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Our Specialty:
Customized Luxury Travel

Photo Credit: Guido Adelfio

WHO WE ARE

Boutique Custom Vacation Specialists

With More Than 50

Years of Experience

Fully Personalized

Vacation Planning

About Us

OUR SPECIALTY

With over 50 years of experience,

Bethesda Travel Center will custom-design your trip of a lifetime!

 

We offer carefully crafted personalized vacations custom-tailored to your interests, the ideal time of year, budget and energy level. Whether your vacation plans will take you to Italy (our favorite!), plus France, England, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Greece, Israel, South Africa and more,

together we can plan the Best Vacation of your Life! 

Either in person or over the phone, we invite you to share your dreams, wishes, style of travel, and of course the practical considerations: your preferred modes of transportation, finances and schedule. After a detailed consultation, Guido and the team will carefully plan your itinerary to tailor a fully customized vacation, taking all of your individual preferences to heart! We will create a personalized travel app for you, ensuring that you stay organized with all trip details at your fingertips! Before departure, you will meet with Guido to discuss the details of your trip, as well as helpful travel tips, and off you go!

Your homework? 

Check your passport, learn some colloquial phrases and plan your luggage as the excitement builds!

HOW WE WORK

Traveling with us is easy, it all starts with a conversation!

Planning

Creating a Vision

Itinerary

Schedule a consultation to launch your dream vacation

After our conversation, we provide your plan of action

Once everything is in place

we will prepare a personalized  mobile phone app for you

Bon Voyage!

Grab your passport and you'll be ready to embark on your very own trip of a lifetime!

OUR

STORY

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Like many great vacations,  the history of Bethesda Travel Center started with a love story.

Once upon a time, Antonio, a law student from Palermo, and Margaret, an American working in Paris under the Marshall Plan, just happened to be vacationing in the same place at the same time... They met, fell in love, and not long afterward were married!  Seven years later, they settled in Bethesda, Maryland, and founded Bethesda Travel Center LLC in 1961 with the goal of providing expert travel itineraries to Italy, Europe and the rest of the world.

Today, their son Guido, who was born in Italy is a true visionary in the world of travel. He and his dedicated staff continue to carry BTC's legacy by delivering exceptional personalized service to our clients. After more than 50 years, our passion remains the same. It is to provide our clients with the trip of a lifetime where every moment becomes a joyful memory. 

Our privilege for these many years has been serving generations of individuals, couples, friends and families just like yours — it all adds up to thousands of satisfied and loyal clients. You have my personal promise; we call it Guido’s Guarantee!

 

We look forward to our conversation and can’t wait to get your vacation planning started! Grazie Mille from the Adelfio family!

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 Guido Adelfio

Professionally, I plan enriching experiences for our clients. My hobby is photography, capturing images to inspire you. Most of the photos on this site and your very own personalized travel app are mine - hope you enjoy them. 

Your vacation is our passion! 

Growing up the conversation at the dinner table almost always revolved around Bethesda Travel, and now 50-some years later I’ve experienced 100 countries, logged millions of kilometers by plane, boat, train and car (hot air balloon too!), taken over 20,000 pic’s and spent 1,000’s of hotel and cruise ship nights. Truly, we hardly ever book a hotel I have not visited myself!

Ciao! Thank You for Visiting our Site
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Travel Tips

TRAVEL TIPS

  • Our Philosophy
    Wander off the beaten path! Major cities are popular for good reason, but there are so many worthwhile destinations!​​ It’s all about the experience! Head out, explore, and embrace the culture! Don’t over plan! The best moments always happen when you allow room for surprises!​ Travel to another country open to experiencing other cultures. Embrace local customs and foods—they are different from your home!
  • Packing & Attire
    La Bella Figura, the traditional Italian fashion plate has gone casual! Shorts and sneaks are acceptable during the day and at sidewalk trattorias & pizzerias, but generally in the evening at a ristorante, you’ll probably want to raise it up a notch Churches require modest attire. That means no shorts and please cover your shoulders! Gentlemen remove your hats (Sistine Chapel and Scavi as well)! Best rule of thumb: PACK LIGHT! Less is best, especially for trains and rental cars! Most hotels offer laundry service (plan ahead on weekends)
  • Accommodations & Etiquette
    One of the joys of travel to Italy is staying in charming boutique style hotels. "Location, location, location,..." As a rule, Italians aren’t fans of air conditioning! Many establishments don’t turn ON their units until mid-May and turn OFF the central system by early or mid-October Frequently buildings from prior centuries may not have reliable in-room air conditioning or controls Italian elevators can be tiny. Do not pile on! Wall-mount hair dryers are universal Use your hotel safe for passports and extra cash, and keep a shot of your passports on your phone Tip at your own discretion. We generally suggest: 7€/hour for guides and drivers 2-3€/bag for porters 5-7€/person per day to the staff & housekeeping (leave the cash tip directly with a reception at checkout) For taxi drivers, round up!
  • Air Travel
    There is no best time to book a flight. But normally 3-6 months in advance is about right Your US passport MUST be valid 180 days beyond your return date We highly recommend Global Entry (GOES): you’ll speed thru TSA security and skip the passport line when re-entering the US! Be sure to enter your Airline FFB and GOES numbers in advance! Budget at least 2-3 hours between connecting flights! (More at Newark!) We recommend 2.5-3 hours for international flight check-in (less for internal or intra-European flights) Boarding Passes are best accessed on your airline app 1 checked bag is free in coach on your transatlantic leg. Intra-European flights often charge for luggage, with size and weight restrictions posted (in kilos!) on airline websites. TRAVEL LIGHT! Set your watch to the destination time BEFORE leaving! It’ll help you acclimatize to the new time zone! Coming home, travelers must go through US Immigration & Customs at the first entry point (US gateway). Check the Department of Agriculture’s website for restrictions on importing that leg of prosciutto! Stay hydrated, stretch occasionally and sleep as much as you can on those long flights.
  • Currency
    The Euro (€) is Italy’s currency and generally trades around 1.25/ US $. Always have some cash in hand and remember to break large bills every chance you get! ATM Machines (Bancomat) are frequently found in the cities. Alert your bank & credit card issuers in advance and always carry more than one ATM card! Always have cash handy and remember to break large bills every chance you get! Most stores and restaurants require cash (Euros) for small purchases. Not all museums accept credit cards. Public lavatories often charge 0.50€-1€, so please carry some change with you!
  • Wifi & Electronics
    Electricity in Italy is 220V: use plug adapters with 2 slender round (“snakebite”) prongs Most electronics are rated “INPUT 100-240V/50-60Hz” and may be plugged in with a simple plug adapter If your item has a motor (e.g. hair dryer) or is not rated “INPUT 100-240V 50-60Hz,” you will need a transformer or voltage converter. Be careful! USB cables are useful for charging devices in the car Always alert your cell provider in advance that you will be traveling and ask about their international plans You can quickly burn through your data allowance, so go easy on the downloads! Texting/WhatsApp are usually the most cost-effective mode of communication Use WiFi whenever possible!
  • Covid-19 has changed the world!
    Masks are mandatory in many places, including on your flight. Please comply Social Distancing includes elevators, hotel lobbies, restaurants, and bars Follow CDC and local health guidelines Please bring proof of vaccination!
  • Our Philosophy
    Wander off the beaten path! Major cities are popular for good reason, but there are so many worthwhile destinations!​​ It’s all about the experience! Head out, explore, and embrace the culture! Don’t over plan! The best moments always happen when you allow room for surprises!​ Travel to another country open to experiencing other cultures. Embrace local customs and foods—they are different from your home!
  • Packing & Attire
    La Bella Figura, the traditional Italian fashion plate has gone casual! Shorts and sneaks are acceptable during the day and at sidewalk trattorias & pizzerias, but generally in the evening at a ristorante, you’ll probably want to raise it up a notch Churches require modest attire. That means no shorts and please cover your shoulders! Gentlemen remove your hats (Sistine Chapel and Scavi as well)! Best rule of thumb: PACK LIGHT! Less is best, especially for trains and rental cars! Most hotels offer laundry service (plan ahead on weekends)
  • Accommodations & Etiquette
    One of the joys of travel to Italy is staying in charming boutique style hotels. "Location, location, location,..." As a rule, Italians aren’t fans of air conditioning! Many establishments don’t turn ON their units until mid-May and turn OFF the central system by early or mid-October Frequently buildings from prior centuries may not have reliable in-room air conditioning or controls Italian elevators can be tiny. Do not pile on! Wall-mount hair dryers are universal Use your hotel safe for passports and extra cash, and keep a shot of your passports on your phone Tip at your own discretion. We generally suggest: 7€/hour for guides and drivers 2-3€/bag for porters 5-7€/person per day to the staff & housekeeping (leave the cash tip directly with a reception at checkout) For taxi drivers, round up!
  • Air Travel
    There is no best time to book a flight. But normally 3-6 months in advance is about right Your US passport MUST be valid 180 days beyond your return date We highly recommend Global Entry (GOES): you’ll speed thru TSA security and skip the passport line when re-entering the US! Be sure to enter your Airline FFB and GOES numbers in advance! Budget at least 2-3 hours between connecting flights! (More at Newark!) We recommend 2.5-3 hours for international flight check-in (less for internal or intra-European flights) Boarding Passes are best accessed on your airline app 1 checked bag is free in coach on your transatlantic leg. Intra-European flights often charge for luggage, with size and weight restrictions posted (in kilos!) on airline websites. TRAVEL LIGHT! Set your watch to the destination time BEFORE leaving! It’ll help you acclimatize to the new time zone! Coming home, travelers must go through US Immigration & Customs at the first entry point (US gateway). Check the Department of Agriculture’s website for restrictions on importing that leg of prosciutto! Stay hydrated, stretch occasionally and sleep as much as you can on those long flights.
  • Currency
    The Euro (€) is Italy’s currency and generally trades around 1.25/ US $. Always have some cash in hand and remember to break large bills every chance you get! ATM Machines (Bancomat) are frequently found in the cities. Alert your bank & credit card issuers in advance and always carry more than one ATM card! Always have cash handy and remember to break large bills every chance you get! Most stores and restaurants require cash (Euros) for small purchases. Not all museums accept credit cards. Public lavatories often charge 0.50€-1€, so please carry some change with you!
  • Wifi & Electronics
    Electricity in Italy is 220V: use plug adapters with 2 slender round (“snakebite”) prongs Most electronics are rated “INPUT 100-240V/50-60Hz” and may be plugged in with a simple plug adapter If your item has a motor (e.g. hair dryer) or is not rated “INPUT 100-240V 50-60Hz,” you will need a transformer or voltage converter. Be careful! USB cables are useful for charging devices in the car Always alert your cell provider in advance that you will be traveling and ask about their international plans You can quickly burn through your data allowance, so go easy on the downloads! Texting/WhatsApp are usually the most cost-effective mode of communication Use WiFi whenever possible!
  • Covid-19 has changed the world!
    Masks are mandatory in many places, including on your flight. Please comply Social Distancing includes elevators, hotel lobbies, restaurants, and bars Follow CDC and local health guidelines Please bring proof of vaccination!
Feedbacks

Corkey & Scott D. 

The research you’ve done and the relationships you’ve built are quite extraordinary. From the drivers, to the guides and the hosts, each person and place was genuine and full of personality. All of the small details added so much to our experience, and each leg of the journey was beautifully curated. It was a trip of a lifetime. We are now officially spoiled!

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Contact

When is your next vacation?

Start planning today! 

4422 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814   

Tel: (301) 656-1670  |  Email: ciao@bethesdatravel.com 

Let's Talk

4422 East West Hwy, Bethesda MD 20814   

Tel: +1 301.656.1670 | Email: ciao@bethesdatravel.com

Office Hours: 

  • Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 5:30pm

  • Friday: 9:00am - 4:00pm 

  • Saturday: By Appointment 

Thanks For Getting in Touch!

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