Your Travel, Your Plan

You don’t have to settle for generic packages or spend your nights and weekends slumped over a computer doing research. Save time, stress and money — while getting the precise vacation you crave. At Your Italian Dreams, we specialize in creating personalized itineraries based on your travel goals, your budget and your interests.

Our Travel Philosophy
Less is more.

We believe travel should be slow and deliberate, that you shouldn’t be rushed. Our philosophy is quite simply: Less is more. Less hurrying, less rigidity, less stress. More conversations, more observations, more exploration. We don’t want to pack your schedule so full that you’ll need a vacation when you return from vacation.

Travel is personal.

From where you choose to go to what you’ll do when you get there — and even how you process the experience — travel is personal. So, we recognize that everyone has different needs for vacation. An adventure-seeking family will have different expectations than a retired couple looking for time to reconnect. Because travel is so personal, we spend time learning about you and your expectations before we do anything.

Italy is everything.

Did we mention that we love Italy? We don’t book trips to other countries — or even here in the U.S. We eat, drink and breathe Italy. This passion and specialization allows us to serve you confidently and give you the very best recommendations based on experience. So, whether you want to explore the country’s major cities or the Italian countryside (which we highly recommend!), we are here to help.

Travel is more than the trip.

We think about travel beyond the journey itself. Part of the excitement of travel is getting ready and anticipating the adventure. Also important is how you process your experiences and reminisce upon your return.

Engage, connect, converse.

You can have a great time embarking on adventure after adventure, checking items off your bucket list. But we recommend making sure you connect with the loved ones you’re traveling with, as well as with the locals you’ll meet on your journey. And we try to design itineraries that give you the time and space to connect in meaningful ways. You might not remember every piece of art or every monument you see, but you’ll remember the people.

No two people are alike, right? Well, no two vacations are the same either. That’s why people work with Your Italian Dreams. Our process is all about you.

Free consultation

The first step in our process is a simple, free consultation. We’ll ask you some basic questions about desired travel dates, what’s important to you and your budget. We’ll help you better understand our services and make sure we’re a good fit for your needs.

Getting to know you

Are you a food lover? A wine drinker? An art connoisseur? A hiker?A shopping enthusiast? Before we plan your Italian dream vacation, we’ll want to learn more about you — from your must-see sights to activities you enjoy.

Building your dream vacation

We’ll be in touch to ask a few questions as we embark on researching and building your perfect Italian vacation itinerary. Then, you’ll receive thoughtful recommendations for how to get there, where to stay, how to travel within the country, where to eat, activities and tours, and more.

Booking your trip

Your Italian Dreams is a travel planning service, not a booking agency. The traveler is ultimately responsible for booking flights and hotels and making reservations for tours or restaurants. However, for an additional fee, we can assist with certain bookings and reservations as well.

You can work with Your Italian Dreams in the way that makes the most sense for you. We offer two types of services:

Travel consultation services – $399 flat fee for vacations up to 14 days.
This includes recommendations for:

• Where to go and for how long
• Transportation
• Accommodations
• Restaurants
• Activities

Booking services – $100/day of travel (five-day minimum)
This includes all travel consultation services, plus:

• Train and automobile reservations
• Accommodation correspondence and reservations
• Dinner reservations
• Tour and guide reservations

If you’re not familiar with travel planning, you might be wondering: Why hire a travel planner rather than working with a travel agent or planning your own vacation?

Good question. Here’s why more and more travelers are relying on travel planners.

You’ll get advice that is not incentivized by commissions.

Travel agents often earn commissions for booking your travel with certain airlines and hotels. That means you might miss out on an amazing bed and breakfast in the Italian countryside. We are brand-agnostic, looking out for the experiences that are best for you.

You’ll receive personalized recommendations.

You could book your trip through a tour company, and that will take the planning off your worry list. But there’s a trade-off. You might be spending less time in a place you’d like to savor longer. Or maybe your “included meals” aren’t at restaurants you’d choose for yourself. When we plan your vacation, it is uniquely yours. No sacrifices.

You’ll save time and stress.

Vacation planning can take several hours for every day of travel. If you have the time and inclination, then, by all means, enjoy the process. But for a lot of people, vacation planning can be overwhelming. And when you’re investing in a foreign excursion that may be a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, it can be extra stressful. That’s why we’re here. Plus, Italy — with all of its tucked-away small towns — can be hard to research. It helps to work with someone who’s traveled there numerous times.

You might save money.

When and how you plan your trip is essential to saving money. At Your Italian Dreams, we’ve learned through experience and research that travel logistics are key. When a professional helps plan your vacation, you might be able to save some dough (which you can use for extra nights in Italy or to purchase wine to bring home!).

You’ll be confident your vacation time is maximized.

No matter what, travel requires time and money — two things that are limited. So, it’s important to be confident you’re getting the most for both. You don’t want to be worried that you’re missing something that’s important to you. We’re here to ensure you have the vacation of your dreams.