Perillo Tours

Italy-First Escorted Tour Specialist Since 1945

Perillo Tours is a family-run American company that runs its own fully escorted tours, and its Italy page calls it "America's leader in Italy travel since 1945." President Steve Perillo writes on the about page that his grandfather Joseph started the business just after the Second World War with about $300, a used Remington typewriter and a month's rent on a storefront in the Bronx's Little Italy. The Italy page says its escorted tours "have been enjoyed for over 40 years by more than 750,000 of our guests." The site describes the company as being in its third generation of the family. Beyond Italy, the company offers escorted tours to Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Hawaii, making it a multi-destination operator, though the site's architecture and messaging center heavily on Italy. Steve Perillo credits his father Mario with pioneering the concept of tour packages, and the about page claims "exceptional buying power" that it claims allows it to offer "more Perillo exclusives and more pampering than you can possibly find through any other tour company for the money". The Perillo brand promise centers on quality, value and integrity "according to the highest standards" set by founder Joseph Perillo and his son Mario ("Mr. Italy").

Escorted Tours to Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Hawaii

Italy tours dominate the catalog and are positioned as the company's specialty; the Italy page lists its 2026 and 2027 itineraries with starting prices, from the 8-day Thanksgiving in Italy at $3095 to the 15-day Italy North Classic from $6295 (Sunday departure) or $6995 (Friday departure). The site calls the Italy North Classic, developed in 1975 by Mario Perillo and Lucio Massari, "the largest selling Italy tour in history," and offers a "Continental" version of the same route without dinners. Two women-only small-group tours, 9 Day Women in Sorrento from $5750 and 9 Day Women in Umbria from $5295, sit alongside the standard coach tours, and a 2026 Bocelli in Venice tour from $6050 includes a concert in St. Mark's Square. Greece tours include the 10-day Deluxe Greece starting at $5,875, which the site describes as featuring Athens from the Acropolis, island visits "each with different shapes, sizes and personalities", beach time, and seafood, cheese and wine tasting. A 13-day Deluxe Greece with Crete Extension is listed starting at $7,950 and includes "3 nights on Crete" with "daily private sightseeing with your own guide" and "breakfast daily included" while "lunches and dinners are on-your-own over these 4 days". An 11-day Greek Odyssey: Athens, Ancient Sites and Santorini is priced from $5,250 and emphasizes Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia and Delphi, concluding with "a 3-night stay on the Santorini at the Noūs Santorini, a 5 Star Luxury Resort Hotel". Spain tours include a 10-day Spain and Portugal tour starting at $5,695, described as "overflowing with rich cultural and historical experiences" in "Barcelona, Madrid, Porto and Lisbon" plus "the Douro Valley" with "luxurious accommodations, gourmet meals, wine tastings and even a short river cruise". An 11-day Spanish Eyes Tour is priced from $6,295 and covers "Madrid to colorful Barcelona" with "Alhambra" visits, paella cooking and flamenco, while a 9-day Spanish Treasures Tour starts at $4,995 and spans "Basque Country to the Costa del Sol" including Bilbao, San Sebastián, "pintxos", "regional wines" and the "Costa del Sol", Marbella, Gibraltar and clifftop towns. Italy's featured 2027 tour is the 10-day Holiday Charms of Italy starting at $3,995, which includes Rome at Christmas time with "traditional Christmas markets" and Gubbio, a medieval town in Umbria, known for the "Gubbio Christmas Tree" on "Mount Ingino". The Italy page notes that some 2027 tours were released early and that the rest of the portfolio "will be added to our website in the next few weeks."

What Is Included, and the Physical Side

The about page sets out what the Italy tours include. It promises "only first-class or deluxe hotels, as certified by the Italian government," a buffet breakfast daily, and dinners daily with pasta, a choice of 2 entrees, dessert and coffee, plus regional wine with dinner (or beer, mineral water or soda). Sightseeing is by air-conditioned motor coach with wireless headsets, led by what the site calls "knowledgeable and experienced tour directors," and optional excursions can be bought from the tour guide in Italy. The Continental tours drop the dinners, and the Crete extension covers breakfast only. Steve Perillo writes that "our rates will continue to include almost everything."

Perillo states that its escorted tours "include moderate physical activity," and for both the Italy and Spain tours that "Walking tours as well as walking on uneven surfaces, hills with inclines, cobblestone roads, and stairs should be expected." Guests "must be able to walk on your own and keep up with the group or have someone traveling with you to assist you," and the site says to expect 10,000-12,000 steps per day. One Italy tour adds a separate note about extended uphill and downhill walking. Group sizes are not published for any tour, including the two labeled small group.

Booking, Flights and Custom Trips

The site offers brochure requests, a trip search, a "My Trip" area and a downloadable app, and the sign-up form sends discounts, the brochure and a free "Insider's Guide to Italy." Travel advisors have their own section. Current offers on the site: $100 per person off Italy tours when all payments are made by check or electronic check (the kids rate does not qualify), and $150 per person off any 2027 Spain departure booked by Aug 30 with the code "HOLA27." Perillo's air department books flights to Italy from over 130 U.S. cities, can arrange extra days before or after a tour up to a maximum of 60 days in Italy, and offers business class upgrades; guests may also book their own flights.

Beyond the escorted tours, the homepage offers custom independent trips to Italy and Greece, designed by Perillo or with its online travel planner, and custom group trips for a club, church, business or family, which the menu describes as groups of 12 or more. A Perillo Tours Travelers Facebook page is linked for talking to past guests.

What the Site Does Not Settle

The site does not publish a deposit, a payment schedule or cancellation and refund terms; the footer links to Terms of Travel, where those would sit. Group sizes are not given, not even for the small-group women's tours, and the site does not say whether flights are included in the starting prices. Greece, Spain and Portugal get short descriptions with prices, while Ireland and Hawaii appear only as menu items and a line on the homepage. The difficulty warning is the same across tours, so the site does not grade one itinerary as easier than another.

Perillo suits travelers flying from the United States who want a fully escorted, largely all-inclusive coach tour of Italy with first-class hotels, daily dinners with wine and a family company that has run the same model for 80 years. The women-only tours and the Christmas, Carnevale and Thanksgiving departures add variety. Travelers who need a gentle pace should take the 10,000-12,000 step warning seriously, and anyone comparing terms will need the Terms of Travel page before booking.