Thank you for your interest in our upcoming trip to the amazing Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera June 18 -24, 2013.

Our mission is to offer travel experiences for women in a relaxed and inclusive environment where laughter and friendship meet.

We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to invest in themselves to be the kind of person they want to be in this world.

We know that travel can be a profound way to connect with yourself, with others and with the beauty that this world holds for you.

We’ve helped others live a stunning Italian experience and we hope we can do the same for you.

Read on to hear more.

 

 

 

 

What is an Italian Fix?

 

When was the last time you really took time for you?

When was the last time you let someone take care of you so you could truly focus on enjoying life?

This Italian Fix is a one week guided tour of the Cinque Terre and the surrounding villages of the Italian Riviera hosted by Bianca Gignac and Tim McDiarmid for six nights and seven days.  Your week will unfold in a series of expertly deigned days for the ultimate Italian experience. We truly believe that this is the best way to maximize your precious holiday time and your hard earned cash.

The Cinque Terre are five villages on the northwest coast of Italy. It’s a World Heritage Site protected by Unesco and it’s natural beauty is free of vehicle traffic and sprawling growth. You’ll live in a small seaside village for a week where you’ll be transported to a simpler time.

Your Italian Fix is all about delivering you the most fulfilling travel experience of your life. At the same time you’ll also do away with the stress of planning and organizing an Italian holiday – all you need to do is be there and we take care of the rest.

This isn’t a stuffy tour: it’s the closest thing to having a best friend in Italy show you the good stuff.

Your experience

 

We want you to fall in love.

With yourself. With Italy. With that pasta dish you can’t pronounce.

And we have designed the perfect week to spark your love affair of 2013.

It starts on the Italian Riviera with a small group of people who are looking for more than just an escape from the daily grind; they are looking for a getaway that energizes.

And that calls for a strong prescription: big inspiration, some time to re-connect, a brand-new place and some crazy fun in the vibrant energy of Italy.

When you feel renewed everything in your life seems more possible; goals are more attainable and life feels more fulfilling.

And so we’ve made some space for that.

Because you know that fresh air is restorative; laughter is addictive.

And falling in love is much needed medicine.

Here is your prescription + recommended  daily doses

 

 

Drop-kick your daily routine. Give yourself the gift of time. Breathe. Wander. Smile. Add a dash of passionate and infectious Italian energy.  Repeat daily.

Amp up your health goals. Morning fitness classes outside in the Mediterranean landscape are guided by our own personal trainer. Working out has never been this picturesque. Or skip it and sleep in to enjoy breakfast on your balcony. Repeat daily.

Meet new friends. Hang with people who embrace their life. Let new places and new people remind you of what you love, what makes you happy and where you wanna be. Repeat daily.

 

 

Live in a quiet seaside village. Your new digs are set in the hillside where the sea, clusters of colourful houses, terraced vineyards and tiny villages converge into an undeniably postcard-like corner of the planet called the Cinque Terre. UNESCO thinks it is pretty special too; it is a protected world heritage site. Repeat daily.

Stay on the Italian Riviera: it is so gorgeous even Italians vacation there. Your home base of Riomaggiore is a relaxed, traffic-free village dripping with character. Your hotel sits on the hillside where massive stone terraces dotted with flowers invite you to breathe in the expansive views. You’ll also visit the Riviera towns of Manarola, Monterosso, Vernazza, Bonassola & La Spezia. Repeat daily.

Let loose in the city. Visit La Spezia — a city the guidebooks ignore. Enjoy a morning of guided shopping and then relax for an evening of bubbly Italian nightlife at the most darling little club you’ve never heard of. It’s a chance to hangout with local Italians at their favourite city spot. Our friends own the place – so it feels like you’re in their living room, only with a better wine list. Take once in a lifetime.

Swim in Mediterranean waters.  Hike the famed Cinque Terre paths. Sip aperitivi at cafes. People watch in the piazzas. Eat gelato while sitting on stone walls. Eat with abandon. Savor local wines. Escape routine. Order food in Italian. Laugh loudly. Do it for seven day with your new friends. Repeat as necessary.

 

 

Sample local wines of the Cinque Terre with a sommelier in her family’s cellar and dine at a celebrated restaurant in a village in the middle of nowhere. No wine snob talk – just incredible white wines harvested from the surrounding hills you’ll be living in. Take once a week.

Learn Italian cooking from the kitchen of a local. You’re invited to a local family’s home to cook, eat and celebrate — it’s something that most people who visit Italy will never do. Relax for the evening at a home near the castle of Riomaggiore. You’ll drink wine from the family’s personal cellars from grapes harvested from their land.  It’s a night of relaxation and fun with new Italian friends. Take once in a lifetime.

Learn how to cook with style and moxie with Tim Mcdiarmid. Tim is a sought after personal chef  and pop-up restaurant owner with raving fans who know she always delivers exciting and ridiculously delicious meals. You’ll learn simple tricks of the trade and her best recipes – so you can return home with new ideas for what to cook at home in your “real-life” (that is…if you ever come home). Take once a week.

Eat dinners together in Italian family-style fashion. Visit a highly curated collection of the best eateries that locals rave about. Repeat daily.

 

Your Perks and Bonuses.

 

Italian Fix takes care of you pre-trip, during the trip and after the trip.

Your awesome pre-departure perks:

Zero packing stress. Say no to hellish overstuffed luggage and “what should I wear” drama with our Simple Strategies for Packing Nirvana. This printable guide will walk you through EXACTLY what you will need (and what you won’t!) on this trip.

Save buckets of time searching for your flight. You’ll receive multiple options for departure flights from your city of departure specifically tailored to you. You’ll book and pay for your flights, but we’ll help you do it with confidence and you’ll save a hell of a lot of time and brain cells.

Your awesome upon-arrival perks:

Hello peace of mind. Are you there? Yes! Italian Fix delivers. You’ll get the skinny on EXACTLY what to do when you exit the plane. You’ll get full instructions on how to meet your bilingual driver that will transport you to your hotel from our meeting point. Everything is organized by us pre-trip so you can stay sane.

Meet your new BFF for travel: your Flight-Be-Gone Beauty Package will be waiting for you at the hotel. You’ll get a personal stash of our favorite travel creams, potions and rose water spritz for a rejuvenating post flight boost. Of course your welcome glass of prosecco won’t hurt either.

But wait. There’s more.

 

Watch out inbox! A digital scrapbook of the most precious highlights of your Italian Fix will be arriving.  We will organize your personal Cinque Terre Memories scrapbook to include text and photos of all the magical experiences you’ve enjoyed in Italia. It’ll be a constant reminder of your dolce vita and you can store it on your phone or print a photo book. No more shoe box and no more vacation photos stored on your computer that will never see the light of day. Italian Fix delivers memories – to your inbox — the easy way.

We have a very special plan for you.

 

Your Italian Fix is:

Renewed inspiration and fulfillment.

Feeling inspiration fuels a happy, healthy lifestyle. The most successful people in the world constantly pursue inspiration and purpose. When you feel inspired your daily life has more meaning. A change in perspective can be just what you need to make your day to day life more nourishing. Those who seek inspiration find it.  It’s like suddenly finding rose colored glasses in your back pocket.

Enjoy increased health and energy.

You’ll be immersed in the natural beauty of the Mediterranean coastline with clean air to breathe and clear water to swim in. Everyday you’ll eat a Mediterranean diet full of fresh vegetables and seafood. Your exclusive daily access to our private personal trainer means increased health has never been easier, or more fun, to achieve. Think of it as a perfect jump start to your best summer ever.

An Italian travel experience no one can ever take away from you.

Time is fleeting and what do we have at the end of our life? Usually only our experiences and memories (bladder control would also be a bonus). So what memories are you building right now? What memories do you wanna build? When you look back on your life ten years down the road what do you want to see? Connections to others?  Meaningful experiences? A life well lived? You’re here now — reading this for a reason. Maybe those things interest you. Us too.

 

Meet us!

 

Bianca Gignac fell in love with this place 10 years ago.

More to the point, Bianca fell in love with a man from this place 10 years ago (individual results may vary!), and she lived on his turf in the region for a couple years. She learned the language, got a job, made friends and more than anything – learned the good, the bad and the delicious surroundings of her second home.

Bianca wants you to fall in love here too: with the place, the beaches, the stone paths, the high cliffs, the views, the food and the smell of coffee and jasmine blossoms mixed into one.

This trip is an Italian Fix signature trip. It’s a week that wraps her Cinque Terre insider knowledge, her family, friends and connections into a week of tremendous fun that is designed to recharge your batteries and make your life just that much sweeter.

Last year’s guests had rave reviews about their time spent with Bianca, Tim, Josh and friends and —  it’s truly like visiting friends in Italy you didn’t know you had!

Bianca believes that a life full of incredible experiences is more rewarding than a life full of things and this trip was born of that ethos. She helps people do something amazing with their free time through her small group trips like this one and everyday via her blog Italian Fix.

 

 

Tim McDiarmid knows how to bring people together, show them a great time and feed them with that effortless style you wish you possessed.

Tim is your fab co-host in the Cinque Terre; she is a fearless traveller, a brave organizer of big things and can pull off a dinner party for one hundred in her sleep. She has always focused on doing passion driven and meaningful work — showing people to use seasonal, healthy and delicious ingredients on the sun drenched veranda of a Cinque Terre village is just another day at the office for Tim.

At home, in San Antonio, Tim is one of the visionaries behind the pop-up restaurant The Special Projects Social. These parties blend food, art, community and design and remind you of how much fun you should be having.

Tim was raised in Canada and spent seventeen years in NY before moving to San Antonio, Texas where she runs her mini-empire Tim the Girl Catering. With a background in interior design, theatre and all things food — Tim helps people find their own personal style in their homes and in their kitchens.

 

 

 

 

Josh Levine is your personal trainer for your week in the Cinque Terre.

Josh will be leading optional pre-breakfast group fitness classes from our hotel. These small groups are perfect for people who think the attention of a personal trainer can help them re-energize their personal health goals – or for anyone who wants to defy the logic that going to Italy for a week means not fitting into your jeans anymore.

Josh is the founder of Mind, Body and Soul Fitness and Lifestyle Stores in San Antonio, Texas. Josh’s personal philosophy is one of balance:  intense boot-camp followed by a three hour dinner with good friends or a pilates class followed by a champagne brunch and a walk in the botanical gardens.

When not training Josh is off exploring the world, collecting art and climbing mountains. Josh climbs at least two serious peaks a year, most recently Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa.

 

 

 

What they say.

 

Think of this as a girls getaway: we treat you like a friend, not a reservation number. You should expect incredible personal service in a relaxed and friendly environment.

But don’t take it from us; check out what past guests have to say about travelling with us.

Bianca has a gift for sharing the happiness and love of Italy, and also organizing amazing one-of-a-kind activities with locals. The greatest element was the people that came on this trip: amazing women who love food, who love travel and who love life! Ayon Wen-Waldron | San Antonio Texas.

I’ve traveled a lot but I must say this was definitely the best trip I have ever taken. I speak of this trip often and I always get goose bumps…it was just that amazing. Bernadette Cay | Portland Oregon.

I can’t wait to travel with Bianca again. Belinda Molina | San Antonio Texas

There were so many incredible moments – I loved them all. Miranda DeSantis | New York City

I loved this vacation! Carolann Stoll | Nanaimo British Columbia

The biggest marker of success for us is that we have repeat clients joining us this season. Read the full reviews from past guests.

Your investment

 

The trip fee is $3500.

This $3500 investment in yourself includes:

• 6 nights at the family run hotel Cinque Terre Residences in Riomaggiore in shared accommodation.
• 7 days of guided travel with two hosts from morning to night day with day trips to the most beautiful surrounding villages of Manarola, Groppo, Vernazza, Monterosso, Bonassola.
• daily morning fitness classes guided by personal trainer Josh Levine.
• a cooking class with Tim McDiarmid focusing on healthy cooking to re-create at home.
• a multi-course lunch paired with wines of the Cinque Terre guided by the owner of the top restaurant in the region.
• Your private driver, trains and ground transportation.
• Your Flight Be Gone Beauty Package.
• My Cinque Terre Memories digital scrapbook.
• Simple Strategies for Packing Nirvana printable packing guide.
• Pre-trip flight guidance.
• A guided shopping trip to La Spezia with a personal shopper.
• An evening in the home of a local with panoramic views where you’ll learn Italian cooking focusing on regional specialties.
• Arrival + farewell cocktails + 6 breakfasts at the hotel + 2 lunches + 6 dinners with wine.
• This fee does not include your flight to Italy, your transportation to arrive in La Spezia to meet your driver, alcohol and food not already mentioned (the majority is included) and travel health insurance.

We have your back.

 

You’ll have full support pre-trip to help you pack.

You’ll have full support in arranging your flight.

You can email us anytime for questions you have:  bianca {at} italianfix {dot} com

We’ll be by your side before and during the trip. Your job is just having a great time.

We give to others

 

We believe that access to travel and education is an incredible privilege. We want you to live that privilege, but we also want to create better situations for people who need it most. This is why Italian Fix gives cash to organizations that are making the world a saner place.

Know that each time you are investing in yourself, you are also investing in someone else.

This year we are proud to support entrepreneurs in developing economies. A percentage of sales from this trip go directly to fund small business loans for women, girls and the working poor through Kiva.org

We have also awarded one travel scholarship this year. That means we’ve waived the trip fee for one guest on our 2013 trips. Because we love you. Read more here.

Live your best life.

 

Have you ever noticed how some people get sucked up in the banality of life and some people are out there doing exciting things in the world. The people you admire have something in common: they are not held back by newness or adventure or fear.

We know that travelling to Italy is a big decision. It’s full of unknown things and decisions to make.

But know that when you travel with Italian Fix you’ve eliminated all the stress of travelling — you just get a soul satisfying much needed break.

It’s incredible straight forward, safe and a great value for money. Plus, you’ll have a ton of fun.

You call the shots.

 

We all need to be in charge of our own “off button”.

At some point or other, we all gotta take a break from the pressures of the daily grind — work, the inbox, the social obligations and family.

When it’s all said and done, which person would you like to be? Fulfilling life experiences aren’t just for other people you read about in books. They have no special magical powers. We’re essentially all the same.

We do these trips because we believe every person deserves the chance to invest in themselves to be the kind of person they want to be in this world. We have a powerful desire to help you see, taste, experience and feel Italy and we believe travel is a powerful way to recharge your batteries and to remember the things you love.

Could you use that chance?

Is this trip right for me?

 

This trip is perfect for the kind of people who:

Gravitate towards insider knowledge: you love meeting the locals, finding under the radar spots and love visiting a place through the eyes of someone who has friends, family and connections there.

Enjoy eating, cooking and walking it off. You love the idea of small Italian villages and countryside and fresh air.

Love to have a great time and are inspired by travelling: you enjoy meeting new people and seeing new places. But you wouldn’t do it with a tour bus of 50 people (you’re looking for a vacation — not purgatory).

This trip is not great for people who:

Are divas, drama queens or just plain depressing to be around  (but if there are enough of you we can plan you a different trip!).

Are adverse to Italian food. That is what we will be eating. Everyday. Vegetarians, gluten free, and other dietary restrictions are all happily and easily accommodated.

Would like to visit museums daily. These seaside villages are famous for outdoor scenery and their history is rooted in agriculture and fishing; wealthy artistic patronage has passed them by so you won’t be seeing famous art and architecture that is found in Italy’s big cities. Hint: visit Florence after you stay with us to see the best of both worlds.

Can’t handle walking up stairs. The Cinque Terre is a crisscross of stairs and steep roads as the villages are literally carved into terraced hillsides. Which means everywhere you go is up. If walking and stairs are a problem this is not the right trip for you.

You deserve this.

 

We hope you give yourself a permission slip to embrace a carefree version of yourself in a beautiful corner of the planet.

We hope you remember that you’re an individual, and just for moment, go beyond your roles as a daughter, a wife, a friend, a mother, a working woman or a “retired” woman.

You are beautifully you. What do you want? What do you need? What do you desire?

You deserve a week to think about that.

Join us

 

We hope you’ll join us on this trip to the Italian Riviera.

You’ll have the chance to connect with the person who you truly are.

You’ll have the time to come closer to the woman you’re truly meant to be.

You’ll have a chance to see your potential outside of your familiar city.

You’ll have the chance to visit a warm, colorful country that has plenty of room for your footprint.

It would be our honor to share Italy with you.

Thank you for being here.

Click here to register or to find out more about this experience.

Baci + abbracci,

Bianca, Tim and Josh.

Yo! This offer ends soon.

 

Registration for this trip closes May 9, 2013. Space is limited to 10 people.

 

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photo credits: left to right/top to bottom. Filippo Mutani first 2, Bianca Gignac, Filippo Mutani. Leela Cyd, licensed (next 2), Leela Cyd (3) Bio’s: Leela Cyd (3)