Boundless Life Tuscany Review: Our Honest Experience Worldschooling in Italy
When we first heard about Boundless Life, we honestly weren't sure if it would live up to the hype. If you don’t know what Boundless Life is. Read our blog on everything you need to know about Boundless Life.
As a family that travels a lot, we've become pretty good at figuring things out on our own. So naturally, we wondered if a program like Boundless Life would really be worth the investment. But Boundless Life offers something that's surprisingly hard to find: a built-in community for both kids and adults while living abroad.
We lived in London last year for almost 4 months and we did it on our own. It was the summer so the kids were not in school, but we did hours and days of research. We rented the apartment and co-working space ourselves. We found a gym, a soccer camp and clubs for the kids. We did it all and let me tell you. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK and a lot of logistics. We loved it so much that is how we started to research other ways to be able to travel longer with kids. This is how we discovered and decided to do boundless.
We decided to do the Tuscany cohort based in Pistoia, Italy, and after spending time there, we can honestly say that the experience exceeded our expectations in many ways. After spending time in their Tuscany cohort based in Pistoia, Italy, we can confidently say that it was one of the best decisions we've made for our family. Was it perfect? Of course not. But what Boundless Life gave us was something that's incredibly difficult to create on your own: an instant community, a fantastic educational environment for the kids, and the support system that makes long-term family travel feel sustainable.
Here's our honest review of the experience. Everything we learned, loved and had to adjust to.
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What made Boundless different than anything else we've done
From the moment we arrived, we were surrounded by families who understood this lifestyle. Everyone was there for the same reason: to experience life abroad while giving their children an incredible educational and cultural experience. People are from all over the world and come together and you just feel instantly connected because you are doing this amazing thing together!
The result was a community that formed almost instantly. The kids became best friends. The adults became friends. Before long, it felt less like a travel program and more like a small village of families supporting each other. Even now, as we are leaving, we have already made plans with other families to meet up in different cities back in the US and planning to do another cohort together. That was one of the coolest things we have seen with this program. Families will plan to do their next cohort together.
Why Boundless worked so well for our family
One thing I think is important to mention is that Boundless isn't just designed for one type of family. As a widow, I did this cohort with my 3 children, my mom, and my sister. I wasn't sure how extended family would fit into the experience, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts. My mom and sister were welcomed into the community from day one. They joined events, built friendships, and became part of the experience alongside us. Having that support system while living abroad was invaluable. Whether you're a traditional family, a single parent, a blended family, grandparents traveling with grandchildren, or bringing extended family along for the adventure, Boundless creates space for everyone. That's something we really appreciated!!
The housing provided exceeded our expectations
Let's talk about housing because this was one of our biggest questions before arriving. We obviously did our research and picked the best housing we could find for our family but as you know, pictures only go so far. We went with a Boundless property and I am sooo beyond happy that we did. Boundless provides the accommodations for your stay (there is the option to find your own housing), and while we expected something comfortable, we were pleasantly surprised by how much space we had.
Our apartment in Pistoia, Italy was larger than expected, well-equipped, and immediately felt like home and when you're staying somewhere for weeks or months rather than days, that matters A LOT. But what impressed us most wasn't just the apartment itself, it was the support Boundless provided along with it!
Living abroad comes with little challenges. Wi-Fi stops working. Air conditioning acts up. Someone accidentally locks themselves out. Instead of spending hours trying to solve those problems in a foreign country, Boundless has a 24-hour support team that helps handle it for you. We once lost power and contacted them and they were on the phone with us immediately helping figure it out and then sent someone over to help! Knowing there was always someone available if we needed assistance gave us tremendous peace of mind.
It's one of those things you don't fully appreciate until you're actually living abroad with kids and something does go wrong.
A different kind of school experience
One of the biggest reasons families choose Boundless Life is the educational component, and we can honestly say it was one of our favorite parts of the experience. Boundless adopts a Montessori-inspired approach emphasizing hands-on learning, creativity, collaboration, and real-world experiences. Instruction is interactive. They would teach lessons outside and spent significantly more outdoor time, movement, and exploration than what many children experience in a traditional classroom. They were actively engaged in what they were learning.
The classrooms felt nothing like a traditional school environment. The school is very good about getting to know each student and their interests. They have you fill out some paperwork beforehand stating their interests and a little bit about your child.
The teachers were wonderful. They quickly became an integral part of my kids lives and were very communicative. Boundless has a portal where the teachers will upload photos and videos periodically so you can see what the kids are learning and doing. They also have the parents come into the classroom twice within the cohort like a conference.
Boundless adopts a Montessori-inspired approach emphasizing hands-on learning, creativity, collaboration, and real-world experiences. Instruction is interactive, and children spend more time outdoors than in a traditional school. They would teach lessons outside and spent significantly more outdoor time, movement, and exploration than what many children experience in a traditional classroom. They were actively engaged in what they were learning.
As parents, it was refreshing to see education approached in a way that felt aligned with the worldschooling mindset we value so much.
I feel a lot of people have asked me about the kids transitioning from this type of schooling, back to the traditional schooling afterwards. Here's how the transition typically works:
They follow an accredited curriculum. Boundless uses internationally recognized curricula (depending on the campus), so students continue learning core subjects like math, reading, writing, science, and social studies while they're away.
Teachers keep records of progress. Families receive documentation, assessments, and reports that can be shared with their child's home school if needed.
The social transition is usually easier than parents expect. Many kids miss their friends at home, but they also come back with increased confidence, independence, and adaptability from living in a new country and making friends from around the world.
Academically, most children reintegrate without major issues. Every school district is different, so it's worth talking with your child's school before you leave to understand any requirements for re-enrollment or credit transfer, especially for older students.
Adult activities & community
One thing that surprised us, in the best possible way was how much effort Boundless puts into creating experiences for the adults too. Each Boundless location does different activities that is relevant to the region or area that the cohort is in. The Italy activities are different than what would be put on in Bali, or Greece, etc. Most family programs focus entirely on the children, which is a great focus but one of the things that truly makes Boundless different is they also focus on
that they understands that if the parents are thriving, the whole family thrives.
Throughout our time in Italy, there were organized activities specifically for adults, many of which took place during school hours so parents could actually participate without having to worry about getting a babysitter for the kids.
Some of our favorites for the Tuscany location included:
Truffle hunting
Vespa tours through the Tuscan countryside
Wine window tours
Community lunches and gatherings
Not only were these experiences so cool and so much fun, but they also helped build deeper connections between the families. All of the parents (or adults) really got to bond and become closer doing these things together. Each experience does cost different amounts and some included a tour guide or lunch so
A dedicated Co-working space
Another feature that deserves its own section is the coworking space. We loved being able to have a dedicated work space that we could go to and was open 24 hours. If you're working remotely while traveling with your family, you know how important it is to have a reliable place to focus. They have screens, printers and “phone booth” style pods you can work quietly in.
Whether you're taking calls with clients in another time zone, working after the kids go to bed, or need a quiet place to focus during the day, the space is always available. It's one of those details that shows Boundless truly understands the realities of balancing work, family, and travel.
Is Boundless Life worth the cost?
This is probably the question we get asked most often and the answer would be different for everyone. This truly depends on what you're looking for. Every person’s situation will look a little different and I get that. Each location and the time of year does change some of the costs. You can use their Pricing Calculator to get a better idea of cost. Something to remember, this cost covers housing, schooling, co-working space, etc. (You can choose to find your own housing, but trying to do this is a little harder in certain locations and they specifically pick locations within walking distance of everything for you).
Could you piece together your own apartment, schooling, coworking space, activities, and social opportunities? Of course. But that's not really what you're paying for. What you're paying for is convenience, support. a built-in community. You're paying for the ability to land in a new country and instantly feel connected. You're paying for the ability to land in a new country and instantly feel connected. For us, that's where the value lies. We felt so much less stressed and immediately welcomed into a new place in a different country doing Boundless.
When we did London last summer, the amount of time I spent researching and planning the logistics alone would make the average person probably not want to travel more long term. That is the great thing about Boundless. Everything is taken care of for you. The friendships our children made, the experiences we shared, the support we received, and the ease of everyday life abroad made the investment absolutely worthwhile.
Our final thoughts on doing Boundless Life
When we look back on our time in Tuscany, the memories that stand out aren't just the beautiful scenery or the incredible food. It's the people we met that became instant best friends. It's the evening we spent having dinner with other families in the piazza while the all the kids played. It's watching our kids run into school excited to see their classmates and teachers. It's knowing that we had a community around us while living halfway across the world. This group of people so quickly became like a family. Boundless Life gave us something that can be hard to find when you're traveling full-time: a sense of belonging.
If you're considering worldschooling, taking a family gap year, or simply looking for a way to experience life abroad with a built-in support system, we wholeheartedly recommend looking into Boundless Life. For our family, it wasn't just a travel experience, it was life changing. We are looking into when we can do our next cohort with Boundless and are already planning to try to coordinate with some of the other families we met in Italy!
➡️ USE OUR REFERRAL LINK FOR $400 OFF OF A COHORT OR SUMMER CAMP
FAQ about boundless life
Q: Can the kids go back to normal school after this? How do they integrate back?
A: Yes, of course. For our family, we actually felt like the experience enhanced our kids' education. They weren't just learning in a classroom, they were living history, experiencing new cultures, picking up bits of another language, traveling around Europe on weekends, and making friends from all over the world. Those life experiences complemented what they were learning academically.
Q: What does a typical weekday look like?
A: Most mornings started with walking the kids to school. Then we'd work, explore the town, or join an activity while they were learning. After school, we'd grab gelato, meet friends at the park, have dinner together, or attend a community event. It felt like real life—just in another country. We LOVED being able to spend the evenings with friends and walk to meet ups after school.
Q: Is Boundless Life only for families who homeschool?
A: No. This is one of the biggest misconceptions. Many families in our cohort came from traditional public and private schools and simply took a semester abroad before returning home. Others were homeschoolers or full-time worldschoolers. Boundless really attracts all kinds of families.
Q: Can you work full-time while doing Boundless Life?
A: Yes! And many parents do. One of the things we loved was that school runs during the day, and each location has coworking spaces with reliable Wi-Fi. That gave us dedicated work hours while the kids were learning, so evenings and weekends could be spent exploring together. Some of the parents did have to work some of the US hours and would take calls in the evenings but would trade off with spouses or other families.
Q: What was some of your favorite things about doing Boundless Life?
A: The community! The evenings spent with other families having dinner together in the square while our kids ran around and played together. The amount of time that the families spent together made the community. Boundless truly has a special way of creating friends that turn into what feels like family so quickly.
Q: What happens if my child struggles being away from home?
A: It's completely normal to worry about this. We found that because the kids were busy, surrounded by friends, and following a routine, they adjusted much faster than we expected. They actually had a little more freedom being able to stay up a little later because we were only a 5 minute walk from home. Having familiar routines mixed with exciting adventures helped make the transition surprisingly smooth.
Q: Do the kids actually learn, or does it feel more like a vacation?
A: They absolutely learn. Our kids had structured school days with experienced teachers while also gaining real-world education through travel, different cultures, and new experiences. It felt like the best combination of academics and hands-on learning.
Q: Can grandparents or other family members come too?
A: Yes! We actually brought my mom and sister with us, and they became part of the community as well. They loved attending activities, exploring Tuscany, and spending time with the kids. Boundless welcomes all kinds of family dynamics.
Q: What's one thing we wish we knew before going?
A: I wish I had known how quickly the community would feel like family. Before we arrived, I was mostly focused on the logistics. Looking back, the friendships, support, and sense of belonging were the most valuable part of the entire experience. We left with memories we'll cherish forever—and friends we still keep in touch with today.
Q: Do you have to speak the local language?
A: No. Everything at Boundless is conducted in English, and we never felt limited by not speaking Italian fluently. In fact, it became a fun opportunity for all of us to learn a few new words and phrases while living there. They even offered some classes you could take to learn some more Italian. And before we went to Italy, we downloaded Duolingo and started practicing a little together and my kids loved it so much they would fight over doing it.
Q: What are the downsides of Boundless Life?
A: Was the experience perfect? No. There was some adjustments like learning to live without a dryer, learning to navigate the trains and not getting a true coffee were all things we had to adjust to. But the trade-off was WELL WORTH IT and we think it's important to be honest. Saying goodbye at the end was much harder than we expected because we had become so close with other families. My kids even cried a little! Some of the families came home from our cohort to sell their house and do Boundless year round. Depending on the location, you'll also likely need a car for some weekend adventures, and you'll have to be comfortable living with less stuff than you probably have at home. For us, the experiences we had and the memories made were truly life changing.
