Who doesn't want to go to Venice? As one of the earth's most popular tourist destinations, it's a mecca for the travel-addicted masses. As one of the flock that recently visited, I have a few travel tips for Venice but also some strong opinions to share before you make your way to The Floating City. Travel Tips for Venice It's Really Sinking Honestly, this debate was over a long time ago but I know there's some stragglers out there that think that climate change is just a weather …
Best Tours In Northern Italy – Don’t Miss These Three
I’m a firm believer that there is no better way to acquaint yourself with a destination than through a guided tour. No one knows a destination better than local guides and if left to your own devices, the odds are good you’ll miss a lot, particularly if your timeline is tight. So when looking for the best tours in Northern Italy, I knew from past experience that LivItaly was our best choice. Our 14 day trip to Northern Italy started in Milan, then took us to Verona, Venice, The Dolomites, …
The Unexpected Joy of Hiking in Italy
When Ion, my partner of under a year, asked me if I wanted to go hiking in Italy with him, I looked him dead in the eye like a teen girl meeting a Jonas Brother, and enthusiastically said “Sure, sounds fun.” Sounds fun? Apparently love makes you crazy at any age. On the inside I had some serious reservations about this trip. For starters, hiking in Italy sounded very “backpack-y” to me, like we were going to end up sleeping on the floor in hostels and eating out of tin cans. I’d somehow …
First Trip to Paris – What You Need to Know Before You Go
My first trip to Paris was not only memorable, but reminded me that all travel advice should be taken with a grain of salt. For years, I had heard that Parisians were snobby, a little rude, and hard to get along with. I admit, Paris didn’t hit the top of my travel list for these reasons. I mistook personal opinions for advice, and that dear traveller is a grave mistake. First and foremost, your attitude where ever you travel is what is going to make or break a trip. So, I’m going to …
Planning Your First Trip to Amsterdam? The iAmsterdam Card is the Way to Go
I am often amused by how my expectation of a place I intend to visit and the reality once I get there are often in stark opposition to each other. Planning our first trip to Amsterdam is an excellent example of this. In my head, from countless pictures I'd seen, I envisioned a calm, relaxed destination that we would enjoy at a leisurely pace. Wrong, so wrong, on so many levels. Amsterdam, was not quite the calm place I played out in my head, and it was much bigger …