Introducing:
ITALY IMMERSIONS
Immersive Experiences for the Independent Traveler
WHAT IS AN "IMMERSION"?
An Immersion is a curated set of 3 unique experiences with locals to add to your own, self-planned itinerary in Italy. Each experience is booked for you on the dates of your choice.
The most meaningful travel memories come from time spent with locals in Italy. Yet that's the part most travelers leave to chance.
Save time. Save money. Save unforgettable memories to relive time and time again.
Save time & money
Give yourself a break from the research and planning– get high end travel planning and done FOR you booking at a fraction of the price.
Get easY access to local culture
Save yourself the hassle and the guesswork– book an Immersion to quickly and easily add that local flavor and unforgettable experiences to your trip!
Keep control of your own itinerary
Skip the bells and whistles to focus on what you actually want: memory-making experiences in touch with the authentic local culture!
Support locals & sustainable travel
We steer away from the masses and put your $ where it makes a difference– in the pockets of locals.
Tell Me More!
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If you want to plan your own trip to Italy, that’s great! But when you’ve checked off the popular sites and want to get into the more local side of things, it can be a challenge to access the authentic culture and connect with local people.
The search for authentic local experiences while traveling in Italy can be frustrating due to the overwhelming amount of information available and language barriers. Many travel guides and recommendations cater to tourists, making it challenging to find genuine experiences.
It can often feel like the local life you seek is juuuuuust out of reach, but you don’t know how to find it and hiring an Italy expert to custom-create your itinerary is an investment not everyone wants to make.
Make your travel planning easier with our new Immersions– add 3 authentic experiences to your own itinerary for unforgettable memories immersed in the Italian culture with our local friends, artisans, and partners.
give yourself a break
When you book an Immersion, you get to give yourself a break from the research and planning. We know you do your own trip planning because you want to have control over making sure the trip is special and authentic– not like the other tourists. We get it! But all that research is time-consuming, exhausting, and it’s guesswork at the end of all that effort. We LOVE that our customers can focus on booking the straightforward pieces themselves, like the famous sights and must-do activities, then simply book an Immersion to add the more unique and local flavor! You get 3 unforgettable experiences added to your itinerary in one fell swoop!
Done, Done, & Done!
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save Money & maximize your memorable experiences
It used to be one or the other– you plan your own trip from A-Z (time consuming and complete guesswork pieced together from travel threads) OR you hire a travel planner to do it ALL for you (a major investment). But without access to a local expert, those planning their own itinerary miss out on those really special experiences immersed in the Italian culture with locals.
Our Immersion packages allow travelers to maintain control over their own itinerary and budget AND also get access to those little-known and super memorable, culturally-immersive experiences without hiring an expert to plan a custom itinerary.
skip the bells & whistles
Seasoned self-planners don’t wince at the thought of figuring out logistics on their own, choosing a hotel, or deciding where to eat. They don’t need the bells and whistles, they just want help finding those culturally-immersive experiences. They can take care of everything else on their own. We’re able to keep our Immersions affordable by limiting the additional services and skipping the bells and whistles to focus on what it is you actually want– memory-making experiences in touch with the authentic local culture!
What is an "immersion"?
An Immersion is a set of 3 unique experiences to add to your own, self-planned itinerary in Italy. Each experience is booked for you on the dates of your choice.
In summary, an Immersion is 3 puzzle pieces while a custom trip is the entire puzzle, custom-designed for you.
for example?
Take a look at our Local Venice Immersion, which includes each of these Private experiences just for you and your travel companions:
Starting from $840* per person (based on 2 travelers). More people in your party? Groups of 4 - 6 get a 15% discount and groups of 7 - 10 get a 20% discount!
*Approximate pricing based on 2 people. Our immersions are organized just for you! Book with a $200 deposit and we'll check current pricing and availability!
Benefits
Save time & money
Get easy, insider access to the local culture
Skip the black hole of internet research
Feel confident you’ve booked something truly authentic and unique
Support locals and engage in sustainable travel
Plan your own trip but get access to high-quality, unique experiences without paying for a customized itinerary from a travel expert
what immersions are not
Immersions are NOT personalized. There are various Immersions to choose from, but each Immersion is a standard set of 3 unique and special experiences that have been carefully curated together for a reason. You are buying a set of 3 experiences, but you don't have to participate in all 3 if there's one you don't want to attend. However– we really think you’ll make some very special memories at each and every one of these experiences!
Immersions are designed to be inserted into your own, self-planned itinerary, so they do not include any additional advice, personalization, concierge services, or arrangements. If you’re looking for full service trip planning, a private, custom trip may be a better fit for you.
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Who your small group trips for?From solo travelers to groups of friends or couples, our small groups of 7 travelers are made of all ages (18 or above). We enjoy becoming a little community as we slurp through plates of pasta and laugh trying to pronounce Italian words. Our guests understand that travel in Italy can hold unexpected surprises and they’re up for going with the flow, trusting that we know the best place to be at any moment. They’re open-minded, love trying new things, and are accustomed to toeing the boundaries of their comfort zone for the rewarding experiences that lay just outside it. Our trips attract those who appreciate creativity and the arts, nature, meeting locals, and seeing things outside the guidebook that might not be luxurious but are authentic and genuine. All ages above 18 are welcome and we encourage the cross-generational exchange that occurs. A strong effort is made to make everyone feel part of the group no matter what age, race, gender, sexual preference, or hair-do! Our off-the-beaten-path, immersive and laid-back travel style isn’t for everyone. If you're not sure let's chat about it!
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Are flights included?International flights are not included in the trip cost. We may be able to help you research the best flights for your needs, just ask! For full details on what's included, head to Upcoming Trips, select the trip you're interested in, then click the button to "Get the Detailed Itinerary". Or simply Get in Touch!
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I have to cancel the trip. Will I get a refund?Our small group trips are carefully budgeted for 7 participants and we're making payments for the trip long before you book your spot. This means we have to adhere to a strict Cancellation Policy in order to maintain cost effectiveness for everyone. However, we require you to purchase travel insurance in an effort to provide some protection from potential losses should you need to cancel*. Please take a look at our Cancellation Policy for more info. *It is up to you to make sure your travel insurance policy includes trip cancellation coverage. Click here for Travel Insurance info.
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Do I need travel insurance?Yep, Travel Insurance is required to join our small group trips. If you're doing custom trip planning, you can opt out of travel insurance, but we highly recommend protecting your investment with insurance. Please click here for our guidance on travel insurance!
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Do I need a visa to visit Italy?Typically, for tourism purposes, many visitors to Italy don't require a visa for short stays (less than 90 days) if they are from countries with visa-exempt agreements, such as the US. This website can help you understand if you need a visa or not. Need help? Simply reach out to our team, we would be happy to help guide you!
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Do you provide a packing list?What to pack for your trip depends on the season and region you'll be visiting. Your trip leader will send you suggestions and a packing list before your trip. You can check out our blog posts about packing: Your Packing Guide for Fall in Tuscany Spring in Italy Packing List How to Pack for a Spring Trip to Tuscany How to Organize Your Suitcase for Stress-Free Travel
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Can you make one of your group tours private?Absolutely! We offer Custom Trip Planning and can use one of our existing trips as the base for your private trip which we'll then customize together.
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What are the group sizes of your small group tours?While most tour companies boast small group sizes of 14-30 people, Creative Edge Travel small group tours have a maximum of just 7 guests. This allows us to have more immersive access into the culture, whether it's visiting our artisan friend in their studio or dining in a tiny "trullo" house. It also gives you more personalized attention and freedom to enjoy the trip the way that suits you best!
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Is there a single supplement?If you'd like to have a private room, yes, there is a single supplement. Otherwise you can share a room to lower your cost! Most tours will automatically match you with a roommate if you book a Double Room and aren't bringing your own travel partner along to room with. If you do not wish to share, simply upgrade to a Single Room which will be private. Some tours, such as Secrets of Southern Italy, do not offer the possibility to be matched with a roommate as it's not possible to have separate beds in those B&Bs. When deciding whether or not to share a room, please consider what would create the best possible experience for you and others rooming with you if you know that you snore, need more personal space, or are a light sleeper. We do our best to match you with someone we think you’d be compatible with, but we of course cannot guarantee you will get along. You will never be matched with someone of the opposite sex. Email questions to sierra@creativeedgetravel.com
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What if I don't want to travel with a group?No problem! We also offer Custom Trip Planning for a day-by-day itinerary arranged especially for you. If you are planning your own trip but are looking for a few unique experiences to add to your itinerary, take a look at our Italy Immersions!