5 Beaches In Italy You Can’t Miss

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When travelling to Italy, a smart way to go is to pick a theme and follow that path. Made you want to see the Roman cathedrals, walk the piazzas in Florence. Or maybe you just want to chill out with a cold drink in your hand, with some beautiful waters in your sights. Either way, Italy is simply magnificent.

A fun way to explore the country’s beauties is to stick to the neverending coasts and the gorgeous islands. Breathtaking sceneries, sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, crystal clear water. No need to travel to the tropics: Italy has just about it all!

In no particular order take a look at my very-own top 5 beaches in Italy.

 Positano, Amalfi Coast

Parasols at the beach in Positano

Stretching for about 50 kilometers on the southern coastline of Campania, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular seaside spots to enjoy your vacation in Italy.

Featuring rocky steep shores, golden to charcoal sandy beaches, and small fishermen villages, the Amalfi Coast is home to some of the top beaches in Italy.

Best time to visit is April to September, however the Mediterranean climate makes of the Amalfi Coast a perfect spot to escape the colder north side of the country even in winter.

Do not miss out on popular villages like Amalfi,Positano, Praiano, and Capri. Ranking amongst the best sights in Italy, Positano is also definitely worth a visit

Cala Porto, Polignano a Mare

Cala Porto beach set in a cove in Polignano a Mare.

This wonderful little town on the Adriatic coast of region Apulia is very much popular as the set of a big number of Italian movies. You’ll truly appreciate that movie-set vibe as you walk through the historical center of Polignano a Mare.

Join the locals and the many visitors in a superb vacation in one Italy’s most beautiful seaside spots.

Sitting on a rocky cliff, about 33 kilometers south of Bari, Polignano a Mare also features beautiful arts, extensive historical and cultural sites, breathtaking views over the Adriatic Sea.

Polignano a Mare carries tales from a Greek and Roman background. The best example? Pay a visit to the beautiful Roman Bridge on Via Traiana. A spectacular sight! Even the architecture in town resembles many Greek small towns. So beautiful

Rabbits Beach, Lampedusa

Clear blue waters here around this island. Many beautiful beaches here.

This tiny island on the Mediterranean Sea is in fact the biggest of the archipelago called Pelagie Islands. Being much closer to Tunisia in the north Africa than to Sicily, Lampedusa offers a semi-arid climates. Thus it is considered as the warmest site in the country throughout the year.

The biodiversity and the flourish wildlife make of Lampedusa one of the top beaches in Italy. Keep an eye out the sea for dolphins, sharks, whales and seals.

Spiaggia dei Conigli (literally Rabbits Beach), named Best Beach by TripAdvisor in 2013.

Cala Rossa, Favignana

Not much of a beach here, but good for swimming right off the boat.

Okay, so maybe it’s not so much about the beaches here, as it is about the water! The water here is like looking into the most beautiful deepest blues, and bright turquoise hues. Favignana has become a hot spot for tourist recently.. and you’ve probably seen these places pop up on your Instagram this summer.  (Maybe the Italians didn’t wanted us to not know about it!)

Favignana is a small island situated just off north-western tip of Sicily. There are many sandy beaches, accompanied by rocky shorelines. Cala Rossa, most popular beach here,  is a beach on the eastern portion of the island.  Not very much is around this beach, a few small eateries, and hardly any services. But this place is great for snorkeling, swimming, and amazing panoramas.

La Pelosa, Stintino

La Pelosa beach on the island of Sardinia.

The coastal village of Stintino in Sardinia offers the spot that ranks on number 1 of the best beaches in Italy. Most people forget about this island nestled in the middle Tyrrhenian Sea.

Sitting in the Gulf of Asinara, the stunning beach of La Pelosa features white sand and crystal clear water.Very much popular with tourists from all over Europe and the world, the area around Stintino offers luxurious resorts and a vibrant nightlife.

 

Sent me an email and let me know if I’ve missed a beach you love! jessie_koehler@yahoo.com

Tips On Feeling Fresh During and After Your Flight

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Flights booked and bags are packed. You’re about to embark on your next vacation, or work trip. This could be your first long flight, or your hundredth, either way it’s good to practice these methods of preparation.

 

Step One: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate 

….and we aren’t talking about the alcoholic kind. Water! Literally the fountain of youth. Water will not only quench your thirst, but your skin will thank you. Doesn’t matter if you’re flying to a humid place, drink plenty of water otherwise your skin could have an adverse effect. Opt for an aisle seat in case of frequent trips to the bathroom. I’d certainly rather use an airplane toilet for long hauls than have a breakout, or dull/dry skin to deal with for the next week. They say to drink 8 oz. of water per hour.

Step Two: Invest in a pair or a couple pairs of compression socks. 

Compression socks are a life saver! Whenever I fly flights 5 hours or longer I break out my ever so fashionable compression socks. You will immediately tell the difference between wearing them for a long flight and not. Yes, you may still get some after swelling, but it won’t be as intense as without wearing them all together. TIP: Airport news stand typically sell these socks right next to the neck pillows! 😉

Step Three: Eating Meals

Which I’m still trying to prove this theory, don’t eat full meals while during flights. Try to light snack if possible. Some cheese, nuts, dried fruit, fruit they serve with meals. This will help with making a quicker adjustment to the new time zone.

Step Four: Snack choices 

Speaking of food, opt for less salty snacks to not further dehydrate yourself. This will help with fewer bathroom trips as well. Your skin will thank you too! Remember hydration is key!

Step Five: Travel pouch

If you’re a frequent traveler like me, I keep a very small pouch always stocked and ready for take off and I take it with me everywhere! This pouch can easily fit in the back of seat pockets and is not bulky! My pouch includes; Lip Balm, quality travel size non-fragrant hydrating hand lotion , ear plugs, Zquil, toothbrush, toothpaste, eye cream, hydrating tablets, pen, hand sanitizer, and an eye mask. I know this sounds like a lot of stuff, but it all fits nice and perfectly in a small little bag and I never unpack the bag. It’s my travel lifeline!!

Step Six: Sleeping

If you’re trying to get on the new time zone fast add the cities time zone to your phone. If you’re taking off in the morning, but your destination is about to go to sleep, try to get some sleep yourself or vice versa. I typically take an over the counter sleep aid such as Zquil to help me sleep better on flights. I’m no doctor, but this has helped me tremendously! Zquil also doesn’t leave you feeling like you’re hungover. Try out your over the counter sleep aid a few nights before you fly and see your reaction with it. Getting rest at appropriate times on your flight will help with getting adjusted better.

Step Seven: After Flight

Continue to hydrate yourself after your flight. If you want a good recovery fast try to avoid drinking heavily for the first two days after a really long flight. This will help your body adjust, and help rehydrate yourself. You can usually feel the affect of flight dehydration to continue 24 hours later. Invest in quality non-fragrant hydrating lotion to keep your skin feeling smooth!

 

Hope this helps anyone, and you can try some of these tips the next time you take your next adventure! xx

 

 

Positano: A Guide To Get There

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Ah, Italy, you have so much to offer. How do you choose just one town, village, city, coast to see? This is a difficult question that many ask themselves before traveling to Italy. Whether you have limited time or an abundance, you’ll never get to see and do everything you want. For example, one of my mothers friends has been to Italy twelve times… yes TWELVE.. and she still says it’s not enough. I dreamt about just going once, and now that I have, I’m dreaming about going again, but all in due time.

For now I’m here to talk about one of Italy’s coastal gems; Positano. An absolute paradise, and the most delicious, scenic, beautiful place you ever might visit. When defining utopia, I’m pretty sure Positano is in the definition.. it’s that breathtaking.

But as with almost anything, something so rewarding isn’t an always the easiest to accomplish. As the saying goes “if it were easy, everyone would be doing it” Right? Right!

Getting To Positano

There are multiple options to choose from when traveling to Positano. You can take a ferry, bus, train/bus combo, or private transfer/taxi option from either Naples or Rome. These are all viable options that everyone takes depending on your budget and how you prefer to travel.

Ferry/Ferry , Ferry/Bus Option

There are no direct ferries to Positano at this time. If you’re arriving into Naples, there are ferries leaving from Naples Beverello Port to Sorrento about 5 times daily depending on the time of year. You may book tickets in advance or book the day of. However, the ferry only takes you to Sorrento. From Sorrento you’ll still need to make your way to the bus stop which takes you onto Positano. Second option would be to connect with another ferry that takes you onto Positano.

  • Ferry/Ferry Option: $44 USD about 3 hours travel time
  • Ferry/Bus Option: $19 USD about 3-4 hours travel time

Train/Bus

There are no direct trains to Positano. There is a popular public trained called the circumvesuviana which has routes from Napoli Train Terminal to Sorrento, it takes about 50 minutes total travel. There are several trains per hour that leave to Sorrento, booking in advance is not needed. Once to the station in Sorrento you’ll need to take a taxi or bus to continue to get to Postiano. Both buses and taxis are outside the train terminal in Sorrento.

  • Train/Bus Option: $9 USD about 2 hours travel time and the most affordable

If you do decide to take a taxi from Sorrento to Postiano it will cost you around $90 USD.

Private Transfer

Depending where you’re coming from either Rome, or Naples. There are private transfers or taxis that will take you directly to Positano. No stops, and the most comfortable way to travel to Positano. You can use various online tools to book a transfer or contact the hotel you’ll be staying at in Positano to have them arrange it for you.

  • From Rome:$300-450 USD about 3-4 hours
  • From Naples: $115-150 USD about 1- 1 1/2 hours

Personal Experience

Going to Positano we opted for the Train/Bus option because we stayed in a little beach town close to Sorrento before heading to Positano the next day. The circumvesuviana train was an interesting experience with it’s own charm. It can be crowded, therefore you may not get a seat for the first few stops. Furthermore, there is no aircon, but the windows do stay down. When the train moves you do feel the breeze, but it can get hot. The next morning when we caught the bus to Positano we did wait in a line to get on the bus, and once on the bus we didn’t have a seat, so we had to stand. The bus ride is 30-45 minutes, so for nearly 4 Euros it wasn’t that bad. (Total $9 USD train and bus combined).

On the way back to Naples we paid 130 Euros to have a car pick us up from the hotel and drop us at the train station in Naples. Obviously this was the carefree, easy way to travel. Not to mention a way to travel in style!  Yes, I may have liked this option more, but the price difference is so staggering between the other options that the struggles with the train/bus option wasn’t that bad! I can’t speak for the ferry option, but it is available for those sea lovers.

Caio!

 

Springs Most Sought After Blooms

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Spring has definitely sprung, and with that comes some of the best gifts nature has to offer-FLOWERS!

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