An Italian Odyssey: Susan’s 13-Year Journey with Nada’s Italy

In 2011, after a series of life-changing events, Susan knew it was time for something more. For years, she had listened to her grandmother’s stories about Italy, imagining the places, the people, and the life she had never seen for herself. Yet traveling alone to a foreign-speaking country felt intimidating. Her previous trips had been to familiar destinations—mostly Caribbean islands—where language and logistics felt easy.

Everything changed when a friend returned from Italy with a story of her own. She had traveled with a small company called Nada’s Italy and couldn’t stop talking about it: how language was never a problem, how Nada was there every step of the way, and how the group was limited to just 12 travelers—no big buses, no crowds.

Within three months, Susan was on a plane, heading to Florence for the very first time.

Susan’s First Trip to Italy

That first journey—to Florence & Tuscany—remains the most special of all. It wasn’t just Susan’s introduction to Italy; it was the beginning of an odyssey that would span 11 trips over 13 years.

“I didn’t expect it,” Susan says. “That trip awakened a love for Italy—its people, culture, and way of life—which will stay with me forever.” 

So deep was the connection that she often found herself planning the next journey before the current one had even ended.

When Tuscany Soothes the Soul

One moment, in particular, is etched forever in Susan’s memory. The group stopped along the road outside San Gimignano, taking in the view from afar. Rolling hills, vineyards, ancient villages—bathed in golden light.

“That view deeply touched my heart,” she recalls. “And brought tears to my eyes. I was finally in Italy.” 

The rhythm of Tuscany—the food, wine, hospitality, and the way sunset paints the countryside—allowed her to slowly unwind. It was here that Susan truly learned the simplicity and beauty of la dolce vita.

Why Small Group Travel Made All the Difference

One of the greatest gifts of every Nada’s Italy journey, Susan explains, was the freedom to simply be present.

Hotels, transportation, restaurants, drivers, and local guides were all thoughtfully arranged. Every detail was handled. And when unexpected needs arose—whether illness or special requests—Journey Directors stepped in with genuine care.

“On a couple of occasions, when one of us wasn’t feeling well, they were attended to with patience, kindness & care. I experienced this once myself.” 

“That level of care affects  how safe you feel traveling,” she says. “Especially when you’re on your own.”

Strangers Who Become Family

With groups limited to 12 travelers or fewer, something special happens quickly. Conversations linger over dinner. Inside jokes develop. After just a few days, Susan says, it felt less like a tour and more like traveling with extended family.

Over the years, she formed lasting friendships with fellow travelers—many of whom she still keeps in touch with today. Several Journey Directors became lifelong friends as well. On return trips, they often met up again, if only for coffee, if not an entire day together.

This comradery, Susan believes, is part of what makes Nada’s Italy different.

Access You’d Never Get on a Big Bus

Small group travel doesn’t just feel different—it goes different places.

In Gubbio, Susan vividly remembers laughing uncontrollably as their van squeezed through a narrow street with only inches to spare on each side—before being forced to reverse around a corner when a delivery truck blocked the way. The skill of the drivers, she says, was nothing short of remarkable.

In Umbria, a planned visit to Bevagna was rescheduled on the fly when the Journey Director realized the village would be overcrowded due to a school holiday. The goal was always the same: the best possible experience for the group.

Avoiding crowds whenever possible is a hallmark of these tours. Susan fondly recalls private boat days arranged just for their group on Lake Como, Lake Garda, along the Amalfi Coast, in Puglia, and even in Venice.

Why There Is No “Favorite” Trip

After 11 journeys, Susan is often asked the same question: Which trip was your favorite?

“I can never answer,” she admits. “Each region—from the Dolomites to the heel of the boot—has its own magic. And every trip brought its own surprises.”

From the earliest days, when Nada herself led tours, to today’s thoughtfully expanded team, Susan believes the heart of the experience has never changed.

“All of it is planned with care and detail to provide the best experience,” she says. “Everything is packaged beautifully so you can simply enjoy.”

And she’s not finished yet.

“I still want to return and make it an even dozen.”

Travel That Becomes Part of Who You Are

Susan’s story isn’t just about Italy. It’s about courage, trust, connection, and the quiet transformation that happens when travel is done well—and with heart.

Nada’s Italy creates journeys that go beyond sightseeing. With truly small groups, deep regional immersion, and Journey Directors who truly care, these trips become something more enduring: a part of your life story.

A Toast to Susan—and to the Travelers Who Keep Us Going

In groups small enough to know one another by name, journeys become personal — and personal journeys are the ones that last.

Susan’s journey is extraordinary, but it’s also deeply emblematic of what Nada’s Italy is built on. Travelers like Susan don’t just join a tour—they become part of the fabric of our story. Through trust, shared experiences, and years of returning journeys, they shape who we are as much as we shape each itinerary.

From the earliest days, it has been travelers like Susan—curious, open-hearted, and willing to say yes—who believed in a different way of traveling through Italy. Their loyalty, enthusiasm, and friendships have sustained us, inspired us, and carried Nada’s Italy forward year after year.

So here’s a toast to Susan, and to every traveler who has laughed with us, wandered with us, and returned again and again. You are the heart of our small-group family—and the reason this journey continues. 🥂

Susan is also a fine art photographer. Her work—featuring Italy and beyond—is available through Fine Art America at susan-labella.pixels.com, where prints and photo gifts are available.