Culturally-Enriching
Culturally-Enriching
Travel Design
Rich, Meaningful, Memorable Travel Awaits
Life Beyond the Room (LBR) is a sensorial™ travel concierge dedicated
to creating custom, unique itineraries for travelers seeking authentic experiences
immersed in the lifestyle, flavors, and culture of each region.
We design extraordinary experiences that
enrich lives and create lifelong memories.
All our sensorial trips are exclusively crafted around the needs and wishes of our travelers. Our unique itineraries are custom to your wants and needs and can emphasize local foods, adventure, wellness, art, culture, language, and more.
At Life Beyond the Room, we believe that the richness of travel goes beyond the hotel room.
We encourage our travelers to step off the beaten path and discover places unknown to most tourists. Our Local Managers live in the destination countries and speak the local languages, allowing us to create partnerships with local craftsmen, who often don’t speak English nor have a strong online presence, thus bridging the gap between tradition and the 21st-century discerning traveler.
Schedule Exploration Call
Explore Our Curated Small Group Trips
Preferred Traveler Program
The Life Beyond the Room preferred traveler program allows our frequent travelers to pay for their trips over time via a monthly subscription. Perks include discounts, access to exclusive destinations, and more!
Credits never expire and can be redeemed at any time towards a small group trip of your choice or any custom trip!
Life Beyond the Room was founded by Italian native Karen Costa Hattaway in 2017 as a way to share her culture in an authentic way with her students. Karen got her start by giving Italian language lessons to a variety of students, many of whom had plans to travel to Italy. Over the course of her lessons, she began giving travel recommendations to many of her students and even connecting them with locals at their destinations. This evolved into providing full concierge travel services in several countries led by a team with the same love for their land as Karen has for Italy, replicating the LBR sensorial travel experience process. Meet our team.
Testimonials
“The care and thoughtful planning followed by the travel treasures we experienced as individuals and as a group were unparalleled in my opinion. The places we visited, the people we met, and the activities we embarked on were as educational as they were fantastic. I was a female traveler on my own who experienced Puglia, Italy in a way that has left a lifelong, wonderous imprint. Brovo Karen and LBR team! You exceeded all of my expectations and left me wanting more and I’m already thinking about where I will join you in 2024.”
— Claudia, NY
“We had such a great experience with Life Beyond the Room! Karen and Athena were both absolutely amazing! The communication was great throughout the process and the travel recommendations and activities were perfect for our family trip. We plan to use them again for future travel and highly recommend their services.”
— Heidi, GA
“I had the most amazing experience with Life Beyond the Room and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a luxurious and stress-free travel experience. From the moment we arrived, everything was perfectly planned and executed. The meals were some of the best I’ve ever had and the five-star service was exceptional. We were treated like royalty throughout our entire trip and it made all the difference in our overall experience. I can confidently say that I will never travel without Life Beyond the Room again. If you want to feel pampered and have all the details taken care of, they are the travel company for you. Thank you, Life Beyond the Room, for an unforgettable experience!”
— Christy, GA
“Once again, Karen and the people at Life Beyond the Room exceeded my every expectation during our trip to Sicily. The accommodations, activities, and food were outstanding! It was obvious to everyone in our group that Our total comfort and satisfaction with all aspects of the trip were the only things that mattered to everyone at LBR. No detail was too big or too small.
I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the trip, and I talk about it often to anyone who is thinking about travel. I can’t imagine booking a trip and not using Karen and the people at Life Beyond the Room.”
— Dennis, NH
“These people are real professionals.
They planned a memorable trip for my wife, friends, and me to Italy and Sicily. They are great and I would highly recommend them and can be a reference. I have been taking Italian lessons for 4 years and love it. Karen is a great teacher. I highly recommend her teaching and vacation planning services – she will not disappoint.”
— Chuck, OH
“This is not your standard travel agency. We have never been so pampered, all the little details were handled for us and we were able to relax, which is a feat in Italy during the high season. Everywhere Karen booked us was so special we wouldn’t want to leave; then the next place would be completely different and special and we wouldn’t want to leave again. We have traveled extensively over the past 50 years, my husband still travels the world for a living. We have had many wonderful experiences and great service so rating Karen and ‘Beyond the Room’, as #1 for a trip to Italy is exemplary!”
— Lin & Tom, SC
“Karen was recommended to me when I was beginning to plan a trip to Italy. I was delighted to discover that she has lived in Rome and has firsthand knowledge of the country. She was able to book us on a nonstop flight to Rome and she arranged a few days for us in Venice and a gelato workshop in Rome. Our Venice trip was magical with our own private tour guide who lives in Venice, a gondola ride (so fun!) and a private water taxi to take us to Morano (glass) and Burano (lace) islands. On Morano we had a private view of glass making and my grandsons even got a chance to blow glass! The gelato workshop was so fun and delicious! I highly encourage you to give Karen a call if you are planning to travel to Italy…or anywhere!”
— Kathy, GA
“Our family of four just returned from our very first trip to Italy, and we had such an amazing experience thanks to Karen and Francesca’s careful planning of our trip where we visited 3 regions of Italy over 11 days. It gave us peace of mind to have the trip planned by someone who was familiar with the country and had local contacts. The transitions from one location to another were seamless, and it felt like a magical experience to receive VIP treatment with local tour guides and a personalized experience at each place we went! It was absolutely beautiful (even despite some rainy weather), the food (& wine) was amazing, and we really felt like we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Italian culture including the differences in each region. We are extremely grateful and would definitely recommend Life Beyond the Room!”
— Michelle, GA
“BEST experience ever!
This is a trip I will never forget and it’s all because of the work, time, and energy Life Beyond the Room created to make this trip once in a lifetime! I will absolutely be using their services again in the future.
Thank you Karen and Francesca for this unforgettable trip. I will never forget it.”
— Kim, GA
“Amazing experience! Planned to the finest detail yet flexible enough to ad-lib adventures as they presented themselves. Guides were knowledgeable, accommodating, and friendly. LBR really puts the work into planning and getting the experiences so you can just enjoy yourself. Of course, I can’t say enough good things about the resort food, drinks, and staff. All amazing! Highly recommend. 15/10!”
— Alan, GA
What Makes Us Different?
People
Our guides and partners are not just professionals doing their job; they are people with a deep love for their country and passion for their craft. You meet as a guest and leave as a friend.
Passion
Our appreciation for our country and our people allows us to create custom sensorial experiences with a focus on preserving and sharing our roots and traditions.
Presence
In addition to curating experiences around your unique interests, our local coordinators are available 24/7 during your stay to ensure your every need is met.