The Joy of Shared Connections: 2025 Ciao Bambino Travel Planning Testimonials

The spirit of transformative travel is thriving this year! As usual, our amazing Travel Advisor team has been hard at work throughout 2025 designing one-of-a-kind journeys that spark delight and discovery for our Ciao Bambino clients. These trips require serious effort and dedication, but the raves we get afterward remind us why we love what we do and why it matters. In an age when AI dominates the conversation, the personal connections we create — with our clients, our travel partners and communities around the world — are what continue to set us apart, and they’re at the heart of what makes travel truly meaningful. Every piece of glowing feedback is proof that we’re not just booking hotels and tours, but helping families step beyond the familiar, forge bonds and make memories that last a lifetime.

This year has been both fun and rewarding as we’ve planned trips to a wider variety of places than ever. While we’ve always excelled at beloved standbys like Italy, Hawaii and Costa Rica, we’re equally adept at crafting extraordinary, immersive adventures in spots like the Cook Islands, Mount Kilimanjaro, Bhutan and the Arctic (all of which we’ve booked this year). No matter the destination, our mission remains the same: opening the doors to fresh experiences and perspectives for kids and adults at every age and stage.

Here’s a peek at some favorite photos of our clients having a blast across the globe this past season, plus a taste of the words that put smiles on our faces. Enjoy!

Founder & CEO

Praise from our 2025 Ciao Bambino Travel Planning Clients

“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you both for planning an absolutely amazing trip to Italy for our family of seven. Every detail was perfect, and we truly couldn’t have asked for a better experience … We made memories we’ll cherish forever, and it’s all thanks to your thoughtful planning and expertise. Everyone in my family could not believe how wonderful the trip was.  It is sometimes hard to have a family of seven all on the same page, but we are all in 100% agreement that this was the best trip we have ever taken.” — Trippler family trip to Italy, designed by Amy Annis

“Cary, I can’t believe what a wonderful trip we had! All the camps were wonderful and we felt so spoiled. Your suggestions were spot on! We can’t thank you enough for planning such a life-changing trip for our family. It is definitely one we will never forget!” — Jaggi family trip to Africa, designed by Cary Walker Collett

“Thanks for all your help organizing our trip. We had a great experience and everything ran very smoothly … We are rejuvenated and inspired!” — Coles family trip to Southeast Asia, designed by Lynda Zuber

“We are safely and happily home. It was a wonderful trip, full of adventure and amazing sights! You and your partners in Iceland did a fantastic job. Some of the best parts were the navigational aids included in the itinerary and the notes about each day. They helped so much. Each activity was top-notch. Plus, we had great weather!!!” — Willard family trip to Iceland, designed by Tori Shields

“Overall — it was a perfect trip!  Thank you so much for stepping in and working so hard to make it perfect.” — Meyer family trip to France, Switzerland and Italy, designed by Lissa Poirot

“Thank you so much for helping me pull off a wonderful trip celebrating my parents’ anniversary. At every hotel we got hand-written and signed cards, plus treats and Champagne — all the reservations were perfect, and the entire trip went so smoothly, not one glitch. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!” — Multigenerational family trip to Canada, designed by Mandy Cecchetto

“Our trip was nothing short of magical. You really nailed it with your hotel recommendations and activities. I have a feeling you had something to do with the fact that literally every room we checked into upgraded us and congratulated us on our marriage and honeymoon. Your note at Sofitel and bottle of Prosecco was sweet. We would definitely use your services again!” — Burke/Shedden honeymoon in Italy, designed by Shari Margolin

“When we told Sydney we were looking for an active trip in May with beautiful blue lakes, green mountains and wildflowers, she suggested Slovenia, a country we had never considered. It felt like a hidden gem, not crowded and so beautiful! Thank you Sydney for helping us plan an unforgettable senior trip with our adventure-loving daughter before she leaves for college.” — Tanner family trip to Slovenia, designed by Sydney Memmott

“Thank you again for all your help throughout this trip. It really made me appreciate not just the fun parts, but also the unexpected things — and the value you bring as an agent who helps us navigate those surprises, and truly acts as a partner in our adventure.” — Chen-Gough family trip to London, designed by Nancy Daum Dailey

“This was our first trip taking our three kids abroad (and also the first time we’d travelled internationally since we had kids). Helen helped take all of the guesswork out of the planning process. She was thoughtful and thorough and helped design the perfect Italian getaway. Everything from travel to hotels, family-friendly tours and dining options, all stored neatly in one convenient app — Helen and Ciao Bambino helped make our vacation seamless. It was truly an experience we will never forget.” — Little family trip to Italy, designed by Helen Buckner

“Our trip was fabulous! Really one of the best trips we’ve ever done. Thank you so much for your help in planning it. We will be savoring the memories from this adventure for the rest of our lives.” — Maestrelli family trip to South Africa, designed by Katie Stewart

“We can’t thank Kerry enough for planning the most incredible 12-day family vacation to Belize! From the very beginning, everything was perfectly organized, creating an unforgettable experience for our multigenerational family … Kerry made sure everything was seamless, and we left Belize with memories that will last a lifetime. This was our best trip yet!” — Gunsberg family trip to Belize, designed by Kerry Rawcliffe

We weren’t sure what to expect from using a travel advisor, but are so glad we did! Planning a trip to Greece for our family of six (with all different interests) was no small feat. Kristen and her local team in Greece arranged everything seamlessly, starting with selecting the perfect islands for our family, and all we had to do was show up. There was an excellent cadence to the 10-day trip, from Athens to Paros to Santorini. The transfers were on time and every activity was curated just for us — a mix of historical stops with excellent guides, cooking classes at a beautiful local farmhouse, beach activities, boat rentals (with our own private captain, snorkeling and cliff jumping with footage captured by the captain’s drone), and countless great restaurants. Even on the crowded and very hot Parthenon visit day, we were able to sidestep the masses. It was as though Kristen knew our family better than we knew ourselves. Thank you Kristen and Ciao Bambino! — Smith-Hackett family trip to Greece, designed by Kristen Avini

“We had a magical trip! Everything went perfectly. The hotels were absolutely iconic! Thank you for everything! I will definitely be in touch again. The app and your tips were all super helpful. I’m so glad I finally realized how helpful a travel agent is.” — Jobe family trip to Italy, designed by Shelby Robinson 

“Thank you for putting together this experience for us … we created wonderful memories that our family will cherish.” — Hurtado family trip to Germany, designed by Anna Diebel

“Thank you so much for all you did to make our trip so incredible! It was the perfect balance of culture, learning, activity and relaxation. We loved every minute! It was just a wonderful family vacation from start to finish and we are so grateful to have had that time together. Thank you again for everything you did to make it possible!!!” — Neuman family trip to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, designed by Melissa Rosdahl

“Our trip was an absolute dream. It was such a successful first international trip for our kids. Thank you for your help planning the day excursions.” — Kruse family trip to Costa Rica, designed by Tina Woitaszewski

“The trip was brilliant and our travels in the country were flawless thanks to you … we were singing your praises every time we showed up to the trains and just walked into great seats or found our cab right away. We’ll look forward to connecting with you the next time we can muster a big family trip!” — Smith family trip to Japan, designed by Kiki Humes

“We had the BEST time. Thank you so much for organizing such a beautiful and meaningful trip.” — Klein/Robin trip to Switzerland and Germany, designed by Susan Robinson

“The trip was incredible. Really exceeded my expectations. I recommended you to some 50 people along the way.” — Kulick family trip to Italy, designed by Natalie Ethridge

“This was our first experience working with a travel agency and I’m convinced it’s the way to go from now on. Or at least Ciao Bambino is! … Thanks especially for accommodating our son’s addition at the 11th hour. We were so happy that he was able to enjoy Madrid with us. Thanks for making our trip stress-free and fantastic.” — Ruff trip to Spain and Portugal, designed by Linda Considine

Relevant Links: 

Pick your passion: Best family vacation spots for every interest

18 summer vacations to take before your kids grow up

10 family vacations that will change kids forever

10 great places to take kids … while they are still kids

How, when and why to use a travel agent to book a family vacation

Editor’s note: Photos courtesy of the individual families pictured.