Welcome
Experience an itinerary that fits your unique needs and preferences
We design custom itineraries and private experiences throughout Italy and Switzerland for individuals and small groups. We offer private experiences, and our itineraries are tailor made to accommodate your preferences and interests, while highlighting the very best of each destination.
Industry Awards
Italy and Switzerland - iconic destinations
Whether you want to spend time wine tasting and cooking in Tuscany or hiking and skiing in the Swiss Alps the problem for travelers is not scarcity of information, but quite the opposite – information overload! An abundance of travel books, user-review web sites, blogs, input from well meaning friends, and random influences of all kinds – good, bad, and indifferent invade the traveler’s senses. We help you cut through the noise to create a seamless planning process.
Unique experiences are our specialty. Whether you are a first time visitor or someone who has seen the major sites and wishes to delve deeper, we can design the trip of your dreams.
We keep an active social life on Facebook (@ciutravel), Instagram (@ciutravel and/or @negroniandspritz), and Twitter (@ciutravel).
Postcards from italy
Three Top Tuscan Road Trips
With its milder temperatures, gorgeous golden light, and richly colored countryside, fall is an ideal season to head for the open road and explore Tuscany by car. Though Florence is
Fall and Winter in Italy: Travel Ideas to Kickstart Your Plans
After a spring uptick in international trips, the Delta variant has damped the enthusiasm of many travelers about heading across the Atlantic. But instead of putting off your trip, consider
In Honor of Alessandro Celani, Guide and Friend
There were many things we missed during our 12-month-plus hiatus from travel to Italy, but not being able to connect in person with our select group of professional guides—most of
Travel to Italy Fall 2021: COVID-19 and What To Expect
This summer was supposed to mark the world’s big travel comeback from COVID-19, as pandemic-grounded adventurers rushed to shake the cobwebs off their passports. We all know, however, that the
About Us
CIU Travel is owned and operated by the travel consulting, opera singing, husband and wife team of Maria Gabriella Landers and Brian Dore.
Store
We offer Florentine Gift Boxes filled with both sweet and savory treasures shipped directly to you from Italy, world class Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Umbria, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and more.
Trip Reviews
We feel so lucky to have had this experience and thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
My husband Josh, and I want to sincerely thank you and your team for the amazing trip of a lifetime. We got to experience the rich history and delicious food and wine of the Piedmont region. Our trip was meticulously planned and so well thought out. Our drivers, Massimiliano and Paolo
We loved every minute
I wanted to thank you for an amazing trip. It truly was a trip of a lifetime! Everyone had a blast. It was so nice that you handled every detail and we could just “vacation”. We loved every minute. The Santa Caterina was beautiful and such a special hotel. And
Awards & Press
Top Travel Specialist for Italy since 2006
Condé Nast Traveler first recognized CIU Travel as one of the magazine’s Top Travel Specialists for Italy in the August 2006 issue. The initial application was arduous, and staying on this prestigious list is even more difficult. We continually strive to maintain this award winning standard, and have been named to the list every year since 2006.
The specialists on the list are chosen by CNT’s editorial staff and represent the best destination experts in the travel industry.
In honor of Condé Nast Traveler’s 25th Anniversary issue, CNT asked us to design a dream trip to include in their World on Sale promotion offered to readers. Our “Italy for Foodies, 10 Night Culinary Adventure of Umbria, Sorrento and Rome” was selected and included in the September 2012 issue.
Wendy Perrin • The WOW List
Trusted Travel Expert for Italy since 2014
We’ve been proud members of Wendy Perrin’s WOW list since 2015. Wendy selects the members of The WOW List based exclusively on customer feedback and her own research.
What makes Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts the best?
Read reviews from Wendy’s travelers | Traveler Reviews on wp.com
We have contributed Insider Guides for select destinations in Italy.
Town & Country Travel
To celebrate the magazine’s 170th anniversary, Town & Country teamed up with Wendy Perrin, sourcing Wendy’s “WOW List” of trip-planning experts to create a modern-day Grand Tour: a trip around the globe in 170 days, including stops in over 50 countries. From Sweden to Antarctica, this Grand Tour is the ultimate template for the vacation of a lifetime, and we were honored to take up the challenge of planning the perfect week in Italy for T&C readers.
