Laura Wagner

Recently, I was asked to set up and accompany a custom ten-day trip for eight women. Many had never been out of country; none had been to Italy. They wanted to experience Italy as independent travelers but have someone to handle the planning and logistics. It was fun to plan and wonderful to see a place I knew through new eyes.

Since they’d never been there, we wanted to hit a combination of key tourist sites and less-visited, more laid-back activities. We eased in by heading straight for Sorrento for a taste of the coast.  On our first full day, we chartered a private boat with a company I knew. He takes just 12 people, so it was perfect. He took us along the coast, served us Prosecco and he handed out swimming noodles when we stopped to swim through the grottos, and then spent a few hours in Capri.  It was such a special day that they told me over dinner that if we go home tomorrow, it was worth it!

The next day, a private driver picked us up and drove us along the Amalfi Coast. He had booked a table at a restaurant overlooking the sea, and we felt like we were living La Dolce Vita. He was wonderful, and stopped at some amazing overlooks, and gave us some free time to walk around  Positano and Amalfi. And several women wanted to buy ceramics, so he took us to a wonderful ceramics store where everyone bought stuff.  One of the highlights was a stop at a grotto where went down an escalator into a cave, got into a boat and rowed through crystal clear waters, with soft lighting coming from behind the walls.  

To maximize their time, I booked a private tour with every transfer. For example, we went from Sorrento to Rome with a private driver, and on the way, we stopped for to tour Pompeii.  And from Rome to Florence, we stopped for three hours in Sienna.

On our last day, our private driver asked if we wanted to visit a small town and have lunch where his family owns a winery.  We were excited and it was so different. His family owns a small winery. It’s not open to the public and it was great to spend time with a local family. They served us a scrumptious seven course meal  made with fresh local ingredients and a wine to go with each course. There we were, sitting on a deck outside their home, overlooking a Tuscan valley.  It was beyond our dreams.

The group was so thrilled that they’ve asked me to plan another trip and I’ve gotten several referrals. Most said, wherever you want to go next, we’re coming!  We’re thinking about Octoberfest for next year!