Where have you been, Insider’s Italy ?

Where have you been, Insider’s Italy ?

Where indeed ?  Walking with sheep on the Transumanza

of course, but principally at work developing an unprecedented number of tailor-made itineraries for you.  The stronger dollar has extended peak travel well into October.  We are exceptionally grateful to all of our clients who have told their friends, colleagues and families about us. We do not advertise, ever, and it is your word-of-mouth that is responsible for Insider’s Italy’s heath and well being, and that allows us to keep traveling and documenting all across Italy.  And every discovery we make, of course, we share with you.

Over the summer, we planned more QUATTRO (our fullest service) trips than ever before, including, in May, a luxury engagement holiday (she said yes !) to Positano and Venice; a two-family food adventure in Rome and the Amalfi coast; and a three-cities itinerary developed around the interests of two teenage children.   In July we planned the trip we would like to take, for two cousins and their families (10 persons, including six teenage and college-aged kids) that included a snowstorm and overnight in a luxury chalet at 6000 feet; swimming in clearest waters in the lagoon of Venice; opera (Tosca at the 1st century AD Arena di Verona, in this photo being prepared for a performance of Aida)

boating on Lake Como; the quintissential Italian lunch (at the nicest table at my favorite restaurant in the world, along a stream, below)

and art, archeology and history, plus magnficent food, in Rome.   All summer we organized countryside lunches and visits to farm animals on an organic south Tuscan farm (with some of the best sheep’s milk cheeses in Tuscany.)  Co-planing with two couples, in June we planned two and a half weeks in Naples, Campania and principally Sicily, with accommodations including boutique inns, a converted convent (now a four star hotel), a luxury olive estate agriturismo and a turn-of-the-century, old fashioned hotel with outstanding, very personal service.  Everywhere we booked we selected rooms by number.  And everywhere we booked, the owner and manager

and cook

and specific concierges made our travelers feel particularly welcome.

Yesterday we received a post-trip survey from a client from Virginia, who traveled in July with five friends and family.  He wrote : “I want you to know that this was one of the most enjoyable and enriching holidays of my life. I fully anticipate carrying forever the wonderful memories of sophisticated cities, pastoral Tuscan life, good times with good friends and new acquaintances, and the cathartic laughter of our children.”

This autumn and all next year, please join us.