Mario Fortini
New York City, New York Travel Agent
Bellarome Ltd, a Travel Leaders Network affiliate agency
Years of Experience: 11
Email Me
Amalfi Coast and South of Naples Expert
The area south of Naples includes both the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento area.
I go visit these wonderful coast once a month and it never stops amazing me!
The small Amalfi Coast villages (Amalfi, Positano, Vietri Minori, Maiori, Ravello) are really the perfect destinations for couples looking for romantic escapes and some villages (like Positano) also offer a nice beach to enjoy during the warm months which start in April and end in November.
Sorrento is by far my favourite place, because not only offers great views of the Naples bay and great sea and coast line but also offers a great vibe, with lots of restaurants and civilized bars; hotels tend to me bigger than on the Amalfi Coast, and with nice pools, I think Sorrento is the perfect destination for friends or families holidays.
from both the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, it is easy to reach Capri, the impressive sites of Pompeii, Ercolano and Capua, as well as Mt Vesuvius which is great for hiking on the Valle delle Ferriere.
The Blue Grotto (or grotta azzurra as we call it in Italy!), is absolutely amazing, but it is also worth mentioning that just 4 months ago, the Positano municipality has re-opened the beautifull Emerald Grotta, also worth visiting!
Last time I was on the coast, in May 2018, I visited the tiny village of Furore and was impressed by the beauty of the small fiord, a very unique thing for sure!
I think to visit this great area, one could do it in 4 days, but I would recommend to do it in 2 weeks, so to add some nice relaxing time together with lots of activities...and of course food, which is huge here!
My Areas of Expertise
LANGUAGES
English
English
Unbelievable Trip
Reviewed By Jperry - Nashville, TN | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Our experience with Mario was exceptional from beginning to end! He was our contact with Bellarome and he went out of his way to communicate with me and answer all my questions and concerns. I spoke with him by phone on at least three occasions and he was easy to reach and prompt with his response. . I can't tell you what that meant to my husband and myself. When we realized our flight was connecting to Rome by way of London. Mario arranged pickup to and from the airport and booked our room. I requested more of a "boutique" type hotel for our trip and his choices were perfect. I loved all of our hotels! We had drivers arranged by Mario for the entirety of the trip, including the overnight trip to the area of my husband's ancestors. All vehicles were Mercedes and we had wonderful drivers! Our tours that were scheduled by Bellarome were interesting, informative and exactly what I would have chosen. I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
26 of 38 people found this review helpful
Awesome Trip to Greece and Rome
Reviewed By Allen Davis - NC, USA | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario customized our trip to Greece and Italy, by listening to the places we wanted to see, and the things that we wanted to do. A custom itinerary was drawn up based on our conversations. The itinerary we were given was set up day by day, with all necessary directions, tickets, times, and everything else we needed to carry out our vacation. Mario has a very high standard in the guides that he uses, they were all on time and provided exactly the tours we were signed up for in an easy to understand manner. I would not hesitate to use any guide that Mario approves.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
26 of 41 people found this review helpful
The Perfect Italian Experience!
Reviewed By AMCOY - Woodstock, CT USA | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
We have now used Mario's expertise for four consecutive Italian trips to all parts of Italy. The fact that we return to his expertise speaks for itself. Mario's service is topnotch. The tours, accommodations and suggestions never disappoint! He is ALWAYS available for consultation and direction before, during and after opur trips. We would highly recommend Mario for anyone that desires a perfect Italian experience.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
21 of 31 people found this review helpful
Amazing vacation thanks to Mario
Reviewed By Bob F - Long Valley NJ | Traveled to Sicily ~ Italy ~ Europe
My trip could not have been better had I written the script for it myself. Mario Fortini, from Bellarome Italian Vacations, was a pleasure to work with and was extremely attentive to all of our concerns. The hotels he selected for us were all beautiful and conveniently located to area attractions. The drivers were friendly and prompt and the guides for our excursions could not have been nicer and more professional. During the trip I was required to contact his emergency number once due to a mess up in the scheduling of a tour that was out of his control. He answered my call immediately and quickly resolved the problem to our utmost satisfaction. Mario also availed himself via "WhatsApp" should we have a question for him during our trip. This was a dream vacation and I credit Mario for making it go as well as it did.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
22 of 35 people found this review helpful
Great multi-country trip: Planning was a breeze!
Reviewed By JennyO - Philadelphia, PA | Traveled to Paris ~ France ~ Europe
Very helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
26 of 43 people found this review helpful
Our second fabulous trip with Mario
Reviewed By Peter - Amsterdam, Netherlands | Traveled to Tuscany ~ Italy ~ Europe
Mario plans terrific trips. He listens carefully to us and then puts together a wonderful holiday. He has planned two trips for us and both were great.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
20 of 32 people found this review helpful
Absolutely Fantastic
Reviewed By Orlando - Dallas, TX | Traveled to Rome ~ Italy ~ Europe
Mario, It’s hard for me to put into words the incredible trip you provided me, my sister, my brother in law and my two oldest children. I hope that I can convey it when I post your review. You and your team were truly a God send. The logistics and accommodations you provided were first class. What really truly mattered the most were the people you put us in contact with. What great, great people! They were all so, so excellent in every way. They all had great things to say about you and your team. I’m also in the customer service business and what separates us and you from the competition is our people. Relationships. It’s obvious you have built relationships with fantastic, competent people which is a reflection of you and your company’s values and character. Bravo! Once again, I thank you and your team from the bottom of my heart. Gracia and Aferisto!!
Sincerely,
Orlando
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
13 of 19 people found this review helpful
Awesome family trip to Italy!
Reviewed By Annie - Matthews, NC | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario at Bellarome did an outstanding job from planning to execution! We had a group of 13 people and gave Mario some ideas of what we wanted to do and ended up with a tailored vacation that everyone loved. We started in Rome for 3 days to see historic sites and attended an Italian Cooking Class with Chef Andrea Consoli www.cookingclassesinrome.com ... a big hit!Next was Viareggio a beach town in Tuscany region for 2 days. Loved the boardwalk, night life and rooftop pool at Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte. Last 2 days were spent in Florence in heart of the city and within walking distince to sites and shopping. Our last day was spent at a winery tour and tasting in Chianti.
Again, Mario and Bellarome collaborated with us from the start, listened to our input and crafted a custom tour for us that our 3 families will never forget! Great tour guides, hotels and never had to worry about transportation. Thank you for an outstanding trip!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
11 of 16 people found this review helpful
Beautiful Italy
Reviewed By Todd - Kalamazoo, Mi | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario helped us exceed our expectations for our trip to Italy. He tailored our vacation from our flights arriving in Italy all the way back home. Everything was spot on with transfers, guides and amazing hotels. He also recommended restaurants and made reservations for any location we would want to dine at that night. I highly recommend using Mario and Bellaroma for your vacation to Italy. You will not be disappointed!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
16 of 26 people found this review helpful
Perfect Honeymoon!
Reviewed By Rachel Q - Brooklyn, NY | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario put together a perfect honeymoon for us! He listened to our requests and put together a truly memorable trip that included excellent accommodation, seamless transfers, and a great balance or organized activities and leisure days. The trip planner was communicative and available when we had questions. It was a great experience and I would recommend Mario to my friends! I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
16 of 27 people found this review helpful
Italy - First Class!
Reviewed By DonnaB - Dayton Ohio | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
From the beginning, Mario was very attentive. He wanted our trip to Italy to be the best trip of our lives! He was available 24/7. He was able to make last minute changes to our itinerary to accommodate our needs. The hotels were the best, the food was phenomenal and the sites were spectacular! Our guides in Italy all spoke English and were all happy to show us their beautiful country. Wish we could have stayed longer to discover more of Italy!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
14 of 23 people found this review helpful
Awesome family trip to Italy!
Reviewed By Annie - Matthews, NC | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario at Bellarome did an outstanding job from planning to execution! We had a group of 13 people and gave Mario some ideas of what we wanted to do and ended up with a tailored vacation that everyone loved. We started in Rome for 3 days to see historic sites and attended an Italian Cooking Class with Chef Andrea Consoli www.cookingclassesinrome.com ... a big hit!Next was Viareggio a beach town in Tuscany region for 2 days. Loved the boardwalk, night life and rooftop pool at Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte. Last 2 days were spent in Florence in heart of the city and within walking distince to sites and shopping. Our last day was spent at a winery tour and tasting in Chianti.
Again, Mario and Bellarome collaborated with us from the start, listened to our input and crafted a custom tour for us that our 3 families will never forget! Great tour guides, hotels and never had to worry about transportation. Thank you for an outstanding trip!
12 of 21 people found this review helpful
Italy ??
Reviewed By Anita&Stew - Adelaide South Australia | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Recently we booked an Italian trip through Mario and Bellarome and to say it exceeded our expectations is an understatement. The trip went faultlessly with all pick ups and drop offs excellent. All drivers were professional yet friendly and engaging.
We had private tours throughout the main cities and attractions, the guides were amazing!! The depth of knowledge enhanced our trip and we also enjoyed being taken to some lesser know spots that other tourists may have missed. We developed a lovely connection as they were all very likeable people.
The accommodation were all well located and very true to Italian style that we were expecting, full of charm and character.
We would definitely use Bellarome in the future and recommend to others to take the stress out of booking this type of trip. Mario thank you for a wonderful and memorable trip...
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
13 of 23 people found this review helpful
Surpassed our expectations!
Reviewed By Wannabe Italian - Tampa, FL | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
We just returned from a two week stay in Italy using Bellarome Ltd. We could not have asked for a better experience. Mario's advice and recommendations created a travel experience that far surpassed the expectations of everyone in our group of 6 travelers. Our drivers were punctual, knowledgeable and accommodating. Our hotels were fabulously appointed and perfectly located in the heart of each of our destinations. Our tour guides were incredible resources of knowledge into the culture and history of each area we stayed. The excursions Mario recommended were marvelous introductions to Italy and it's delightful people. Mario and his staff were attentive throughout our stay with any need that arose or any question we had. We would highly recommend Bellarome Ltd. when planning to travel to Italy. We will certainly plan to connect with them again should we be so fortunate as to ever have another opportunity to return to Italy. Thank you so much Mario!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
15 of 27 people found this review helpful
Love Love Love Our Tour Guides!
Reviewed By Shhammer - Dallas, Texas | Traveled to Siena ~ Italy ~ Europe
Absolutely fantastic—— everything was scheduled and proceeded like clockwork. Our agent's suggestions were perfect and my wife and I had a wonderful experience in Italy—- thanks to our agent and everyone he lined up to take care of us!!Our tour guides were the best!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
13 of 23 people found this review helpful
Amazing Trip to Italy
Reviewed By Ryan C. - Washington | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
It was a great experience working with Mario. He did a fantastic job planning our trip, was quick to answer our emails leading up to it, and was very responsive if we needed him during our trip. It was flawlessly planned and executed by Mario. Will definitely recommend his services.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
19 of 35 people found this review helpful
Wonderful Family Tour and Vacation to Italy!
Reviewed By CaliTraveler! - Aptos, CA | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario was fantastic from start to finish, trip was well planned for an Italy tour and family vacation. Mario was available for any changes or advice during travel by a simple text. Mario has a very deep knowledge of Italy and selects only the most experienced guides and he has complete trust in their abilities. Mario is the best pick for Italy!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
11 of 20 people found this review helpful
A First-Class Honeymoon Experience
Reviewed By Michael B. & Sarah B. - Athens, Georgia | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario was easy to communicate with. We connected with the WhatsApp while in Italy, and he was great with recommendations, and prompt with any inquiries we had. Very friendly, and accommodating before, during, and after the trip.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
15 of 28 people found this review helpful
Awe inspiring trip!
Reviewed By Dee - Pompton Plains NJ | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Mario and his team are very easy to deal with, answered all our questions promptly, gave us great ideas,made changes to our itinerary several times The guides, drivers and tours he customized for us were perfect, they were so knowledgeable, kind and patient. WE had high expectations that were met and exceeded. Even after we booked and were in Italy Mario answered any questions or concerns we had. I highly recommend this agency they made our Trip of a Lifetime stress free Thank you Mario!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
9 of 17 people found this review helpful
"Most amazing tour guides ever"
Reviewed By Catherine - Honeoye | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Absolutely wonderful, from the beginning to the end. He was so generous with is time, making special requests happen, easy to get a hold of as well as he came to visit us at the end of our trip! He is amazing!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
7 of 14 people found this review helpful
Trip of lifetime to Italy
Reviewed By Pam - Tampa, Florida | Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
Exceeded expectations! Mario is friendly, professional, knowledgeable and patient. We will refer him to all of our friends.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
12 of 24 people found this review helpful