"All arrangements went like clockwork. The transfers were there to meet us every time, even off the ferries in Greece there'd be someone there with our name on a board. Ravello on Italy's Amalfi Coast was the highlight. I loved the sea view from our bedroom. I don't know how many steps we walked down from there to the coast. It was breathtaking all the way. If you tried to plan it yourself you would never come up with the things that Therese comes up with. Like the time we stayed with the duchess in Sicily and staying at Ravello."

Italy and Greece 
Jock & Janice Bilger, Auckland

"Have arrived safe and sound in Perugia after having had a very leisurely ride from Assisi. I felt very sad handing over the keys to my little yellow Vespa. It's been a great little travel mate for the last four days.

Well what a fantastic time I've had. The four hotels I've stayed at have been truly magnificent. Each one having its own special character. I went from the peace and serenity of the gorgeous 16th century Villa il Poggiolo on the first night to absolute total luxury at Hotel Villa Zuccari on night two where the service and quality of the hotel was outstanding. Then last nights lovely Country house - with it's rustic look and perfect location was delightful and now Hotel Fortuna - right in the heart of the historical area. I could never have wished for better accommodation.

The tour itself was very well thought out. It was a lovely mix of olive groves, vineyards, hills, medieval villages and countryside. The instructions were most of the time very clear.

So - tomorrow I'll explore Perugia which will be good.

A big thanks again Michele - I wouldn't have had this experience had you not worked hard at getting it organised for me. Lots of my friends are now interested in doing it."

Tuscany & Umbria on a Vespa
Sue MacKenna  (Kiwi working in Kyrgyzstan)

"Fantastic experience- and great to see Jean accomplish her dream - she is a huge inspiration to her family and to those on the Camino trail- that is 'till she passed them and left them in her dust- which must have been de-motivating for younger ones.
I'm not particularly religious or even very spiritual- but the Camino does get a hold of you , and I am keen to go back one day and complete the second half I haven't walked.
If I was to do the entire trail, I think I would walk the first third, bike the middle third , and walk the last third.
You asked for some feedback on A Walker's World, 90% positive feedback, but a few minor issues as follows:

*Documentation book very large and heavy and no map of the days trail. I ended up tearing each pages instruction out of the book each day and sending booklet with spare gear on truck so I wouldn't have to carry it.
*Other Camino walkers had a much smaller lighter booklet with map for each days walk- which is important for sections of the trail where there are no pointers or yellow arrows for 2 -3 kms or more than one Camino route for the day. Also some of the written instructions in the booklet were unclear, and on at least 2 days there were outdated written route instructions
*Hotel location maps of towns and cities substandard, only showing central 10% of towns. Hotels generally only had small photocopied city maps. As a result had difficulty finding some hotels – and difficulty finding way back after going for a walk around cities- last thing you want when exhausted at end of day.
*Hotels were pretty good considering most were very old and only 2-3 stars. Najera was the exception though generally hotels very welcoming providing excellent service.
*Information booklet has phone contact numbers for 24 hour assistance. I tried to ring the number- but recorded message said the phones only manned 9 to 5 Mon to Fri – which is when we were on the trail??
*Truck taking bags from point to point was very reliable.
*Breakfasts generally very good, but too late in some hotels not starting till 7.30am, meaning we couldn't start walking till 8 am

Generally (A Walker's World) very good and I would recommend them to others planning to experience the Camino.

The Way of St James – Camino de Santiago, Northern - Spain, 
Andy Jarden, Wanganui