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
The Medici Villas and Gardens: Renaissance Jewels in the Tuscan Countryside
The Medici Villas and Gardens has recently unveiled a new website dedicated to their group of storied properties in Tuscany, making it much easier to find information about how to
Italy’s Lake Country: The Five Top Lakes to Visit
Deep cobalt-blue waters lined by steep slopes blanketed in lush vegetation, tiny pastel-hued villages perched just above the shore—you may be picturing the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre, but Italy’s
Rome’s Cities of the Dead: The Top Catacombs in the Eternal City
As Halloween approaches, thoughts turn to the spooky and Italy has plenty of bone-chilling sights to mark the season (though, of course, Halloween is an American import…in Italy, the traditional
St. Francis vs. St. Anthony: The Animal Blessing Debate
As October 4th—the Feast Day of St. Francis—draws near, many Catholic and Episcopalian churches in the US hold special Blessings of the Animals, religious ceremonies to honor both the beloved
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
Our trip was amazing!
I fell in love with Rome. Lake Como was enchanting and The Belvedere was a gem. We so enjoyed our time with Claudio and Anna on our venture to Switzerland. Amalfi by Sea was my favorite excursion with swimming, amazing views and fun crew. The drivers and guides were so
Thank you for such great memories of Italy!
We had a fabulous time in Italy and this was one of the best trips we have taken with one of Wendy’s WOW listers and that is saying a lot. All the guides and drivers spoke so highly of you, Brian and Cristina. It was a joy to be with
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.
