Italy

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FAV FLICKS ♥:

WHY WE ♥ ITALY:

When we leave most destinations, we leaving knowing we may never come back. That is not the case with Italy. There is so much to see and you don’t want to rush so don’t try to squeeze everything in one trip. I’d also advise against first-time visitors staying in only one location. Italy has so many wonders! We decided to visit Venice, Rome and Positano and Capri, in that order. We also want to visit Lake Como (Lombardy), Florence, Milan, Sicily.

Italy has always been a bucket list destination for us and it did not disappoint. You will love the fresh food and pasta without the bloating, the aperol spritz/negronis, the enchantment of the gondolas, train rides, the beauty and history. The cities and beach towns are bustling and I will tempt you relocate to The Boot permanently.

This is definitely a trip to save for! Since this was a dream trip, we splurged on hotels and did not regret it! We flew into Venice and our return flight was out of Naples.

OUR FAV♥RITE THINGS TO DO:

Gondola Ride in Venice

Dining Alfresco in every city

Positano Cooking Class

Roaming in Rome - Trastevere

Day trip to Capri

One Fire Beach Club at Praiano for hubby's Bday🔥

Fontana di Trevi, Colosseum & Shopping in Rome

Train ride from Venice to Rome

Relaxing at Poistano Hotel Pool + Beach

A Candid Cost Calculation:

Accommodation – As mentioned, we did splurge on hotels and no we did not regret it. In Venice we stayed at a hotel on the Grand Canal called, Venezia Palazzo Barocci. We wanted to stay close to the Rialto Bridge but not super close so you could admire the view it with a bit of depth and avoid the crazy crowds. There are countless places to stay in a city like Rome. We wanted to be in the vibrant and young town of Trastevere so we stayed at Palazzo UNAHOTELS Trastevere Roma. The hotel offered an beautiful rooftop dining experience with live music. I did the most research on where to stay in Positano. Le Sirenuse is a dream hotel for many but one night may be equivalent to the cost of a four-year college tuition 🥲. Instead we stayed at the marvelous Villa Fiorentino Positano and it was an great decision! We had the most amazing balcony breakfast meals with the sweeping views of the sea and cliffside architecture.

Food – The food in Italy is 90% of the reason to make the trip! Take the cooking class (we did a Positano gnocchi and tiramisu class at a local’s home via Viator)! Eat all of the pasta without the guilt, due to clean ingredients! No meal disappointed from fine dining restaurants to the mom & pop small eateries. Of course try pizza its birthplace. We tried pizza in Rome and Positano. We went to the Eden Roc hotel restaurant in Positano for a delicious pizza lunch lunch with an incredible view (they have much more than pizza). The only place that I truly wanted to go was a sunset dinner at Capri at Da Emilia alla Curtiglia Capri.

Transportation – Dust off your walking shoes! You’ll be doing a lot of it in Italy. When arriving in Venice – you’ll take a water transfer to your hotel. When you’re not in a water taxi on gondola, you’ll be walking so wear comfortable shoes. Try taking the train at some point. It’s an awesome way to see more of the country. We took the train from Venice to Rome. Uber does operate in Rome but again, you’ll want to walk and explore. We booked a private car from Rome to Positano, which also served as a tour guide. Beware, there are a lot of steps in Positano. You will mostly walk everywhere but you can also rent a vespa.

Best of the Best – Two tips here: With in Italy don’t be in the typical American rush. Have an itinerary but be flexible. Have your must-dos but allow yourself time to discover the small gems – like an outdoor gelato shop. Some business do observe the long afternoon break or nap called a riposo (or siesta in Spanish). They aren’t in a rush so you don’t have to rush either. Some of your top memories won’t be rushing from one thing to the next, but slowing down and taking life as it comes.

#2 – Since I wanted to do a sunset dinner in Capri while staying in Positano, we had to book a private boat back. You are able to take a public ferry there but the last ferry was much earlier than I wanted to leave. I also didn’t want to book a hotel there since our Positano hotel was already so expensive. The boat ride was was thrilling yet terrifying. Our man in charge put the speed in speedboat. While we were slightly SHOOKETH, it was an absolute thrill! We were in the middle of God’s creation at night, passing mountains with mist blowing in our faces while tightly gripping each other’s hands. This may not be the experience that you want and it is surely not what I signed up for but it was one of the memories that stayed with me. An unexpected thrill! I would recommend booking a private boat tour in the daytime. There are also group tours to reduce the cost.

FULL VL♥G:

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PRO TIPS ♥:

Wait until You can Splurg Italy is not a cheap trip. It is a top destination for many people, but I'd highly recommend going when you have enough money saved to splurge on what makes your heart happiest - a nice hotel, a fun experience or even just a private transfer.

Buy the Lemon Olive Oil It's no secret food a lot more fresh than we are used to in the United States. Lemons are a big deal in Italy. We bought a few small tin cans of their lemon olive oil at a local market and packed it in or check-in bag. It's the best I've had in my life! I'd cook with it, use it on salads etc. We were so sad when it ran out.

Budget for Shopping! Italy has no shortage of quality clothes. I bought a beautiful white suite and hubby bought a few linen blazers. I saw the white suit in Venice and didn't buy it. I instantly regretted it but thankfully it was from an Italian chain store. I had to hunt it down in Rome but thankfully was able to find my size. If you love it, buy it! You won't regret it in the long run.

Share It with Someone Special This is also a destination that you will create forever memories. Make sure to share it with someone who you are confident is your forever date ❤️