trip planning and custom itineraries

Rome panorama domes golden hour sunset clouds trip planning custom itinerary

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 you 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.

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 (like showing up to a museum when it’s closed)

  • Finding hidden gems & secret places only the locals know

  • Getting the low-down on seasonal events & festivals

  • Excellent private tours with some of the best guides in the country (upon request)

I offer a number of services at various price points that can fit within any budget. (I also offer several private tours of Rome. If you’re interested in taking a tour without booking an itinerary, click here.)

 

OPTION 1: 50-minute planning call with me, including personalized suggestions, my Rome restaurant and hotel guides, and a custom GoogleMap

Price: €75

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

  • A 50-minute Google Meet call with me to talk about who’s traveling, your interests, travel style, dining preferences, and 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.

  • A follow-up email with personalized suggestions, travel tips, a few custom restaurant recommendations, and where to find hidden gems most tourists miss.

  • 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 full itinerary, the price of Option 1 will be applied to that.

Medieval cloister of Santi Quattro Coronati church, Rome
 
Woman driving Yellow Fiat 500 on cobblestoned Trastevere street Rome

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Hotel, train, and flight bookings

  • Chauffeured car bookings

  • Booking tickets to sites (with exception of your guided tours)

  • Restaurant reservations

OPTION 2: Custom Italy Itinerary & personalized GoogleMap

Price: €300 for up to 5 days; €50 for each additional day

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

  • A 30-minute Google Meet 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 detailed itinerary for each day, taking into account where you are staying, as well as how much you prefer to do/see 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 (other cities coming soon!)

  • A personalized multi-layered GoogleMap with all the sites on your itinerary and recommended restaurants pinned

 

OPTION 3: Deluxe Custom Italy Itinerary & personalized GoogleMap

Price: €450 for up to 5 days; €75 for each additional day

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

  • Everything in Option 2, 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

Tour guide explaining Rome from the top of the Gianicolo (Janiculum) Hill
 
Woman standing at balustrade with panorama of Rome in the distance

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, experiencing this beautiful country fully 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, Emilia Romagna, Umbria, and Sicily.

I am not able to offer itineraries for Sardinia, Calabria, Puglia, or Northern Italy.

Note: With the exception of Option 1, all custom itineraries must be booked (and I must have all of your travel information) at least one month before your arrival date.