Beware of Imitators
We would like to advise our clients to be wary of a tour operator based in Italy that is trying to pass itself off as our company The Original and Best Walking Tours (AKA Artviva). The company in question does lower quality tours as reported by customers who were tricked into attending the tours. The company has followed a campaign of close copying and intentional confusion and by pretending to be our company in another location in Italy. Our tour company was founded in 1996 and is distinct for having international acclaim from highly regarded and well known personages.
The quality of our services is clearly reflected in the HIGH QUALITY OF OUR GUIDES and TOURS. Our imitators may seem slightly cheaper on some tours, but beware of the small print regarding paying extra in cash on the street. We advise when choosing a company to look carefully at WHO IS RECOMENDING THE COMPANY.
Why Bother About a Higher Quality Tour or Guide?
1. The guide on a lower quality tour may not be able to communicate in your language adequately
2. The guide on a lower quality tour may be disinterested in whether you enjoy the tour
3. The guide on a lower quality tour may not have adequate presentation skills and may not be able to entertain you
3. The guide on a lower quality tour may give incorrect information
4. On a lower quality tour you may be stuck in a large group-being led around like a sheep ( a common sight in Florence, Rome and Venice)
5.On a lower quality tour the route of your tour and what you see may be designed to save the company or guide money and may not ensure you see the 'must sees'
6. On a lower quality tour they may say that the tour is a certain length and you cover certain sites, when in fact it does not
7.Some tour companies may say they have small groups when in fact they do not
8.On a lower quality tour you may be asked to pay cash on the street. This is not a good idea security wise in cities in Italy
9.On a lower quality tour the guide may waste your precious time by making unscheduled stops in overpriced leather and souvenir shops that give commissions to the guide and company
10.Hidden costs-check prices carefully-they may seem cheaper, but when you arrive for the tour you may have to pay extra in cash on the street
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
To ensure the highest quality our most popular tours are ALWAYS conducted by native English speakers whose first language is English. No other company in Florence can guarantee this!
A Special Note of Warning on Bicycle and Wine Tours in Florence and Tuscany
Lower quality bike and wine tours may mean being driven by unlicenced drivers, being piled into vans without a seat (that is 9 seater vehicles carrying 11 persons or more) the company may also be unlicenced meaning it does not have insurance. For your own saftey check the company you do a tour with is licenced to do tours in Italy. You may be asked to pay in cash on the street-not a good idea. The Original and Best Walking Tours is fully licenced and bonded.
Why waste your money and precious time with a guide that does not really care if you have a good tour or not? Please ensure when booking that the company you are dealing with is authentic or authorized by us- The Original and Best Walking Tours.
We are the only company that is confident enough to guarantee you will be satisfied with our tours, please see the international acclaim we have received below and some comments from many satisfied clients
International Acclaim for Our High Quality Tours and Services
"Walking Tours of Florence are wise and well informed. They have a fresh accessible style which makes it fun. The recipe seems to be the more you enjoy the more you learn. And it works."
Michael Palin
Actor/Presenter (Monty Python and a list of fabulous films too long to list here)
Our company featured in a BBC World documentary with Michael Palin
"The Greatest Tour Guide Ever!"
Lou Reed
Rock Star Personalized tour Italy Florence
"...This tour is wonderful, it is informative, complete and fun. And more importantly, you don't feel like a sheep in a flock, herded around town..."
Richard Kind
Actor (Mad about You, Spin City) Florence tour Italy
"Thank You for the Wonderful Experience!"
Alex Rodriguez
(Baseball Star) Original Florence Walk
In December of 2000 Rodriguez became the best-paid ballplayer of all time when he signed a $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
"Walking Tours of Florence are much more than tours,because you leave feeling almost as if
you know Michelangelo and the other Masters personally."
Mike Munro
One of Australia's finest investigative journalists and well known media personalities.
Past awards include the Logie for “Reporter of the Year” and the “Penguin Award for Best Current Affairs Journalist.
"…thank you for a wonderful job. Your entire staff was attentive to our shooting schedule and the details which can befuddle so many who are not familiar with the peculiarities of production crews. And most important, you made us feel like we were the most important people in Florence. We all left singing your praises. Thank you very much."
Bill Kurtis
Acclaimed documentary host and producer, network
news anchor and multimedia production company president USA
Our company produced a History Channel Documentary in Florence for Kurtis Productions
"Don't miss an opportunity to join one of the highly
informative and entertaining Walking Tours of Florence,
led by English speaking guides who really know their subjects.
I loved every minute of my tours."
Sandra A Guftstason
Author of Great Sleeps and Great Eats in Italy Original Florence Walk
"Entertaining and Informative!"
Nat Young
(World Surfing Champion ) Florence tour Italy
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