“Just Back” blog posts are highlights of The Keys to Travel’s owner’s, Sarah Key, recent trips around the world. She’s sharing her first-hand experience to help you find the perfect destination for your next vacation.

Just Back A Travel Advisor’s Work Trip to Rome, Florence & Venice

Just Back: A Travel Advisor’s Trip to Italy – Rome, Florence & Venice

/in ,

Why Italy, you ask? Why not Italy?! Italy is a classic for good reason. It’s a destination so many of my clients want to explore for the first time or return to again and again. And there’s no better way to help plan the perfect itinerary than to experience it firsthand. So, I packed my bags and headed off on a whirlwind, week-long trip to Rome, Florence, and Venice.

I partnered with Travelive and WTB Hotels to craft a seamless itinerary filled with beautiful hotels, curated experiences, and a few delightful surprises. Here’s a day-by-day look at what I experienced.

Inside the Colosseum in Rome

My Italy Travel Itinerary: Rome, Florence, and Venice

Day 1: Rome Tour by Golf Cart

On the first day, we all arrived early in the morning. To help us beat jet lag, we did a Rome Tour by Golf Cart. I always recommend doing some sort of city tour on the day of arrival. It helps you get your bearings and figure out where you want to spend more time. While on this tour, we got to see some famous spots like the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Colosseum.

Trevi Fountain

Day 2: The Best of Rome in One Day

Typically, we would break this tour up into two or three days. But since we had very limited time in Rome, we packed it all into one day. The day consisted of: 

  • The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica
    2025 is the year of Jubilee in the Catholic Church. Once every 25 years, the Pope opens the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Many groups and individuals make the pilgrimage to experience this holy time. Whether or not you’re Catholic, visiting the Vatican is a magical experience. Doing so during the Jubilee and being able to walk through the Holy Door was very special. 
St Peters Basilica, Vatican, Rome, Italy
St Peters Basilica, Vatican, Rome, Italy
  • Street Food Tour
    I love the Street Food Tour we did. We tried restaurants and foods I would have never thought to try. I was worried it was going to be a ton of food and it would end up being wasted, but we tried small dishes at three different restaurants, which was perfect. One of my favorites was the fried artichoke at Sheva in the Jewish Ghetto.
Fried Artichoke at Sheva Restaurant in Rome
Food Tour in Rome

  • Colosseum Express Tour
    Since I’m not a huge history buff, the one-hour express tour of the Colosseum was just the right length. The Colosseum is, of course, a huge tourist attraction, but the history behind it and the fact that it’s still standing today is quite mind-boggling.
Colosseum in Rome, italy

Day 3: From Rome to Florence via Orvieto

Today, on our private transfer from Rome to Florence, we spent about 4 hours exploring the picturesque hilltop town of Orvieto, located in Umbria. Umbria is a wonderful alternative to Tuscany, an easy day trip from Rome. We walked the whole town, did some shopping, and had a wonderful lunch at Ristorante Maurizio. I highly recommend Orvieto for a day trip or to spend a few nights at Palazzo Petrvs for a slower, more relaxed pace.

Orvieto, Italy
Ristorante Maurizio Orvieto

Day 4: Exploring Tuscany – San Gimignano and Siena Tour with Wine Tasting

Today was one of my favorite days. I loved getting out into the Tuscan countryside. 

San Gimignano is a historic Tuscan town encircled by a 13th-century wall. I’m glad we visited this town first and earlier in the morning. It’s a smaller town and can get packed with tourists quickly. Make sure to take time to just explore the streets, shops, and restaurants here!

In between San Gimignano and Siena, we had a wine tasting and lunch at a nearby winery called Podere la Marronaia.

Our final stop was Siena, a much larger medieval city. It’s well known for its historic city center and Palio horse races. I highly recommend taking a tour to learn about the history and hidden gems.

San Gimignano Tuscany Italy

Day 5: Walking Tour of Florence with the Academy Museum and Transfer to Venice

Today we did a walking tour of Florence and stopped at the Academy Museum to see the famous David by Michelangelo. 

After a morning of walking, pizza and gelato were a must! Make sure to grab the salted caramel gelato at La Sorbettiera when you’re in Florence!

David by Michelangelo
La Sorbettiera Florence

For our transfer from Florence to Venice, we took the train to be able to experience this type of transfer. We went with business class for extra comfort and convenience for the 2-hour train ride from Florence to Venice. 

Once we arrived in Venice, we caught our water taxi to the hotel. Many transfers in Venice end up being water boats due to all the canals! It is a really fun way to show up at your hotel in style.

Water taxi transfer in Venice, Italy
Water taxi transfer from Venice Train Station to L'Orologio Venezia

Day 6: A Day in Venice –  City Tour, Food & Wine Tour, and a Gondola Ride

Today was a full day of experiencing Venice. Typically, I wouldn’t recommend doing all of this in one day, but with our short time frame, we packed it all in. We started with a Venice City Tour. It’s easy to get lost in Venice, so it was nice to have a guide show us around and share a little history. Then we enjoyed another food and wine tour. You just cannot get sick of all the delicious food and wine in Italy! It’s definitely my favorite country for food. And finally, we ended with a classic gondola ride. Very touristy, of course, but a peaceful and enjoyable way to see Venice from the waterways. I’d definitely recommend experiencing a gondola ride in Venice at least once!

Canals of Venice
Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

Where to Stay in Italy – Rome, Florence, and Venice

One of our partners for this trip was WTB Hotels. While our specialty is in luxury travel, many of our clients prefer to spend their money on experiences rather than splurging on higher-end hotels in every destination on their Italian adventure. WTB Hotels are perfect for this situation. They are 4-star plus quality hotels located in prestigious locations in Rome, Florence, and Venice. 

While on this trip, we got the opportunity to stay at Hotel L’Orologio Roma, Hotel L’Orologio Firenze, Hotel Santa Maria Novella, and Hotel L’Orologio Venezia. The location and quality of service reaches that of 5-star hotels. When you stay at these unique properties, make sure to ask about the history and stories behind the designs. It’s a special treat, especially for those interested in horology.

Hotel LOrologio Rome
Exterior of Hotel L’Orologio Roma
View of Grand Canal from Hotel LOrologoio Venezia
View of the Grand Canal from Room at Hotel L’Orologio Venezia
View from Hotel Santa Maria Novella
View from Hotel Santa Maria Novella

My Top 3 Recommendations from My Trip to Italy

  1. Set expectations early.
    Italy is busy all the time, no matter when you visit. It is especially busy from April through October. Italy is the number one travel destination for US travelers, so it’s hard to avoid the crowds. As long as you have set your expectations, it’s not an issue.
  2. Dine at Trattorias
    By far, my favorite part about visiting Italy is the food. In each city, we had the opportunity to dine at a local Trattoria. Trattorias are less formal restaurants. They have a very homey and welcoming feel. They are family-run and serve regional dishes. We dined at Ristorante Lagana in Rome, 13 Gobbi in Florence, and Casa Cappella in Venice.
  3. Add More Time
    If you want to do a similar itinerary to what I did (Rome, Florence, and Venice), add a day to each city. My preference would be to add an additional 2 days to Florence since there are so many day trip options from Florence, like Cinque Terre and Tuscany.
Podere La Marronaia Winery in San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

Ready to Unlock Italy? Work with The Keys to Travel for Your Trip to Italy

Have you always wanted to travel to Italy? Or have you been eager to go back for a second or third visit?

Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, planning an Italian getaway should feel exciting, not overwhelming. From the ancient streets of Rome to the romantic canals of Venice, Italy offers something unforgettable at every turn.

Let The Keys to Travel turn your dream trip into a perfectly curated experience, tailored just for you. I’ll handle all the details, so you can simply enjoy la dolce vita!

Ready to unlock Italy? Let’s start planning. Click HERE to fill out our travel inquiry form and schedule a complimentary consultation. 

A Travel Advisor's Trip to Italy Rome Florence and Venice Pin

Just Back A Wellness Retreat Cover Photo - Wild Rice Retreat in Bayfield, Wisconsin

Just Back: A Wellness Retreat

/in

I’ve talked about doing this for years, but that was it, all talk. But finally, I booked a trip to a wellness retreat. My husband and I talked for a while about how it would be helpful to start off the new year with a few days at a wellness retreat. A great way to reset, get focused, and start the year rejuvenated and restored. Of course, life always gets in the way. It was always something, from having too much work, financial strain, or big life changes like having a baby or moving across the country that held us back from ever making this dream a reality. Well, not this year! A friend of mine shared about Wild Rice Retreat a few years ago. It’s located near Bayfield in the very northern part of Wisconsin. Ever since it’s been taking up space in the back of my mind as a great idea.

Last year, my husband and I decided to make a big life change and move back to Wisconsin from Colorado to be closer to family. It is very important to us that our son and any future children grow up around our close family and friends. I knew we had this big change coming at the end of the year. Along with wondering what to get the hubby for Christmas and stressing about moving, the idea of a wellness retreat getaway popped back up in my head. Specifically the Wild Rice Retreat. What better way to get reacquainted with our home state while recharging from a big move and starting a new year fresh than spending a few days at a retreat in a part of the state neither of us has ever been? So, I put aside all the excuses, found a babysitter for our son, and booked a stay at Wild Rice Retreat. Our first annual wellness retreat getaway!

A wellness retreat in northern Wisconsin, Wild Rice Retreat. Red lounge chairs overlooking frozen Lake Superior in January..

My Experience at A Wellness Retreat

I’m not going to lie, the first night was pretty tough. We are in the middle of selling our house in Colorado, so the whole 5-hour drive up we were negotiating concessions and talking to our realtor. This is also the first time my husband and I have been away from our son together for an extended period of time, so I was also missing the little guy a lot. I also decided to take the four full days off of work and not check any emails or social media. As a solopreneur in the heart of the busy season, this was HARD. So I’m stressed from the process of selling a house, mom-guilting about leaving my son, and business owner-guilting about not immediately responding to clients. 

Then we get to Wild Rice Retreat and it’s in the middle of the woods next to Lake Superior. Incredibly gorgeous but also so silent and I started to feel really lonely, even though my husband was there. Talk about ALL the emotions! Without technology to distract me, it really gave me time to sit in these feelings and realize how much I really put self-care to the side. We talk about all these “guilts”, from mom-guilt to wife-guilt, business owner-guilt, and more. But do we ever talk about self-guilt? Meaning, do I ever feel guilty about not making time for myself? Nope. Definitely not. Here I am finally taking a few dedicated days to myself and all I can feel is guilt for not being there for everyone else right now. Clearly, I needed this time away. I can’t serve everyone else from a cup that isn’t full.

Wild Rice Retreat arrow sign in the snow and in the woods in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

The next day, we woke up and participated in a yoga class in the morning. I love yoga and how much it grounds me. Doing this class finally helped me settle into the retreat. I felt so much better after that class and stopped feeling guilty for being there and started focusing on relaxing and recharging myself. I haven’t had this much time to just sit and read, stare off into space, daydream, and explore without ANY other obligations in as long as I can remember. What a blessing to have this opportunity. This is exactly what I needed to reset and get ready for what is going to be another amazing, busy, fun-filled year!

This retreat was such a great reminder that I need to make time for myself. It’s important and it’s not selfish. I have an amazing support system, from my husband to my parents, in-laws, friends, and colleagues who are here to help support me. 

An annual wellness retreat is definitely going to be a priority moving forward as well as continuing daily self-care rituals, like meditation, yoga, and being present.

Wild Rice Retreat Nest Room. Views of winter outside.

The Importance of Going to a Retreat Resort

I want to note how important I think it is to actually leave your house and go to a new setting for a wellness break, like a wellness retreat resort. You can easily say you’ll spend a day at home not checking email or social media to recharge. But it feels completely different when you remove yourself from your everyday life. 

When you’re home, the never-ending to-do list will still be in the back of your mind. You could quickly just do some laundry or pay some bills. But when you go to a different place, you’re removing the everyday stress that piles on your mind. You don’t have to worry about doing the dishes, planning and making meals, or cleaning. When you’re away, you can truly disconnect and focus on recharging without the everyday guilt of your to-do list being front of mind.

Additional Wellness Retreats On My Must-Visit List

When I first came up with the idea to do a wellness retreat getaway at the start of each year, I came up with an ever-growing list of hotels I’d want to visit. Here is my current list: 

I always want to add more to my list, so please email me with any wellness retreats or wellness resorts you have visited or are on your list!

Are you ready to book a wellness retreat getaway?

While I am obviously a big proponent of taking advantage of a wellness retreat gateway, it can be very overwhelming to find the right one for you. Let me take that stress off your plate. Let’s work together to find the ideal wellness retreat for you, one that will take your self-care journey to the next level. If you have been like me and keep putting this trip off, email me or fill out our travel inquiry form so we can make this important self-care trip a reality for you!


Sarah Key, the founder of The Keys to Travel, just returned from a wellness retreat. The new blog post "Just Back: A Wellness Retreat" is her review of Wild Rice Retreat in Bayfield, Wisconsin and why she thinks we should all prioritize taking a wellness vacation.