A guest blog by Jenene Mealey, Founder and President of Travel with Awestruck

There’s a reason I return to Italy year after year, and it’s not just the breathtaking coastlines, sun-drenched hillsides, or unrivaled cuisine.

It’s the people.

The Italian people are the soul of every journey. From the sparkling Amalfi Coast to the rolling vineyards of Tuscany, or the less-travelled region of Puglia, there’s a warmth, a generosity, and a deep pride that Italians have in sharing their country that turns every visit into something unforgettable.

This summer, so many of our travelers experienced that magic firsthand. One family celebrated their first trip to Italy. Another client was born and raised in the small town of Parma, Italy but nonetheless trusted me to plan a month-long, multi-generational journey to fulfill a lifelong dream of bringing his grandchildren to his home country.

We had more travelers in Italy this season than ever before. While we are busier than ever, we remain laser-focused on what we do best: creating unique, personalized journeys that are unforgettable for each traveler.

Doing that well depends on us getting to know our travelers as individuals, and I am so blessed to have met the most incredible clients through this work, many of whom have become close friends. As we close our busiest Italian summer ever, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate those trips and those travelers.

When Travel Turns Into Friendship

Nothing brings us more joy than repeat visits to a destination, and this summer was no exception. Two couples who traveled to Italy with us before returned for their second adventure (proof that one trip is never enough). On their first journey, they spent a day at sea with Angelo, a skipper I have traveled with personally whose family has captained boats along the Amalfi Coast for generations. Angelo’s unique, deeply local perspective transformed what could have been just a fun boat day into a memory so special that one of our couples turned a photo of that moment into a canvas that now hangs in their home. So, when they planned their return this summer, there was only one request: “Can we please have Angelo again?” Of course, we were sure to arrange that happy reunion.

This time, they also wanted to connect with their roots, exploring the small, remote hometowns of their ancestors. We arranged a private driver and local guide to accompany them, and somewhere along the way, hospitality and friendship blurred together. The travelers invited the driver to stay overnight at their accommodations, and to everyone’s surprise, he said yes. Only in Italy would a professional connection become an impromptu friendship. They’re still traveling as I write this, and I can’t wait to hear how that story ends – but I already know it will be good.

Travel, especially in Italy, is a powerful connective tissue. What an honor it is to continue to help our clients build those bonds with one another, and with the local hosts who elevate every one of our journeys by sharing their passion for their home country.

Overwhelmed with Gratitude

Some trips are so special that they are hard to put into words. One of our travelers, Kim, captured that perfectly (and moved us deeply) with a meaningful message sent in the midst of their journey.

“I don’t know what to say—thank you doesn’t seem like enough. This experience and Capri boat day with Angelo… I am beyond overwhelmed with gratitude. I can barely text this without tearing up.”

That’s the kind of emotion we strive for: the kind that stays with you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase, the kind that reminds you that travel can still move you. These are the Awestruck Moments that we have devoted ourselves to creating for each of our travelers.

Seamlessness, Even When Plans Change

We always say that luxury lives as much in what you don’t see as it does in what you do. Of course, luxury can look like an opulent Venetian palace, but it can also look like someone always being there to take your bags, show you a hidden gem still kept quiet by locals, and manage through complications.

We pride ourselves on playing that last role – impromptu problem-solver – for our clients with excellence. One of the best compliments we received this season came from clients who experienced the unexpected: a train cancellation mid-journey due to an impromptu rail strike. Instead of stress or confusion, they described the experience this way:

“We can’t say enough good things about our experience with Jenene and Travel with Awestruck. Jenene helped us plan a trip of a lifetime across Italy, and from beginning to end everything was choreographed perfectly. From hotels, to transportation, to excursions, to meals — everything was stress-free. Even when our mid-trip train was cancelled, Jenene and her team seamlessly got us on another train at the same time, and we didn’t have to lift a finger.”

Italy teaches us to go with the flow, and I love that our travelers can do exactly that no matter what travel obstacles arise because we’ve already handled the details behind the scenes. Travel can be messy, but our clients never have to navigate these things on their own. They don’t have to sit on hold waiting for a call center representative to hopefully pick up, which makes all the difference in the urgent, challenging moments you hope never arise. When one of our clients fell ill unexpectedly, they didn’t have to wander the town searching for a doctor or navigating foreign healthcare systems. Instead, we worked with our team on the ground in Italy to send a doctor directly to our client’s hotel room.

When we say we were founded to reset the standard for service in luxury travel, this is what we mean: nonstop support and the close, in-country relationships it takes to do the impossible, whether that means finding a table at a sold-out restaurant or arranging in-suite medical care.

A Toast Across Time in Ravello

Travel brings people together, and I am no exception. Part of how we create these exceptional moments is experiencing them firsthand for ourselves, and Kristin and Ryan’s visit to the Belmond Hotel Caruso this summer reminded me of the magic of those shared connections.

Last fall, my daughter and I traveled through Italy. During that trip, we stayed at the iconic Hotel Caruso in Ravello, one of my personal favorite hotels. While there, we met Carmine, one of the world’s best bartenders (and one of my favorite people in Italy). If Ravello is magic, Carmine helps cast the spell. His hospitality, his stories, and his genuine joy in connecting with travelers are what make Italy feel like home. We spent each of our nights at Caruso stopping by the bar to talk to Carmine, Tommaso, and the team, the hours passing as if they were minutes, and we still keep in touch today.

When my travelers Kristin and Ryan headed to Ravello this summer, of course, I told them about Carmine. I hoped they might meet, but when Kristin texted me a photo of the three of them together, it absolutely made my day. It was one of those full-circle travel moments that remind me why I do what I do.

Italy, Unscripted

Every itinerary I design for my clients is crafted to go beyond the postcard version of Italy (the one filled with sightseeing checklists and crowds). While you can book thousands of cooking classes or wine tastings online, we focus on authentic, personally-vetted experiences: a private dinner in a family-owned vineyard, a cooking class with Chef Andrea, or a morning exploring your ancestral village with a guide who feels like family by day’s end.

How you travel can make or break your trip. Italy is an emotion as much as it is a destination, and this season, our travelers reminded me once again that when you open your heart to Italy, it opens up right back.

Next Stop: Sardinia

I have always been fascinated by the culture of Sardinia, home to some of the longest-living people in the world. My fascination began long before the destination was trending. There is so much more to Sardinia than luxury resorts, crystal-clear waters, and those picture-perfect TikTok videos.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m a sucker for a great hotel, and when I found out Rocco Forte, one of my favorite luxury hotel brands, was opening a new property in Costa Smeralda in 2026, I knew I wanted to be among the first to see it. But I also knew that when I traveled to Sardinia, I wanted to show my travelers the destination beyond the “beach break” it’s so often known for.

As one of the top North American sellers of Italy, working closely with our luxury ground partners, I was hand-picked to join an intimate group of just ten advisors to experience a different kind of Sardinia in 2026. This is a true honor, and one that allows me to deepen what I bring back for our travelers: authentic connections, cultural experiences, and firsthand knowledge that goes far beyond the brochure.

Of course, the journey will end with a beach break in the part of Sardinia everyone recognizes from Instagram. But that’s just the beginning. What excites me most is uncovering the stories, traditions, and soul of Sardinia that most travelers never get to see. Stay tuned; I can’t wait to bring you a Sardinia that will surprise and inspire you.

Truly, With Gratitude

My clients know my email signature: with gratitude. I mean that deeply. I am so grateful for every traveler who has entrusted me with their precious time off and their milestone moments. I do not take your trust lightly.

It is only fitting that we end our most successful summer to date on the same note. Thank you for affording me the privilege of crafting these unforgettable journeys through one of my favorite countries. I cannot wait for next summer.