Testimonies

Magical !!!

Sasha, once again, let me express our absolute delight at the tour that you conducted for us during our cruise stop in Cannes. Albeit on short notice, the tour was nothing short of magical! Our stops in Grasse, the beautiful village of Gourdon, and, last but not the least, the impromptu picnic in the lavender field, are the stuff dreams are made of. We were so hung over with the tour, we were still talking about it until the end of the cruise! We will certainly recommend to friends, family and colleagues. You are simply the best!

Best private tour guide and best tour period

We booked short tour with Sasha but after few hours we extended it to three days!

He is very dynamic, knowledgeable, service oriented and fun tour guide. It truly made the difference in our vacation and helped us see more, and find the hidden treasures of all the beautiful sites. I have traveled a lot and have not had as good of tour like this one. I highly recommend booking a tour here, it is worth every penny.

Luay, Boston

Unforgettable tour of the Riviera with Sasha!

Our family of 5 spent a full day with Sasha touring the Riviera while in port on a European cruise. He immediately connected with our teenager and 9 year-old twins, and kept them engaged with interesting stories the whole day. The kids are still talking about the experience, and said that Sasha was their favorite tour guide of our entire 2 week trip. As adults, we really appreciated going off the beaten path, and getting a chance to see spots that we would have otherwise missed.

Lucia, Fort Lauderdale

Best trip ever!!

I honestly believe that you can’t find a better tour guide than Sasha!! Unbelievably smart AND such a hospitable and down to earth person.

Rita M, Texas

Great Personalised Tour

We organised this tour as a day trip from our Celebrity Cruise stopping at Villafrance. There were 6 off us (3 Couples) Sasha was fantastic and did a great job showing us around the area. The day was customised to our requirements and was a really good day out and an introduction the area. I would recommend Sasha and will definitely use him again when we visit next year.

Chris M, Edimbourg

BEST GUIDE EVER!!!

My husband and I have been fortunate to travel to many wonderful places, but we’ve never had an experience as great as we had with Sasha. It turned out to be our best trip ever! We booked Sasha for 3 FULL days and there are not enough wonderful things to say about him. He reached out to us in advance to find out exactly what we were interested in – knowing that everyone has different interests, he wanted to personalize our tour to fit us. When we finished another trip before schedule, he even adjusted his time to fit our needs. He recommended a wonderful boutique hotel for our stay in Nice that was perfect. He custom tailored each day for us based on what we wanted to see. We felt like we saw and enjoyed the entire French Riviera in those 3 days. We even drove over into Italy for some lunch and visited the Dolceaqua bridge. From Nice to Monte Carlo, to Cannes to St Tropez and everything in between, we loved every minute. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable about the area, but he was constantly trying to make sure that we were enjoying the tour. By the time we left Sasha, we had become great friends. When we return, you can bet we will be calling Sasha for his company. We have made a lifelong friend and in the end, that is a blessing.

Kathy M, Texas

The Very Best of the Riviera – Don’t miss out!

My sisters and I only had a few days this past September to spend on the French Riviera and we felt we made the most out of it by booking 2 days of touring with Riviera Come True. From start to finish Sasha (our guide along with being the owner operator) was FANTASTIC! We had a few ideas of some of the places we wanted to see between Cannes and Monaco, however we relied on him to make the most of it and we weren’t disappointed. Our days of touring were a mix of the well known places of interest along with many unique and out of the way treasures. Being a private tour there was no set schedule and he was able to incorporate the aspects and activities of our choice “yes we want to do that or not we’re rather not” into the selection of sights, sounds and experiences throughout our 2 days. Being whisked around in the he’s new Mercedes van made for a comfortable ride and also an effective use of our time. Sasha was very keen and knowledgeable in providing the regions history along with noting current influences affecting the local area. Photo opportunities abound every where and capturing the moment with either of our cameras or his was always welcomed. The next day he emailed us a host of photos that he took during our tour for our memory books. While in France do as the French, yes we enjoyed several culinary delights ranging from excellent restaurants and bakeries to a picnic in the park. Sasha speaks several languages, English being one of them which was great as our entire tour was then spoken in English. He also didn’t hesitate to step in and translate for us while we were in restaurants or out shopping. Sasha loves what he does for a living and it not only shows – it was a joy to be around!! Another nice feature of the service he provided was that he was able to pick us up and dropped us off at our accommodations which was terrific as we were then not having to take a bus or taxi to meet at a tour operator’s office to start and end the day. No doubt a private tour is more expensive than a group tour in a bus, however we felt it was well worth the money. We had an awesome time touring with Sasha and FULLY RECOMMEND Rivera Come True!! If you have the chance to book with him and don’t you’ll be missing out on a wonderful opportunity to see the French Rivera – Sasha style!!

Fun, interesting, fabulous views with excellent commentary! Sasha brought the French Riviera alive, cannot say enough!!!

We spent the entire day with Sasha touring Nice, Cannes, Eze, Monte Carlo, Monaco, walking in Eze and Monaco, experiencing breathtaking views, listening to history and current facts about the Riviera, sharing “secret places”. Sasha took us to a restaurant for lunch, overlooking the water, delicious food, took our photos everywhere and sent them to us. It just doesn’t get any better than this!!!

Joe D, Dallas

Best Tour of our Trip

We cannot say enough good things about Sasha and his company. We loved every minute of the time we spent with him! This was my second visit to the area but my family’s first. I saw things I never saw on my first trip…..breathtaking views and photos! This time because of Sasha, we want to come back and see more! He is so knowledgeable of the area from Cannes to Monaco and everything in between. We saw so many beautiful places and had the most wonderful picnic lunch in another picturesque location. We stopped at the best bakery in Nice to get our food and not one thing disappointed that we bought! Our teens loved Sasha as well and that was important because we wanted them to have a good time too. Thank you Sasha for the best day of our trip!

Cheryl K, Woodstock

More than Outstanding

Sasha D, owner of Riviera Come True, could be the best private tour guide we have ever had. We spent a day covering the French Riviera and Monaco. We covered a huge amount of ground and got to see more in one day than any commercial tour could probably do in 2 or 3 days. His knowledge of the area was fabulous yet he did not try to overwhelm you with to much information. He let us digest his information and ask questions (which he always was able to answer). You can not go wrong with Sasha. His tour is over the top.

Richard J, Wintersprings

Best tour of our entire 2 week trip!

We had a blast with Sasha as he took us off the beaten path to get a real taste of the French Riviera and surrounding mountain villages. We are a family with one teenager and two younger children, and we weren’t sure if they would find the area interesting. But Sasha connected with them from the start, and kept them (and us!) engaged throughout the 7 hour day. We saw spots that would not have been possible with larger tour companies, including the most spectacular, secluded picnic spot. We had about 6 guides during our 2 week trip, and Sasha was the kids’ favorite, hands down!

Lucia, Fort Lauderdal

Experience of a lifetime!

Sasha is a vibrant, multilingual, enthusiastic guide, who went out of his way to provide a custom tour to meet our requests. A 7.30am start? No problem, he said. We wanted to see great views, and historical hilltop villages, but didn’t want to see the ostentatious wealth of Monaco. No problem, he said. His historical knowledge is incredible, and although he has only been running this business for a year, he has many years of experience as a tour guide, and this has helped him hone his knowledge of what people want, and reinforced his understanding of the need to be flexible. Other tours are rigid, and keep you to a strict timetable. Sasha lets you decide what you want, and then delivers far more than you would ever expect, in a cheerful friendly manner. He clearly loves his job, and he does it so well. And the unexpected bonus is that he was a professional photographer in a former life, and he will take photos of you at all these amazing places (for no extra charge!) and email them to you. Thankyou Sasha – we only had half a day to see the wonders of the French Riviera, but you certainly gave us an experience to remember – we are so glad we chose Riviera Come True 🙂

Kath, Adelaide

Best Tour Guide, any time, any place

I’ve been traveling for many years, and I have to say that Sasha provided two of the best tours that I have taken any time, any place. He is a real professional, prompt, and is great at sharing his enthusiasm and his knowledge. He is also very good at reading his clients, and catering to the interests of each. We were a group of four adults and three teenagers, and we toured with Sasha for for two days: Day 1 was the eastern Riviera from Nice to Monaco, and Day 2 was the hill towns and mountains west of Nice, then Cannes and Antibes. Sasha knows the area so well that both days he was able to take us to spots where tourists seldom go, and where we were off the beaten path, to have exceptional experiences. We had booked six hours for each tour, but it was easy to extend our day when we had more to see and do! He was a good driver, a knowledgeable guide, and had a great sense of humor. He took photos of us throughout and sent them to us at the end of our tour. Thanks to him, we really felt like we spent our time very profitably! I really can’t imagine how we could recommend him and his business more highly. Go!

Marcie, Maryland

The bar was set high

Sasha set the bar high with his tour of Nice for us. We were a party of 8 (2 Seniors, 3 teenagers, 2 adults and 1 infant). He was able to tailor the tour to excite and keep us all involved. He stayed with us the entire time and was so full of knowledge that we really felt like we knew all of the areas we visited. He never stopped talking and filling us in with the history of the areas. He catered to all of our needs and did it with a smile. He was our best tour guide overall during our week long visit to Europe. We booked him only days before we set sail via Royal Caribbean. While we enjoyed the rest of our trip, the other tour guides were no where near as great as Sasha. We all want to return to Nice just to get another tour with Sasha! He truly is the best.

Cassie B, Virginia

Most knowledgeable and gracious host/guide

We booked thru Viatar when unable to book thru cruise line. We were the winners!!! Sasha was an wonderful surprise, and the most knowledgeable and thoughtful guide imaginable. We saw everything we desired and more, plus he gave us tremendous local knowledge and insight. He made our day in the Riviera something we will never forget….

Dickandsue, Friscoc

Excellent, and I’m impossible to please…

Sasha provided an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime day for us, offering a perfect balance of history, unique off-the-beaten-path, romantic, and practical. He arrived on time, willing to delay by two hours because our flight was late and readjust various appointments for wine tasting, etc. at the last minute. The places we visited were extraordinary, and the photos he took were amazing. We needed a power converter, and he extended his time with us willingly to find one. He’s incredibly smart, filled with all sorts of insight about the region. He’s clever, funny, and knows where to find just the right wine or a tasty snack along the way. The first thing I will do when I next return is make sure Sasha is available to show us more of this beautiful country. And…at the end of our trip, when weather forced us to leave early, he miraculously was able to have a car waiting to deliver us from Aix to Nice at 7:30 AM when I emailed him at midnight. We did another private tour, which was lovely, but it was nothing compared to what Sasha was able to put together for us. Book him if you have the chance–I promise, it will be one of the most amazing days of your life. Truly.

Vera, Texas

Best guide in 40 years of travel – Sasha!

Two couples were so fortunate to have Sasha for a day tour in the Nice area. Our day was wonderful. He is genuine in his desire to share his authentic knowledge of the area as well as his knowledge of the historical and cultural facts in the area. We did not want a typical tour with stops at factories and restaurants where the guide gets a cut. We wanted to see the beauty of the area and find out why Monaco is so significant. He accomplished this and more. He went way beyond what we expected. He listened to us and our tour was a dream come true. I sincerely agree with other, more detailed reviews, but don’t want to repeat what has been well stated. If you are reading the reviews of the private tour companies trying to decide which sounds best – stop now. Riviera Come True with Sasha is the best choice.He went into business for himself because he was frustrated with the typical tours other companies wanted him to do. He bought a Mercedes-Benz van so his clients would have a smooth, comfortable ride on tour. It was very clean and every seat has good views. We were renting a car the next day to visit Verdun and Provence for a week.. He showed us the best way to get out of NIce. He offered ideas for our trip that we followed! As others have written, you will feel you have met a friend in Nice when you spend time with Sasha. We wish Sasha the best in his new business.

Ree Sue, Minnesotta

Look no further, book Sasha now!

We were a group of 17 people and I knew it would be difficult to travel in one vehicle for a port excursion. I emailed about 10 companies from TripAdvisor recommendations. Sasha at Riviera Come True was the most responsive from the beginning. He was able to get us a mini bus so that our large group could travel all together instead of going in 3 separate cars. We communicated via email and he always responded the same day or early the next day (Villefranche is 9hrs ahead of PST). We also communicated by text on WhatsApp. He was able to come up with an itinerary that suited our interests and maximized our time, taking into account the routes available for the minibus. He was also very reasonably priced compared to other quotes I got. I requested to pre-pay for the tour so that we didn’t have to carry a lot of cash on hand. He accepts PayPal so that was a lot more convenient than going to the bank to wire internationally. This way we only needed to carry enough Euros for tips. Our group ranged from 6yo to 70yo. We all unanimously agreed that Sasha was our favorite guide on our mediterranean cruise. We experienced an unfortunate stroke of bad luck in that our bus broke down early on in the trip. We completely understood that it was not Sasha’s fault at all. We actually thought that the driver might have put the bus in the wrong gear or something. During this stressful time, Sasha remained calm, collected and very professional. He immediately came up with a Plan B to keep us comfortable and on track with our limited time. He had a friend come in a mini van to pick up our group and make several trips to take us to the nearest cafe. He arrived shortly after and treated all 17 of us to a cold drink. He chatted with us while we waited for a new bus to arrive. I have to say, despite this hiccup, we all really enjoyed hanging out with him. He is such a pleasant guy and entertained us with many stories. When the bus arrived, we continued on with the rest of the pre-planned itinerary. We got to see spectabular sights without a whole lot of people around. Sasha is also a photographer. He brought his camera and took a lot of pics of our group and emailed them to me. Overall, this really was the highlight of our excursions. I don’t know when we will return to Villefranche, but I would absolutely seek out Sasha again. In fact I already referred a relative to book him for their trip this month. We all agreed that this was the most memorable excursion, and it was because we had the best guide ever. Do yourself a favor and book Sasha now. You will have a fabulous time!

Christy, Sacramento

Leaving a dear friend behind…

My fist TripAdvisor review, and this one is a long time coming. In my opinion, if there is anyone that deserves an honest and a 5 star review, it’s Sasha.

We were on the Celebrity cruise line visiting French Riviera and the port city of Villefranch (amongst others). This was our first tour on the cruise and i had researched local tour guides extensively. After reaching out to multiple guides, i chose to move forward with Sasha and Riviera Come True. The thing that i liked the most about Sasha during the initial email exchanges was his honesty and willingness to make sure we use our time wisely (given the cruise liner was tendered for 12 hours). Additionally, his ability to respond back to emails and stay in constant communication was by far better than anyone else i came across.

As for the tour itself, it was absolutely magical. He not only made sure we covered all the major spots but took us to the most tranquil and touist-free areas. We visited the major riviera cities, local markets, currency exchanges, gardens, and bakeries. We visited spots where we were amongst the clouds and could see the entire riviera – from monte carlo to St. Tropez /Cannes. We even saw a tight rope walker hanging between mountains which reminded me of the great french rope walkers. He knows the history of the area very well and can easily relate it to the current affairs. He is very cool and personable. He spoke to us about living in the area, his background and his wife.

With Sasha, we toured the following:

From Villefranche to a location above Nice, then to saint jean cap ferrat,then we drove to the flower market in nice, old town and english promenade. From there we went to Saint Paul De Vence. We then drove to Eze, and perfumery, and drove to Head of the dog location with killer view above 3 countries France, Italy, and Monaco.Then from La turbie till monaco, formula One track, Montecarlo,and Back to villefranche via Moyenne corniche.

I can go on and on about how wonderful this trip was for my wife and I but i have to stop somewhere.

To me Sasha is not a tour guide, It’s almost unfair to think of him as a guide. He is a friend. He loves what he does and wants you to have the best time.

I don’t recommend anyone other than Sasha and Riviera come true. No questions asked.

Mansoor, Chicago