Italy travel planning Archives

If you are traveling to any busy tourist city, anywhere in the world, you need to be aware of pickpockets. I write about travel in Italy so will focus this post on avoiding pickpockets in Italy, but the same information applies to anywhere in Europe, or anywhere else in the world.

Pickpocketing can happen anywhere, anytime, but for the most part pickpockets prefer crowded areas where their victims are either distracted or not paying attention. Although you can still get pickpocketed away from the high tourist attractions, it is less likely. And if you carry yourself like someone who is on top of it and knows what’s up, they are more likely to bypass you and go for the easier victims.

If you are new around here, I live between Italy and the U.S. I lead private tours for women and write Amazon’s highest rated, best-selling Italy travel guides called the Glam Italia! How To Travel Italy series. (Available worldwide on Amazon)

Let’s look at ways you can protect yourself and still focus on having a fantastic time while you are away.

Three Core Principles To Avoiding Pickpockets In Italy

Always be aware of your surroundings
Always keep your possessions close/have your hand on your belongings
Avoid looking like an easy target.

You Are Not A Local

One thing to always remember is that no matter how much you want to seem like a local, you always stand out as not being a local. If someone needs help, needs directions, has any kind of questions, they can and should ask a local. In the high tourism areas most people speak English, so there are plenty of other people they can ask. There are always police around, waiters at restaurants, people manning market booths and shops – there is zero reason to ask you.

Be very wary of anyone you don’t know entering your physical space to ask you for anything.

Pickpockets used to look like huge gypsy women wearing giant skirts full of pockets. Now they dress like priests, American tourists, students, school teachers – for the most part you won’t be able to pick them in a crowd. No one you don’t know personally has any reason to be inside your physical space. If anyone comes within arms distance of you, be on high alert.

Avoid Looking Like A Tourist

There are some dead giveaways that A) you are a tourist and B) that you are clueless to what’s going on around you.

The first is the way you dress. Wandering the streets of Rome/Florence/Venice wearing a baseball cap, athleisure, flip flops, graphic t-shirts, T-shirts announcing that you love New York or which university you went to, inappropriately short skirts and cropped tops etc, all make you look both like a tourist and like easy pickings.
Standing in the middle of the sidewalk consulting a map or phone also makes you stand out. Firstly it’s really inconsiderate of anyone else who is trying to walk past, secondly it advertises that you are either lost or distracted. If you do need to check your map or check something on your phone, I recommend leaning back against the wall. It makes you less accessible and helps you be aware of anyone getting close from your front or either side. Also it is considerate and implies you don’t want to inconvenience people going about their day, which makes you look less like an inconsiderate tourist and more like someone who’s on top of it.

Smart Security Tips

Leave your diamonds and rolexes at home. Flashy displays of wealth draw pickpockets to you. The same applies to wearing faux rolexes and diamonds. If you’re hoping to convince others they’re real, pickpockets will also think they’re real.
Avoid wearing a backpack. They’re easy for pickpockets to get into when you’re in a crowd, are super annoying for every person you bump into, and in many museums, art museums and historic sites won’t let you bring them inside. If you do wear a backpack be sure to use carabiners to secure the zippers. It’s inconvenient for you, but even more so for anyone hoping to rob you.
Don’t put your phone on the table. This one is a little trickier as most of us photograph our food and other things going on around us. However, it is super easy to swipe a smart phone or a camera from a table. An alternative is to use a phone lanyard like this one. Recent model iPhones are particularly desirable to pickpockets.
Wear a crossbody bag. I always wear a crossbody bag when I’m traveling. They are much more difficult for anyone to snatch, and much, much easier for you to protect. Keep your bag zipped closed at all times

In Rome wearing a **Kate Spade crossbody bag**.

I’ve used the Kate Spade Rosie Leather Crossbody bag (pictured above) for several years now. Apart from being a good crossbody bag it is also completely innocuous. It’s not flashy, it’s not a designer bag – it’s intended to not draw attention. And it goes with everything, so I don’t need to change out bags while I’m away. I don’t care that it’s a little beaten up at this point, the job of this bag is to keep all my possessions safe, close to me, and in my control.

Another great choice for crossbody bags are the various bags from Travelon.

Travelon crossbody bags (like the one pictured above) are an excellent choice for travelers. They are slash-proof, which is more something I see in Paris – I’ve never seen or heard of bags being slashed in Italy. Also they have RFID blockers, multiple zipper pockets, and all exterior zippers have little carabiners, which make them a nightmare for pickpockets to try to get into. I don’t recommend hanging any bag over your chair in a restaurant, as it is a flashing neon light to pickpockets and opportunists, but the Travelon bags have steel cables running through the insides. You can clip the strap securely through the back of your chair, and no one can cut it and run.

** the only time I’ve seen a bag snatch was in Paris a few years ago. A young man grabbed the handbag of a Parisian woman sitting at a table with friends. He took off down the street and no one could catch him. I never have my bag hanging on the back of a chair. Instead I loop the strap over my legs and have the bag either sitting on my feet or secured between them.

They even have a variety of Travelon crossbody anti-theft bags for men. (See here on Amazon) My friend’s husband just used one on a trip to Portugal and loved it. His was smaller than the one in the photo above though. Men should never put their wallet in their back pocket. If seated they should also be aware of how easy it is to slip the wallet from their front pocket too.

Separate Your Cards And Cash

I recommend traveling with two cards and some cash. Keep one card and half your cash locked in the hotel safe, or tucked away in your airbnb. Separate the remaining cash and card in your handbag, so if you do get pickpocketed they don’t get everything. This is where the Travelon bags come in so handy, with their multiple zippered interior pockets it’s easy to keep everything separated. You can also separate your passport into it’s own zippered compartment.

Photograph Your Documents

I recommend photographing/photocopying all your travel documents, travel insurance, credit cards and drivers’ license and emailing them to yourself. This way if your phone is stolen you won’t have a problem accessing the information from a computer. In Italy you are supposed to carry your passport with you at all times, and may find police stop you to check your documents. I’ve had mine checked multiple times by police on trains/in train stations.

Withdrawing Cash

I always recommend arriving to any country with a couple of hundred dollars in local cash. I order it from my bank at home and take it with me, even though the exchange rate isn’t going to be so good. Then once in Italy I pull cash as needed. Only use Bancomat machines attached to a bank. Most banks have an option to use their cash withdrawal machines inside the bank. Always use this option. Pickpockets can keep an eye on you if you use an outdoor cash machine, and can see where you put the cash. Also, machines inside the bank are less likely to be cloned.

Don’t use ATM machines. You’ll see plenty of signs for ATM machines. These are owned by money exchange companies and give you the worst possible exchange rate as well as the least security. In Italy the regulated, bank owned machines are the bancomats.

Also, don’t bring cash from home to change at the money changing places you see all over the tourist cities. These are a rip off, have the worst exchange rates and the highest fees. Plus any enterprising pickpocket can watch you make your transaction and with he open storefront model they can easily see where you put that wad of cash.

Common PickPocket Tricks

The easiest places to pick pockets are the most crowded ones. The Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, outside the colosseum or the Vatican in Rome are prime pickpocket territory. Tons of tourists, none of them paying attention. In Florence the Ponte Vecchio all day long, Piazza della Signoria, around the Duomo, outside and inside the Uffizi and the Accademia are all prime spots. In Venice the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco during the day, and the Ponte della Paglia (where you stand to look at the Bridge of Sighs are hotspots. Every McDonalds, Starbucks, Burger King and Subway anywhere in the country or anywhere in Europe are perfect spots to rob Americans.

Tourist crowds at the Trevi Fountain. Don’t waste your precious time in Rome coming here with the crowds and pickpockets when there are hundreds of other equally cool places to see, without the crowds. Read about them in Amazon’s most highly rated Rome travel guide (mine!) **Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Rome**

In crowds or anytime someone gets physically close to you, keep your hand firmly on your bag.
On the metro (in any city in Europe) don’t stand by the door. Pickpockets will rob you then jump off the train right before the doors close.
If anyone asks you to take their photo, politely decline. Remember most pickpockets just look like regular folks/tourists. While you’re distracted taking their photo their buddy is picking your pocket.
If asking a stranger to take your photo using your iPhone, don’t open the phone. From the closed position swipe left and the camera will open while everything else stays locked. Remember though that iPhones are more desirable to thieves than Androids, so think twice before giving a stranger your phone.
Don’t give money to beggars in the street. Many/most are eastern European gypsies with partners across the street watching to see where you pull your cash from. There is one I’ve seen for at least 15 years in Florence, always bent over in the gutter, begging. When no one’s around she pulls out an iPhone more recent than my own and checks her messages.
They normally work in groups, passing off the goods they’ve stolen. If you were to catch the one who robbed you, your belongings would already be gone in the opposite direction with their accomplice.
They will often create a distraction – a crazy guy in the street, someone shoving you so you turn around, or a group of girls approaching you with something in their hands like a newspaper, a big bag, a jacket over their arm, anything to distract you so you don’t see the hand that robs you. Just always remember, there is zero reason for anyone to enter your physical space. If girls or guys are getting close while flirting with you, assume they’re pickpockets.

Recap:

Pickpockets generally look for the easiest marks. If you aren’t dressed like a tourist, don’t wear flashy jewelry, but instead wear a crossbody bag, keep your hand securely on the bag when others are close, avoid overcrowded situations, and just be aware, chances are they’ll pass you by and go after someone easier.

Their best advantage is you getting distracted. Your best advantage is being prepared and not letting them.

I hope this helps you keep yourself and your belongings safe while traveling to the coolest country in the world! You can get more tips on traveling in Italy from my book Glam Italia! How To Travel Italy and from joining my free monthly newsletter here.

Happy travels!

You’ve booked your trip to Italy (or anywhere from Paris through southern Europe) and now you’re thinking about what to pack. The average American tourist thinks about comfort first – leggings and sneakers, short skirts and crop tops to beat the heat, or God forbid, the mass tourism uniform of work out shorts, chunky ugly sneakers and a fanny pack.

No Italian will ever confuse us as being one of them – everything about the way we dress, the way we walk, the way we carry ourselves, screams that we’re not from there. And that’s fine. But it is nice to blend in a little and not stand out for looking sloppy.

This also has a safety element attached to it. Most international cities with high tourism also have pickpockets. Pickpockets know that the more clueless you look, the easier you’ll be to rob. By contrast if you look like you blend in and seem to know what’s up, you are less likely to be targeted. Rick Steves was pickpocketed in Paris a couple of years ago, but to be fair, he spends so much time in Europe’s biggest and busiest cities every year, and this was the first time in decades that this happened to him.

I live in Italy, have been leading private tours of Italy for 15+ years and have 5 internationally best-selling books about travel in Italy (The Glam Italia How To Travel Italy series). Along the way I’ve picked up some great tips about packing and what to wear in Italy.

So let’s look at 10 tips to help you pack wisely and wear the right things on your trip to Italy.

1. Dress Nicely

Even the police uniforms are well cut and stylish.

This one is simple. Italians dress well, no matter which socio-economic group they belong to. They take pride in their appearance. If you go about Italy looking like a hot mess it can seem disrespectful both to them and to yourself. Of course you don’t need to be wearing designer duds as you explore the cities, towns and villages, just make an effort to look nice. Workout shorts, a T-shirt, and a fanny-pack might be super comfortable and could be great for a hot day walking around somewhere like Vegas, but in Italy you want to dial your look up a bit.

My neighbor in Rome, not expensively dressed but nicely put together. As a non-Italian I would go flatter with the sandal, mostly because I am walking long distances all day, every day.

2. Leave The Athleisure At Home.

In the U.S it’s considered relatively normal to wander around/run errands/be out and about dressed in athleisure. For some people yoga pants and a t-shirt is even a daily uniform. Here in Italy athletic wear is worn at the gym. Not walking to and from the gym, or pretty much anywhere that’s not the gym. When planning your trip to Europe don’t plan on walking around in yoga clothes or workout gear. It’s seen as incredibly gauche/clueless.

The same applies to cruising around wearing any form of workout clothes. Save them for Vegas, and take just a tiny bit more effort.

3. Bikini Tops Belong On The Beach

If you live in Malibu pretty much no one will bat an eye if you’re walking down the street in a bikini top and a skirt/shorts/jeans/pants/sarong/whatever. Here in Italy it’s an absolute no no. To the point where some towns (like Sorrento)have laws that fine tourists €500 for wearing bikini tops or swimwear in the street. (See more in this article.)

Italian beach clubs have showers and changing rooms. There is an expectation that you’ll put yourself back together before leaving the beach. If you’re at a public beach then it’s up to you to get yourself sorted out. Italian women leave the beach looking totally put together and ready to walk into aperitivo hour. If you are hitting the beach or the pool, make sure you get changed and cover up when you leave. As in don’t walk down the street in swimwear.

4. Graphic T’s Aren’t Cool

Italian men don’t wear graphic t-shirts. It’s just not a thing. You’ll see them in a well cut simple t-shirt, but in general they’re not cruising the streets of Rome in a Slayer T. You should also leave t-shirts announcing your favorite city at home. I love New York as much as the next person, but an I Love NY t-shirt seems either clueless or rude. The same with college sweatshirts – who cares where you went to school? Keep them at home and make just a tiny bit more effort.

You also don’t typically see Italian men schlepping around in ill fitting cargo pants. If you’re a guy wanting ideas for what to wear and look cool while in Italy, look more to a nicely fitted chino style pant with slim legs and hemmed at slightly above the ankle. Or, outside of summer when jeans are too hot, a great pair of jeans. For shorts in the summer just find something stylish. You won’t see too many Italian men out and about in shorts but you will see plenty other travelers in them.

5. Baseball Caps

A baseball cap earmarks you as an American tourist from a hundred yards away. Funnily enough I do sometimes see Italian men, like taxi drivers, wearing Yankees ball caps. I don’t know why Yankees over any other team, but it seems to be a thing. But in general I suggest maybe leaving the ball cap at home. It really does mark you as an American, and pickpockets know Americans are likely to have more cash to grab than other nations.

**I don’t advise wearing red baseball caps either, regardless of your politics or what the cap might say. Non-Americans will assume it’s a political statement, one that will guarantee you enemies. (This is based on what I see living in Italy, and having to explain that this particular red cap has a different slogan stitched on the front.) Offhand I can’t name a single country where it would be received well.

6. Cover Up In Churches

Friday night Vatican visit during covid + heatwave. Everyone including our guide had their shoulders and thighs covered and it was zero drama.

As a rule for both men and women, your shoulders and thighs should be covered when going inside churches or religious locations. Places like the Vatican won’t let you in if inappropriately dressed, regardless of how much your ticket cost. Other locations like the Pantheon may let you in wearing a short skirt but will make you cover your shoulders. I’ve even seen tourists asked to leave churches due to inappropriate dress.

If you’ve ever seen so much as a single Instagram post of mine while in Italy you’ll know that I’m typically sleeveless all summer long. I keep a scarf in my bag to throw over my shoulders if entering a church. Zero drama. However, on the rare occasions I go to the Vatican I make sure I wear (short) sleeves and that everyone in my tour group has covered thighs and shoulders. Some churches like Basilica San Marco in Venice will sell you a paper skirt and shawl to wear inside, but be advised, they’re super uncomfortable.

7. Flip Flops Like Bikinis, Are For The Beach Only.

Flip flop style sandals are not a good idea in Italy, unless you’re at the beach.

Don’t wear flip flops or flip flop type sandals anywhere other than at the beach. Apart from it looking tacky, you also put yourself at more risk of getting hurt. Remember no streets in Italy are flat, even the flat ones! You’ll be walking on cobblestones and flagstones and walking up and down hills – even in the flat towns and villages. The only time I’ve had tour clients fall has been when they’ve been wearing flip flop type footwear, even though I’ve warned them not to. It is essential in Italy to wear good, supportive footwear that won’t trip you up. Trust me on this one!

Some places like the Cinqueterre will fine you as much as €2500 for wearing flip flops. (This is due to the cost of the non-stop rescue operations mounted to rescue flip flop wearing tourists who get hurt or stuck walking the hiking trails between the villages.)

8. Pack Light

Don’t overpack – you’ll regret bringing heavy luggage

Another huge mistake first time tourists make is bringing too much luggage and bringing too heavy luggage. A good rule of thumb is to only bring what you can personally carry on and off trains, up and down stairs, and along cobblestoned streets. I stick to a medium sized suitcase and a carry on that sits on top of it.

I really learned this one the hard way, nearly wrenching my arms out of their sockets trying to board a train, then having to climb 4 flights of stairs to my airbnb with heavy luggage. Never again. Decant hair care, skin care, body care products into travel sized jars and bottles (see examples here). Cut back on the amount of clothing you’re bringing (see below) and be super aware of the weight. It takes some strategy, but it’s so worth it!

9. Plan An Outfit For Each Day.

The easiest way to not overpack is to plan an outfit for each day, and stick to the plan. Planning separates that mix and match is another great strategy.

Variations of this outfit have traveled with me for years. The skirt goes with at least 4 tops in my suitcase, the top goes with multiple bottoms. I can recreate interesting combos so I don’t feel bored, meanwhile the luggage stays light.

2 skirts, 2 pairs of pants and 4 tops that all work together gives you something like 16 outfits. I am never that paired down, but normally do a few sundresses and some separates. Don’t bring any just-in-case items. You won’t need them.

I recommend creating a capsule travel wardrobe with some core pieces that travel well, look chic and are easy to launder. For years I’ve traveled with these Eddie Bauer Departure Pants. I have them both in olive and in black. They’re great to fly in, in terms of comfort, breathability and looking decent when you deplane. They are also fantastic for day to day wear while I’m away.

I pair them with a variety of tops, and love being able to wash and hang them to dry overnight. They pack down to nothing. I also like Amazon Essentials T-shirts For Women and great little basic travel capsule wardrobe pieces. They’re well cut, well made, and can handle a thrashing while traveling and still look smart. I always wash my whites separately so they don’t go yellow or grey, but I find the Amazon white T’s stay vibrant white for a long time. And they cost next to nothing.

The key to travel packing is both finding cool pieces that can take you through a variety of events, and choosing fabrics wisely. I look for fabrics that pack down small, breathe in hot/muggy/humid weather, are easy to launder, and don’t require a lot of ironing or maintenance. When you have some good core items in your capsule travel wardrobe, you can bend them to meet your needs. Dress them up, dress them down – their variety of uses means you can do away with just-in-case items.

It makes it so much easier already knowing what you’re wearing tomorrow, and being able to plan out any laundry you may need to do while away. I try to wear each item two times. it doesn’t always happen, but it has helped me to pack so much lighter!

10. Bring The Right Shoes

This one is so important. Italy is all walking, all day, every day. You are almost never walking on flat surfaces like the average American sidewalk, instead its uneven pavement, cobblestones, and hills as mentioned before. In the bigger cities like Rome, Florence and Venice you can expect to walk at least 20,000 steps per day. I’ve often found myself clocking in 32,000-35,000 steps in Rome. So with all this walking it is crucial that you have the right footwear.

For summer I recommend one pair of stylish looking sneakers that really support your feet, ankles and lower back. In the past I’ve put padded insoles in my sneakers to give extra cushioning.
Also in summer pack some really supportive sandals. This summer I wore this Taos sandal in caramel and loved it. We had a heatwave in Italy so I ended up wearing them every day and with all the walking they held up amazingly. I also like this pair. You can see from the photo above the sole is super cushioned, which not only supports your foot and ankle but also supports your lower back. The Taos leather is really soft – my shoes didn’t need any breaking in. The back strap keeps your foot in place and aligned.
For winter and fall and maybe early spring I want to make sure my shoes don’t get wet, so wear a waterproof sneaker and an ankle boot. I like Chelsea boots in the wet weather, not only because they’re comfortable, but the tread on the bottom stops you from slipping on the cobblestones and hills, which do get really slippery.
If I’ll be going to the beach I pack flip flops.
I may pack one more back up sandal, but in general planning 2 pairs of shoes is ideal. Definitely no more than 3 pairs – shoes weigh a lot and take up too much space in your luggage.

I hope you found these tips helpful! None of this is intended to be snarky or unkind. Most of us don’t know the customs, dress codes or appropriate etiquette in every other country – I know I don’t. So this was intended to help you.

You can get more tips for planning your trip, executing the most awesome Italian trip ever, and also help with bits and pieces while in Italy, in my best selling Italy travel guide Glam Italia! How To Travel Italy: Secrets To Glamorous Travel On A Not So Glamorous Budget. With more than 700 5-star reviews this is not only one of Amazon’s top rated Italy travel guides, but is also Amazon’s top rated for readability. Which basically means the tens of thousands of readers around the world have said they find it fun and easy reading, delivering great information in an easily understandable and accessible way. Check it out – you’ll find it super helpful too!

Happy travels! Corinna

How is you rChristmas/Holiday/End of year shopping coming along? I am mostly done but am flying back to Italy in less than a week so am scrambling to get everything finished before I go. I didn’t do a Black Friday / Cyber Monday shopping post this year because my own inbox was so bombarded with endless Black Friday shopping emails, I just couldn’t face being part of that circus this year.

So what I thought I would do instead is write a post after the event telling you about the MVP items I have used in my travels over the past year. I have traveled more months than I’ve stayed at home in 2023 so have had to use my travel items more than ever. This has really reinforced which things are indispensable and which are just space wasters in the valuable real estate that is my suitcase. Without further ado let’s check them out:

Conair Travel Steamer

best travel steamer for international travel

Small but mighty, this Conair Travel Smart Steamer was a lifesaver this year and is perhaps my favorite travel gadget and top of the most valued list. For more than one reason too. It is nice and powerful for steaming wrinkles out of clothes. I travel for about 8 weeks at a time so I used this to refresh clothes living in my cramped suitcase too. I also like the idea that you can steam pillows or anything else you might be concerned is holding bacteria.

It is quite compact, weighs next to nothing, and doesn’t take up much room in your suitcase. I bought mine at the beginning of the year, it has been on every trip with me, has been used half to death and still keeps chug-a-lugging along. Check it out here on Amazon.com

BaByliss Nano Titanium Professional Hot Air Dryer Brush

I use a dryer brush like this at home but it is way too cumbersome to pack for travel. I have an enormous amount of hair so didn’t have particularly high expectations for the small travel sized BaByliss Nano Titanium hot air brush, but it is fantastic! It blows my hair out smooth and the nano titanium part makes drying even my huge head of hair, really quick.

You can see in the image above how smooth it gets my crazy curly hair. This was walking with one of my Glam Italia Tour groups up to Civita di Bagnoregio in October 2023. Left to its own devices my hair looks like a Dollar Store home perm, so being able to blow it out nice and smooth without any drama is a Godsend. Check it out here on Amazon.com

BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Hair Dryer

If you’re not into the single item hot air brush type hair dryer, the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Travel Hair Dryer is incredible. According to Amazon I purchased mine in 2018, so if we take out 2020 covid year when none of us traveled, and exclude 2023 when I used the hot air brush from the same company, this little dynamo has had four years of hard core travel use, and is still going strong. Don’t be put off by how tiny it is – it is really powerful. Also the nano titanium part makes it dry hair more quickly and keeps your hair smooth. Check it out here on amazon.com.

Apple AirTags

I have an Apple AirTag in my suitcase and another in my carryon, and I can’t even tell you how much peace of mind it brings when I’m out and about in the world! Especially with the last two summers being so bad all over the world for lost luggage. It is a relief to board your flight and see your suitcase has boarded it too, and to arrive at the other end and be able to track your suitcase to the luggage carousel.

When I arrived to Rome in May I thought for a horrifying few minutes that my suitcase was lost. I turned on the AirTag and it walked me around the corner to where someone had taken it off the carousel by mistake. This makes the perfect gift for anyone who travels. Even if your suitcase goes to Dubai while you’ve flown to Madrid, your AirTag will locate it for you long before the airlines can. I won’t fly/travel without it. Check out AirTags here on amazon.com

The Paravel Foldable Duffle Bag

This little gem has bailed me out more times than I care to mention! The Paravel Foldable Duffle Bag zips down into itself into the shape and size of an iPad. It weighs nothing and takes up no space in your suitcase. Mine sees daylight when I’ve over-shopped or somehow can’t fit everything back into my suitcase at the end of a trip. (Which basically means I’ve over-shopped.) The bag has a surprisingly large capacity. I roll up loads of clothes and lightweight items using them to fill the Paravel bag, which comes on the plane with me, and fill my suitcase with whatever new things I’ve bought.

It makes a fabulous Plan B and prevents you from needing to buy a second suitcase/checked bag. I bought mine (years ago) in sensible but boring navy, but I wish I had the red one. These bags are really sturdy, can handle a lot of weight, and trust me – you’ll be amazed at how much you can fit in there! Check out the Paravel bags in all their colors here on Amazon.

The Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan

We just had the two hottest summers on record in southern Europe and this handheld mini fan was a lifesaver! It’s super small and slips into your handbag needing almost no space, so is really convenient when you’re out sightseeing all day and don’t want to carry around a single extra thing. It is also surprisingly powerful and holds a charge for a really long time. I charged mine in May before heading to Italy and made it through a really hot few weeks without needing to recharge it. (It has a USB port, so no nuisance batteries to deal with). They come in multiple colors and at under $15 these make great stocking stuffers too. Check them out here on Amazon.com

Bagsmart Electronic Organizer Case

These electronic organizer cases also cost under $15 and make great stocking stuffers. To be fair I thought mine was pretty ugly when I got it and wasn’t sure I’d use it, but I have used it to death! It’s a perfect compact size and is nice and slim, so doesn’t take up room in your carryon or handbag. (You should always keep all your chargers etc with you when you fly – don’t put them in a checked bag in case you need them.) Normally I would opt for something sleek and black but I have left sleek and black on planes and trains before, so opt instead for eyesore pink or any other color I will see and not leave behind. I like format of the pouches and zippered sections on this organizer. See it here on Amazon.com

Kindle Paperwhite

I was late to the party when it came to buying a Kindle. For years I read everything on the Kindle App on my iPad and it wasn’t until about 4 years ago that I finally bought a Kindle Paperwhite. Now I don’t know how I ever lived without it!

This is the travelers absolute best friend. Mine can hold somewhere between 5000 and 8000 books (!) and I don’t even have one of the souped-up models. I love that the Kindle is so slim and lightweight, so can slip into your handbag. They have low-light abilities, so you can be reading and not be blasting light into the eyeballs on the person trying to sleep next to you on the plane. I also love that I can be anywhere and still read, not needing a reading light. Again, I got mine in a color (sage green) rather than black, because I didn’t want to leave it behind on a plane or a train. There are a variety of different models and colors available. Check out Kindles here on Amazon.com

Audible Gift Subscription

This is kind of cool and is great for travelers. Audible is Amazon’s audio book service. They have gift subscriptions, so your travelers (or anyone else in your life) can enjoy listening to audiobooks courtesy of you. Statistics show that audio books are the fastest growing sector of the book market, and that readers/book lovers consume vastly more content when they can listen to books rather than have to find time to sit down and read. Personally, I am a voracious reader, but I love listening to audio books while doing housework, cooking, driving, doing things that prevent me from sitting down and reading. Check out Audible Subscriptions on amazon here.

Merino Base Layers

This really does have to be one of the best travel hacks around! I swear by merino base layers when I travel. In the summer I wear a merino cami under whatever I’m wearing to fly in, in the winter I wear a long sleeved merino t-shirt styled base layer. I also have several J Crew merino crew neck sweaters.

What makes merino so brilliant for the traveler in your life is this wool is super fine like a t-shirt weight. It’s non-itchy so even those of us who can’t normally wear wool (me!) can have this next to our skin. Merino is moisture wicking, so if you perspire it wicks it away from your skin. It’s also temperature regulating, so will keep you comfortable in temperatures from below zero up to about 75 degrees Fahrenheit/20 degrees Celsius, making it ideal when you are traveling from a cold climate to a warm one. It also is really helpful when you are moving from freezing cold outside into warm buildings/museums/homes/shops. And you don’t have to struggle with multiple heavy layers of clothing.

Merino is smell resistant, so you can go multiple wears without having to launder it, and it packs down super small so is ideal for travel. Winter travelers already know how cumbersome it is to pack thick sweaters when you travel! I buy Icebreaker Merino (see their store on Amazon here) but there are multiple other brands selling high quality merino products on Amazon too. In the photo above I’m wearing a black J Crew merino sweater in Rome when a very unexpected cold snap hit.

My Glam Italia How To Travel Italy Books

If you know anyone thinking about traveling to Italy, or anyone who already loves Italy, please think about gifting them my Glam Italia! How To Travel Italy books! All four books are best sellers and are popular worldwide. Rather than send people into the overwhelming tourist crowds like most travel guides do, my books show the reader loads of different, equally amazing and often more exciting places to visit. Most of the places I talk about are just down the street from where the crowds are, yet have very few if any other people there. There is so much more to see and do in these big Italian cities than just hang out where the tour buses go, and I want you to see these incredible places! All four books are designed to take a good trip to Italy and make it the best trip of your life.

Glam Italia! How To Travel Italy teaches you how to plan and execute your best trip ever. It is full of fantastic information, tips, tricks and ideas. Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Rome will make you fall in love with the Eternal City and show you endless places the tour bus crowds don’t know about. Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Florence gives you insider secrets to places you’ve never heard of before, and tells you intriguing stories about some of the places you have heard of! This book will change the way you explore and discover the most beautiful Renaissance city in the world.

Glam Italia! 101 Fabulous Things To Do In Venice is an absolute game changer. It will take you away from the tourist crowds, show you incredible sights you’d never heard of before, and will make you fall hopelessly in love with the most unique city on earth!

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