Preparation in Advance

La Dolce Via helps you understand the cultural, social, and practical points to help take some of the uncertainty out of traveling to Italy. We give you explanations on various aspects of everyday life, from how to order from a menu, how to ride a train (be sure to validate your ticket before boarding!), how to pump gas, and other everyday information to make your experience flow more smoothly and so that you can better appreciate and understand "la dolce vita", that special way that Italians live. We also recommend books to read or movies to see to help you become more familiar with Italy or just to help you get excited about your upcoming avventura.

Completely Customized Itineraries

La Dolce Via creates customized itineraries based on our clients’ needs, wants, budgets and interests. We want your vacation to be based on what your idea of Italy should be, not on what a guidebook says you should see or do. We help you determine how long to stay in each locale based on what you’ve told us is important to you. We will work with you to create a daily plan that will include aspects that you’ve told us you wanted, days full of architectural, historical, cultural and artistic experiences—even hands on activities, if that is what you’d like-- great food and wine, an expert guide, kid- friendly highlights, and so on.

Accommodations

We explain how accommodations in Italy differ from those in the United States, including property rentals, and set expectations accordingly. Based on what you’ve told us you’re looking for, we'll secure accommodations for you, from villas for 30 to an intimate 10-room boutique hotel to a gorgeous sea view room in a grand scale hotel. We’ve been to the properties we recommend, so we can tell you first hand what each is like.

Dining Recommendations and Reservations

Based on both personal experiences and the opinions of those who actually live there, we recommend restaurants that are in line with what you’ve told us are appealing to you. Be it a farmhouse luncheon with produce grown and olive oil produced on the premises to a casual trattoria with no menu—just what Mama has prepared that day--or a Michelin star extravaganza, we can give you guidance on where to find those experiences. And don’t forget about caffé and gelato—we have our favorites throughout Italy!

Shopping

Whatever your passions, we can send you to the best places to find them. If there is something special you are seeking, just let us know and we’ll help you find it. We have our favorite places for leather goods, pottery, jewelry, gourmet food items, and other Italian specialties. If you want a guide to show you around and assist you with purchasing, we will arrange that as well. We’ll also be able to tell you where to find daily and weekly outdoor markets, flea markets, and antique fairs.

Private Guides

A private guide can make all the difference in creating a positive touring experience. Experts in their chosen fields make history, culture, and art connect so that you can understand the context in which events occurred. With their special knowledge and knack of knowing how to tell an engaging story, you are sure to learn something new.

Transfers and Transportation

We have professionals in the area of airline ticketing, train ticketing, and car rentals. We can also provide you with private transfers, bus and ferry schedules, and maps. We guide you in selecting the transportation options that are best for you. However you decide to go, we will prepare you by insuring that you understand how to navigate a particular area, be it in a car, in a train, or on foot.

Unique Experiences

We can assist you in have truly unique experiences—learn to make pasta with a professional chef, create a mosaic in a studio in Florence, tour the wonderful gardens in the Lakes district, see the Ducati factory and museum, be pampered with spa treatments, join in with the locals in a small town celebration, see an opera in a Roman amphitheater under the summer stars…. these are just a few of the many special experiences we’ve arranged for our guests.

Customized Guidebook and Supporting Materials

Once your customized plan is completed, we create materials that help you to move through your journey worry-free. You’ll have an easily portable guide created specifically for you, including all of your transportation, accommodation, and reservation information. Your guide will also include highlights of each city that you are visiting or may visit, along with restaurant and shopping suggestions. Additionally, we will prepare supporting materials for you, be they rules of the road and information on how to pump gas (for those who are driving) to reserved museum admission vouchers to maps.

Continued Support During Your Trip

We do not end our services when you depart for your trip. In fact, this is an important element of our service and commitment to you. If you are in need of anything during your trip, or assistance with problem resolution, just contact us, by phone or by e-mail. We will work with you to maximize your enjoyment while in Italy.