Which neighborhoods should I stay in for my first time in Rome — and which ones look good on a map but aren't?

Ella Travel's Rome advisors recommend staying in Trastevere, Prati, or Pigneto depending on your travel style — and can tell you exactly which neighborhoods to avoid despite their central location. Book a session with Laura or Annie for a specific recommendation based on your vibe and budget.

Is a week in Tuscany realistic, or am I trying to do too much?

A week in Tuscany is realistic if you base yourself in one or two places rather than moving every night. Ella advisors can help you decide whether to anchor in Florence, Siena, or a smaller town — and which day trips are actually worth the drive.

We've done Florence. Where do we go in Italy that doesn't feel like a repeat?

For repeat Italy travelers, Ella's Italy advisors often recommend the Puglia coast, the Aeolian Islands, Matera, or lesser-known corners of Sicily and Umbria. The right answer depends on what you loved about Florence and what you're looking for this time.

What's actually worth doing in Naples in one day, and what can we skip?

In one day in Naples, Ella's Italy advisors recommend focusing on the historic center, a few specific pizzerias, and the National Archaeological Museum if you're headed to Pompeii. Several popular tourist stops are skippable — Annie, who lived in Italy for 17 years, can tell you exactly which ones.

Can we do the Amalfi Coast with kids without it becoming a logistics nightmare?

Yes, but the planning matters a lot. Ella's Italy advisors recommend basing yourself in Positano or Praiano rather than driving daily, using ferries instead of the coast road where possible, and timing your visits to major spots before 10am. Annie knows the Amalfi Coast in depth and can build a family-friendly plan.

Which wineries in Sicily are worth the drive, and which are just pretty Instagram spots?

Sicily's best wine experiences are often small producers in the Etna DOC and Marsala regions that don't have a major online presence. Lucy, Ella Travel's wine advisor and author of the Substack Modern Wine, has visited these regions extensively and can recommend producers worth visiting based on your taste preferences.

We have 10 days. Is Rome + Naples + Sicily doable, or should we cut something?

In 10 days, Rome, Naples, and Sicily is tight but doable if you fly between Naples and Sicily rather than taking the ferry. Ella's Italy advisors generally recommend cutting one destination and going deeper rather than rushing all three — a 60-minute session with Ella's Advisor Laura is ideal for sense-checking an itinerary like this.

What do I need to book three months out, and what can I leave until we arrive?

Book well in advance: the Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel, the Uffizi in Florence, top-rated restaurants in Rome and Naples, and accommodation in peak season. You can generally leave day trips, casual restaurants, and most local experiences until you arrive — your Ella Italy advisor will tell you exactly what falls into each category for your specific dates.

Italy | Ella Travel

ITALY TRAVEL PLANNING

You've done the research.
Now talk to someone who actually lives it.

Book a 30 or 60-minute consultation with a vetted Italy expert — travel journalist, wine author, or longtime Rome insider — and get a plan you can actually trust.

ROME ·  FLORENCE ·  TUSCANY

    NAPLES   ·  AMALFI COAST ·  ISCHIA

VENICE ·  DOLOMITES ·  SICILY

WINE REGIONS ·  +MORE

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✓ vetted, local advisors

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✓ local independent recs

✓ no hotel commission, no bias

HOW IT WORKS

A real conversation, not another itinerary generator

You've read the blogs and run it through AI. What you haven't done is talk to someone who knows the difference between a trattoria that's been there since 1963 and one that opened last month targeting tourists.

1‍ ‍

Pick your advisor

Choose based on where you're going and what matters — food, wine, history, the south. All three cover Italy deeply but from different angles.

2 ‍ ‍

Book 30 or 60 minutes

30 minutes for a focused destination deep-dive. 60 minutes for complex multi-city itineraries, honeymoons, family trips, or full itinerary review.

3 Finalize your trip

Every call ends with written follow-up — specific names, addresses, and recommendations so nothing gets lost after the call.

WHAT PEOPLE ASK

The questions your advisor will actually answer

These are the questions that don't have a reliable answer on Google — because the right answer depends on who you are, when you're going, and what you actually care about.

We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.
Can we do the Amalfi Coast with kids without it becoming a logistics nightmare?
You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.
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YOUR ITALY ADVISORS

Three advisors. Each with a distinct expertise.

All three are vetted by Ella Travel and paid per consultation — not on commission from hotels or tours. What they recommend is what they'd actually do.

Laura

Travel Journalist
Rome-based since 2019

Rome Tuscany Florence Dolomites Venice Sicily

Laura is an award-winning journalist who has been based in Rome since 2019. She covers Italy for Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Fodor's, and Hemispheres — writing about art, architecture, and food. She's a pro at all things Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, The Dolomites, Sicily — and everything in between.

Profile Website Substack Instagram

Book 30 min — $90 Book 60 min — $180

Annie

Founder of Scooteroma
17 years in Italy

Rome Naples Amalfi Coast Ischia

Annie spent 17 years living in Italy and founded Scooteroma, Rome's most iconic Vespa tour company. She knows the south — Naples, Ischia, and the Amalfi Coast — the way you only do after years of actually living between them.

Profile As seen in

Book 30 min — $90 Book 60 min — $180

Lucy

Wine writer & traveler
Author of Modern Wine

Sicily Lazio & Rome Wine travel

Lucy is the author of the Substack "Modern Wine" and holds a WSET Level 3 certification in wine. Based in London, she has explored most of Europe's major wine regions by train, with a focus on women, LGBTQ+, and other under-represented winemakers. She's the advisor for trips where what's in the glass matters as much as what's on the plate.

Profile Website Substack Instagram

Book 30 min — $60 Book 60 min — $90

"

I'd heard from so many people that it's easy to end up with average food in Rome. Since we only had a few days, I wanted to make sure we really experienced the best of it. That's EXACTLY what we got.

Mariana — Rome & Sicily, traveled with her husband

WHAT A SESSION COVERS

The specific things worth getting right

Every session is different, but these are the areas where a real conversation makes the biggest difference.

Where to stay — and why?

Not just a neighborhood recommendation but a reason — why this hotel for your group, what's walkable, and what you'll actually notice when you arrive.

What to book in advance

The Vatican, the Uffizi, top restaurants — some require serious lead time. Your Ella advisor will tell you what's genuinely hard to get and what you can leave open.

Restaurants that aren't tourist traps

Near the Colosseum, near the Uffizi — the food is mediocre, but just a few blocks away that can change. Ella advisors know what's actually worth it.

Itinerary sense-checking

Most people try to do too much. Ella advisors will tell you where your plan has a problem before you get there — too many cities, too little / much time in one place.

Day trips worth taking

Pompeii, Orvieto, Cinque Terre — your advisor can tell you which ones work from your base, which take longer than people expect, and which are better on a quieter day.

Wine, food, and local experiences

The vineyard visits, cooking classes, market walks — Lucy advises on wine-focused travel; Laura and Annie on what's genuine versus staged for tourists.