The Educated Traveller blog is a treasure trove of writing created and written by Janet Simmonds over the last decade. The Educated Traveller blog recently celebrated its 10th birthday and has been read and enjoyed (we hope) by more than 80,000 visitors this year alone.
However, Educated Traveller is just one of two brands created by Janet Simmonds, the second is Grand Tourist. A specialist travel company delivering unique and exceptional journeys in Italy, Greece, Türkiye and the Mediterranean. We’ve had a lot of fun this year creating journeys in Venice, Trieste, Friuli (home to amazing wines)……Maranello (for Ferrari driving) and of course Padova, Naples, Sorrento, Ischia, Puglia, Florence, Tuscany, Alto-Adige, the list goes on and on.
Grand Tourist has always focused on high quality travel and 2025 is no exception. You can travel with Grand Tourist in two ways, firstly as part of a small group, participating in a carefully curated journey, with a group size of around 8 guests. Or you can contact us to create your own, unique tailor-made journey. We rely on personal recommendations so if you’ve travelled with Grand Tourist and enjoyed the experience we’d love you to suggest our services to a friend or family member.
What is your dream destination? It could be Venice or Amalfi, Rome or Sicily. Perhaps it’s driving a Ferrari in Maranello, or enjoying a private boat bobbing along the Amalfi Coast. You may prefer to discover the art and history of Venice. Perhaps for you the Palladian villas and architecture of the Veneto is a ‘must see’. The choice is yours. A new discovery for us last year was the magical and fascinating region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the most north-easterly region of Italy, stretching from Venice in the west to Trieste in the east. It’s a wonderful area of rolling hills, fabulous coastline and superb wines. For wine lovers it is, quite simply, unbeatable.
Why not kick off the year with a luxurious spa break in Abano Terme, Italy – it’s amazing. Naturally heated thermal waters, mineral rich mud for incredible massages – Abano Terme Spa Retreat once discovered it’s a luxury that becomes a necessity. Why Abano Terme? How can a few days at Abano rejuvenate you for months, here’s how: Grand Hotels, volcanic mud and thermal waters….
Here’s our selection of carefully curated small group tours for 2025. It’s our ode to travel in 2025:
Venezia Carnevale – exotic in black & red feathers (left). Around the World in 80 days (centre)
FEBRUARY 2025 – It’s Carnevale in Venice and the streets are filled with elaborately costumed visitors from all over Europe, especially France. The French love Carnevale. It’s not too late to travel to Venice for Carnevale – it’s a photographer’s dream! If you fancy joining in the fun then drop us a line. We haven’t got a group tour scheduled – but we can create a unique itinerary for individual guests.
In March we’ll be in Venice for a special Venice in Springtime a small group experience. Staying in the heart of Lido di Venezia just steps from the embarcadero. There are stunning views back across the lagoon. Our hotel is the family-run Villa Mabapa. Here are just a few views of the lagoon to put you in the mood. Of course Venice wouldn’t be Venice without a trip to Burano and the wonderful Da Romano Trattoria – this is (as always) part of the trip!!
Da Romano, Burano – Lagoon of Venice www.greyhoundtrainers.com
In April we’ll be in Turkey, starting in Istanbul, for our take on ‘The Grand Tour of Turkiye. You can find out more here: The Turkish Delight – Grand Tour
Closer to home you might want to consider exploring Trieste and the surrounding countryside. This area is exceptional when it comes to food and wine. In fact one of our favourite local food producers just won an award! The Famiglia Zoff got a great article in the local paper. They deserve it. Their family farm put the well-being of its cattle first. The ratio of cows to lush green pastures is favourable for the livestock, no crowding, no competition for food. In this nurturing environment the cows thrive and their milk is rich and nutritious. This leads to high quality, flavourful cheese. Happy campers in April, 2024.
Next up we’ve got the Amalfi Coast and Ischia. We’ve got two opportunities to visit Amalfi in 2025 – June and October. Here’s the full itinerary: Amalfi Escape – Ischia and Sorrento Adventures….
Sorrento, Amalfi and Bay of Naples – from left to right.
Then in August we’ve got our OXFORD RESIDENCY for Creative Writing. This event is in association with Alma College, Michigan. We continue to support and partner with Alma College, Michigan to deliver both Summer and ‘Winter Residency’ programmes in the coming years. The next residency in Europe will be at St Hugh’s College, Oxford University (my alma mater) in August 2025.
A draft program can be viewed here:
These European residencies are for students studying for a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing. It is open to all Alma MFA students, both past and present. Check out the Alma College website for more details: www.alma.edu
SEPTEMBER – ITALIAN LAKES – we are currently hatching a tour of the Italian Lake District. This will probably be about 8 days in length and will feature Lake Como, Iseo, Garda and Orta. There’ll be boat rides on ‘dolce vita style’ Riva speed boats, fantastic restaurants, gorgeous villas and gardens. A pleasure for the senses. We’ll just met a hotel owner on Como who has the same philosophy as we do – the plan is to use this ‘new discovery’ as our base on Lake Como. Just to get you in the mood – Italian Lakes Tour that’s heaven! More to come here soon.
The Italian Lakes – crystal clear waters, fabulous speed boats, sunshine and ‘la dolce vita’
October 2025
OCTOBER 2025 – ISCHIA, SORRENTO and AMALFI – Amalfi Escape – Ischia and Sorrento Adventures…. the perfect time to experience ‘La dolce vita’ – flying in/out of Naples. For many people Sorrento is a dream come true, here are a few photos that show you why….
LATE OCTOBER (provisional) – Why not join me and a small group of travellers (maximum 8 guests) for a tour of Sicily. Starting in the south-east corner of the island, we will discover the beautiful Val di Noto, with a fine selection of Baroque villages and fabulous architecture. We’ll visit the places and towns featured in the TV series Montalbano. Then we’ll head along the south coast to visit the fabulous Greek temples at Agrigento. From there we cut across to Sicily’s north coast and the exquisite seaside town of Cefalu. Then we make our way via mysterious, semi-abandoned palaces to Palermo. A city rich in culture, history and tradition. This is the perfect introduction to Sicily. The Treasures of Sicily
NOVEMBER – BRAND NEW TOUR IN VENICE – Venice, San Martino and Spa Indulgence – A great time for visiting Venice and discovering the amazing art galleries, churches and hidden treasures around every corner. It’s also the perfect time to visit the Biennale, when the event is winding down and the crowds have gone. We’ll be offering a 5-night Venice trip with an optional add-on to Abano Terme – the spa town famous for its thermal waters and their therapeutic capabilities, since Roman times. Contact us for more information: janet@grand-tourist.com
Why San Martino – Festa di San Martino – Venezia
San Martino – delicious treats fill the shop windows for the Feast of San Martino – 11th November, Venice
DECEMBER – who knows what’s in store for December, your own Grand Tour of Italy, a trip to Sicily to enjoy the Festa di Santa Lucia, or a week in Milan enjoying fashion, art and amazing shopping.
THANK YOU – for showing an interest in the journey and reading this article. You can read hundreds of articles about Italy on the Educated Traveller blog www.greyhoundtrainers.com. We’d like to invite you to share the Educated Traveller blog and recommend us to your friends. Why not consider travelling with Grand Tourist our sister company (and specialist travel planner) in 2025. We can create a journey just for you or you can join one of our small group trips. Ferrari driving in Tuscany, Art and History in Venice, Truffle Hunting in Emilia Romagna are just some of the unique experiences that we’ve been offering to clients for many years. All our journeys and experiences are delivered with authenticity and charm.
From the northern shores of Lake Garda to the southern tip of Sicily we specialise in the history, geography, art and culture of the Italian peninsula. Join us on the page or in real life in Italy in 2025. To discover more about our philosophy and dedication we invite you to watch the video above.
We wish you SAFE TRAVELS and all the very best adventures in the coming months xxx
With special thanks to: Andrew, Bilge, Lucy, William, Alistair and Sue – for their help and support in 2024.
….’Travel broadens our horizons and replenishes the soul. It offers us a new found respect for our exceptional planet and a sense of discovery that enriches our lives…’
November 2024
Greyhound Trails Travel