THE IN-BETWEEN DECADE
Ciao, Italy!
the reset trip
This is the trip you book when you've been holding it together for too long. Press pause and settle into slow Italian living.
Five days of sun, pool time, long dinners and that gloriously smug feeling of choosing a trip that actually lets you relax.
Secure your spot from
£1,950 pp
4
NIGHTS IN ITALY
14
MAX GROUP SIZE
30s & 40s
ONLY
0
FORCED 6AM STARTS
No detoxes. No forced schedules.
Not a single 6am wake-up call.
This is your small group trips for between life chapters whilst in your 30s and 40s. Not a trashy party in sight, no small talk and no green juice cleanses or a wellness retreat that quietly judges you for ordering the Pinot.
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Yoga is available. So is the hot tub. So is doing absolutely nothing for an entire afternoon. Nobody is tracking which one you chose.
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The itinerary has breathing room built in. Day three is yours - all of it. No obligation, no schedule, no guilt about not using it productively.
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The wine list is good. The food is genuinely excellent. The vineyard visit includes a long lunch alfresco because that's what an afternoon in Italy should look like.
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You come home rested. Not reformed. Not inspired to start a new morning routine. Just actually, properly, better than when you left.
Four nights in a boutique hilltop villa in Le Marche. Everything sorted. You just show up and enjoy it.
One beautiful place.
An easy pace.
People you'll like.
"The Non Retreat, Retreat. A historic manor house in one of Italy's officially recognised most beautiful villages - in Le Marche's rolling hills. Days built around slow mornings, sunshine, good food and good wine."
This is the anti-retreat. One lovely villa, a small group who are easygoing and good company, and a pace that has real breathing room built into it.
You come home rested. Nobody tried to fix you, detox you or get you up at 6am. You just had a genuinely good few days in Italy with people you'll want to stay in touch with.
THE IN-BETWEEN DECADE
One trip. Nine different
reasons to book it.
Just out of a long relationship. Not ready to date. Very ready to eat good food somewhere sunny with low-key people.
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No one to travel with. The group chat has been "we should do something" for three years.
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Just left your job and need a beat before you figure out what's next.
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Your friends are all in the thick of nappy stages. You just want a week with people who aren't.
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Been through a personal change and need a week away with decent company. Not therapy. Not a retreat. Just a break.
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Hit 40 and somehow the friend group just... thinned out.
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Need a break from organising things for everyone else and want someone to sort it all for you.
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A parent and need four nights of not being needed by anyone. That's it. That's the whole reason.
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Overdue a proper break and finally doing something about it.
This is not a singles holiday. Not a wellness retreat. It's the reset trip for people who want substance over small talk - and a proper break with people worth spending time with.
Pool & Hot Tub
Sunshine, chatting, napping and not much else
Vineyard Lunch
Wine tasting regional wines & lunch alfresco
30s & 40s
For the in-between decades
No Early Starts
Relax, rise at your own pace and schedule
WHERE YOU'LL BE STAYING
Maniero Montecassiano.
A historic manor
in the Le Marche hills.
Set in Montecassiano - one of Italy's officially recognised most beautiful villages - this is a historic manor house with a modern interior that manages to feel both grand and genuinely relaxed. Nestled among olive gardens and fruit trees, with everything you'd want on site and one of the most beautiful views in Le Marche.
It works just as well for long lunches on the terrace as it does for slow afternoons by the pool and late-night chats by the fire.
✓ Swimming pool and hot tub
✓ Wellness centre, gym and yoga space
✓ Padel court and beach volleyball
✓ Wine cellar and fireplace for evenings
✓ Outdoor cinema under the stars
✓ Set among olive groves in a village voted one of Italy's most beautiful
DAY BY DAY
The Itinerary
Arrival & Spritz Party Welcome
Arrive in the Italian hills and settle straight into villa life — pool time, sunshine and that instant exhale of being away. In the evening, a spritz welcome to ease everyone in and start the trip as it means to go on.
01
Day one
02
Day two
Morning Walk & Vineyard Wine Tasting
Start the day with a gentle countryside walk, then spend the afternoon at a local vineyard. Regional wines, a long lunch and an unhurried few hours that fit perfectly with the pace of this stay.
03
Day three
Brunch & Slow Day at the Villa
A relaxed villa brunch, then the whole day is yours. Swim, unwind in the hot tub, play padel or head to a nearby beach. In the evening — outdoor pizza night and cinema under the stars.
04
Day four
Morning Yoga & Italian Cooking Class
A gentle yoga session in the villa's dedicated space, then the afternoon is yours. In the evening, a hands-on cooking class and shared dinner — simple, fun and always a highlight.
Farewell Breakfast & Departures
A final slow breakfast before heading home rested, recharged, and already talking about the next trip.
05
Day five
NO SURPRISES
Everything that's included.
4 nights in a luxury boutique villa
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Welcome spritz party on arrival
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Morning countryside walk
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Vineyard wine tasting with lunch
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Villa brunch and outdoor pizza night
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Onsite yoga session
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Italian cooking class and shared dinner
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Outdoor cinema and games evening
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Daily breakfasts and group dinners
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Full villa amenity access
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ISWAT hosting throughout
Everything listed on the itinerary is covered. No awkward moments mid-trip where you're reaching for your wallet. The price you see is the price - for everything listed.
Not included:
Flights
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Travel insurance
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Meals outside the group itinerary
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Optional extras not listed above
People between chapters
People in their 30s and 40s who are somewhere in the in-between decade - career pivoting, post-relationship, friendship group reshuffling, new parent who needs one week off, just changed jobs and need to reset before chapter two.
Most come solo. One or two bring a friend. Everyone ends up on the same wavelength quickly. No forced bonding. No games. No "tell us a fun fact about yourself."
Conversations feel natural, dinners feel easy, and by the end it usually feels more like travelling with new mates than joining a tour.
Between chapters people at a turning point, not just a birthday
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Max 14 people - small enough that you actually get to know each other
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Solo-friendly - most people come alone and don't feel it by day one
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WhatsApp group beforehand - so you're not arriving to total strangers
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ISWAT hosted throughout - everything taken care of. Nothing left to you.
THE GROUP
READY TO BOOK
Secure your spot
SHARED OCCUPANCY
£1,950
per person
Twin room shared with one other guest. We'll match you thoughtfully - most solo guests choose this and are glad they did.
£500 deposit secures your spot. Balance due 60 days before departure. Monthly instalments available.
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
£2,250
per person
Your own double room. Only 1 left! First come, first served.
£500 deposit secures your spot. Balance due 60 days before departure. Monthly instalments available.
Your spot is secured with a deposit. We'll be in touch to confirm the trip and give you the green light to book flights.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT
Sam & Sophie built this
because they needed it.
Between them: 20+ years in hospitality and experience design, a decade of corporate life, solo trips across dozens of countries, group trips that were brilliant and ones that were a disaster. They know exactly what makes travel memorable - and what makes it fall flat. The Slow Stays are the trip they're mind and body were crying out for, desperate to avoid burnout town. So they built it.
"We're not wannabe travel agents. We're people who love travel, culture and meeting new people - and got tired of nothing quite fitting. This is the trip we made for ourselves. We think you'll want to come too!"
You won't be arriving to total strangers.
We set up a WhatsApp group before the trip so everyone can say hello, ask questions and get a feel for the group. It makes the first day much easier - and far less awkward.
THE GROUP
THE GROUP
The Practicalities
Getting There
Complimentary transfer from Ancona Falconara Airport - around 45 minutes from the villa. Full details shared once your deposit is in. Bologna is also an option if you want to arrive a couple of days early and explore - roughly 2 hours by train.
Dietary Requirements
We cater for most dietary needs - let us know in advance. Allergies or something specific? Reach out before booking and we'll make sure you're covered.
Accessibility
The villa sits on a hilltop estate with steps and pathways. Most bedrooms are on the first floor. Not fully step-free - get in touch if you'd like to chat through your needs.
What Happens Next
Spot secured with a deposit. We'll confirm the trip and give you the green light to book flights. Monthly instalments available - details sent by email once you book.
QUESTIONS?
Things people often want to know.