Custom Italian Travel Planning for Unforgettable Moments

Ciao!

I know there are business owners out there that generate their content by subscribing to newsletter creation services and some that use AI to write theirs.  Since I'm doing neither, sometimes the newsletter and its original content is a little bit late.  Oops!

 

The summer travel season is already in full swing, and I am busily confirming all the last minute details, logistics and finishing touches to lots of itineraries.  Where's everybody going?

 

Currently: 

 - a family of 4 in Sicily

 - a multi-gen group of 7 in Seattle and Vancouver

Departing tomorrow - a family of 4 to Croatia

 - 1 British Columbia trip, 9 more Italy trips, 1 Mediterranean cruise

 - Not to mention my own family's vacation and a July work trip to the Dolomites

 

Believe it or not, I am STILL getting requests for summer; however, best practice is to plan a liiiiiiittle further ahead of time (insert maniacal laugh) for best availability with respect to literally everything.  

 

So - if you're thinking about a fall getaway to wine country, a European ski trip this winter, or spring break next year - now is the optimal time to start planning!  Thinking about next summer?  Let me know now… and we'll start planning this fall.

This hotel is not on Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda or Lake Iseo - you know I like to tell you about the less popular places.  ARIA Retreat & Spa is located in the town of Cima on the shores of Lake Lugano, on the Italian side of course.

 

While everyone else might be fighting for Lake Como reservations and paying Como prices, you could be relaxed with Euros still in your pockets at this sleek, contemporary suites only spa hideaway.  

 

Same dramatic Alpine lake views and sophisticated Italian lake lifestyle—at roughly a quarter of the cost.  The best part? You're still close enough to Como for day trips (only a 30 min drive to Menaggio).

 

Can't you picture yourself here with favorite drink in hand?

Bergamo literally gives you two cities in one visit. The medieval Città Alta (Upper City) sits dramatically atop a hill, complete with ancient walls, and cobblestone streets. Take the historic funicular down to Città Bassa (Lower City) and you're suddenly in a vibrant modern metropolis with excellent shopping, contemporary restaurants, and that authentic Italian city energy minus the tourist chaos.  Win win.

 

I should warn you though - the Bergamo accent is my absolute least favorite of all the Italian accents.  They swallow their r's and it drives me insane.

This UNESCO World Heritage valley contains over 140,000 Neolithic rock carvings scattered across 180 sites, making it one of the world's largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs. Sort of like a social media feed from approximately 5500-3300 BC with scenes of daily life and mysterious symbols we're still trying to decode (like teen slang).

 

You can hike to many of these ancient masterpieces yourself or go with a guide.  Either way, it's pretty cool to stand exactly where humans stood millennia ago whilst simultaneously admiring their art that still exists.

Why not take the world's most expensive spice, saffron, and pair it with one of the world's least expensive grains, rice.  Makes total sense.

 

Legend has it that a cathedral worker building the Duomo added saffron that was being used for stained glass pigments to his wedding feast risotto, and - boom - instant fan favorite.

 

Regardless, this is one of those dishes I always get when I'm in the area because it's one that i'm not going to make at home.  Risotto?  Yes, I absolutely make that at home.  But am I buying an expensive spice for Risotto alla Milanese that only requires little more than a few threads?  Nope.  I'll leave that to the restaurant chefs :)

Them: “We go to France because we like champagne."   Me: “You don't need to.”

 

Lombardy's Franciacorta region produces sparkling wine following the traditional méthode champenoise (the same painstaking process used in Champagne).  As Champagne is called champagne because it comes from the Champagne region, so is Franciacorta called Franciacorta.  

 

Regardless of what you call it, the méthode champenoise creates bubbles that age gracefully, pair with everything and make you feel fancy when you drink them.  And since Franciacorta is made in Italy, it's obviously just that much better.