Our man in Venice

It's everyone's dream job: Robert Gandini will be posted in Italy for the summer to help customers of Preferred Travel of Naples. Gandini will live in an apartment in Venice from May until October.

But you can be sure he won't be sipping wine and lounging at cafes all day. In reality, Gandini will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help Preferred Travel customers with any needs they may have, from making a restaurant reservation to booking a tour. “There won't be any Chianti or lying down,” Gandini laughs. “We've got a lot to do.”

Americans are expected to travel to Europe in record numbers this summer. Besides the favorable currency exchange rate, Gandini says Europe's relative safety is appealing to many travelers.

Gandini joined Preferred Travel in the fall after a career that included guiding in Europe and marketing for American Express vacations. “They have a tremendous Europe business and of that business Italy is king,” Gandini says.