All Together Getaways

All Together Getaways Italy travel planning specialist for couples & families. Also plan trips throughout Mediterranean Europe. Based in College Park, MD.

I handle every detail—hotels, transportation, cultural experiences—so you enjoy Italy without planning stress.

Urbino produced Raphael the painter. Ascoli Piceno has one of Italy's finest piazzas. And most travelers have never hear...
08/30/2026

Urbino produced Raphael the painter. Ascoli Piceno has one of Italy's finest piazzas. And most travelers have never heard of either.

The region of Le Marche sits on Italy's Adriatic side, with the hill town character that draws people to Tuscany and a fraction of the crowds. Urbino's Palazzo Ducale houses a serious Renaissance art collection. Ascoli Piceno offers plenty to explore, with its travertine central square, medieval towers, and Roman bridge.

Have you explored any of Italy's lesser-known regions? I'd love to hear about it in the comments — and find my guide to towns off Italy's beaten path at the link below.

Hotel star ratings in Italy work differently than you might expect.Italian stars are assigned by the government based on...
08/26/2026

Hotel star ratings in Italy work differently than you might expect.

Italian stars are assigned by the government based on amenities offered—things like room size, on-site restaurant, concierge service, and fitness facilities. They have nothing to do with guest reviews or overall quality.

A 3-star hotel offers clean, comfortable rooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning, and basic services. What it may lack in amenities it can make up for in character, location, and value.

A 4-star hotel adds more space, additional on-site services (typically a restaurant or bar), and a higher standard of furnishings and common areas.

A 5-star hotel offers full-service amenities: spa, concierge, room service, premium furnishings, and a higher staff-to-guest ratio.

The practical takeaway: a well-located 3-star in Rome or Florence can be a great choice. I prefer to book clients in 4-star options with that “something extra” like a rooftop bar or breakfast buffet.

Remember: stars tell you what amenities to expect, not whether past guests enjoyed their stay.

Tuscany's food and wine culture is world-class and familiar. Chianti and Brunello wines, bistecca alla Fiorentina — most...
08/23/2026

Tuscany's food and wine culture is world-class and familiar. Chianti and Brunello wines, bistecca alla Fiorentina — most travelers already know what to expect before they arrive. Umbria is less familiar but no less serious. Black truffles from Norcia, pasta alla norcina, Sagrantino di Montefalco wine — it's a food culture that’s great for those who look beyond the obvious. If you enjoy discovering things you haven't tasted before, Umbria delivers.

Curious how the two regions compare on food, wine, and more? Get the link in the comments below.

You may have caught a headline last week about the EU delaying its ETIAS travel authorization program — again. If you're...
08/19/2026

You may have caught a headline last week about the EU delaying its ETIAS travel authorization program — again. If you're not sure what that means for your Italy plans, here's the short version: it doesn't mean anything, yet.

ETIAS was originally supposed to launch this year. The EU just confirmed it's pulling that date entirely, with no new timeline set (a revised plan isn't expected until after an EU meeting in September). For U.S. passport holders, the entry process to Italy remains exactly what it's always been: a valid passport, nothing more.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), which has non-EU visitors take a digital photo and scan their fingerprints on arrival, is still active and affecting how long it takes for some travelers to get through customs and immigration.

One thing worth knowing — because ETIAS keeps getting delayed, there are unofficial websites out there charging fees to "pre-apply" or "reserve" a spot. They're not legitimate. The EU has flagged over 100 of these sites. There's only one official ETIAS portal, and it isn't accepting applications yet. If and when that changes, we'll walk every client through exactly what's needed.

For now: no new steps, no new fees, no new forms. Just Italy, whenever you're ready to go. Let's start planning.

Before you leave for Italy, take five minutes to download offline maps for the regions you're visiting. Both Apple Maps ...
08/16/2026

Before you leave for Italy, take five minutes to download offline maps for the regions you're visiting. Both Apple Maps and Google Maps let you save maps to your phone so you can get walking and driving directions without using any cellular data. It matters most when you're in a smaller town or a neighborhood with spotty service — exactly when you need directions and don't want to burn through your data plan to get them.

Have you used offline maps while traveling? Share your experience in the comments — and get the full Italy tech prep checklist at the link in the comments.

Most Italian restaurants don't open for dinner until 7 PM—and locals often eat even later. While some restaurants that o...
08/12/2026

Most Italian restaurants don't open for dinner until 7 PM—and locals often eat even later. While some restaurants that open earlier are good quality, others can be tourist traps.

To hold you over, enjoy Italy’s happy hour tradition called aperitivo. Along with an aperitif (Aperol spritz for me!) or other beverage of your choice, bars often serve complimentary snacks like chips or olives. Or you can order some small bites.

It's one of those small cultural differences that's easy to plan around once you know.

Early dinner or late dinner—what works better for your travel style?

Here's a mistake that costs Italy visitors hundreds of dollars without them realizing it until months later: driving int...
08/09/2026

Here's a mistake that costs Italy visitors hundreds of dollars without them realizing it until months later: driving into a ZTL, a restricted traffic zone in historic city centers. These zones are enforced by camera, not a person waving you off, so it's easy to cross into one without ever seeing a warning sign in time. The fine shows up by mail, long after your trip is over, with an added fee from the rental car company. Wondering how to avoid this on your own trip? Link in the comments ⬇️

Myth: You need to rent a car to see Tuscany.Reality: Trains and buses can get you to Florence, Siena, and some popular h...
08/05/2026

Myth: You need to rent a car to see Tuscany.

Reality: Trains and buses can get you to Florence, Siena, and some popular hill towns — fine if you want to hit highlights without driving.

But if you want a deeper dive into Tuscany (wineries, remote villages, scenic countryside drives) or the convenience of going where you want when you want, a car is a much better option.

You don't need a car for Tuscany. But you'll see a lot more with one.

Would you rent a car in Tuscany? Have you used public transport around the region?

When you're planning a trip Italy with teenagers, how you frame the sites you visit matters as much as which sites you c...
08/02/2026

When you're planning a trip Italy with teenagers, how you frame the sites you visit matters as much as which sites you choose. "We're going to see Roman ruins" lands differently than "We're going to walk through a city buried alive in 79 AD." Pompeii, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum — these sites have real stories. The families who get the most out of them are the ones who lead with the narrative, not the history lesson.

Curious how to build an Italy itinerary that actually holds a teenager's attention? Get the link in the comments below.

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