Italy - Your way!

Most people think they want to see all of Italy in ten days. They want the Colosseum, the canals of Venice, the David in Florence, and a lemon grove in Sorrento. I usually tell them they can have about half of that if they want to actually enjoy a meal. Doing Italy - Your way! means making peace with the fact that you cannot see a two thousand year old country in one go.

I have spent 24 years helping travelers from Southeast Michigan and across the USA to navigate these choices. I have 266 client reviews at 100% recommended on Travel Leaders because I don't give you forty open tabs to research. I give you three trusted options. I take the thousands of decisions involved in a Mediterranean trip and I make the ones that matter. You just decide which flavor of gelato you want for your second snack of the day.

The experiences waiting for you in Italy

You can visit a working olive oil farm and taste the local specialties. Watch fresh mozzarella being made by hand - twisting and plunging that stretchy white cheese into a big bowl of hot water - then savor a traditional caprese salad with hand-picked tomatoes, a perfect balsamic drizzle, and a sip (or two) of icy limoncello when we're done. YUM.

Since we're in the neighborhood, you have to go to Rome, too. I'd like to send you to the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums before the crowds hit. And gelato! I'm probably going to recommend that you eat gelato every single day. If you have a little more time, I'll send you to Florence, the heart of Tuscany - you'll fall in love with the art, the scenery, the food. The wine. Ok?! Then, when the big-city energy gets to be a bit much, we'll slow things down in Cinque Terre… Google it. It's ok, I'll wait.

You can hike from one stunning clifftop village to the next, explore them by local train, or how about a private boat? Yes. And don't forget tiny, adorable Portovenere. Before you head up to Venice (because of course we're not skipping Venice!), we'll make time for those towns that give Tuscany its legendary charm - places like Montecatini, Lucca, Siena, or San Gimignano.

Once we reach Venice, you'll glide along the canals by boat (no cars here!) and experience everything this one-of-a-kind city has to offer. Not ready to go home yet? More of a mountains-and-lakes person? We can breeze through Milan and head to Lake Como or Lake Maggiore for a little Italian lakes rest and restoration.

Let me build the right Italy vacation for you, based on your time, interests, and preferences. I can help.

Planning from the Detroit Metro area

We are lucky in Southeast Michigan because getting to Europe is relatively straightforward from Detroit Metro. I am based in Plymouth, MI, at Suncoast Travel, which was founded in 1985. We are a Travel Leaders Network agency, which gives me resources that a solo traveler simply cannot access on their own.

If you are looking for the absolute cheapest price on a random booking site, I am probably not the advisor for you. My value is in making sure the trip is done right. I make sure the transfer is waiting at the airport. I make sure the hotel room does not overlook a noisy alley. I make sure your time in Italy is spent looking at the scenery, not at a map on your phone.

Quick questions, straight answers

When is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast?

May and September are the sweet spots. The weather is warm enough for the water but you are not melting in the July heat. October is also lovely but some ferry services start to wind down. Avoid August if you can. That is when all of Europe goes on vacation and the crowds are at their peak.

Do I really need a private driver in Italy?

In places like the Amalfi Coast or the Tuscan countryside, yes. Driving in Italy is an Olympic sport and the parking is nonexistent. A private driver lets you look at the vineyards instead of the GPS. In the cities, the high speed trains are excellent and often faster than driving.

Is Italy good for a honeymoon?

It is one of the best. While I plan Italy and Amalfi Coast honeymoons as an aside to my main custom work, the country is built for romance. The key is to not overschedule. Leave time for the sidewalk cafés and the evening strolls that the Italians call the passeggiata.

Do I need to book tours in advance?

Yes, for the major sites like the Colosseum or the Uffizi Gallery. The days of walking up to a ticket window are mostly gone. If you want the early entry or a specific private guide, we need to handle that months before you leave Plymouth.

If you are ready to start planning Italy - Your way!, let's talk about those twelve decisions that matter.

Melissa Becker Suncoast Travel (734) 455-5810 Schedule a consultation