Rome, Florence, Tuscany and Venice. Known for its soaring frescos, delectable gelato, rolling vineyards and la dolche vita, there’s noting quite as thrilling and decadent as a luxury vacation to Italy. We invite you to join us on an indulgent 12-Day guided tour showcasing this sensational country at its finest and made even more exceptional by your Travel Concierge.

We spoke with Elena, a Luxury Gold Travel Concierge since the brands inception in 2011 and an Italy expert. She tells us more about going above and beyond to make your Ultimate Italy journey incredible.

“To me Luxury travel means superlative. Exclusive. Absolute perfection,” explains Elena. “Every time, I go above and beyond for all the guests. I take care of them, and I do it with passion and sincerity.”

For travel inspiration read our Italy destination guide

 

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Benvenuto Italy

Your Ultimate Italy small group journey starts in Rome – The Eternal City. The Vatican Museums, Roman Forum and Colosseum take center stage, combined with free time to soak up the delight of Italy’s capital in your own way. The five star Palazzo Montemartini is perfectly located in the heart of the city, for you to explore at your own pace. You’ll spend two nights here before travelling to the ill-fated city of Pompei.

Once you arrive your Travel Concierge is by your side to help you settle in. Fluent in the local language and an expert in your destination, Elena helps guests make the most of their luxury vacation to Italy with her little black book of contacts and restaurant suggestions galore.

Discover this on: Ultimate Italy

Exceptional service means personal service

More than a master of logistics, to be a Travel Concierge is to go above and beyond for all the guests. Elena explains that taking time to get to know each guest personally is the secret. “When I know somebody is really interested in something, then I can really see an opportunity that will make their magical moment for them.

“I recall a couple that were celebrating their 50th anniversary on one of my tours. They never asked me anything, but I knew it was their anniversary so, I arranged for a surprise during our Michelin-starred lunch on the Isle of Capri. The best part was that the waiters came out with all sorts of instruments when we presented them with a cake, candles and Champagne, and they just had a marvelous time, lots of fun.”

You may also like: Sunshine on a plate: Travel Concierge Dom on his love of Iberia

Michelin-starred dining on the Isle of Dreams

With expectational dining a hallmark of every Luxury Gold journey, Michelin-starred dining on the Isle of Dreams, Capri, is one of the highlights of Ultimate Italy. This sun-drenched isle is the epitome of the celebrity lifestyle, and lunch at Le Monzù offers both sensational cuisine and spectacular views on your luxury vacation to Italy. With your Travel concierge ensuring each moment is seamless, you’ll arrive by open-top taxi and enjoy a private cruise showcasing Capri’s dramatic coastline, winding your way through hidden coves and visiting the famous White Grotto.

You may also enjoy reading: These Are Our 15 Favorite Michelin Star Restaurants in Italy

Photo credit: @lemonzurestaurant on Instagram

Get into the heart of rural Italy

Away from the shining cities, Italy’s rural landscapes and communities are very special. In Umbria personalize your day – be guided through the incredible frescos at the Basilica of St. Francis with a local historian view. Or, with the help of a local gourmand, learn the roots of Umbrian cuisine. Elena is on hand to help guests choose, finding out their preferences and suggesting the perfect fit.

In Perugia enjoy a special a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and meet fourth-generation weaver Marta, who shares the art of medieval Umbrian tradition of loom-weaving. And in San Gimigiano, enjoy a private wine tasting tour with the owners of Guardastelle Estate and indulge in sensational gelato with World Champion Gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli.

Bookmark for later: This Little Gelateria in San Gimignano May Just Serve The Best Gelato in All of Italy

Special surprises

“One of the best parts of our job is the fact that we can be so creative,” says Elena. “Each time we can personalize flourishes and surprises according to the guests that we have on our trip, or to the place where we are. It can be some chocolates delivered to the room, or maybe a special cake.

“Sometimes we can offer it to them in an informal but thoughtful way and that makes it just so special. Or we can go to the other end, because Luxury Gold is a high-end product, and we can offer something really exclusive. So, we are always making memorable moments.”

Foodie heaven in Florence and Pisa

As well as soaking up the main sights, your two days in Florence and Pisa are a gourmet delight. There’s no better way to get to the heart of Italy than through the cuisine.

You’ll have opportunity to explore Florence’s markets and gourmet stores with a local food expert, and take a foraging trip for truffles, guided by an expert truffle dog. You’ll also learn from a professional Italian chef how to roll pasta by hand. With opportunities to choose where you dine, Elena is on hand with suggestions for restaurants and dining experiences for every preference. She’ll also take care of any transport booking or guide you to your destination.

You may also like: Exploring the World’s Most Renowned Truffle Regions

The glitz of the Cinque Terra and VIP Venice

Your 12-day luxury vacation in Italy finishes up with a visit to the cliffside town of the picturesque UNESCO-listed Cinque Terra before the grand VIP finale, Venice. You’ll arrive by water taxi to your luxury hotel the Palazzo Nani Venice, and step behind the velvet ropes of Doges Palace for a private, after-hours tour. Ancient glassblowing and a serenaded gondola ride are just some of the delights in store, of course paired with delicious dining as you finish your journey in style.

You may be interested to read: 100% Meaningful, 100% Memorable: Why Every Luxury Gold Journey Matters

The secret to making guests feel extra special?

“Above and beyond the everyday care of each guest, I listen to them and try to understand their interests,” says Elena. “One of the questions that I always ask on the first day when I’m meeting my guests is ‘what is the reason for having chosen this trip?’ And this is the moment where I can get the most incredible stories, which in turn enable me to personalize their journey. Sometimes they’re coming back to their roots, sometimes it’s a special occasion. Sometimes they’ve overcoming some difficult times so it’s a moment of joy, and sometimes it’s just a treat and they just want to explore exquisite destinations in the most luxurious way.”

Discover Italy in luxury style on our Ultimate Italy small group journey

Have you ever wondered how luxury travel can mean responsible travel? Welcome to a Luxury Gold journey. Through our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, with your Luxury Gold journey you can make a positive impact on the planet, its people and wildlife, and the communities you visit.

Our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences were developed in 2020, in consultation with travel industry experts and set within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) In our How We Tread Right sustainability strategy we set out the goal of including at least one of these experiences on 50% of Luxury Gold journeys by 2025.

We’re pleased to say that we are way ahead of target, with these exclusive immersive experiences now available on 100% of Luxury Gold itineraries, as detailed in our latest Impact Report. We’ve put together a selection of our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences to show you want we are talking about.

Enjoy MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® history with Marta in Italy

When you meet Marta, a fourth-generation weaver preserving this ancient craft in Umbria Italy, you’ll be amazed at her dedication and passion. You’ll also be enjoying one of the first ever MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®Experiences that came into existence for The Travel Corporations family of brands. With meaningful experiences always part of the offer, guests enjoyed meeting Marta so much it was an inspiration behind formalizing the experiences.

A recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant, Marta’s workshop, the Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti, specializes in the medieval Umbrian tradition of loom-weaving. Your visit here supports UN SDGs 5 & 11 – Gender Equality and Sustainable Cities & Communities. The workshop, a highlight of our Ultimate Italy Luxury Gold journey, also actively empowers women and girls through its education and training programs. Through their safeguarding of the unique patterns they’re contributing to the protection of Umbria’s cultural heritage.

Discover the journey: Ultimate Italy

Read more: How We’re Setting the Gold Standard for Sustainable Luxury Travel

Discover a world of sustainable dining at Sweden’s Fotografiskia Restaurant

Phot credit: @fotografiska.food on Instagram

Some MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are simply delicious – pair fine dining with helping the planet and what’s not to love.

At the Fotografiska Museum Restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden, savor a delectable and innovative dinner crafted with sustainability in mind. In fact, this establishment holds the prestigious Michelin Sustainability Emblem. Every step of the culinary process is carefully thought out with sustainability in mind, and even the aprons have a part to play – made from an absorbent cotton fabric, when heated they release the CO2 back for use in the bistro’s hydroponic plant garden. Through this dining experience Fotografiska aims to encourage a more mindful and eco-friendly world. Prepare to be dazzled, while also doing your part – this experience supports UN SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production.

Try this on: Timeless Scandinavia

Read more: Alternative dining and CO2 absorbing aprons: welcome to Fotografiska

Save the Kiwi in New Zealand

Get up close and personal with wildlife as you go behind the scenes at a Kiwi hatchery in Rotorua. Meet the National bird of New Zealand, hear why its endangered and see first-hand the efforts to restore the population. The hatchery has expanded to become the world’s biggest and most effective facility for hatching kiwis. By successfully incubating and hatching brown kiwi eggs, it has significantly contributed to the North Island kiwi population. In support of UN SDG 15 – Life on Land, this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to fund the Hatchery and directly contribute to kiwi conservation.

Discover this on: The Long White Cloud

Bookmark for later: This New Zealand Forest Retreat Combines 5-Star Luxury with Sustainability

Reveal nature’s glitz in St Moritz, Switzerland

A highlight of the Swiss Alps, St. Moritz is renowned as a playground for the rich and famous, with its opulent ski resorts, upscale shopping and gourmet dining. This Alpine paradise offers a sophisticated blend of breathtaking natural beauty and high-end amenities, making it a premier destination for those seeking an exclusive and indulgent escape.

Guests on a Luxury Gold journey have the opportunity to step away from the glitz and glamor whilst in Switzerland. Meet a local nature guide and choose between a hike or a conservation talk to learn the work they do in raising awareness and preserving the natural environment, in this most picturesque of landscapes. This experience supports UN SDG 15 – Life on Land.

Take the tour: Majestic Switzerland

You may also enjoy reading: Dine, Sleep, Do: How to spend a chic 24 hours in St. Moritz

Embrace South Africa’s past and future

From the iconic Table Mountain in Cape Town to wildlife-rich Kruger National Park, South Africa boasts stunning landscapes, vibrant cultures, sensational cuisine and a complex history. To get deep into the country’s fascinating past, and meet its future, guests will enjoy a visit to the Amy Foundation, during their visit to Robben Island.

On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience you’ll see how the lives of vulnerable young people are being transformed through a variety of empowering programmes. This experience furthers UN SDGs 4 & 10 – Quality Education & Reduced Inequalities, both through its actions, and through eduction and awareness.

For unforgettable dinner table conversation, you’ll also join Christo Brand, a former prison guard of Nelson Mandela, for lunch at the Amy Foundation. A global icon of peace and equality, Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to fighting against apartheid in South Africa, and few knew him better than Christo.

 Discover this on: Spectacular South Africa

 Read about this special relationship in depth: Meet Christo Brand, former prison guard to Nelson Mandela

Sip French wine, in harmony with nature

Photo credit: @chateaulacoste on Instagram

Described as a ‘futuristic wine producer,’ a visit to Château La Coste in Puy-Sainte-Réparade, France will tantalize more than just the taste buds. In 2009, the wines of Château La Coste were labeled “Organic Agriculture”, a label which recognizes respect for the land as well as the methods, in perfect harmony with nature. The estate is also a showcase for the most fascinating sculptures and modern art installations.

On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience you’ll sample the estate’s organic wines, learn all about their viticulture and visit their one-of-a-kind contemporary wine cellar. Your tasting experience supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Take a sustainable sip on: Ultimate Southern France

Bookmark for later: Sophisticated and Stylish: why Southern France is Unmissable

Join the Warrior Women in Canada

Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies is a pristine wilderness paradise renowned for its majestic glaciers, turquoise lakes and abundant wildlife. Here you will meet the First Nations Warrior Women, to discover the history of the lands since time immemorial.

Share an evening by the fireside on this exceptional Luxury Gold journey. Over a home cooked barbecue dinner share in storytelling, drumming and songs and immerse yourselves in Indigenous culture. The experience addresses SDG: 10 by reducing inequalities for minorities or underrepresented people.

Meet the Warrior Women on: Majesty of the Rockies

For an in depth read: Uncovering Indigenous history with Canada’s Warrior Women

Enjoy the flutter of wings at Parque das Aves in Brazil

Photo credit: @parque_das_aves on Instagram

Nearby the thundering Iguassu Falls on the Brazilian side, we invite you to join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the colorful Parque das Aves or Bird Park. An integrated conservation center for birds of the Atlantic Forest and is home to 120 species of birds, including hummingbirds, hawks, toucans and parrots. Through your visit you are contributing to supporting the future of these species, and enhancing UN SDG 15 – Life on Land.

See the birds for yourself: Classic South America

You may also enjoy reading: Step inside Peru’s blissful Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Our Impact Report at a glance

Protecting our planet, its people and wildlife has always been at the heart of our journeys. And we’ve made some big commitments as part of our 5-year sustainability strategy How We Tread Right, across climate action, sustainable food production, responsible consumption, diversity, equity and inclusion, and animal welfare.

Today we’ve released our third annual Impact Report, so you can see how we’re progressing against our goals and how we are making a difference. Here’s some of our progress at a glance:

Goal 1 – Achieve Net Zero by 2050: Invested $1,880,553 from our Carbon Fund in 13 decarbonization projects and said ‘no to more stuff’ – replacing branded merchandise with donations to nature-based solutions – preventing 6.5 million car-driven miles worth of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere annually.

Goal 4 – Increase use of local and organic products in our supply chain by 2025: Offered one local dining experience on 100% of our itineraries, where key ingredients are sourced within a 30–50-mile radius.

Goal 6 – Eliminate as many unnecessary single-use plastics from our operations and itineraries: Removed all single-use plastics related to Covid-19 measures from our operations + worked with supplies to utilise water tanks to refill reusable water bottles.

Goal 7 – Include at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on 50% of our itineraries by 2025: We have at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on 100% of itineraries, with 36 in total across the collection.

Goal 10 – Complete 30,000 volunteer hours by 2025: Our teams completed 10,862 volunteer hours in 2023 – helping us reach 83% of our goal.

Stunning landscapes, incredible variety, endless culture. The USA is the ultimate year-round destination. If you’re looking for some travel inspiration then look no further than the soul of the south – Nashville, Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana. A region with an incredible wealth of history, culture and nature, coupled with sensational cuisine and unbeatable music credentials, the Southern USA is the vacation of a lifetime.

In partnership with Visit the USA, we invite you discover the soul of the south and to travel with us on Southern Grace, a 9-day luxury journey from Nashville to New Orleans. To whet your appetite, we’ve picked out some of our favorite moments.

For travel inspiration: USA destination guide

Read more about our Southern Grace tour: High Notes: How Travel Concierge Ann Amplifies the Sounds of the South

Walk in the footsteps of legends in Nashville, Tennessee

A welcoming and vibrant destination for visitors, Nashville has long been at the heart of country music in America. ‘Music City’ as it is affectionally known, is also the birthplace of bluegrass, with a thriving rock and pop scene. A city packed with sensational eateries and exceptional hotels, your stay at the sophisticated Grand Hyatt on our Southern Grace small group journey places you in the center of luxury and the downtown action.

Nashville grew from a foundation based on music and, as the 1800s unfolded it became a national center for music publishing. Join us and discover the music like a VIP. At Studio B – Nashville’s oldest remaining record studio, take part in a private recording session under the guidance of a professional sound engineer. Let your inner songbird free and record a take-home tune just as legends Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton have done before you.

Later, at the Country Music Hall of Fame, as guests of Luxury Gold you’ll enjoy a private, behind-the-scenes look at the songwriting process with a local songwriter and singer. On your visit you’ll also see memorabilia from stars such as Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison, before topping the night off with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

You may also enjoy reading: For Your Ears Only: Experience the Privilege of Private Live Music

Discover U.S. history in Memphis, Tennessee

Home of ‘The King’, the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, Memphis is another musical pilgrimage hotspot. But over and above the music, this city holds an essential place in U.S. history, and its civil rights legacy lives on in many ways.

Nowhere is this history brought to life quite like the National Civil Rights Museum, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on Southern Grace. Immerse yourself on a guided tour through the interactive exhibits and poignant storytelling, the museum shares the story of key moments throughout the American Civil Rights Movement, from the history of enslaved people all the way through to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

Memphis, and indeed the whole of Southern USA, is also known for its delicious cuisine including cajun, creole and some of the finest BBQ. To experience traditional cooking at its most tasty, Luxury Gold guests get a backstage pass to Central BBQ – one of the city’s oldest and most iconic establishments. Sweep past the queues (which are usually around the block) for your VIP visit. Inside you will meet Clint Cantwell, a renowned grilling expert to learn how to make the most delicious pulled pork, brisket and ribs – a rare event usually only local insiders get to experience. Followed of course by a scrumptious meal.

Bookmark for later: How We’re Setting the Gold Standard for Sustainable Luxury Travel

Step back in time in Natchez, Mississippi

Stepping away from the hustle and bustle, Natchez is a charming retreat. The oldest city on the Mississippi and one of Southern USA’s hidden gems, more than 1,000 structures in Natchez are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With properties dating to the late 1700s, the South’s unique architecture and history comes to life in Natchez’s antebellum homes.

Your stay in the Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens, a National Historic Landmark built in 1818, gives you a timeless feel for the place. An early 19th-century antebellum mansion set in 26 acres of manicured gardens, world class service and historic surroundings combine for a decadent stay.

While in Natchez on Southern Grace, we invite you to personalize your day with a choice of two experiences. Either you can step back in time and take a private tour an 1850s Greek-Revival cottage, the beloved home of a local. Take your time to explore the interior and grounds and let your imagination run wild as you learn about its past. Alternatively you can choose to join a mixology class and learn all about famous Southern cocktails including the ‘Crown Julep’.

You may be interested to read: Our Favorite Classic Cocktails, and the Timeless Hotels To Try Them At

There’s nowhere quite like New Orleans, Louisiana

To cap off your Southern Grace tour the ‘Big Easy’ beckons. A city so steeped in history and culture and rich traditions there’s a tantalizing story around every corner. The Ritz Carlton is your majestic home for three nights and is a destination in itself. The building was built originally in 1908 and it became a luxury hotel in 2000 showcasing the best of American hospitality. Centrally located it means you are just a few steps from the area’s most popular attractions, including the famous Bourbon Street.

A city world renowned for its Mardi Gras celebrations, as part of your exploration of New Orleans we invite you to enjoy an all-access pass to the Mardi Gras World’s Blaine Kern Studios. This workshop has created sensational floats for Mardi Gras and other parades around the world since 1947. Learn how artists and architects build Mardi Gras floats from the ground up and view colorful costumes and props.

Read more about this extraordinary hotel: Why New Orleans’ Ritz Carlton Hotel is a cut above the rest

To enjoy the best of the USA with a luxurious visit to the sensational South, take a look at our Southern Gracesmall group journey.