culture, Luxury, Couples & Romance, Escorted Tours, All InclusiveSuppliers:
Delta Vacations, CIE Tours, Palace Company, Le Blanc Spa Resorts, VikingREVIEWS
Rating: 5.0
21 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 21 reviews
Magnificent 50th Anniversary family trip
Reviewed By LJ - Genoa, Wisconsin | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Gwynne was very accommodating in planning a rather complex family trip for 14 people, 5 of whom live overseas. All of Gwynne's arrangements went off without a hitch.
We are totally satisfied and highly recommend Gwynne's services. We'll use her again.
We are totally satisfied and highly recommend Gwynne's services. We'll use her again.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
43 of 72 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
The Trip of a Lifetime!!
Reviewed By Colleen R - Sun Prairie, WI | Traveled to Florence ~ Italy ~ Europe
Gwynne was recommended to me by a friend when they learned we planned on visiting Italy. We had many details such as meeting my daughter who was already in Italy, and having my son leave earlier than the rest of us, and also having a large number of people making different payments and also needing various different requirements while traveling...a bit overwhelming for me to plan since I had never been to Europe before!! Gwynne was invaluable to the process of planning our trip!! She provided everything we needed even before I knew it was needed...She recommended beautiful hotels and priceless experiences. We visited Florence, Rome and Paris, and Gwynne provided us with private tours with lovely, knowledgeable tour guides. She arranged a cooking class and food tastings, gave us lists of restaurants in different price ranges with all of their contact information. Everywhere we went we had transfers to and from our hotels, airports, train stations and tours! Best experience ever!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
39 of 67 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
The easiest planned vacation ever!
Reviewed By SandiR - Athens, Ohio | Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
Gwynne was amazing. From day one she answered every question I had. She was able to get me a deal that I couldn't come close to getting with any online site. She is truly wonderful at her job. When I was concerned about a flight due to a hurricane coming in, she promptly changed my flight and sent me the updated itinerary. Thank you again Gwynne.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
27 of 45 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Our Travel Agent for many years
Reviewed By Traveler - Tomah, WI | Traveled to Europe
Gwynne has been our travel agent for many years. She is a delight to work with, is attentive, thorough, and proactive. Our most recent trip was to France. She arranged air, hotel, train tickets including detailed guidance on verifying tickets prior to boarding, and a map. She has always made whatever travel arrangements we needed even if she was under a deadline for other responsibilities. If she is away, she provides a backup plan "just in case." All details are efficiently handled well in advance of the start of any trip. Several times over the years, when some misadventure befell our flight plans, she rescued us by re-booking for us so we could journey on. It's just so nice to know, whatever travel arrangements I might need, Gwynne will handle it.
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
44 of 79 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Fantastic Family Trip to Switzerland
Reviewed By Thompson Family - Lake Mills, WI | Traveled to Switzerland ~ Europe
Having known Gwynne for many years, when our entire family of 15 wanted to plan a trip to Switzerland she was the only call we made. She offered great advice from the very beginning as we were planning our itinerary, selecting cities and fine tuning the details. She was quick to reply to any questions or concerns we had through the entire process. You could feel she wanted to make sure we had the best travel experience possible - and we did. Thank you Gwynne!
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
32 of 58 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Certifications & Awards
Alitalia Travel Specialist (Italy)
Sandals Certified Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
College of Disney Knowledge Graduate
Travel Leaders Certified Travel Specialist
My Places
When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.
My Travel Stories
Authentic Experiences with Il Chiostro
Il Chiostro was established by Linda Mironti and Michael Mele, both Italian Americans with backgrounds in the arts. At Il Chiostro their goal is to bring Italy to people. They are all about “Slow Travel” and full immersion travel experiences. You will stay in one place long enough to become familiar with the people and customs. Get involved in t...
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Incredible India
Wanderlust. Webster’s definition of this word is a “strong desire to travel.” This is me. I’m barely back from a trip, and I’m thinking about my next great adventure.
This desire to travel to far off places began in 1989, while living in Buffalo, New York. I was fresh out of travel school, and eager to get my foot in the door anywhe...
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Cruising the Mekong River
River Cruising… it does bring to mind castle lined slopes and picturesque villages, doesn’t it? These are some of the sights you will see on a European River Cruise. Now, picture farmers bathing their cattle along the river banks, women working in the rice fields, and beautiful sunsets on the horizon….these are the sights you will see on a Sou...
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Client Testimonials
Everything went like Clockwork
"Hello, Gwynne. Everything went like clockwork. Thank you so much for everything you did to make our trip so wonderful. Your expertise and organizational skills were greatly appreciated."
Richard R.
GREAT Vacation
"Gwynne - Because of you, we were able to quickly turn what could have been a not-so-good vacation into a GREAT vacation. I will be recommending you to all my friends!"
Peggy
On Top of it All
"Hi, Gwynne. We had an awesome trip and have you to thank for it. You were so 'on top' of things and kept us advised of everything. On the trip, I heard horror stories from other couples that didn't have the neat experience we had with you. It was a trip of a lifetime. Thank you for all you did to make this a very memorable trip."
Jan H.