Custom Italian Travel Planning for Unforgettable Moments

Ciao,

 

Have I ever told you the story about the time I ordered a cappuccino at 3 PM in a Roman café and got a look from the barista that could have curdled milk. 

 

NO! OF COURSE NOT! BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER!!!!

 

Italians take their coffee rules seriously, and "no cappuccinos after lunch" isn't just a suggestion.  It's a national commandment.

 

Here's the thing: Italians believe milk-based coffees are for breakfast only because they're too heavy for your stomach later in the day. After 11 AM, you're expected to order an espresso, just espresso. No modifications, no oat milk alternatives, and definitely no venti anything. The entire transaction should take about three minutes: pay at the cassa, order with your receipt, drink while standing at the bar, leave.

 

And before you ask, decaf does exist, but ordering a "caffè decaffeinato" might get you another judgmental look as to why you're drinking coffee in the first place.

 

But really, Italian coffee culture makes perfect sense. A quick shot of perfectly extracted espresso gives you exactly the energy boost you need without the bloated feeling of a massive milk drink. Plus, there's something wonderfully civilized about taking a proper coffee break instead of walking around with a paper cup.

 

If you're in the mood for a fancy coffee drink, try ordering a caffè leccese, a shakerato, or a caffe corretto!  But for your everyday routine in Italy, do as the Italians do: cappuccino for breakfast, espresso for everything else!

Want to start planning YOUR next Italian vacation?

 

⛓️‍💥Does your travel partner have an airport alter ego like mine does?  This kind of divorce sounds VERY appealing!

 

🎃I've got an actual costume planned for this year, but this would otherwise already be in my cart

 

🏊‍♀️I will never add this as a suggested activity in Rome, no matter how “clean” they say it may be.

 

🎾It just makes sense, and I'd love to help

 

I am under NO illusion that kids allow parents to pick out their Halloween costumes once they are able to walk and talk.  

 

But if you CAN convince your child to be a gondolier for Halloween this year, pretty please send me a picture.  I think this costume is the cutest thing ever!

 

The Grand Boulevards Experimental Hotel for a special mother-daughter trip this November.  

 

The hotel perfectly captures that effortless Parisian sophistication without trying too hard, and the location is hard to beat: walkable to the Louvre and Opera, but tucked away on a quieter street away from the crowds.

 

The rooms strike a balance between aesthetics and comfort, and the hotel's cocktail bar provides the ideal setting for those "let's recap the day over champagne and a soda" moments that make mother-daughter trips so special.

 

And speaking of perfect hotel matches…while Italy remains my specialty, here's your every so often reminder that I am always happy to book accommodations for you around the world whether it's Rome, Paris, London, or just a one night stay in the middle of nowhere for a sports tournament!