Italy is an easy choice for most travelers. It’s because it’s packed with world famous food, cities, landmarks, and coastline. This history of Western Civilization was more/less born in Italy’s ancient cities. There’s plenty to incite the senses of any traveler while in Italy. Which is the reason Italy is such a well traversed tourist destination. There are tons of guide books and information on what to do, see and expect in Italy. A good portion of a book stores “travel section” is about Italy.
Italy sees tourists, backpackers and travelers in millions. As a result, the major sites, like Pompeii or the Colosseum will be crawling like an ant hill when you visit. However, don’t be deterred. Italy is a special place that’s well worth braving the crowds for. That first forkful of fresh Italian pasta or that first sip of Italian house wine on Italian soil is bellisimo!
This Big 5 Italy Travel Guide is presented a bit differently than other Big 5 Guides due to the fact that Italy is a fairly easy country to visit. But fear not! We’re still giving you 5 awesome insights that will give you awesome advice to use on your next Italian Holiday! Here’s our Big 5 Guide to Italy.
1) Eat. Drink. Be Merry…Whenever Possible
You would be incredibly remiss in your duties as a traveler, explorer, backpacker, human being to say no to any of the food in Italy. We’re talking about the home of pizza, pasta, and gelato, people! For an encore, they brought the world espresso, chianti, and limoncello. Italians know how to throw down in the kitchen. Therefore, no matter what part of the country you’re in there’s something unique and special for you to try and enjoy.
Morning Fare
Seems like there’s no better time to start eating in Italy than immediately after you wake up. Waste no time with trivial things like checking your email, kissing your significant other, or using the restroom. Start eating immediately. Buffet style breakfasts are popular in accommodations and the one’s we encountered were nice…but I recommend heading out to a local pastry/coffee shop and indulging in something sweet. My favorite pastry in Italy was in Amalfi, a coastal town on the the well known, Amalfi coast. The pasty is a flakey layered creation filled with jelly or cream. It’s called Sfogliatella, which means thin leaf or layer. The crispy, flakey dough meshes with the sweet, soft middle perfectly.
A sweet treat in the morning is the natural match to the strong, bitter coffee Italians prefer in the morning. Save the cappuccino for your mid-afternoon drink of you’ll offend Italian baristas. Step up to the standing room only coffee bar and order “un caffe” for a hot shot of what we know as espresso. Saying “espresso” will out you as a tourist. You can also go with a machiatto, which is an espresso with a dash of milk. Don’t expect to see a venti or grande on any menus in Italy. It’s also customary to get water with your coffee to drink first as a palette cleanser.
Lunch
This is where things start to get real. Lunch. This is where you see that Italy is cut above the rest when it comes to cuisine. Whether you’re eating pizza, pasta or local sandwich you’re eating fresh ingredients. Fresh made bread. Fresh Vegetables from local farms, fresh cheese just out of the cave, meats sliced on the spot before being combined in a sandwich that is, no doubt, a gift from the gods. The care put into the preparation of food is a craft here. It comes through in everything from sandwiches to pasta.
A great example is while wandering the alleyways & piazzas of Rome we checked in with TripAdvisor and found a place called PanDivino ranked #6 among restaurants in Rome There are over 9,000 restaurants listed in Rome on TripAdvisor. So, if you’re coming in at #6 in Rome, you’re doing something right.
We were expecting a wait to get in and long wait for food. When we arrived to the modest, almost hidden store front, there were just a few locals inside chatting up the owner, noshing on sandwiches and enjoying some wine. The owner engaged us, speaking in English, he gave us recommendations from a large menu and poured us two glasses of wine. We grabbed a seat on high stools placed around wine barrels turned into tables. In the modest setting we were served two of the best sandwiches we have ever eaten. The owner/chef knew the source of every ingredient under his glass case. It was an amazing lunch in an unassuming hole in the wall. PanDivino should have a line around the corner every single day. Most tourists and visitors get drawn into more alluring eateries around tourist zones…especially in Rome. Don’t fall into this trap.
Dinner
Dinner is Italy is an event. Courses of food, courses of drink…this is where the waistline gets a workout. I’ll say that every bite of food I had in Italy was worth the weight. The pasta was usually the star of our meals. We just couldn’t get enough of the handmade goodness coming out of the cucinas. Gorging on meat and cheese plates and dove into the bounty of the big blue with Italian seafood, every evening we entered a culinary odyssey. Everything was beautifully prepared, regional cuisine made from fresh ingredients…it was dinner on another level….every night.
One night in the Parmigiano-Reggiano we ate 2 dinners in two different cities. This is the region that sets the bar of Italian cuisine. It’s the birthplace of parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar…how could we not? We headed to Parma and had a speciality from a local deli called Pepèn whose speciality is the Pesto Di Cavallo, a sandwich made with ground horse meat. After gorging on the specialties of Pepèn, we drove 40 minutes to neighboring Modena, the origin of balsamic vinegar & carbonated wine called lambrusco. After we had walked around the city center and burned off our sandwiches from earlier, we stopped into a small restaurant for a second lovely meal of pasta! Eat as much as you can and eat often.
Drinking
Drinking is also a huge part of the Italian cuisine. Obviously, wine is the main attraction. They’ve been making wine drinking it here since Roman times. They know what they’re doing. There are places you can step into with wine lists like novels. We say don’t bother. Order the house wine. We found the all the house wines we had very drinkable and much easier on the wallet than ordering off the wine list. This was our go to in restaurants. Of course, if you’re not on the budget like we are, the somoliers and servers are usually very knowledgeable about the wine.
When wine tasting in Italy, it’s a bit more casual than France, but not quite as casual as in the US or South Africa. Old world wineries still playing by old world rules. If you have some places in mind, be sure to call ahead to secure reservations. If you’re on a looser schedule, like us, as at your guesthouse or tourist information office about wineries that have tasting room hours.
You should also make it a point to enjoy some grappa after a meal or some limoncello. We weren’t big fans, but when in Rome….exactly.
2) Cities
Italian cities are as varied as the types of pasta. You can’t visit only Rome or Venice or Florence and get a sense of the other. All are special and unique with strong personalities. Here’s a quick personality profile on the Italian cities we visited.
Rome
Once the center of the known world. Today, a mega capital city that crawls with nearly 3 million Italians. Rome is alive in the present, but it’s storied past is constantly reminding you of Rome’s 3,000 year history.
The city is an outdoor museum with some of the most amazing and most visited tourist sites in the world. The colosseum sees approximately 4 million visitors each year. There’s no shortage of sites to see in Rome. Other sites like The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, The Vatican all see visitors in the millions year in and year out. Rome has lots to see and lots of people seeing it. Summer can be overflowing with site-seers, tour groups, backpackers and the like. Lines can be long and the heat sweltering. Shoulder seasons of early spring and later fall are great times to visit as lines are shorter and temps are lower.
Rome is also an amazing place to eat. There are plenty of restaurant around tourist areas, many of which are fine, but we’d encourage you to do some research and make eating a priority in Rome. There are some awesome places to nosh. Here are our favorite. All are great budget options.
–Pane e Salame – Great cured meat, cheese, small bite plates & sandwiches. A real Italian deli with a modern feel.
–Dar Poeta – A great spot for authentic pizza and seating in the alley way. Laid back and romantic all at the same time. While the pizza is great, DO NOT miss the Nutella Calzone for dessert.
–PanDivino – As discussed above…solida sandwiches. I even bought a sandwich for take away on our way out!
Venice
A city like none other, Venice must be experienced. It’s as romantic as it is unique. The waterways and history of this exotic and mystical city draw travelers from around the globe. And, rightly so. It’s a one of a kind place that should be on your list if you’re headed to Italy.
There’s much to explore in Venice and the truth is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to see Venice. The mystique of Venice is simply wandering the alleys, crossing bridges that line the waterways as gondolas glide by. You can traverse much of the main city on foot (bring great shoes) which costs you nothing. Seeing the city via the waterways carries a bit more cost. Gondola rides will set you back €80 for a 40 minute ride. Beyond 40 minutes, it’ll cost you €40 per 20 minutes. There’s no negotiating. The price is fixed and gondoliers aren’t keen to strike a deal.
There’s a bit of hack to seeing the city via the water by using the water bus service known as the ACTV Vaporetto. While not as romantic as a gondola ride, tickets for travel on the vaporetto are offered for unlimited use in 12 hour increments. A 12 hour ticket starts at €18 while a 24 hour ticket can be purchased for €20. Prices and increments increase up to a 7 day unlimited pass for €50. This allows you the views of city from the main waterways and transport to the surrounding islands, such as Murano and Burano. So, if you can live without the romance of the gondola, there’s some good value to get around and see Venice from the canals.
There are no shortage of landmarks or sights to see in Venice. Here’s a short list of what we loved:
*Piazza San Marco is a picturesque spot as any. It’s especially good at sunrise and early morning hours before the crowds move it. Although, the square is full of life when people are around and things are in full swing.
*Ponte Rialto is a spot you’ll no doubt encounter. The bridge is beautiful to to see and provides beautiful views as it spans the Grand Canal. The area is also brimming with shops and restaurants.
*Guggenheim Venice is a must for art lovers. The collection is housed in Peggy Guggenheim’s Venice home. The location is sublime, right along the canal and away from the crowds.
*Murano & Burano are islands set away from the main center of Venice. Murano is known for the famous Venetian Glass that has been produced there for centuries. The streets are lined with studios featuring stunning glass creations. Burano is further afield but a beautiful little island and great place for lunch or a drink. The island is known for the fine lace products the inhabitants produce. The quaint canals and walkways are lined with colorfully painted homes. Both islands are reachable via the vaporetto.
One more quick gem from Venice, if you’re looking for some cheap, local street food in an excellent Venice setting, check out La Bottiglia. Great sandwiches, wine and beer in a nice corner spot along a minor canal. A great place to enjoy a respite from being a traveler and blend it like local.
Naples
Naples gets on the list because of it’s nearby attractions. The Amalfi Coast & Pompeii can eat a few days of travelers time in this region. In our opinion, Naples proper doesn’t have heap to offer travelers in comparison with Italy’s other major cities. Sure, there are piazzas, shopping and old waterfront citadels. Plenty to see, but nothing to knock your socks off. That is unless, you’re on the hunt for Italy’s best pizza.
Naples is the home of modern pizza as we know it and is still home to some of the best pizza in Italy…making it some of the best on Earth. Here’s a great list of pizza places in Naples. Ee’re going to highlight the ones we enjoyed most:
Pizzeria Dal Presidente: This place is defined by famous clientele as much as it’s pizza. Bill Clinton famously enjoyed a slice here during his presidency. The walls of the basement dining rooms are lined with images of the famous folks who who’ve sampled the wares here. That said, I don’t blame famous folks for dining here. Presidente prides themselves on fresh ingredients, and the those fresh flavors come through in the final product. They’ve even got a famous pizza chef who’s been manning their oven here for over 25 years. If you like to eat at mealtimes, this place will be easy to find by the huge crowd gathered outside. We advise you to try to eat early or late to ensure you get a table here.
Pizzeria De Matteo: This spot in located close to Pizzeria Dal Presidente in the heart of Naples. Huge crowds gather not to get in the dining room, but to grab a pizza from the street facing window. The Margherita Pizza here is amazing.
Another notable spot in Naples, especially if you’re exploring the ruins of Pompeii is the Naples National Archeology Museum. It houses many of the artifacts from the nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum archeological sites as well as a large collection of marble sculptures. The highlight for us was the mosaics that have been preserved from the Pompeii site. It’s a pleasant place to spend an afternoon and is a nice compliment to Vesuvian City sites.
Florence
It could be Italy’s quintessential city. It’s got a massive, breathtakingly beautiful Duomo. Florence is the home to timeless pieces of art such as Michelangelo’s “David” (housed at Galleria dell’Accademia) and The Uffizi Museum which houses works from da Vinci and Botticelli. It’s also the birthplace of the culinary delight, Steak Florentine.
The city is super accessible by foot and there is a lot to see and do. It’s a good idea to make a list of priorities and try to tackles them in order of importance to you. The crowds and cues for the museums can be daunting. You could spend an entire day in the Uffizi. The place is massive while Galleria dell’Accademia in small and can be completed in under an hour. Plan accordingly and get tickets to attractions in advance when possible. We traveled in shoulder season and didn’t have long waits or any problems getting tickets.
A cool spot for authentic Tuscan food served in a an awesome setting. Head over to the Da Nerbone in the Mercato Centrale. Da Nerbone is serving up cheap eats amidst a super fun experience in the market hall. The food you select from the walk up counter is fresh and delicious. The staff can be a brusque if you’re taking your time with your order, so try and be prepared when you it’s your turn. It’s hard to go wrong here because everything is so authentically Tuscan and fresh. Whatever you order, don’t forget a glass of the house wine.
The Italian cities are all gems in the own right. Each has it’s own character, personality and vibe. We suggest that rather than making an uneducated guess, You have to visit them all to decide which one you like best.
3) The Coastline
Just look at the map. Italy is all coastline. 7,600 kilometers (4,720 miles) of where the ocean meets the land spread across 3 seas, The Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Adriatic.. This means there are a lot of seaside towns, beaches a villages to explore in every direction. The attractions on the coast line take many forms. There’s something for everyone along the Italian Coast. In the Northeast, you can sprawl out on the long beaches of the resort town of Rimini. In the west, the Amalfi Coast is can’t miss scenic overload. And of course, in the Northwest you can join the throngs by visiting the 5 seaside burgs know to all as Cinque Terre.
Rimini
Rimini is more of a very typical resort town that you can find anywhere in the world. White washed high rise condo and hotel complexes line a beachfront promenade. Restaurants and shops occupy the lower levels and once night falls the streets are lined with prostitutes. While I’m not painting the most alluring picture, the stretch of beach is long white beach is wide and pristine as the calm waters of the Adriatic lap its shore. Rimini is also a great choice for the budget traveler. There’s a high concentration of lodging in Rimini which causes it to see some of the biggest drops in prices if you’re traveling during off seasons.
A very easy day trip from Rimini is San Marino, an independent country with in Italy. San Marino is the smallest independent republic in the world and also claims to the oldest constitutional republic, founded in 301 CE. There are some sweeping 360 vistas from the old citadel, which is the main attraction in city of San Marino.
With the great prices, San Marino close by and some serious stretches of sandy beach, Rimini is worth a visit.
Amalfi Coast
Down in the eastern central region you’ll find the Amalfi Coast. Close to the city of Naples, the home of pizza and the Pompeii ruins, the Amalfi Coast is something out of a fairy tale. A peninsula of rugged, winding coast that kisses the bright blue waters of the Tyrrenhian Sea. The Amalfi Coast is adventurous with it’s hiking and beaches and luxurious at the same time with it’s top end accommodation and world class dining. The peninsula is plentiful with lodging otpions of all sorts from beach front high rises to mountain cabins and campgrounds. It’s a place for travelers of all types.
While the entire coastline is stunning, Amalfi’s most famous town is probably Positano. Set just back from a sea level coastline, the ancient village sits shines like a pearl on the coast. Boutiques and cafes line the narrow alleys. The 13th century Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta a main attraction here.
Ravello was also a highlight for us. This ancient town sits atop the mountains and boast some beautiful views the entire coast. The ancient citadel city has some great boutiques, gardens and eateries. But really, the views on clear day make the trip up the mountain well worth it. If you make it up to Ravello, stop into Mimi Bar Pizzeria for some top notch cuisine, a great selection of wine and Italian craft beer!
We spent most of our time on the Amalfi Coast going from town to town eating, drinking and taking in the amazing ocean views. Along the road there are some rather amazing turnouts where you can pull over and take in the splendor of the coast.
We stayed at a stunning little BnB just out of Sorrento, Il Casale Sorrento. The place is an absolute gem because it’s set back in the hills of the Amalfi Coast but still boasts unobstructed views of Mount Vesuvius across the Bay of Naples. The staff was amazing and the breakfast (usually complimentary with your booking) was as fine a spread as you’ll find. The property is walking distance to a small village where you can find some great restaurants and some adorable European streets that almost feel like they’re straight our of a storybook. An awesome yet, affordable place to spend a couple nights.
Getting around Amalfi is almost as trying as it is rewarding. You can do public or private transport. You can ride a scooter or rent a car. We had a car and were able to drive the twisting, turning roads of the coast. While it was a beautiful drive between towns done at our own pace, the narrow road, high traffic volume and tour buses can make the going slow at times.
Cinque Terre
Maybe the most famous of the Italian coastal attractions, this stretch of coastline attracts backpackers and luxe hunters alike. You can’t blame them. The UNESCO Heritage listed fishing villages of Cinque Terre are something from another time. Nowadays, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso are a major stop on the backpacker route through Italy. Each of the villages are precariously placed along the coastline making for a dramatic scene.
Many travelers catch the train from La Spezia and ride up the coast to Riomaggiore, the southernmost village. From Riomaggiore, you can hop out and start hiking or continue on the train to the other villages. Cinque Terre is know for the coastal treks that connect these five little bergs. In recent years, as a result of harsh conditions and heavy traffic the paths have been under repair and often inaccessible. So, be sure to check conditions if you plan to hike. If you’re planning on using the train to get around, it’s very easy to access parts of the trail closest to the towns.
There are heaps of place to stay and eat in Cinque Terre, but you pay a premium. The area is very seasonal and when the tourists are in the town the prices are up. Seems like outside of high season, many places close for the season, keeping prices on the high side. While day tripping from La Spezia might now be the most enrapturing way to see Cinque Terre, it can certainly be an economical choice.
We, of course, had our Renault Eurodrive car when visiting Cinque Terre. Since it was the off season there weren’t many tourists and we were able to find easy free parking without much hassle. However, I don’t know that driving your own wheels would be worth it unless you’re willing to shell out for parking. Because we were in the car, it was easy for us to explore each of the villages on our own time table and we were able to easily visit all five in the course of just one day.
No matter what your preference of coastal experience, Italy probably has something for you.
4) Towns Off the Beaten Path
You’ve got the big cities, the coast, the ruins, the museums…but what about the in between? If you ask me, this is where the magic of Italy lies. That’s because there are some amazing off the beaten path places that are interesting, impressive and some that are just down right adorable. Here are a few of our favorite spots off the main tourist routes of Italy.
Alberobello
This is probably going to be one of those places that you’ll have you asking yourself, “Why have I never seen or heard of this?” Alberobello is a rather small town with unique architecture specific to the area. The Trulli homes of the town were built because of the abundance of stone. These homes with their unique cone style, use construction that doesn’t require mortar. In the Zona di Trullli is a UNESCO Heritage listed area of the city that displays about 1500 Trulli homes, some dating back to the 14th century.
While this may seem like an obscure off the beaten path destination, they occupants of the city are ready and waiting with souvenirs galore. Most of the historic homes are either boutiques, shops or lodging. Very few people actually continue to live in this style of home. Alberobello is a fun place to visit and there are some great photo opportunities if you’re in the Apuglia region.
Matera
You probably plan to visit Italy to do 3 things: eat, drink, and see old stuff. It doesn’t get much older than Matera. Experts believe that the area of Matera has been a human settlement since the Paleolithic era…roughly 2.5 million years. The subterranean city, which is the attraction here, was founded by the Romans in the 3rd century BC. The troglodyte caves that consume the walls of the river valley are something out of Lord of the Rings. While today they are little more caves, the upper parts of the city and more recent cave dwellings give an idea of what life in Matera was all about.
It was an area of extreme poverty up until the mid 1950s. Some of the upper caves are now small museums displaying the functionality of the cave dwellings. As a result of a recent influx of tourism and attention from the government there’s a renewed interest in preserving Matera’s history.
There’s a small visitor’s center that shows some short films about the area and history of Matera. It’s a nice hike down into the valley to explore some of the dwellings. Many are inaccessible and not safe to enter, but you can take a peek into a few.
Matera isn’t too far from Alberobello and you could probably combine the two sites into a one day trip if you’re feeling ambitious. As a result of it’s precarious position at the top of the canyon, Matera has some cool accommodations that provide a taste of what living in one of the ancient cave dwellings was like. Our apartment rental had a view directly into the canyon and sheer drop straight to the bottom!
Perugia
A few years this city became infamous in the early 2000s with the murder or an international student and the trial of Amanda Knox that followed, it was the place where a young Kari of Travelin’ Stiles fell in love with Italy and travel. She studied here for 3 months and while she admits she spent most weekends on trains getting around Italy, she’s got a soft spot for Perugia.
While Foxy Knoxy has put Perugia on the map in recent years, this hilltop college town has plenty to offer in the way of old world charm. It’s smack in the heart of Umbria and is the capital of the province. While Perugia keeps an old world feel with its ancient Etruscan walls, it’s veins pump with the young energetic spirit of its international student population.
The main piazza and cathedral serves as the city center and the town spills down the hill in all directions. Therefore, walking Perugia can be a serious workout. The main area of town hosts weekly farmers markets featuring some seriously delectable regional specialities. There’s a few great restaurants in Perugia. We had the pleasure of being there for truffle season and dined on massive portions of truffle at Al Mangiar Bene & Al Tartufo. Both places are great and worth of your business.
Perugia is a great place to stop over if you’re heading from Rome up to Siena or Florence.
Lucca
Set inside an ancient wall, Lucca is the less touristed out neighbor of Pisa. Just 30-45 minutes from the leaning tower, Lucca, the home of the great opera composer Puccini, is probably a much more pleasant place to spend your time than the amongst the hawkers and hustlers of Pisa.
Lucca is a place heavy on old world world charm. The old city wall encloses a city center of narrow lanes. The shop fronts are everything from trendy lifestyle shops to traditional Italian delis. You can wandered the cute cobbled streets and even take a lap around the top the wall. While in Lucca look for the Guinigi Tower, once home to a prominent family who planted oak trees on the top of the tower to ensure it was the tallest in the town. Also, be sure to swing through the town’s main square, Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. The circular square serves as a venue for musical and theatrical performances during the summer.
A great place to stay inside Lucca’s city walls is called Le Violette. An American friend of ours is the proprietor. It’s a great budget option with a central location. Great spot to post up for travelers or any type.
Siena
Siena is definitely more a city that a small town. However, it’s often overlooked by it’s neighbor and Tuscan powerhouse, Florence. Seems like what Siena has going for it is it’s proximity to some amazing wine country. Siena is the jumping off point for the chianti wine region.
Siena’s streets are probably some of the most idyllic you’ll find in Italy. The UNESCO listed historic center features cobbled pathways that wind in around ancient buildings and churches and lead to the center of Siena, Piazza del Campo. The sloping piazza hosts locals and tourists alike as they spread out across the stones to socialize and enjoy the scene. Just off the piazza is the gargantuan Duomo that dates back to the 14th century.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be visiting Siena during the Palio di Siena. It’s a horse race that pits horses and riders from the neighborhoods of Siena and sees them racing around the Piazza del Campo on a thick layer of dirt. The event attacks an international crowd and carries bragging rights for the citizens of the winning contrade (neighborhood or city ward) .
If you’d rather save some money, you can stay at Villa Zara. Friendly, accommodating owners who offer comfortable, clean rooms and it’s just a short walk from the historical center. It’s a good spot to help keep costs down. It’s a bit of a walk to the historic center, but very manageable.
To us, getting to some of these lesser frequented places in Italy will help provide an amazing glue to your Italian vacation. These places are smaller, special and worth getting off the beaten path for.
5) Take your Time
I can not stress this enough when traveling Italy. Give yourself time to take it all in. There is sooooooooo much to see and do….and eat and drink. Even more than the sheer quantity of things to do, I think, to really understand Italy you have to spend time in each of the regions to experience the nuances of each region. You’ll notice differences in the people, in the food, the over culture of each region. It’s rather fascinating.
If you have some more time to spend in Italy, it’ll allow you to get out to some of the small, more rural towns and cities. Check out little spots off the tourist circuit that have a rather big pay off. Little gems like Perugia, Alberobello or even going international into San Marino. There are just so many small towns, cities and even small countries that are worth you time and effort to see.
Another thing about taking your time while in Italy, is that you’ll blend in with the locals. Italians are seldom in a hurry. They are experts in taking their time, savoring their food and drink. They are pros at enjoying life. Be sure you’re taking your time and enjoying your time in the piazzas, as you amongst the best in the world at enjoying the little moments in life.
Now get to using this Italy Travel Guide
There is is folks….as much as we like Italy, this guide must come to an end. Like we mentioned before, there’s tons to do in Italy and tons of literature and online resources. However, and wherever you choose to experience Italy, take you time and take in the amazing culture that brought you pizza, spaghetti, gladiators and chianti!
Andiamo Adesso (let’s go now!)!!!!!
***Disclaimer: Some of the links to the accommodations in this post are affiliate links. That means if you complete a booking through these links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Being an affiliate is a great way to spread the word about awesome places and things we experience when we travel. It’s also a great opportunity for you to help support Travelin’ Stiles. Rest assured that we would not recommend something to you that we have not used and find value in.***
