Robert is an Italian who has lived in Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Umbria as well as locations throughout Western Europe including London, Paris, Barcelona and Croatia. He attended Columbia University in NYC and worked in NYC news media, as a writer at large, and with American Express Travel before and after spending years on the ground in Europe as a guide, local expert and tour company owner.

Who We Are

My name is Robert Gandini. I am the owner of VaPiano Travel and an Italian and US dual citizen who has grown up both in the United States and in Europe and spent at least half of my life living, working and traveling throughout my home country, the rest of Western Europe and much of the world. As a writer, volunteer, travel expert, tour guide and long time resident, I have developed an intimate knowledge of our focus destinations and I offer this insight to you during the process of planning your trip and on the ground once you've reached your destination.

We begin by performing a personal phone or email (your preference) discussion about where you would like to go, when, for how long and with what goals in mind. We ask what interests you and what you'd rather avoid, how you see the trip unfolding and what matters most to you. We then use this information to determine which accommodations options will be the most suitable, which experiences most memorable and all the little details that really make the difference. From here we provide advice, local info and guidance so that you get the most possible enjoyment out of your journey without any of the hassle or headache so often associated with planning a trip abroad.

I handle every customer and every request personally and provide unlimited expert information on every European destination from personal on the ground knowledge and not from general research and overview information. I know each city block-by-block, where to eat, what to do, what to skip, who offers the inside options unavailable anywhere else, etc. The traveler deals only with me throughout the planning process, and every trip I create is built from scratch with no predetermined components or package deals involved. I do not use chain hotels except when a landmark property or special request is required. The idea is to provide customized, expert-designed trips that match the specifications of each individual traveler both during the booking process and throughout the journey.

The difference is in the details and my small team and I remember everything from your seat on the plane to the style and amenities of your hotels, to the location of your accommodations as they relate to the attractions that most interest you within the city or region, from the experiences that will make your trip memorable to the transfers that will best eliminate any delays from your schedule. We plan every aspect of every custom trip to suit the individual and no two trips are ever the same.

Should you choose one of our escorted trips or private tours, I will likely be the person to meet you on the ground and guide you throughout as well.

*VaPiano Travel LLC is a registered and fully insured company.