There’s always a structure behind it but it won’t feel rigid.
What most people notice is that there’s a natural rhythm to the days.
You have something to move toward, but also the space to linger… to adjust… to follow something unexpected.
It doesn’t feel scheduled.
It feels like you’re just… in it.

I’m very intentional about this.
A lot of things are described as “local,” but are still created with visitors in mind.
What I share with you comes from real relationships—people I know, places that are part of my everyday life here.
You’re not stepping into something staged.
You’re stepping into something real.

You’ll understand this more clearly here:
Experiences

It’s almost never what they expect.
It might be a conversation… a moment… something that felt simple at the time, but stayed with them afterward.
Those are the things people tell me about later.
Not the highlights. The more personal moments that weren’t planned.

You can read about some traveler stories here:
Guest Reviews

Our accommodations, whether a country estate situated in a stunning location in wine country, a boutique hotel, a property in the historical heart of cities or family-run 'agriturismi', are carefully selected to always reflect the authentic local character and charm of the destination without sacrificing comfort and service. Rather than going by the official grading (based solely on facilities rather than the standard of the accommodation), we base our choices on location, quality and warm hospitality.

In cities, we select hotels in historical centers and within walking distance of major sights, shopping and museums. Most are historical buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries. On some of our cultural vacations we have also opted to stay in country villas/inns to better appreciate the region and savor the countryside. All the rooms have private bath and air-conditioning. In some of the country properties there are spas and swimming pools for you to relax and enjoy.

• At time of booking, please let us know whether you would like a twin room (two single sized beds in a room) or a double room (one standard sized bed for 2 people) or single room. Room sizes in older buildings may vary and each room could have its own unique style and character.
• We do not include porterage as most properties do not offer that service and quite honestly it is faster in most cases to bring up your own, even if they have a hotel porter on duty to help you with your luggage.

Additional notes on accommodation:

• In historic buildings that have been converted to hotels, the strongest intent during renovations was to respect and preserve the original structure as much as possible. So, we ask for your patience and flexibility as most rooms will be a different size, layout, and view (which is not guaranteed until time of booking) and may be smaller than you might be used to in newer chain hotels. Also, if you are staying in a hotel located within a city center, please know that there may be a certain degree of noise that is higher compared to other accommodations in more remote areas (Cars, pedestrians, mopeds).
• Lifts, if any, are usually very small, due to space constraints in older historical buildings, and your shower may not be as big as the one at home. In many cases this is due to regulations concerning protected buildings, but this will be more than offset by the charm, unique character and history which can be uncovered in these locations.
• Please do not communicate directly with the hotels prior to your vacation, as it could cause misunderstandings. If you have requests or concerns, please let me know and I'll make sure to notify the hotels. Thank you for your understanding.
• Most accommodations will have air conditioning, but it will not run as cool as in North America and may not run all day. Generally, Europe does not adhere to the same spacious rooms that one might be used to in Canada or the United States. They are also, along with some other European countries, some of the most environmentally conscious.
• About bathrooms: sometimes you will have a large bathroom with shower and bathtub, sometimes just a small shower stall that you can barely turn around in. This is just helpful to know in advance, knowing what to expect when traveling to European countries, but that will certainly not take away from your enjoyment.

Note on accommodation tax:
Various European countries or cities have what's known as a Tourist Tax Europe. This fee is paid at the hotel reception desk at checkout. Because this tax is charged and collected by your hotel and is payable in cash only when you check out, this tax is included in the tour price for clients traveling on our cultural vacations accompanied by Audrey as your tour manager, driver-guide, who can pay directly to the hotel on your behalf.

Letting you in on a little secret: Rome has thousands of hotels. The budget companies stay in "corporate" hotels outside of the city where you must be with them to find your way into the city. The mid-line companies stay closer to the city, but in "Tier 2" hotels that survive on mass tourism and make their money on overpriced, banquet hall food. Even the super high-end luxury companies are different, as they simply put you in a 5 star Americanized hotel, completely robbing you of the local flavor. We painstakingly check a lot of hotels until we find that perfect one... the small, family run, boutique hotel... that happens to be in an amazing location and carries the flair of local living

On our small group journeys we keep our time on the road to a maximum of a few hours in one stretch. The hand-crafted itinerary is designed so there is as little time in the van as possible and plenty to see while aboard or along the way from one place to another. We choose comfortable 9-seater vans (including the driver). The size allows us to travel along local roads, across breath-taking mountain passes to find charming villages and picturesque vistas which lie most time beyond the well-worn tourist trails where large motor coaches cannot go.

For custom guided journeys, how much driving depends on your personally chosen activities and locations on your customized itinerary package. Generally, we design our tours so that there is as little time as possible in the vehicle and plenty to see. We travel along the scenic route wherever possible, meaning you’ll see more of the countryside and local village life. On some itineraries the train is used and even the ferry. Inevitably there are some days when traveling between locations may involve some mileage. Generally we try to do at least two to three attraction stops, comfort and meal stops. It would be as if you had rented a car, without having to drive or concern yourself with directions, maps and the possibility of getting lost or not speaking the language.

For clients who select an itinerary that highlights a region so that they can experience a more authentic vacation, driving would only be done as day trips to explore the area. Clients in this case would only unpack once, or stay several days in each location instead of being in a different location each night.

Tasting the local cuisine is an important part of all our journeys, so I ensure that an emphasis is placed on local specialties. I like to include culinary experience options which enable you to enjoy locally sourced and produced cuisine based on ingredients in season: take cooking classes using regional ingredients, visit local farms, and enjoy food and wine tastings at local producers.

• All breakfasts are included in the cost of the tour as well as your welcome dinner. All other dinners are at your own expense, but we can certainly give you recommendations or make reservations for you. We feel that it is in your best interest not to have all meals included in your itinerary as this gives you more control on your budget.

You’ll dine in small, authentic restaurants, frequented by the locals and guaranteed to give a true reflection of the tastes of the region. We will take you to some of our favorite places, some in towns we visit along the way, or in countryside locations with breathtaking surroundings. The locations we select are authentic locations, most often family-run, farm-to-table establishments, 'agriturismi’, allowing you to truly experience slow-food and zero-km dining from where it all started.

NOTE: One thing to remember is dinner times in Italy are later than you might be used to, 19:30 (7:30PM)

Letting you in on a little secret: There is a little-known secret in the tour business. Some restaurants in the more popular locations in Italy usually do not open until 8PM for the locals, but before 8PM, they are open for tour bus groups, and they have special deals for substandard food that the locals would never eat. We want to share the best of the best with you. So, we focus on family-run, local farm-to-table restaurants. Even in the cities, we find the best places in the neighborhood. Food is the number one highest cost in this business, so it is the first-place companies try to shave off the bottom line. Traveling with us we make sure you have meals you will never forget.

NOTE: On custom guided Journeys we feel that it is in your best interest not to have all meals included in your itinerary as this gives you more control on your budget. We also find that most of my clients want to have their dinner alone for much-needed private time to talk about the day and about personal matters. Your local host and guide needs those few hours in the evening to have needed down time and for planning the next day. The number of included lunches or dinners of course differ based on your personal wishes.

We focus on specific regions in northern Italy, places we know well, have local expertise, and call home.

While you will still see some famous landmarks, you will also be taken to places that are not overrun with tourists. Places that are largely undiscovered, and names you may have never heard of. These hidden gems are chosen for their beauty, authenticity, and local feel. We build itineraries that are filled with unique experiences, allowing you the opportunity to meet with locals, contribute to the local economy, and immerse you in our genuine Italian culture.