Jessica Alba Shares Her Secret to the Perfect Trip to Italy

If you follow actress Jessica Alba on Instagram, you’ve likely found yourself envying her natural beauty, sense of style, successful Hollywood career, and, perhaps most of all, her incredible vacations. And you’ve probably noticed she loves to go to Italy.

“I try to go at least once a year—more if I’m lucky,” Alba told Travel + Leisure. “There’s just something about Italy that keeps pulling me back…the culture, the history, the people, the food, the energy, all of it.”

When Alba travels anywhere in Italy, there’s only one family she calls: the Amoricos, founders of luxury tour company Access Italy. It’s no surprise, since brothers Simone and Marco Amorico and their father, Angelo Amorico, have been known to tour everyone from Oprah and the Obamas to T+L editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford and me around the boot. But Alba’s connection to the Roman family runs deep.

“I was introduced to Access Italy through a friend who had used their services and was completely obsessed—and now I totally get why,” she said. “From the moment you start planning with them, you feel like you’re getting this secret, insider access to Italy that you would never find on your own. But what really makes them special is that you also feel like you’re part of the Amorico family. Everywhere you go, people welcome you with open arms—it’s like one big warm hug.”

Traveling with Access Italy—especially as a family—means luxury, Alba said, because every detail is thoughtfully handled. “And what I love is that nothing feels cookie-cutter,” she added. “The itinerary is tailored daily just for you and how you’re feeling in the moment.”

As a mom of three, Alba is no stranger to dealing with the sometimes challenging logistics that come with family travel—and keeping everyone entertained. “There are actually so many fun and engaging activities for kids in Rome,” she said. “Things like gelato-making, pizza-making, and pasta-making classes are always a hit—they’re interactive and so much fun. There are also incredible museums, unique toy stores, and parks for running around.”

Since her first trip to Rome with the Access Italy team, they have also taken her and the kids to Sicily and Tuscany, which she named as some of her favorite family vacations of all time. “It was so special to experience different regions—each with its own unique vibe, history, and culture,” she said. “It felt like we were discovering different sides of Italy, which kept it so dynamic and exciting. And the kids had the best time—there was something for everyone.”

While travelers often discuss Italian etiquette tips and innocuous tourist mistakes to avoid, like ordering a cappuccino too late in the day, Alba says she learned a more important local lesson while traveling with the Amoricos: Kindness goes a long way. “Smile, be warm, give hugs, and just lead with a good heart; it really makes all the difference,” she said. “The Amoricos have this incredible way of creating genuine connections everywhere they go, and that energy is contagious—when you travel with them, you feel like part of their extended family.”

For Alba, that included being welcomed into their home—and their favorite hometown restaurants, like Taverna Trilussa in the Trastevere neighborhood, which has become one of her favorite places to eat in Rome. “Their cacio e pepe is next level!” she said. “I also can’t resist the truffle burrata focaccia—it’s out of this world.”

When she’s not in Italy, Alba also loves to travel to Hawaii, Mexico, Japan, Austria, and the South of France. Since her most recent trip with Access Italy in December, she’s been spotted at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on the Hawaiian island of Kauai; in Los Cabos with her 7-year-old son, Hayes; and in Mexico City with girlfriends. Next on her wishlist is India, along with the Himalayas, Nepal, and Peru.

In the meantime, it’s safe to assume her Italian memories will tide her over until she’s on a plane again. “Every trip I’ve taken with Access Italy has given me forever memories,” she told T+L. “It’s honestly a dream way to experience such beautiful places.”