Our Story
They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so let’s jump back in time to when I took my first not so tentative step into the world of delivering guided tours for clients from around the world.
The year was 2013, after ten years working in the corporate world in my native Australia, I had finally taken the plunge to move to Rome and founded Travel by Luxe, becoming an official, licensed guide of Rome & the Vatican City in the process.
Although daunting at the time, it was truly a case of the heart knowing what was best.
I had been in love with Italy since I was a little girl. I first visited Rome on a family holiday when I was 14 and had been instantly enamored by the sheer beauty of the ancient Roman architecture and monuments that decorate the city, the countless masterpieces by iconic artists, and the historic legends and lore that just gripped me and refused to let go.
Yet, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Roman history & Italian from the University of Melbourne, I found myself working in a variety of management roles in publishing and advertising for companies such as News Corporation and Pacific Magazines. Certainly an enjoyable lifestyle, but the desire to travel, start a life in Rome, and explore the rest of the country was a constant throughout those years.
Despite more than a few unexpected hiccups and speed bumps along the way, those early days of starting out the business are still some of my fondest. The opportunity to draft customized tour plans for my guests and then actually deliver those tours, sharing my passion for this wonderful city, and to see it ignite the same interest in others was such a thrill. Indeed, it wasn’t long until I began to branch out into guided tours of other regions and cities as my early guests had made sure to return to see more of Italy and began their research by asking me if I could put them in contact with someone who shared my infectious enthusiasm for their city!
As Travel by Luxe grew and expanded into England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and France, our fundamental philosophy remained the same: crafting the vacation of a lifetime for our guests, to touch their hearts and create memories they will cherish forever, just the same way I was struck by my first visit to Rome all those years ago.
Travel by Luxe: European Tour Planners and Private Guides
Regardless of whether a guest wishes to use our services for 1 day or 1 month, we believe every aspect of their tour should be tailored and suited to their exact needs. That is why we offer every client a complimentary itinerary service to provide them with a curated menu of options and experiences for their vacation.
Sometimes this involves private drivers to take clients between cities or across borders, often it means recommending the most suitable accommodation for their needs, frequently evening entertainment and gastronomy options after our guide has retired for the night, but it always involves strict attention to detail and putting our guests needs first.
Our luxury private tours are designed to go beyond ‘tick the box’ visits to sites like the Vatican Museums, Eiffel Tower, or the Tower of London. If it’s just for the photo op then any large group or bus tour could provide that. We aim to elevate the experience into one that will leave an indelible mark that will stay with you long after your travel home. The way we do this is simple: only work with the most experienced, qualified, and entertaining private guides, chosen for their storytelling abilities just as much as their subject knowledge.
Alongside iconic locations such as Edinburgh Castle, Buckingham Palace, The canals of Venice, or the Louvre Museum, we also want to deliver off the beaten track excursions, hidden gems that those without our intimate local knowledge will likely be aware of and creating a money-can’t-buy experience like savoring a wine tasting after an in-depth explanation of art and architecture inside the Sistine Chapel!
We specialize in child-friendly and family-friendly tours; private tours for conference and professional groups, couples, individuals, first-time and seasoned travelers to Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the U.K, and more.
Please feel free to contact me directly at hello@travelbyluxe.com and my team and I will be delighted to assist you.
