All youth, ages 15-18, who commit to and follow the rules and safety standards of Travel For Youth can attend this trip.

Yes! Safety is, by far, our number one priority when we choose any location for our trips. We are keenly aware of the intense trust that is placed in us to provide a safe and life-changing experience for your child. As parents of three children, we do not take that trust lightly. Because of this, we will never take your child to a place that we, as the founders, do not deem safe for our own small children, and that we have not PERSONALLY visited and vetted from top to bottom.

Italy is currently ranked as #32 of the world’s safest countries, with its safety rating higher than that of the United States. The most common types of crimes involving tourists are petty theft, pickpocketing, or scamming near busy tourist sights, which is why we train and instruct our participants and leaders on how to take extra precautions in these areas. Due to terrorist group activity in surrounding European countries, travelers to Italy are urged to exercise increased caution while traveling but no terrorist attacks targeting civilians or tourists have occurred in the last 50 years.

You can read more about our robust safety precautions here.

There is a reason why almost every town in all of America hosts a pizza place! While our version of pizza kind of messes it up, Italy is proud to be the birthplace of the best pizza, pasta, paninis, and gelato in the world. If you don’t like cheese, fresh artisan breads, flavorful pastas, cool and creamy desserts then you might want to pack some crackers and fruit snacks in your luggage (wink, wink!).

Truly though, some tourists come to Italy just for the food, it’s that amazing! Italians are famous for being uber picky about their flavor and food quality and they insist upon using the freshest, locally grown and produced ingredients. If you are a foodie, you are going to love this trip.

Believe it or not, Italy is an easy place to travel if you are gluten-free or experience a dairy allergy. Most restaurants will have gluten-free options available and dairy allergies can also be accommodated.

Again, safety is our number one priority. When we consider new locations, we personally go beforehand and scout out the safest, highest quality housing and neighborhoods available. We never stay in hostels and we personally go and vet every accommodation for cleanliness, location, safety, and privacy.

In order to provide a more immersive cultural experience, and to better support and give back to the community we are visiting, we prioritize Airbnb’s or privately owned bed and breakfasts for the majority of our stay.

You will stay in a clean, local-styled Airbnb and in a charming bed and breakfast during your trip.

First and foremost, get a passport if you don’t already have one! Next, keep your eye out for the information and resources that we will be sending you via email. The more you know and understand, the more this experience will mean to you and the more prepared you will be to make a meaningful difference.

This trip leans to being a culture-heavy, sightseeing adventure trip. You will use the metro at times to get around, but many of the must-sees in Italy are in traffic-free areas so you will need to be prepared to walk a few miles each day. You also need to be able to participate in a strenuous hike along the Amalfi Coast. Be aware that you will also spend one day on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea. Lifejackets will be provided, but basic swimming skills are highly recommended.

Lastly, practice getting uncomfortable: try new foods, start conversations with people you don’t know, put away your phone for a few hours every day, etc. Traveling is exhilarating and life-changing, but it can also be full of moments that are new, hard, or uncomfortable. New people, new cultures, new languages, and new food can be a lot to take in at times. Everything you do to get ready now will make it that much easier. Just know that we’ll be there to walk you through all of it and help make your experience amazing!