Custom Italian Travel Planning for Unforgettable Moments

Ciao,

 

Can we talk about how summer was TOTALLY absent, and then it showed up and ran us all over like a truck with multiple 100+ degree days in a row?  As a result, I have most definitely NOT been cooking - just eating salads dressed in salt and olive oil. But here's the thing - not all olive oil is created equal.

 

I usually have two different olive oils in my kitchen - one for cooking and one for drizzling.  

 

The drizzling one I import, because life is too short for bad olive oil.  And yes, obviously, I import it from Italy.  The Italians have been pressing olives into liquid gold for over 2,500 years, and we all know California hasn't been around that long, so the choice is clear.  

 

For my cooking oil, I look for bottles that list the harvest date (not just a "best by" date), specific region names, and the DOP designation that guarantees authenticity. The bottle should be dark glass or tin to protect from light. Please skip the olive oils that are the same color as canola oil and also those massive supermarket bottles that cost less than a decent bottle of wine. Quality olive oil requires quality olives and careful processing, neither of which come cheap. Think of it as an investment in your cooking rather than just another pantry staple.

 

Trust me on this one and Buon appetito!

Want to start planning YOUR next Italian vacation?

All shopping links today because I've been shopping for MY upcoming Italy trip, and that's where I've been spending my internet time this month!

 

💄When teen makeup costs this much, might as well put it on display- and win awesome mom points at the same time.  Would make an awesome camp care package item too!

 

🧴Speaking of skincare, this bundle is carry-on friendly and this kit will guarantee a hilarious selfie mid-flight.

 

 👜"Stop the slide" applies to school-aged kids in summer and also kids and their luggage, but not anymore! 

 

👶Small humans + airplanes = chaos.  But honestly, this is a smart solution to help contain it all.

 

👒Just bought this for a recent trip, and it worked like a charm!

 

🛒Need more practical items like plug adaptors, packing cubes, jewelry organizers and handheld fans? There's a packing list for that!

I know I just shared a bunch of items, but this Floating Phone Pouch is a must for any trip involving the water. 

 

Waterproof.  Actually floats.  Can be submerged for underwater action shots!  

 

We used these last summer in Sicily, and they do, in fact, work as advertised!

We all have those bucket list properties that we bookmark and dream about for years, scrolling through photos and thinking "someday..." 

 

Belmond Hotel Caruso in Ravello is exactly that kind of place.

 

Perched on Ravello's cliffs, this 11th-century palazzo-turned-luxury-retreat sits 1,000 feet above the Amalfi Coast, offering those postcard-perfect views and an infinity pool that seems to spill directly into the Mediterranean (Instagram gold, obviously).

 

The hotel's complimentary shuttle handles the winding road down to Amalfi's beaches and back, so you get the best of both worlds: seaside adventures and mountain serenity. Fair warning—after experiencing the Amalfi Coast from this elevated perspective, other hotels might feel a bit... less.

 

Yes, it's splurge-worthy expensive, but sometimes you need to treat yoself!  Enough with the FOMO, it's time to FIBI, because YOLO. ✌️

FOMO - fear of missing out, FIBI - F*** it, book it, YOLO - you only live once