trip planning and custom itineraries
Planning a trip to Italy and have no idea where to begin?
Overwhelmed by the innumerable cities, sites, and restaurants to choose from?
Do you dream of seeing the amazing little-known wonders of Italy that most people miss?
Maybe it’s your first time visiting Italy and you want to make sure to get it right, or perhaps it’s your second or third and you want to see the things you missed before.
But where do you even begin?
I can help with that.
I create custom Italy itineraries that take all the guesswork out of your travel planning. I’ll share all the insider tips I’ve gained from my two decades living and leading tours in Rome, as well as traveling extensively all over Italy, to help make your Italian dream trip a reality. (Read about my stance against AI use in trip planning at the bottom of this page.)
(If you’re interested in taking a tour without booking an itinerary, click here.)
What are some of the benefits of a custom itinerary?
A concrete plan so you don’t miss any of the sites that matter most to you
Invaluable tips to avoid tourist traps & make the most of your time
Discovering authentic restaurants & dazzling rooftop terraces
Practical advice for getting around & visiting top sites without the stress
Avoiding rookie mistakes that waste your time & money
Finding hidden gems & secret places only the locals know
Going beyond the influencer trends and over-hyped “must-see” nonsense in order to have a deeper, more satisfying experience in Italy
Excellent private tours with some of the best guides in the country (upon request)
OPTION 1: Trip Planning Call & Custom GoogleMap
Price: €75
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
A 50-minute GoogleMeet call with me to help you plan an unforgettable trip to Italy. We’ll discuss who’s traveling, your interests and priorities, travel style, dining preferences, how many days you have, and much more.
You are free to direct the conversation if there is a particular topic that would be most helpful to you. If not, I will share what I feel is the most valuable information for your needs and make suggestions for your trip.
A personalized multi-layered GoogleMap with all my suggestions pinned.
My extensive Rome restaurant and hotel guides (other cities coming soon!)
If, after the call, you decide to upgrade to a mini or full itinerary, the price of this option will be applied to that.
OPTION 2: Trip Planning Call & Mini Itinerary & Custom GoogleMap
Price: €150
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
A 50-minute GoogleMeet call with me as described in Option 1
A follow-up email with a stream-lined mini-itinerary based on the suggestions from our call
The mini-itinerary will also include travel tips, a few custom restaurant recommendations, and some hidden gems most tourists miss
Links to book tickets for sites we discussed on our call
A personalized multi-layered GoogleMap with all my suggestions pinned.
My extensive Rome restaurant and hotel guides
If, after the call, you decide to upgrade to a full itinerary, the price of this option will be applied to that.
OPTION 3: Custom Italy Itinerary & Custom GoogleMap
Price: €400 for up to 5 days; €80 for each additional day
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
A 30-minute call with me to talk about who’s traveling, your interests, travel style, dining preferences, mobility, and more.
Unlimited email communication until your itinerary is finalized
A thorough, detailed custom itinerary for each day, taking into account where you are staying, as well as how much you prefer to do in one day.
Lunch and dinner suggestions for each day, near where you’ll be at meal times, according to your itinerary
Opening and closing days/times of all the sites on your itinerary
Directions on how to get from place to place
My insider travel tips for visiting Italy
The booking of any guided tours or organized excursions (upon request)
The booking of any required tickets for the sites you visit on any booked tour
Links to purchase tickets to sites you will visit on your own (when pre-booking is recommended)
My extensive Rome restaurant and hotel guides
A personalized multi-layered GoogleMap with all the sites on your itinerary and recommended restaurants pinned
NOT INCLUDED:
Hotel, train, and flight bookings
Chauffeured car bookings
Booking tickets to sites (with exception of your guided tours)
Restaurant reservations
OPTION 4: Deluxe Custom Italy Itinerary & Custom GoogleMap
Price: €500 for up to 5 days; €100 for each additional day
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
Everything in Option 3, plus…
Lunch and dinner reservations made for you each day
Site tickets booked for you (when pre-booking is recommended)
The booking of any chauffeured cars or vans you may need (to/from airport, for sightseeing, etc.)
NOT INCLUDED:
Hotel, train, and flight bookings
About Me
I am an American who has lived in Rome for over 20 years. I’ve worked in Italy's tourism industry since 2005. I’m a licensed tour leader, a widely published travel writer, and a travel consultant.
Italy—and particularly Rome—is my passion, and I am dedicated to helping thoughtful, curious travelers get the most out of their time in Italy, avoiding tourist traps and over-hyped trends, and instead experiencing this beautiful country fully, deeply, and easily, as most tourists never do.
I’m the co-creator and co-host of The Bittersweet Life, a podcast about—among other things—life as an expat in Italy. I am also the author of Midnight in the Piazza, a kids’ mystery set in Rome.
My Areas of Expertise
Rome is the place I know best. After 20 years exploring every corner of the city, I am intimately familiar with its art, history, hidden gems, restaurants, bars & cuisine.
The other areas that I cover are Florence & Tuscany, Naples & the Amalfi Coast, Venice, Milan & Lake Como, Emilia Romagna, Umbria, and Sicily.
I am not able to offer itineraries for Sardinia, Calabria, Puglia, or the Dolomites.
My Anti-AI promise: I do not use Artificial Intelligence for any part of the planning process. All of my knowledge of Rome and Italy has been painstakingly gained by years of experience and personal exploration, both as a traveler myself, and as a tour guide. My opinions are formed from my own deep experience traveling and living in Italy. My suggestions for where to eat are places I have personally tried and loved (or places that other trusted Italy-experts have recommended to me), never viral hot-spots or influencer trends. I strongly believe that AI is not a trust-worthy source of travel information, one of the many reasons I refuse to use it in my work.
Note: With the exception of Options 1 and 2, all custom itineraries must be booked (and I must have all of your travel information) at least one month before your arrival date.