In hindsight, this was a good mindset to have when I started Ciao Italy Tours in 2009 because I created something from nothing that would avoid everything that would make me cringe. No to big groups, chain hotels, set menus, hop on/hop off buses, 1-2 night stays. The idea that grew beyond what I could ever have imagined so long ago has not really changed. It has just got better.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a place for large group tours. My son works for a big tour company as a Tour Leader and is now on the road for six months touring throughout Europe. A tour ranging from twelve days to three weeks with 20-50 people travelling through 10-12 countries sounds daunting (can be for the Tour Leader), but Sam receives amazing feedback and most people love the tours.

No more than 12 people

Travel isn’t just about ticking destinations off a bucket list; it’s a deliberate act of opening your heart and mind to a different culture, places, food and people. I want my travellers to eat in a tiny trattoria where Nonna is cooking what’s been bought at the market that morning; sleep in intimate, lovingly restored, centuries old accommodation; visit stunning artisan owned shops and engage with the maker; hop on the back of a vespa to see Rome like a true Roman; discover tiny villages and hidden paths. None of this is possible with a large group.

Where you lay your head

It may be just a room to sleep in, but to me it’s an integral part of travel. Understandably, Hotel Gregoriana in Rome is my home away from home and where I spend the most time at the beginning and end of tours, but I love it most because of the people. They are like a family - warm and caring and always happy to see you. My travellers who return to Hotel Gregoriana love it for the same reason.

Everywhere there is a story behind the places we stay in and the owners are proud and passionate to share it with you.

I want you to wake up in Italy staring at a beautiful frescoed ceiling, exposed ancient wooden beams, green shutters open to the sun rising over a glorious Tuscan landscape. You know you’re in Italy!

Location is so important. Whether in Rome, a town or small village, it needs to be central so that you can walk the streets in the morning when no-one is around; sit on a stone bench in the piazza making new friends with locals; join in passeggiata and aperitivo; eat where the locals eat. I can never understand why people book hotels near Termini Station in Rome because neighbourhoods close to train stations are never appealing. A taxi from the heart of the historic centre is a ten minute ride, costing 10-12 euros.

Where you eat

Italy has the best food in the world, celebrated last year when it won one of the highest cultural honors in the world; it was officially inscribed onto UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Italian cooking was recognised in its entirety as a living cultural and social practice. No other country in the world has achieved this.

Hard to have a bad meal you would think, but you can. Wherever there are tourists on mass, there will be restaurants taking advantage. There are many red flags, some obvious, some not, all covered in previous newsletters.

When travelling we always remember a great meal and a bad meal. It’s an absolute delight to return to the small family owned restaurants where I can be confident everyone will enjoy truly authentic Italian food.

Three night stays

The real joy of travelling is seeing and experiencing a place through the eyes of a local, which means enough time to wander the hidden corners of Rome; walk the labyrinth of alleyways in ancient villages; discover the hidden in plain sight treasures (if you only knew); join in the daily rituals of Italian life; engage with locals and feel the heart and soul of every single place.

Flexibility and options

There is a particular style of travel that will appeal to every individual. A Ciao Italy tour has always been about adventure, total immersion and local experiences. The itineraries are created for people who enjoy being active and by active, I mean a moderate level of fitness.

However, there is always a choice on a day when a two hour walk is planned, an e-bike ride through Tuscany, kayaking on Lake Como or walking the perimeter of the San Silvestri Craters on Mount Etna. The beauty of a small group is the ability to be flexible and offer alternative suggestions.

Avoiding time wasting tourist pitfalls

No matter how skilled you are at researching or how many friends pass on recommendations, travel can be a minefield of tiny incidents waiting to trip you up. Unless you are on the ground consistently and continuously for many years in Italy, it’s almost impossible to navigate your way through local customs, rules and culture without mishap, or you waste valuable time on experiences that could have been so much better.

I have an inextinguishable passion for Italy that continues to this day. The journey of learning never stops, whether on the road leading a tour or at home preparing for the next tours. Knowledge and experience are key and should never be underestimated.

The greatest gift of travel often happens after you unlock your front door. You return to the same house, the same routines - but you are different. The walls of your world have expanded. You bring back a piece of every new place you saw, every connection you made with a stranger and every moment of awe.

It is often said that the best time to book a holiday is when you have just returned from a holiday. It is true. Everyone needs to have something to plan for and to look forward to.

I’m back in Australia for three months, so talk to me if you would like to know more about the tours this September and October, or in 2027. Your next Italian adventure is waiting for you!

Ci vediamo la prossima settimana.

Deb