European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 11, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Sun rises Over a Valley near san Gimignani in Tuscany. A personal planner helped one traveler find towns vineyards and Little known hotels Oft the beaten path. S4s Bill Walker by Marilyn Goldstein news a we Knelt on the soft Clumpy Earth that serves As carpeting for the vines and we eyed the threatening Gray edging across the tuscan sky. The vines had done their part they had delivered up the pendulous Bunches of purple grapes that were near to bursting with their juices perfectly Ripe ready to be transformed into the famed brunello one of the glorious regional wines of Italy but the weather had not been As cooperative. For the previous two weeks it had rained off and on delaying the italian grape Harvest in Many areas including at Fattori la Crocioni a Small Vineyard and guest facility outside the medieval town of Montacino. Juice diluting water is not something one wants clinging to ones grapes so it was pick Quick before the next rain or maybe lose a year s w Ork. So we picked. With Sharp pruning shears we Cut with Speed and passion watching the a Ltd along with Signora Fiorella Vannoni our hostess and her husband Paolo Nannetti. We Cut along with their grown children Roberto and Barbara with Fiorella s Mother and father and Paolo s father. We Cut and raced the weather caring As if they were our grapes yet we were Only tourists visiting in one of the guest apartments in the ancient Brick and tile roofed buildings on the Vineyard. How did we end up beside Fiorella Vannoni at la personal planner can arrange unique italian vacations Crocioni easy. Our personal trip planner found her for us. I had said Quot Linda i Don t just want a Cathedral and Art gallery trip to Tuscany. It s Harvest time and we want to experience it. Find us a . Linda Rivero found us a Vineyard and a warm witty and welcoming family with whom we Cut and ate and talked and laughed late into the afternoons. After the Field work and even when we did t work a the family invited us to join them in Hearty tuscan lunches at the Long table in the Root cellar which Nad been transformed into a whitewashed dining room with a fire burning in the Hearth. It was before one of those lunches As Fiorella and i picked the fresh herbs in the Garden for the pasta that i earned the ultimate secret of perfect Tomato sauce. And which i will not divulge so forget it you see Fiorella besides running the Vineyard the guest facilities formally called Zienda Agrari Croc Dimezzo e la Crocioni and her family also teaches tuscan cooking at a school in nearby Siena. Yet it s not Likely i Ever could have found her without Rivero owner of la Pergola Tours in Valley cottage in Rockland county . She was the brains behind our entire adventure in Tuscany. She sent us a questionnaire about our desires talked with us by phone Many Many times and then look Over. An expert on Italy she did All the itinerary planning and routing. With ease Rivero filled our order for Hill towns vineyards and interesting Little known hotels. A Quot Linda Quot i had said Quot i have an abundance of Good taste and a shortage of Cash. Find me a $300-a-night hotel for $100.&Quot she booked us into the hotel Santa Caterina in Siena charming cheerful and cheap a at least for Italy. Of so it was about $120 a night not $100, but who can quibble when you re passing time in the luscious Garden or getting great food tips from Ingrid the concierge or climbing the spiral staircase to the Lovely sleeping loft with the solid King sized bed and great Reading lamps for their services trip planners like Vivero charge fees ranging from about $200 for just itinerary planning to about $375 for All services and reservations for 10 Days to three weeks which from my Point of View we got Back in savings by following our planner s hotel recommendations not to mention the value of her Wisdom on what to see and where to eat. And the incalculable value of our stay with Signora Vannoni. Personal trip planners who advertise through discreet Little ads in the Back of travel magazines Are a growing alternative to travel agents Tours and do it you selfing. They often serve More sophisticated tourists those who As Rivero says Quot have already done the colosseum. They want a Little More personal service Quot trip planner Marjorie Shaw of new Haven conn., described personal services As covering four areas itinerary planning accommodations planning transportation planning and eating. Some planners like Rivero Are 12 stripes Magazine March it 1993