Italy Travel Agent Specialist

View My Main Profile
John Staggs, Travel Agent in Long Beach, CA

John Staggs

Long Beach, CA Travel Agent
Super Agent

John Staggs

Long Beach, CA · 12 Years of Experience

A full-service Travel Leaders Associate Agency
5.0
(177)
100% Recommended
John was very professional and always available. He gave me great information and was open and honest. He didn't try to sell... Read More >
About
Reviews
My Places

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Italy, Lake Como, Rome, Sicily, Positano

Interests:

Food & Wine, Family Vacations, Luxury, Beach Vacations, Villas

About Me

Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain

I’m your go-to travel agent advisor for Italy - for good reason. It’s a place that is full of history and culture - a place of which dream vacations are made of. Italy is a country that is renowned for its ancient buildings, breathtaking landscapes, and mouth-watering cuisine. With so much to see and do, it can be hard to narrow down the list of places to visit. Luckily, I can help you with your travel plans. From the iconic Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa to the picturesque Cinque Terre and Isola Bella, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Prepare to be enchanted and inspired by the beauty and history that Italy offers. Get ready to explore the majestic ruins, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities that make up this incredible country.  So, without further ado, let's dive into some of the must-see attractions you’ll want to include on your travel itinerary. The Colosseum in Rome With its impressive architecture, the ancient Colosseum in Rome is one of the top must-see attractions in Italy. With amazing structural elements such as the arches, columns, and vaults, the Colosseum is an architectural gem and masterpiece.  Built in 72 AD, during the Roman Empire, the Colosseum is one of the most significant buildings in all of Italy. With a capacity of 50,000 people, the Colosseum was not only a place for entertaining crowds but also a place of political and religious significance.  Exploring the area around the Colosseum is also an unforgettable experience. The Leaning Tower of Pisa The Leaning Tower of Pisa deserves a place on this list if only to highlight how far the city has come since the tower was built. Despite its famous leaning reputation, the tower is actually quite sturdy and is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. This world-famous monument is located in Tuscany. Construction began in 1173 and took 200 years.  The bell tower is also described in Mark Twain’s travel journal, The Innocents Abroad, published in 1869. At that time, visitors could simply climb the tower. They did not need a ticket to get inside. You can access the tower by taking a train from Florence, preferably in the morning before the crowds assemble at the site. This starts happening around 10:00 am and continues until about 2:00 pm in the afternoon. Once you get inside the tower with your admission ticket, you only have 30 minutes to spend inside. Also, only 45 people are allowed in the tower at a time. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City This 16th-century church is the seat of the Roman Catholic religion and is located in Vatican City. Home to many historical and architecturally significant features, the basilica is one of the top attractions in Italy.  With its beautiful and ornate design, you will not only be inspired but mesmerized. The building, which was designed by Carolo Maderna, Donato Bramante, and Michelangelo, was built in 1506 in the Renaissance style. The Amalfi CoastPacked with stunning buildings, gorgeous landscapes, and delicious cuisine, this place is loved by both visitors and locals alike. From the postcard perfect coastal towns and gardens to the photogenic cliff paths, you’ll find this place like no other.  Explore the region by boat, climb the surrounding hills, or sign up for a tour along the coast.  Isola Bella in Sicily A must-see in Italy, the “beautiful island” or  Isola Bella is a relaxing and refreshing getaway. Sitting on Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy, it is close to the town of Stresa. Visit it by ferry or boat. You can take a hop-on and hop-off vessel when visiting the island. Castel del Monte The Italian castle is located on a hillside in the Apulia region of southeastern Italy. King Frederick II built the elaborate structure during the 1240s. The king inherited the lands of the area from his mother, Constance of Sicily. Ponte Vecchio in FlorenceFlorence, known for its Arno River, is also the home of the famous Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone arched bridge. It was the only bridge not destroyed during World War II. Shops line the bridge - once a common practice when designing bridges in Italy. Mount Etna and Catania in SicilyAlso known as Mongibello, Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The monitored volcano is known for its firework-type eruptions and flows of lava. Its height is 3,352 meters, or almost 11,000 feet tall. You can see it from the east coast of Sicily. It is located close to the city and commercial hub of Catania, which sits at the foot of the mountain.  Visit Catania’s central square, PIazza del Duomo with its delightful Fontana dell’Elefante statue and lovely Catania Cathedral, La Pischeria, a fish market open weekdays, is a great place to enjoy seafood and watch the activity. The above attractions offer just a hint of what you can see when you visit Italy. Italy is full of wonders - wonders that you can visit over a lifetime. Let me be your travel agent advisor. Call me for all the details now.

Additional Languages
French,
Gaelic,
German,
Spanish

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
177 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.
Search reviews:

Showing 177 reviews

Wonderful experience
Reviewed By Susan Z - Seattle WA | Traveled to Greece ~ Europe
John was very professional and always available. He gave me great information and was open and honest. He didn't try to sell me anything but gave me great advice. I really enjoyed working with John and we spoke recently and he is helping me plan our next trip. I found John on a google search for travel agents and he was rated 5 stars. I have passed John's name and contact information to a lot of my friends. I can't say enough about how professional and friendly he is. Thanks for everything!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
31 of 37 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Germany trip and Bayern Munich game
Reviewed By Daniel - San Francisco CA | Traveled to Germany ~ Europe
The travel services John provided for our 12 day trip from California to Germany were exceptional.



The purpose of the trip was to visit Germany for the first time and take my son to his first professional German soccer game in Munich to see Bayern Munich.



John arranged outstanding tickets for the soccer game, excellent hotel accommodations, transportation, and day trips to tour the sites we wanted to see. Service was impeccable.



Many thanks!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
25 of 30 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Loved our trip to France
Reviewed By Linda - Portland OR | Traveled to France ~ Europe
John was super professional . He listened to the thoughts we had for our trip and was able to give us options that met all of our needs. We had a remarkable trip to France. I would highly recommend John for travel assistance.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
23 of 28 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
Thank you so much!
Reviewed By Brenda M - Fresno CA | Traveled to Cabo San Lucas ~ Baja California Sur ~ Mexico
John was amazing and so helpful. All we knew is we wanted to go somewhere on a beach that would be all inclusive. John was very patient and was a great listener and he sent us several options in different countries that we could choose from for our trip. Once we made our decision on our destination, John set everything up for us from start to finish. We cannot thank him enough for making our trip one of the most memorable vacations we have ever had.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
23 of 28 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO
We didn't have to worry about a thing
Reviewed By Tim B - Sacramento CA | Traveled to Ireland ~ Europe
John did a great job at organizing our vacation during a time we were nervous about traveling to Ireland. He is a total pleasure to work with, always being professional, courteous and friendly. Was constantly a step ahead with everything we needed, and with those things we didn't know we needed.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
20 of 24 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YES|NO

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.
BESbswy