There’s a lot of maybes with travel. I mean, in packing a suitcase alone you are trying to predict what you will need or want in seven days, 2,000 miles from home! How crazy is that? So yes, of course, traveling can be quite stressful and often needlessly expensive. But the payoff…oh the payoff is way worth it. With that in mind, below are 20 Travel Essentials For a Stress-Free Trip. These items can help mitigate some of the anxiety & stress, while saving you a few bucks along the way.

One thing is for sure: Traveling with your beloved pet(s) is a whole bunch of stress in itself. Here I’ve compiled a list of items that can help your beloved fur-baby survive the anxiety & fear that comes with traveling…and do so looking pretty darn chic & stylish too, I might add. Just in time for Amazon’s October Prime Days, these recommendations are all “Prime”-eligible & from some of the best–and reliable-brands in the pet care industries.

Bari is almost a split personality, one young and vibrant, one older and esteemed. The latter can be encapsulated by Bari Vecchia, the historic old town, a city center filled with countless trattorias, piazzas and shops. This invokes, for Americans like me, a sort of downtown “Main Street, USA” vibe…except it’s backdrop is picturesque lighthouses overlooking the Adriatic Sea and too many museums to count.

Our road trip continues as we explore Matera–inside a region that’s actually just to the south of Puglia, called Basilicata

Meredith and I continued our epic 9-day Puglia, Italy road trip with a visit to Alberobello, the 3rd city on our itinerary. Alberobello is a small town (or commune) of roughly 10,000. It’s actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, achieving the status in 1996, for its unique and historically significant architecture–specifically its Trulli houses.

Accompanied by one of my good friends from New York City, Meredith, we embarked on a 9-day road trip throughout one of the most scenic–and criminally underrated & unheralded–regions of Italy. A coastal region in the southeast “heel” of the country, Puglia (also known as Apulia) remains a hidden gem of sorts as tourists flock to the more well-known…and more easily accessible, to be honest….cities like Rome, Venice, Milan, etc etc..

I’ve talked about some of the best street food in Sicily, and raved about my tour through Florence already. So it was only natural that upon a visit to Naples I reconnected with Marco, owner of Streaty Food Tours, for another fantastic day of walking, learning, and, most importantly, tasting some of the best food in the city.

Figuring out transportation within a foreign country can be *OMG* stressful. There’s so many options and possible methods of transportation that comparing them all can get overwhelming really, really quickly. Trust me,…I’ve been there.

Italian coffee is deemed one of the best in the world and boy do they wear that badge with honor. Right up there next to pizza and pasta, coffee is one of the things Italy is most renowned for and has become a point of reference for coffee excellence in the world.

When people think “travel to Europe”, the next thought that usually accompanies it is how expensive it is to do. For that reason, so many people automatically assume that they will never be able to experience the world because they simply don’t have the funds to do so.

As you’ve heard me say before, the best way to understand in a new city and culture is through its food – and more specifically its STREET food. Florence is my stomping grounds, so I’m gunna tell you exactly how to do it right.

Time to be real with yall – it’s hard to find good food in Venice if you don’t know where to look. That being said though, it’s not impossible – here’s how to do it.

Sicilian street food is (IMO), some of the best that you’ll find in all of Italy, and there’s no better way to experience it then having a local take you around to their favorite spots!

There are few things I love more than chowing down on an authentic, fresh, Italian panino. After happily eating my way around Florence, here are my fav go-to spots

Eating gelato in Italy is the epitome of the ultimate Italian experience and one that earns you bragging rights for years to come. But in a sea of gelato…how do you find the real deal? No worries – I got you.

In this mini-guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about a Bacaro Tour – what it is, how to do it, Italian words you should know, and my personal recommendations to navigate your way through a seriously delicious dining experience.