Philosophy
You've traveled.You've Been There, Done That.
And you know how much work it is to create a trip that flows smoothly and is designed around the things you want to do, at the pace you want to do it.
You don't want to vacation in a frenzy.
It's so easy to try to Do Too Much, and it's easy to fall into a breakneck vacation pace instead of a relaxing one where you can actually focus on what you're visiting and not need a vacation from your vacation when you return home.
See it. Hear it. Smell it. Taste it. Do it.
Spend quality time admiring the details of the Greek ruins in Agrigento Sicily. Listen to the energy in their voices as locals negotiate at an outdoor food market. Inhale the smell of your freshly brewed morning espresso at the bar outside your hotel. Taste the prosecco after the guided winery tour in the Veneto. Breathe deeply as you enjoy the views during your 90-minute hike between two of the five towns in the CInque Terre.
Don't get bogged down with information
It's very easy to get overwhelmed by information overload when researching or visiting Italy. Let Italy Beyond the Obvious wade through the options and do the research. It's very easy to rush around and try to do too much. Let Italy Beyond the Obvious create an itinerary that allows you to focus on things that are enjoyable for you, so that you can leave the rest for your next trip. Sure, pull out your guidebook when you want more information, or pepper your local guide with questions, but there's no need to spend your vacation reading about what you're doing when you can actually do it.
Keep it Simple
The Italy Beyond the Obvious itineraries are one page per day, plus a daily map. The goal is to experience Italy and pay attention to your surroundings, not read about it. Of course, all activities are researched and triple-checked when creating the itinerary, but you are presented with the final, zen-like, version.
Put me in the right place at the right time, say some clients, and I'll come home with great stories. Italy Beyond the Obvious can do just that.
Services
Italy Beyond the Obvious offers 2 types of service:
- We'll plan your trip for you, or
- You plan your own trip, with Madeline's coaching
History
Italy Beyond the Obvious was born because people kept asking me for suggestions on what to do in Italy based on their specific interests and travel pace. My advice-seekers were independent travelers who had some great backpacking memories but no longer had time to research and plan their trip. They wanted to travel efficiently, avoiding at all costs spending valuable vacation time in problem-solving mode, and wanted suggestions and unique ideas to match their interests.
They wanted to learn about it by seeing it, being there, tasting it, or smelling it rather than reading about it.
And oh yes, they also wanted to get off the beaten track and spend some time with the locals.
That's where Italy Beyond the Obvious comes in. After an initial consultation to understand your interests and prorities, we'll plan and book your perfect Italian vacation and send you off with a detailed, one-page-per-day written itinerary you'll use during your trip.
What you really get, though, is not just an itinerary. What you get is not just a trip to Italy. What you come home with are stories. Unique, interesting, connect-to-the-locals stories. We can't tell in advance what stories you'll end up with, or organize them for you, but we can tell you where to go and what to do so that you'll be in the right place at the right time for the most unique experiences.
Ready to move to the next step?
