In May 2026 we hosted our first trip to the Italian Open in Rome. A day at the Foro Italico was every bit as special as we had hoped, but what stayed with us most was the way our small group came together and enjoyed one another’s company — from a sunset glass of wine in Monti to the feeling, at the end, of time well spent.
(One of the pleasures of a small-group trip is having the freedom to explore independently. For two of us, that included an afternoon cycling through Rome)
In many ways this visit validated our belief that more people are seeking a different kind of tennis travel. With tennis at the heart of the trip — but never the whole story.
When choosing how to spend their time, many are increasingly considering how they want to feel afterwards. They are looking for experiences that offer calm, social ease and meaningful time shared with others. Experiences that feel restorative, thoughtfully designed, and set within beautiful environments.
These groups are made up of people travelling with friends and partners, but also those travelling solo — people who want to feel confident they can trust the experience in the hands of the organiser.
The Italian Open — an ATP 1000 and WTA 1000 event — staged in the home of the 1960 Summer Olympics, combined with the backdrop of the ancient sites of the Eternal City creates something genuinely special.
(A day spent watching the tennis together at the Foro Italico)
The success of a trip like this is determined months beforehand. Carefully chosen accommodation, tennis tickets, restaurants and location all matter. Equally important is familiarity with the destination itself — knowing what works well, what does not. A great deal of preparation sits behind the scenes.
A few days centred around the tennis, the city, long dinners, shared conversations, and people who quickly felt comfortable in each other’s company. The greatest reward was seeing guests relax into the experience and enjoy themselves, knowing everything had been taken care of.
What has stayed with me most from the week was how naturally our small group came together, beginning with a first glass of wine on a rooftop terrace in Monti.
After such a special week, it is safe to say that Rome is firmly on the 2027 calendar. Perhaps with a few modest refinements, but the qualities that made the week memorable will remain unchanged.
Finally, these perspectives on the 2026 trip are what sit behind our vision for every trip we design.
“What made the trip stand out most though was the people. As a solo traveller, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more welcoming group of fellow tennis fans to share the experience with — talking tennis all day, celebrating big points together, and creating memories I’ll genuinely keep for a long time.”
LK — May 2026
From the welcome drinks on the rooftop terrace in Monti to our wonderful day at the tennis, to the lovely meals out all over Rome, to the fantastic opportunity to also explore Rome and all it has to offer — the trip was perfect from start to finish. Not only this, but the connections I made will stay with me forever
LM — May 2026