Italy
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The Inside Travel Experiences team has flown millions of air miles, clocked countless kilometers on the road less traveled, checked out every hotel before our travelers check in, sampled humble street food and dined at Michelin-star restaurants…
We’ve been everywhere you’re going and have seen it all: the good, the great, and the unexpected. Our extensive travel experience helps us craft experiences for your people, and your people only — uber-personalized to what you love to do and have always dreamed of seeing.
“An Inside Travel Experiences tour is like traveling with a perfect companion. They’re the adventurous friend who entices you out of your comfort zone toward unique local experiences. If you’re already an adventurer, they’re a kindred spirit with insider knowledge to score amazing seats at a football match or bullfight. And ohhh, the food…!"
Nobody’s dream trip begins with a “Book Now” button. That’s why we work with and for travelers who refuse to be just tourists.
Our travelers are all about casual luxury, savoring local flavors, and exploring the road less traveled.
Imagine…
Waking up in an 18th century French palace to the smell of freshly baked croissants
Clinking steins at Würzburg’s Kiliani beer festival, singing “Sweet Caroline” at the top of your lungs
Slipping behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car on one of Italy’s iconic tracks
Scoring the coveted chef’s table at a Michelin-starred restaurant
Seeing the sights in one of Spain’s hottest cities — years before Lonely Planet catches on
We turn our travelers’ dreams into memories by creating memorable one-of-a-kind experiences with our hosts, destination partners, friends and family!
When you leave the logistics and worries to us, you’ll get to enjoy every moment of your vacation and make memories to last a lifetime. We’ll snap your family pic for a Christmas card that’ll make everyone jealous.
We create every journey anew with highly personalized and expertly curated experiences for you, our actual travelers. See what’s on your European bucket list and then some — with the people you like and enjoy being around.
Wake up in a French palace of the Belle Epoque, to the smell of freshly baked croissants topped with homemade strawberry jam. Or be lulled to sleep port ‘fumes’ while tucked into bed inside an XXL Portuguese wine barrel. Craving some European enchantment? We got you covered.
Big cities, small towns or hidden gems? We’ll share favorite spots along the roads less traveled; magical places away from the crowds. Plus, you’ll have time for your very own serendipitous encounters.
See some of our favorite destinations
Top Destinations
Top Destinations
Top Destinations
Top Destinations
We care too much about your experience to shoehorn you into a set itinerary, outsource to third-party tour operators, or rely on AI to plan your dream vacation.
We’ve visited and vetted everywhere we’ll take you — again and again — and we’ll personally match you to every destination and detail.
Our team goes the extra mile (literally) to design your vacation around what you love. If your memories are your best souvenir, we’ve done our job.
Our Core
#1
We believe that the journey is just as important as the destination. We love to share magical places and unique experiences that we’ve come across on our countless journeys. But that’s just the beginning. Every journey we create is as unique as our travelers. And by designing your vacation around your interests, passion and travel-style, we’ll create one-of-a-kind memories that will last a lifetime. Make sure to free up storage on your phone. Our trips are incredibly photogenic.
#2
Our Inside Travel Experiences team brings together people from all walks of life: We are travel professionals by choice, but with backgrounds in a variety of other fields. And we proudly call on our local friends in our European destinations: fellow journalists, acclaimed chefs, hoteliers, teachers, artists, parents, priests… all sharing our passion for hospitality from within. Our common goal to truly welcome you in Europe: big cities, small towns, local neighborhoods, chefs’ kitchens, churches, ateliers or wherever your paths cross.
#3
There is no degree of separation when you travel with Inside Travel Experiences. All aspects of your European vacation are personally vetted and carefully matched by a member of our team. Unlike others, we don’t outsource your journey to a third party handler known as DMO, DMC or inbound operator. At Inside Travel Experiences, we’ve not only been where we take you, but also stay in constant contact with the partners you’ll encounter in Europe: hotels, restaurants, guides and even your drivers. We’ll share our favorites, but also warn you about places that we prefer to never see again.
“Sandra and Ted can and will deliver a bier-inspired tour like you could never believe! Sincerely one of the greatest trips of my life. From the incredibly-hospitable people and serene countryside to the blissful biergartens, each minute spent in their care will rejuvenate your spirit and quench your thirst! Do yourself a favor and reach out to Inside Travel Experiences next time you're hankering for a taste of the good stuff! Cheers!”
Exploring hidden gems is just as important as crossing items off your bucket list
Every destination should be personally vetted
You should feel safe and welcome, no matter where you go or how big your group is
Street food, family-owned eateries, and Michelin-starred restaurants all belong on the menu
Traditional “one-size-fits-nobody” group travel is fine for others — but not for us
Your journey should be as customized as your favorite takeout order
The true character of a city emerges when the crowds dissipate
Supporting local businesses keeps authentic culture alive
The road less traveled is always worth taking (as is the autobahn in Germany!)
If you agree that who you travel with matters as much as how you travel… We should talk.
Inside Travel Experiences featured in the News
Everything!
We’re Sandra and Ted, the travel-loving founders of Inside Travel Experiences.
Our story began in 2002, when we spotted each other over the rims of our steins at Oktoberfest. We were transatlantic until 2007, when we tied the knot in Venice and then started our boutique travel business in New York City.
Fast forward more than 15 years, we’ve built a team of caring hosts and travel partners in offices across the United States and Europe.
And we’ve worked with more than 5,000 travelers to create treasured travel memories.
Get to know us… Then reach out so we can get to know you.
Inside Travel Experiences is a family-owned small business. But though we started as simply Sandra and Ted, we wouldn’t dream of doing this work today without our extended family.
Our team is multilingual, multicultural and multifaceted, from caring hosts to bus drivers and hoteliers to local restaurant owners.
We also proudly partner with official travel and tourism bureaus throughout Europe — which gives us access to get-it-done contacts everywhere we travel, from major airports to the Vatican.
These relationships are the key to ensuring your travel experience is pure magic, with über-personalized planning and memories that will last a lifetime.
Our Team
Co-Founder & President
Co-Founder & CEO
Photography, Shopping, Exploring + History
Travel Advisor
Head of Our Italy Office & Local Guides
Inside Travel Experiences is for…
Happy, curious, active individuals, seekers of the unique and different — not your typical tourists.
Travelers who want to go deeper and make meaningful connections with the destinations they are visiting — through the people who call Europe home.
One-of-kind European art, design & architecture, splurge-worthy boutique hotels and authentic eateries from food trucks to Michelin-star restaurants, glorious sunsets, sunrises or both.
Travelers who like to take it all in, one magical moment at time — while supporting the local community and small family-owned businesses.
That’s right, we specialize in helping groups of friends and families travel together. And, we don’t do it the typical way. We’ve been there and absolutely know what it’s like to travel in Europe with a bunch of people. We’d never sign up for a standard group tour either. That’s why in 2007, we started Inside Travel Experiences. Our travelers benefit from all the perks of traveling together, but without ever being herded like cattle or having to eat tourist food in tourist hotels. We’ll get you great tables for 10 or 200 in the best local restaurants, plus suite deals in luxury hotels. And that’s just the beginning.
Our Destinations & Partners
Score the coveted chef’s table at Michelin-star restaurants or munch on local street food from Nuremberg brats to Neapolitan pizza.
We have been everywhere we take you – We’re your concierges traveling alongside.
Spots along the roads less traveled; magical places away from the crowds.
Don’t just sightsee, but sight-sleep! Wake up in a French palace of the Belle Epoque, to the smell of freshly baked croissants topped with the Countess’ homemade strawberry jam.
Our local Inside Travel Experiences hosts will gladly watch them for a much needed night out.
We call BLUFF on “group tours for people that don’t go on group tours” or “value-packed” “best of” “small group” and “my way” European tours with set departure dates across the continent — those are all pre-packaged, set itineraries. We’d never go on one of these unless you’d pay us for it. Fun fact: all of our Inside Travel Experiences hosts have previously worked for those big tour companies and we keep wondering why their one-size-fits-all model is still around today. “If it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium” premiered in 1969 and shockingly not much has changed in the group tour industry since — no matter what it sounds like on paper.
However, we do agree that just like other great moments in life, travel is better together.
Even more so, if you chose who’s coming along for the ride. Then, the vacations moments shared as you devour Buccatini All’Amatriciana in Rome or set anchor with your private yacht in crystal clear waters on a hard to pronounce authentic Greek island cove will become great memories. That’s why we specialize in existing groups: families, friends, company outings — we’ll even turn your church’s pilgrimage into an unforgettable experience that’s as enriching as it’s instagramable.
All our experiences are crafted one journey at a time with one-of-a-kind moments, focusing on one or all of your interests. Is it 5 star restaurants, street food, sports, being a part of a beautiful symphony or drinking until your liver needs a detox?
Tell us what you’re looking for. We’ll make it happen!
Since 2007, over 5,000 happy travelers from the United States, Canada and Japan have experienced hundreds of destinations across Europe with us – traveling their way!
We are matchmakers between our destinations and your passions and lifestyle, sharing the common goal to ‘Travel Better Together’.
Our journeys are as unique as you and yours. They range from family and friend getaways, culinary journeys, golf or ski trips, to performance tours, pilgrimages and anything in between.
We specialize in group travel, because the greatest moments in life are best when shared with family and friends.
“Inside Travel Experiences made our vacation so full and honestly, unbelievable. As we’ve told the stories and memories of our amazing trip to others, they are in awe. From the local quaint niche places to dine, to the grand experiences with a VIP touch. We can’t wait to utilize the Inside Travel Experiences team again… Their expertise and personal touch is a balance that so few can find!”
"No other tour company can match the care, professionalism and experience creation like Inside Travel Experiences."
"No words can express how thankful I am for all you did to make Ireland a trip of a lifetime for our families."
"These tours are so amazing! A once in a lifetime opportunity! Those who get to go are so blessed."
Vorfreude is Sandra’s favorite word. It’s German for “joyful anticipation,” and it inspires what we do every day. Our travelers feel it at every step of the journey! And this joy only intensifies when you’re traveling with your favorite people…
We created Inside Travel Experiences to help you make magic with your friends and family and bring home unique memories that last forever.
We can’t wait to hear about your group’s trip of a lifetime.