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, like how to order your favorite coffee, flag a cab, and other everyday information to make your experience flow more smoothly. If you are interested, we are happy to recommend books or movies to help you become more familiar with Italy and prepare you for 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 you want to see and do, not on what a guidebook says you should see or do. 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—with plenty of hands on activities or relaxing time 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 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 hotel. We’ve been to the properties we recommend, so we can tell you first hand what each is like.
Private or Small Group Guides
A 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 work with 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 and will 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 know what to expect from each experience.
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, drive a Fiat in the Tuscan countryside, tour the wonderful gardens in the Lakes district, see the Lamborghini 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.
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.
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 suggestions. Additionally, we will prepare supporting materials for you, be they rules of the road 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, text, or e-mail. We will work with you to maximize your enjoyment while in Italy.
"We had a great time, and thanks again for all your help. One of Alex's highlights was the marble shop you told me about...really great trip. Thanks again for your help in making it so!"
-Ken D., St. Louis, MO
"Mary Evans assisted us with our recent trip to Italy. She was absolutely delightful! She was accommodating, polite, resourceful and most of all dependable! Our trip to Tuscany was an absolute dream. The best vacation ever!"
