Sojourn Ventures

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Portland, OR
Sojourn Ventures

Travel packages to Italy & Bali exclusively for non-profit fundraising. We also help individuals and groups create vacations of a lifetime in these locales.
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Your Tuscany, Italy and Bali Experts

We are Rob Friedman and Stacey Mattraw, owners of Sojourn Ventures. We offer Italy and Bali vacation packages to non-profit organizations to aid their fundraising efforts. For the past 25 years, we have traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia with an emphasis on Italy and Bali. We own several of the properties listed on this site, and serve as booking

agents for the others you’ll find here. We have deep and lasting relationships with people in both Italy and Bali that allow us to offer our guests sojourns beyond the normal tourist experience. We take our guests’ needs and desires very much to heart, and receive great satisfaction from providing them with meaningful stays, full of discovery and adventure. We look forward to providing you with your own Bali or Italy adventure! Rob and Stacey

06/12/2025

A Spanish retreat, crafted for your cause: Splendors of Spain for 4, featuring 5 nights in Extremadura, Spain.

06/07/2025

An unforgettable Italian getaway, crafted for your cause: Under the Tuscan Sun for 8, featuring 7 nights in Cortona, Italy.

05/07/2025

An Italian gastronomic experience to share with your donors: Royal Culinary for 6, featuring 5 nights in Cortona, one of Tuscany's ancient Etruscan hill towns.

04/23/2025

Share the trip of a lifetime with your donors: Hidden Gems of Puglia for 2, featuring 5 nights in the Salento region of Puglia.

03/19/2025

Stacey and Rob, founders of Sojourn Ventures, purchased Casa San Marco in 2002 and lovingly restored it over many years along with local Cortona artists, artisans, and tradesmen. You can feel the warm and inviting spirit of this historic home from the moment you step through its doors.

Casa San Marco occupies the top two floors of a former 16th-century palazzo and overlooks the stunning Church of San Francesco, along with the beautiful valley below. The design and furnishing of Casa San Marco have taken inspiration from the owners’ affinity for flea markets and interior design. The result is an eclectic, artful, and aesthetically pleasing 500-year-old home.

Casa San Marco is included in our "Under the Tuscan Sun for 8" package that includes wine tasting and a chef's dinner. This home will truly make your stay in Tuscany memorable!

03/11/2025

✨ Let your donors experience the magic of Tuscany with a 5-night stay at Casa San Francesco + a private cooking class with Chef Ivan! ✨

🏡 Stay: Casa San Francesco accommodates up to 6 guests in the heart of Upper Cortona.
🍴 Savor: A multi-course, in-home Tuscan cooking experience with the renowned Cortonese Chef Ivan.
🌟 Service: Enjoy personalized guest services and insider tips from Stacey & Rob to make the most of your trip.
🍷 Welcome: A bottle of wine + a thoughtful selection of provisions await your arrival!

From dinner recommendations to last-minute plans, our local team is here to make your Tuscan adventure seamless and unforgettable.

03/06/2025

Seven Nights in Casa Stefano is the perfect home for a family of four or two couples.

Experience the perfect fusion of historic charm and modern elegance in this beautifully renovated 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment nestled in the heart of Cortona’s historic center. Just steps from the vibrant Piazza Signorelli, charming restaurants, cozy bars, and cultural treasures, this stylish retreat invites you to immerse yourself in the quintessential Italian lifestyle.

Spanning two floors, the apartment comfortably sleeps up to four guests, making it ideal for families or small groups. The thoughtfully designed space includes a serene king-size bedroom and a second bedroom with two twin beds, offering both comfort and flexibility. While honoring its historic roots, the apartment boasts modern amenities, abundant natural light, and a tranquil setting on a quiet street—your perfect sanctuary after a day of exploration.

02/21/2025

✨Achieve your fundraising goals with this popular package: A 7-night stay in the newly renovated Suite Gabriella.✨

Nestled on the ground floor of a historic palace in the heart of Cortona, Suite Gabriella has been thoughtfully restored by its owners, blending timeless Tuscan materials with sleek, modern design. This stylish fusion offers a fresh take on classic Tuscan charm, complemented by luxurious details and contemporary amenities. Whether you're wandering through Cortona's enchanting streets or exploring the art cities of Tuscany and Umbria—each easily reachable by car—Suite Gabriella is the ideal home base for an unforgettable Italian getaway.

01/16/2025

Thank you so much, Tori! We are so glad you enjoyed your time at Golden Buddha!

01/08/2025

🍷✨New Package Highlight: A Culinary Celebration for 6 with Chef Ivan

- 5-night stay for six guests at the exquisite Casa San Francesco

- Private, in-home, multi-course Tuscan Cooking Class with Cortonese Chef Ivan

- Exceptional guest services with personalized support tailored to help you plan and enjoy local activities. Our local team, with an office in the town square, is ready to assist with any in-travel needs. Whether you’re looking for recommendations for dinner or planning last-minute experiences.

- A welcome gift awaits your arrival, featuring a bottle of wine and a selection of small provisions to help you settle in and begin your stay on the right note.

- Exclusive access to Stacey and Rob’s Insider Tips to Cortona

12/06/2024

In loving memory of our Founder: Robert Friedman 1950-2023

Robert Friedman led a vibrant life with many chapters. Born in New Jersey in 1950, as a young adult he moved to San Francisco, where he met Stacey Mattraw, his future co-founder at Sojourn Ventures. Both street artists at the time, the two connected at the crossroads of creativity, entrepreneurship, and adventure, leading the duo on a shared path in which the small businesses they created—from an avant-garde video rental store to a European antique and home goods boutique—had tremendous impacts on their local communities.

These shared values would pave the way for Sojourn Ventures when Rob and Stacey purchased Casa San Marco in Cortona, Italy, in 2002. Together, they transformed it into their cherished family home where they would raise their two sons for years to come. The same principles guided Rob when he journeyed to Bali decades ago, where he built Villa Paradiso and the Golden Buddha Resort, forging lifelong connections like his partnership and dear friendship with Wayan Menu. Over the past 20+ years, Rob's work has touched countless lives—not only in Italy and Bali but across the globe—through his unwavering dedication to non-profit fundraising and community enrichment. Rob’s gentle humor, open-mindedness, and deep generosity will be forever remembered.

Robert Friedman's life was a journey, and his legacy endures with his family, who, forever inspired despite his absence, continue to lovingly run and grow Sojourn Ventures. Rob is survived by his two sons, Jesse and Corey Friedman, and his wife, Divine Friedman.

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Sojourn Ventures!

We’re grateful for your trust and support and wish you a joyful holiday filled with love, laughter, and gratitude. 🍂

Address

Portland, OR

Website

http://www.sojournventurestravel.com/

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