Small Group Travel Blog: Expert Travel Tips, Destination Guides & Tour Advice

Welcome to the Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor travel blog, featuring expert travel tips, destination guides, cruise advice, packing suggestions, airfare strategies, and first-hand insights from more than 17 years of planning small group tours.

Our articles are written for travelers who want more than ordinary sightseeing. Whether you are planning a trip to Europe, Canada, South America, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, France, Peru, or a luxury river cruise, our goal is to help you travel smarter, more comfortably, and with greater confidence.

Since 2009, Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor has helped solo travelers, couples, and friends enjoy carefully planned, adults-only small group tours with quality hotels, expert local guides, thoughtful pacing, and personal service from real travel professionals who know our destinations inside and out.

Latest Travel Tips & Destination Guides

Archive by category: Italy Travel Destination GuideReturn

26Mar

How to Travel Europe Without Looking Like an Amateur

26 Mar, 2026 | Travel Tips, No big bus, travel smart | Austria & Bavaria Travel Guide, Norway and Iceland Destination Guide, Italy Travel Destination Guide, General Travel Tips & Advice | View Counts (119)

Traveling Europe on a big bus, eating bad food, and standing in long lines? That’s not a vacation—that’s a group project. Learn how smart travelers avoid the crowds, skip the nonsense, and actually enjoy Europe.

02Mar

Sip, Stroll & Gelato: The Perfect Tuscany Day Trip from Florence

02 Mar, 2026 | Italy, San Gimignano, Tenuta Torciano, wine tasting, Tuscany | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (111)

Escape Florence for a perfect Tuscan day: learn wine tasting at Tenuta Torciano, enjoy local appetizers, then wander medieval San Gimignano for towers, views, Vernaccia, and a can’t-miss finale—gelato at famous Gelateria Dondoli.

10Feb

Unpack Once in Italy: 14 Nights in Seaside Sperlonga, Plus Rome, Pompeii & Ponza

10 Feb, 2026 | Sperlonga, Italy, To Italy With Love, June Morocco | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (277)

Travel with June Morrocco on an intimate 4–14 person Italy tour featuring 14 nights in seaside Sperlonga. Enjoy day trips to Rome, Pompeii, Gaeta, Fondi, Ponza Island, and Ninfa Gardens—plus wineries, festivals, sunsets, and unforgettable local experiences.

29Dec

Eating and Drinking in Venice: Cicchetti in Venice and How to Eat Like a Local

29 Dec, 2025 | cicchetti, Venice, local foods | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (520)

Experience Venice like a local by cicchetti hopping through traditional bacari. These bite-sized Venetian snacks, paired with local wine, offer an authentic, social way to enjoy Venice’s food culture beyond the tourist trail.

10Nov

Discover Vicenza: The Hidden Gem of Northern Italy

10 Nov, 2025 | Vicenza, Northern Italy | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (430)

Discover Vicenza, a hidden gem on The Traveling Professor’s Venice, Florence, and Northern Italy small group tour. Explore Palladio’s architectural masterpieces, including Teatro Olimpico, Santa Corona, Piazza dei Signori, and Torre Bissara. Enjoy local favorites like Righetti’s restaurant and the stunning views from Ponte San Michele.

08Nov

7 Street Foods from Around the World

08 Nov, 2025 | street food | Austria & Bavaria Travel Guide, Canada Destination Guide, Norway and Iceland Destination Guide, Peru, Machu Picchu and the Amazon Travel Guide, Paris and France Travel Guide, Italy Travel Destination Guide, General Travel Tips & Advice | View Counts (527)

Discover the best street foods from around the world with The Traveling Professor. From hot dogs in Oslo to gelato in Rome, these culinary adventures make each small group tour even more unforgettable.

06Nov

6 Places to Eat in Rome

06 Nov, 2025 | Rome, Italy | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (623)

Explore six of The Traveling Professor’s favorite Rome restaurants. From elegant Ristorante Target to the porchetta sandwiches at Er Buchetto, enjoy authentic local dining on your next Small Group Tour of Italy. When in Rome, eat as the Romans do.

17Oct

6 Top Restaurants in Tuscany, Italy – Where to Eat in the Heart of Italy

17 Oct, 2025 | Restaurants, Tuscany | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (831)

Discover the best restaurants in Tuscany, Italy. From Chianti’s countryside charm to Florence’s fine dining, enjoy authentic Tuscan cuisine, local wines, and warm hospitality at six unforgettable dining destinations across this beautiful region.

06Oct

The Best Pasta Dishes in Rome Italy

06 Oct, 2025 | Rome, Italy, Pasta, Dining | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (787)

On Traveling Professor small group tours, savoring Rome’s iconic pasta is a highlight. From creamy cacio e pepe and rich carbonara to hearty amatriciana and savory gricia, discover the best restaurants serving authentic Roman flavors in the city.

03Oct

The Veneto Region of Italy: Authentic Culture, Food & Hidden Gems with The Traveling Professor’s Insider Travel Guide and Tips

03 Oct, 2025 | Veneto, Venice, Padua, Verona, Vicenza | Italy Travel Destination Guide | View Counts (553)

Discover the charm of Italy’s Veneto region—Venice, Padua, Verona, and more—with fewer crowds, rich culture, authentic food, and affordable lodging. Explore insider tips from The Traveling Professor for an unforgettable Italian experience.

About the Author

Professor Steve Solosky, The Traveling Professor, is the founder of Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, operating since 2009. A former college professor and author of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris, Steve has planned and led small group tours throughout Europe, Canada, South America, and beyond. His travel expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, WCBS Radio, and The New York Times Travel Show.

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