Guide to: Sorrento

Sorrento wasn't initially included in the trip, but because it was a short car ride to Naples (where I were flying out of), it worked it's way into my plans. I'm glad it did! The sunsets were beautiful and I was nice to lay by the pool and enjoy the hot weather.

Stay: 2 nights. I stayed both nights at small hotel called Residence Miramare. This hotel was great because it has a sun deck, free breakfast, and a pool. Also, the hotel cat, which I named Fred, was very sweet.

Eat:

• One of the most memorable meals of the trip was in Sorrento. Since Sorrento is on a large cliffside, many of the restaurants offer pick up and drop off if you dine with them. It's too expensive to get around by taxi and too far on foot. On the last night in Sorrento, I was picked up and we started heading up the mountain. The roads began to get so narrow that the concrete walls were just inches away from the car. I felt like I was in a scene from Indiana Jones. Finally, I arrived at restaurant Donna Sofia, which was tucked in between local's homes and the mountain side. The restaurant had garden seating, great service, and tasty food! I even left with a free bottle of wine from the owner. 

Don't miss: There isn't much to do in Sorrento other than relax and enjoy the food and sunsets, so just do that!

Highlight: The best thing about Sorrento was being able to relax. After 18 days of constant walking and sightseeing, I was so excited to sit by the pool and enjoy a glass of wine.

Get around: Like I mentioned before, it's hard to get around Sorrento because of the steep moutains. I would recommend eating at restaurant that offer free transportation. The only other option is to walk or take a 20 Euro taxi (no matter where you go).

Pack:

• 7 summer dresses (which I wore between Venice, Rome, Capri, and here) 
• 4 sandals 
• 3 bathing suits 
• 1 cover up 

Guide to: Capri

Capri was so beautiful- Rocky mountains filled with while buildings and cobble stone pathways. I loved being able to wake up in the morning and look down at the ocean. After walking miles in Paris, Venice, and Rome, it was a relief to be able to relax by the pool.

Stay: 2 nights. I stayed both nights at a hotel called Casa Morgano. It had 2 pools, a gym, and beautiful view (oh, and free breakfast!)

Eat: My 2 favorite meals of the whole trip were in Capri! Read about them below

• I took a private boat tour around the Island of Capri (read more below), but the captain provided lunch and snacks. He brought fresh basil, tomato, and capers from his home garden. The capers were home pickled and I dream about them everyday! He made caprese salad and we ate capers and crackers while we sailed around. Oh, the captain also gave us his homemade white wine! Note: You can book this tour by making a reservation at the below restaurant. The restaurant and boat tour are family owned. 
• Da Paolino Lemon Tree! This meal is tied with the meal above for best food of the trip. Da Paolino is placed in the middle of a lemon orchard and surrounded by all things lemon from the setting, to the table decor and plates. We ate lemon flavored pasta under lemon trees, and don't forget to order the lemon sorbet for dessert! It comes in a frozen, hollowed out lemon. Besides the amazing location of this restaurant, the food was extremely delicious too! Not to mention, I saw Mariah Carey and some famous soccer player, so it must be that good. 
• I'm not the biggest fan, but while in Capri, you must try Limoncello. Capri is known for their lemon orchards, so try it straight from the source 

Don't miss:

• More on the private boat ride; I rented a boat for 4.5 hours which included lunch (explained above). It was so cool having a boat to myself for the day. We sailed from grotto to grotto and even took a break to jump into the ocean. The captain provided floaties and snorkel gear. We had the opportunity to swim through the grottos but due to choppy water, I passed. This was such a great way to see the island while relaxing and snacking on homegrown, fresh veggies. 
• Capri is known for their handmade sandals, so I definitely wanted to pick up a pair while on the island. There are tons of shops on the island but the hotel recommended Ragozzino Shoes. The walls were lined with colorful straps and different leather bottoms to choose from. I settled on green straps with metal details. The shop owner made them in front of my eyes and it only took about 10 mins! 

Skip:

• The Blue Grotto was a touristy mess. Tons of tourists lined up on land and in boats to make their way through the grotto. Being slightly scared of deep water, I opted out of this experience. We were expected to pay more money to go into the grotto and there was a huge wait. Instead, we checked out the white and green grotto, which were just as pretty. 

Highlight: Getting handmade sandals! I loved being able to choose the bedding, heel hight, and leather strap style and color. I will forever remember Capri and the sparkling blue ocean when I look down at my sandals.

Get around: There is a chairlift and public bus that will take you from the ferry to the top of Capri (and vise-versa). But, other than that, the only transportation is by foot. The cobblestone paths are so narrow no car would fit.

Pack:

• 7 summer dresses (which I wore between Venice, Rome, Capri) 
• 4 sandals - I brought one with a mini heel to dress them up for nice dinner 
• 3 bathing suits 
• 1 cover up 

      

 

 

     

Check out what I did each day while visiting Capri. On that page, scroll down for a day to day itinerary.

Guide to: Rome

Rome has also been added to the list of favorite travel destinations. My favorite thing was being able to turn any corner and see something that was so old (in a good way). Also, I can't forget all the amazing food. I would say that Rome has the best Italian food of the trip.

Stay: 4 nights. I got so lucky with the Airbnb that I booked for this portion of the trip. The apartment had two beds, a living room, full kitchen, and garden patio. This place was bigger than any SF apartment I've seen lately! Plus, the manager was so friendly and provided great food recommendations (with a discount!)

Eat: One piece of advice that I got and followed: Do not each anywhere with picture menus. They tend to be touristy and the food quality is poor (this goes for all of Italy).

• All appetizer menu at a hole in the wall wine bar called Fafiuche. They had a great selection of wine and I ordered meat and cheese plate, which actually filled me up and I didn't eat dinner that night. 
• Gelato at Giolitto. This place had the largest selection of flavors. I got champaign, mango and some type of berry. Make sure you ask for the fresh whipped cream! 
• Best seafood of the trip at Ponte e Parione. I ordered seafood for two which came with every type of fish, shellfish, etc. that you can imagine. The owner chooses the items from a fresh fish market daily, yum! 

Don't miss:

• If you've never been to an ice bar, I highly recommend checking out Ice Club. It's a bar covered in ice and LED lights. You pay about 20 euros for entry which comes along with a free drink and a heavy weight poncho (so you don't freeze). It was quite an interesting experience, especially after spending the day walking around in the heat. Once inside, you can lounge on the ice chairs and order fruity drinks in ice cups. I only latest about 15 mins before my toes started to freeze! 
• I've never road a Segway before, so when I saw that I could rent one and drive around the Borghese Gardens (without a tour guide), I was in! It was pretty affordable and a fast way to see the park. My feet were killing me by this point since I had been walking miles and miles in Paris and Venice previously. 
• Last but not least... The Colosseum and Roman Forum are not to miss! I would suggest guying the tickets online ahead of time. It was was a relief to pass 100+ people waiting to buy their tickets in line. Besides that, it is one of the most amazing things you will ever see 

Skip:

• Pyramids of Cestitus. This thing is out of central Rome. I took the metro there (which was extremely creepy, dark lit, and crowded). When I arrived at the pyramids it was not as impressive as I expected as it's thrown in the middle of a questionable part of town.
• Mouth of Truth; Also a huge disappointment. There was basically a line of 50 people waiting to put their grubby, unwashed hands, into the mouth of a statue. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't worth it so I got my picture through the gate and got out. 
• Vatican; I heard mixed reviews about this one, but figured it was something I should see. First of all, buy your ticket online because the line to purchase was insane. The museum part was interesting, I checked out the Pope's cars and some of the art galleries. Unfortunately, the chapel wasn't as it was hyped up to be. The security guards in the chapel took their jobs way to seriously and it ruined the experience. 

Highlight: Gelato! The gelato in Rome is amazing and located on almost every block. I swear I hit a point where I was eating 2-3 cones a day. No shame though, because I was walking miles each day.

Get around: I wouldn't recommend the metro. If you can't walk, taxi is your best option.. Unless... you are lucky enough to find a rickshaw. I took a rickshaw from the Colosseum to dinner and it was such a fun experience. We were in the road, in between traffic, then on the sidewalk going through building. They have no rules!

Pack:

• 7 summer dresses (which I wore between Venice, Rome, Capri) 
• 4 sandals - but make sure they have a wedge or are flat because it's hard to walk on the cobble stone. 
• Jean jacket found its way back into the rotation on chilly nights or rainy mornings 
• Note: If visiting the Vatican, bring something conservative. I wore a knee-length dress and my jean jacket with no problem. Cover the knees and the shoulders 

     

     

Check out what I did each day while visting Rome. On that page, scroll down for a day to day itinerary.

Guide to: Venice

Venice is such an amazing place - Made up of hundreds of tiny islands connected by bridges. How cool is it that the main mode of transportation is by boat?

Stay: 3 nights. I ended up at an adorable bed and breakfast called Residenza Degli Angeli. They had the great restaurant recommendations and even gave me a history lesson about Venice. Did you know: There is no map of Venice (even Google) that is correct. I was told that since there are hundreds of tiny alleys, no map has correctly been able to document all them.

Eat:

• Great wine, great price at Bacareto da lele - I stumbled upon this place the first day. The best part about it was that the wine was only a few cents. This place was tiny and had no seating so I sat on steps leading into the canal and enjoyed my drink. 
• The best cheese and meat plate of the trip goes to Hotel Carlton. I enjoyed a bottle of wine with cheese, honey, and a variety of meat on their rooftop bar which overlooks the Grand Canal. 
• Best cicchetti in town at Osteria al Squero. This place was also pretty tiny, but so worth it! I enjoyed a variety of tasty baguette with meat and cheese toppings at such an affordable price. 
• Best Venice dinner was at Santa Croce. The great service was amazing, the staff was friendly, and the made the best Venice pizza. 
• Harry's Bar bellini, though expensive, was most amazing bellini I ever tasted! It cost $14 but due to popular demand, I had to try it. Plus, the overly priced drink comes with free snacks, so why not? 

Dont Miss:

• Blue Moon beach on Lido. This was a longer boat ride, but it was nice to get away from the crowds of tourist. I rented a chair for the day which came along with a free shower and bathroom token. 
• I highly recommend taking the boat to the Island of Burano. It's one of the prettiest little towns with each building in a different color! Also, Island of Murano, known for glass making, is very close as well. See a glass blowing demonstration and buy some souvenirs. 
• Gondola. Unfortunately, I missed this one myself... It rained the last day which is when I planned to go. 

Skip:

• St. Mark's Square is basically bird heaven. There wasn't much to see other than selfie stick vendors and scaffolding over the buildings. 

Highlight: Purchasing a Venetian mask from the cutest little shop called La Mascareta Venezia. They are all hand made by the shop owner.

Get around: I bought the 3-day, unlimited Vaporetto pass. Though sometimes crowded (more like always crowded), it was the only mode of transportation other than walking. I don't recommend walking due to the map issue, unless of course you don't mind getting lost. Also, keep an eye on your bag. I heard horror stories from other tourists about getting their bag swiped while on the boat.

Pack: Finally, summer clothing!

• 7 summer dresses (which I wore between Venice, Rome, Capri) 
• 4 sandals - but make sure they have a wedge or are flat because it's hard to walk on the cobble stone. 
• A light sweater for at night
  
     
  
     

Check out what I did each day while visiting Venice. On that page, scroll down for a day to day itinerary.

Guide to: Paris

Paris has definitely made my favorite travel destinations. I love the architecture, food, and all the different parts of town. It was amazing to see the Eiffel tower in person and drink of wine at any time of day (with no judgement).

Stay: 4 nights. I stayed in an Airbnb in Saint-Germain-des-Pres area for the first 3 nights. It provided the perfect Paris experience in a quaint apartment building up 6 flights of stairs. The apartment was pretty small, but I only needed somewhere to sleep and shower and it was perfect for just that. On the last night I stayed in a hotel called Hotel de l'Universite which had one of the most comfortable bed I slept in the whole vacation. There is something to be said about staying in a hotel.

Eat:

• The best dessert I had was at a restaurant called Cafe Constant. It was a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, has great service, and the food was even tastier. I ordered the profiteroles and the staff poured fresh chocolate sauce on them at our table. 
• The best lunch was at a cute cafe with outdoor seating called Cafe Central. The salmon tar tare was amazing! I sat in the sun and enjoyed snack and a mid-day latte. 

Don’t Miss:

• Even though there is a long wait and it's slightly expensive, I highly recommend going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I went later in the evening, near sunset, and waited in line for about 40 minuets. Once at the top I enjoyed a glass of champaign. 
• After walking about 10 miles a day, a boat tour around Paris sounded amazing to me. I took the tour with a company called Bateau Mouche. The ride lasted about an hour and I recommend buying some wine to bring along with you. 
• I completely stumbled on this this next experience, but apparently every night the Eiffel Tower has a light show at the Champ de Mars (the park looking onto the Eiffel). It was very pretty and unexpected! I heard that the show starts at different times depending on the season, but in summer it starts around 11pm. 
• Walk to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. I actually wasn't aware that you could get to the top of this thing until I saw it on the list of museums that came along with our Paris Museum Pass (which I highly recommend, BTW). It has a great view with a different perspective of the city. 

Skip:

• I'm not a huge museum person, but if I were to do this trip over, I would see less of them. The Rodin was basically a hallway of statues (that you pay to see) and an outdoor garden area that you can access for free. It was under construction when I was there, so that might have taken away from the experience.
• I had seen some beautiful pictures of the Great Mosque windows, so I traveled out of the main part of Paris to see it. Unfortunately, I couldn't get inside so I didn't get to see what I had gone there for. I would probably skip this if I were able to re-do the trip. 

Highlight:

• Seeing the Eiffel Tower in person! This was one of the main attractions that brought me to Paris, but it was an experience I can't even explain. Seeing it once made me want to keep going back for another look. 
• Also, don't skip macaroons! I tried almost every flavor at Laduree, but Lavender was one of my favorites. I'm sure it's hard to find a bad macaroon in Paris. 

Get Around: Metro! The Paris metro system is super easy and I didn't take a single cab while I was in Paris. I purchased the unlimited daily Metro pass and it was definitely the way to go. The Metro was only crowded during commuter hours, but still keep an eye on your bag. Also, walking is always a great option since Paris is so beautiful.

Pack:

• Black skinnies 
• A few blouses 
• Jean jacket 
• Light-weight scarf 
• White Converse 
• Sam Edelman booties, Petty in beige 
• Kate Spade cross body bag

 

Check out what I did each day while visiting Paris. On that page, scroll down for a day to day itinerary.

Paris, Venice, Rome, Capri!

I recently went to Europe for my first time and it was amazing!

In the months leading up to the trip, I spent hours searching for an itinerary for each destination. What should I do, see, eat? Where is the best place to stay? And most importantly what should I pack? I wanted to prepared, see everything, and I wanted it to be perfect. 

I had little success at getting any of those questions answered. After weeks of my own research, plus my own experience in Europe, this is my take on the best way to do Paris, Venice, Rome, Capri and Sorrento. In the next few posts I will share what I did on each day, where I stayed, what was worth taking the time to see, in addition to a few extra details.

Below is my initial itinerary, but more to come in future posts. You can also find my daily travel guide full of monuments, sights, restaurants, and more at Tripomatic. If you're planning a trip, I recommend buying the offline maps to use while on vacation. It's very useful to figure out where you are (because most phones wont work outside of your home country), but also it serves as a interactive tour guide, so you can see what popular sights are near-by and follow your own previously scheduled itinerary for the day.

• Paris: 4 nights
• Venice: 3 nights - Flew in from Paris
• Rome: 4 Nights - Took train from Venice
• Capri: 2 nights -Took train to Naples where we caught the ferry to Capri
• Sorrento: 2 nights - Took ferry from Capri and private car to Naples for our flight back home