Question 1

How far in advance should I book?

Accepted Answer

Our typical lead time from first enquiry to arrival in Italy is around one to six months, depending on the season, availability, and how customised your trip is. Earlier is always better for peak periods and sought-after experiences — but we can also accommodate shorter lead times where availability allows, so please enquire regardless of your dates.

Question 2

What's included in the price?

Accepted Answer

Every itinerary is fully customised and scaled to your preferred level of comfort, experience style, and support. All trips include personalised itinerary design, accommodation planning, curated experiences, and coordination with our licensed Italian travel partner for bookings and logistics. Mid-range itineraries typically include boutique or 4-star accommodation, private or small-group experiences, selected private transfers, and a balance of guided and self-guided exploration. Premium itineraries often add luxury accommodation, private drivers, fully private tours and experiences, and VIP access where available. Every proposal is itemised so you know exactly what is included.

Question 3

What is NOT included in the price?

Accepted Answer

Pricing does not include international flights or travel insurance, which are arranged directly by you. Tips and personal expenses are also not included, along with anything not expressly listed in the "price includes" section of your quotation. If you are ever unsure whether something is covered, just ask — we keep inclusions and exclusions clear in writing.

Question 4

Do you book flights?

Accepted Answer

International flights are arranged directly by you rather than included in our pricing. We are happy to suggest sensible routings, and we always coordinate your ground transfers in Italy to align with your flight times so your arrival and departure run smoothly.

Question 5

Do you take a deposit, and how do I pay?

Accepted Answer

All bookings are confirmed through our licensed Italian travel partner. A 30% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of confirmation to secure your arrangements, with the balance due before departure as set out in your booking agreement. Payments can be made by international wire transfer, Mastercard, or Visa (American Express is not accepted). Credit card payments are subject to a 2% surcharge to cover processing costs.

Question 6

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Cancellation terms are set and managed by our licensed Italian travel partner and confirmed in your booking agreement. As a guide, the following penalties apply to the full trip price: no charge for cancellations from booking confirmation up to 31 days before departure; 30% between 30 and 16 days before departure; 70% between 15 and 4 days before departure; and 100% from 3 days before departure or for a no-show. The 30% deposit taken at confirmation is non-refundable. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers cancellation, interruption, and medical situations.

Question 7

Do I need travel insurance?

Accepted Answer

We strongly recommend that every traveller takes out comprehensive travel insurance, and we consider it essential. Issues such as missed flights, personal emergencies, or medical situations fall outside the scope of your itinerary and are best covered by a good policy. We recommend cover for medical expenses, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, and travel delays, and suggest keeping a list of emergency contact numbers with you during your trip.

Question 8

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Italy is more accommodating of dietary requirements than its reputation suggests — particularly for vegetarians, vegans, and those avoiding gluten. We document all dietary requirements while designing your trip and pass them on to restaurants, hosts, and experience providers ahead of your arrival. If you have severe allergies, please tell us in detail so we can plan accordingly.

Question 9

Is support available in English?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Throughout your journey you are supported by our Italy-based travel partner and local team, with assistance available via a dedicated contact number. Support is bilingual — Italian and English — so communication is always clear and effective, whether it is a question about tomorrow's plan or something that needs sorting on the day.

Question 10

Are tips included?

Accepted Answer

No — tips are not included in our pricing, as tipping in Italy is more modest and discretionary than in Australia or the US. We are happy to brief you on what is customary before you travel so you are never caught off guard, but gratuities remain at your discretion.

Question 11

How do transfers work between destinations?

Accepted Answer

We arrange the transfers within your itinerary — private car, train, ferry, or boat as appropriate. Intercity train travel in Italy is excellent and often the most enjoyable way to move between regions; where private transfers are included in your tier, a driver handles the regional legs and anywhere the train doesn't reasonably reach.

Question 12

What support do I get while I'm in Italy?

Accepted Answer

During your journey you receive dedicated on-the-ground support through our licensed Italian travel partner and local team. Assistance is available via a direct, bilingual (Italian and English) contact number, giving you real-time support for any travel-related needs during your stay — so you feel supported and secure while still enjoying an independently paced trip.

Question 13

What happens if something goes wrong during my trip?

Accepted Answer

For anything related to your itinerary, accommodation, or the services included in your booking, support is available through our licensed Italian travel partner and local team. Situations outside that scope — such as missed flights, personal emergencies, or medical issues — are not managed on the ground and should be addressed through the relevant providers and your travel insurance. This is exactly why we strongly recommend comprehensive insurance and keeping emergency contact numbers handy throughout your trip.

Question 14

Are your experiences suitable for children?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we can design itineraries with appropriate pacing, age-relevant activities, and family-friendly accommodation. Children are genuinely welcome throughout Italy. Please note the ages of all travellers in your enquiry so we can plan accordingly.

Question 15

We're planning a honeymoon — can you help make it special?

Accepted Answer

Honeymooners are one of the travellers we love designing for. We build romantic, seamless, and completely stress-free journeys, and can weave in the kinds of thoughtful touches — special dinners, sunset settings, quiet escapes — that turn a trip into a story you tell for years. Please tell us your occasion and date so we can plan around it.

Question 16

What is Bella Ciao Travels?

Accepted Answer

Bella Ciao Travels is a founder-led travel consultancy based in Perth, Western Australia, that designs fully personalised Italian travel experiences for Australian travellers. Founded by Italian-born travel specialist Annalisa De Carlo, it offers bespoke itinerary design and end-to-end travel coordination in partnership with a fully licensed Italy-based operator — no group tours, no pre-made packages.

Question 17

How much does a trip to Italy with Bella Ciao Travels cost?

Accepted Answer

Indicative pricing spans three tiers, per person twin-share in Australian dollars: Discoverer ($4,500–$12,000 for 7–10 nights with boutique 3–4 star accommodation), Connoisseur ($12,000–$22,500 for 10–14 nights with private guides and design hotels), and Signature ($22,500+ for 14+ nights of fully private, luxury travel). International flights, insurance, and tips are excluded, and final pricing is confirmed in your bespoke proposal.

Question 18

Where is Bella Ciao Travels based?

Accepted Answer

Bella Ciao Travels is based in Perth, Western Australia, and serves travellers across Australia — most clients come from Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The operational side of every journey sits in Italy, where a fully licensed Italian travel partner manages bookings and on-the-ground support.

Question 19

How are you different from a regular travel agent?

Accepted Answer

Bella Ciao Travels is founder-led by Annalisa De Carlo — Italian-born, raised in Liguria, and a former tour guide and tour leader across Italy. There are no pre-made packages and no group tours: every itinerary is custom-designed around you. We work directly with a fully licensed Italian travel company for verified suppliers and in-country execution, and you deal with a single point of contact throughout, so communication stays clear and personal from first enquiry to your return home.

Question 20

Are you an accredited Australian travel agent?

Accepted Answer

Bella Ciao Travels operates as a travel consultancy and itinerary design service, working in partnership with a fully licensed Italian travel company that manages all bookings, payments, and on-the-ground operations. We are not an ATAS/AFTA accredited travel agent in Australia, as we work exclusively in a consultancy and design role within this international partnership structure. All bookings are made and held through our licensed Italian partner.

Everything you'd like to know

Booking & Pricing

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