Planned to Perfection: A Road Scholar Staff Adventure in Italy
While Road Scholar staff member Jaime D. plans her learning adventures around what she wants to learn and where she dreams of going, she also applies a strategic approach — complete with spreadsheets, filters and years of careful tracking.
Jaime’s love for travel started long ago, and she’s been using her analytical skills to meticulously select her Road Scholar programs ever since. “I have a report that I use to pick my programs,” she says.
Jaime and family in Pompeii
“My spreadsheet is broken up into domestic and international programs, and I’ve got a variety of filters — price, program type, even whether I’m traveling with family or friends.” This structured approach has helped her narrow down the perfect experiences, ensuring she gets the best value and the most enriching adventures.
One of her most memorable learning adventures? A Winter in Southern Europe program to Italy with her mom and two aunts.
Savoring Sorrento in the Off-Season
A few years ago, Jaime and her family embarked on Road Scholar’s Sorrento & the Breathtaking Amalfi Coast program in early December, just before the region’s seasonal lull. “The town was so quiet — we almost had the place to ourselves,” she recalls. “It was perfect timing — our Group Leaders told us that in the summer, it’s so crowded, you wouldn’t really be able to have the same kind of experience.”
Jaime and her mom in Capri
The weather was mild, perfect for strolling through Sorrento’s charming streets, taking a day excursion to Naples and exploring the Amalfi Coast. The group even ventured to the island of Capri, enjoying the peaceful, off-season atmosphere that made the experience feel even more intimate.
Jaime’s mom, an Italian American, was particularly moved by the journey. “This was her first Road Scholar program, and it was a dream for us to go to Italy together,” Jaime shares. “We all just had the best time.”
One highlight was to a family-run estate in the hometown of their Group Leader. “It wasn’t even open to the public, but he knew the family and arranged it for us,” Jaime explains. “The mother owned the estate, and her three sons ran the farm, served the meals and cooked for us. We had endless courses of food, all seasonal and harvested that morning. The wine was plentiful and the atmosphere was just so picturesque.”
They also indulged in Naples’ famous brick-oven pizza, explored the ruins of Pompeii, and watched a grandfather demonstrate gnocchi-making at a farm-to-table estate. “By the last meal, we were so full from these long, leisurely lunches that we weren’t even hungry for dinner,” Jaime recalls.
Jaime's sister and mom
The Joy of Adventuring with Road Scholar Participants
As someone who works behind the scenes in Road Scholar’s marketing department, Jaime finds that traveling with participants gives her a deeper understanding of who they are and what they value, as well as insight into how different generations interact with technology and travel. “As marketers, it’s so important to get to know who we’re talking to,” she says. “Our participants are such curious learners, always asking great questions I wouldn’t have even thought of. All of that is valuable information that makes my job really rewarding — and far more fun.”
She’s especially inspired by the solo travelers. “For women in general, but particularly older women, traveling alone can be intimidating — especially in a new country. But they take that leap of faith, knowing they’ll meet people with similar interests and ambitions and have a safe, enriching experience. The participant I was talking to in Italy was 81 and traveling solo. She told me, ‘The answer is always now — if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to do it now.’”
Some of the most memorable participants she’s met were on her first Road Scholar program to the Grand Canyon. “There were two women, 80 and 82 years old, who hiked in the rain and snow and whitewater rafted like it was nothing. They told us, ‘This is kid stuff — we need to go faster!’”
Jaime and family in Naples
What's Next?
Jaime’s spreadsheet is always growing, and she’s eyeing a different kind of adventure next. “I’ve done national parks, food and wine programs, and now I’m intrigued by the crafting programs,” she says. “I’ve just never thought of travel that way, as a way to develop a skill. Imagine what I’ll learn and who I’ll meet on those programs — that’s exciting to me.”
One thing’s for sure, whether it’s an art workshop, an outdoor expedition or another unforgettable cultural immersion, Jaime’s next learning adventure will be as well-researched as it is rewarding.
And her spreadsheet? It’s ready for whatever comes next.
How do you plan your learning adventures? Join the conversation — and the community — on Facebook. And check out our Age Adventurously group while you’re there!