A while ago I did a poll on my Instagram asking if you guys liked a narrative or quick to-the-point style of blog and the majority said to-the-point.  I get it, we’re all busy so I will try to make this as short and to the point as possible but you know me, I’m a bit of a chatterbox so it’s a little mix of the two!

Cinque Terre Travel Guide

Where we stayed:
If you’re not aware, Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the 5 towns you’ll find colourful houses and vines that cling to steep terraces, harbours that are filled with fishing boats and restaurants that turn out the most epic seafood pasta.  As amazing as it would have been to stay in one of the 5 towns we decided against it simply because it was a lot more expensive.  So, my sister/ travel agent suggested we stay in La Spezia, a small town a short train or boat ride away from the 5 towns.  We ended up booking a package that included 3 nights at the hotel (CDH Hotel La Spezia) unlimited transportation by train between Levanto and La Spezia and the use of an ecological shuttle between the five villages.  We took the train between the towns and it wasn’t that expensive, I would suggest doing the same. It also included 2 breakfasts, and 2 dinners.  Although we decided to opt out on the dinners as we didn’t want to cut our days short in the 5 towns, I would say this package was still well worth it.  This package cost $368 per person… very reasonable if you ask me.  If you’re interested in learning more about this I would suggest messaging my travel agent, she was very helpful with the entire process.

How we got around:
So if you’ve been following along on this recap city by city, you may be wondering how we got from Florence to Cinque Terre.  The answer is  by  train.  We originally thought we would fly but when it came down to it we decided against it to save some money and I’m happy we did.  The train was easy, affordable and it made for some pretty hilarious travel adventures!

The first time we went out to explore the 5 towns we took a boat and I would suggest doing the same thing as you can get some pretty amazing views!  After that we stuck to the train.

Where to eat:
Everywhere! Haha, I know it sounds so cliche but it’s true… it is pretty hard to get a bad meal in Italy.  Typically I will spend a lot of time researching places I want to eat, but this time we didn’t and we had some of the best meals ever.  We spent the day exploring and when we felt hungry we would find a spot near where we were and we ate there.  We did end up going to this restaurant twice because it was so delicious and it had a pretty epic view.  If you want dinner with the BEST view of the sunset in Manarola check out Nessun Dorma Cinque Terre.  Kammy and I decided to pass as the wait was so long both times we went but we heard nothing but amazing things about it!

What to do:
Explore, take a million pictures, swim in the ocean, meet new people, and go dancing!  Again, Kammy and I didn’t really have too much planned this trip.  We just new we wanted to relax, take it al in, have some laughs, eat some delicious food, drinks some great wine and see what adventures we could find!  I would suggest checking out all 5 towns though as they are all a little different but other than that don’t plan too much.  Let the day and the people you meet guide your adventures- relax and go with the flow!

I hope this inspires you to head  to Cinque Terre! You won’t regret it! If you’ve already been, I’d love to hear about your favourite spots in this beautiful region!

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As per your votes on Instagram, I will keep this post short and to the point.  So let’s dive right in and let me answer your questions:

Where did you stay? 
Machiavelli Palace Hotel and it was perfect! Kammy and I agreed that we didn’t want to break the bank on the hotels we stayed at but we definitely didn’t want to slum it.  This hotel was exactly what we wanted.  It was cute, clean, and the location was perfect.  We were close to shops, great food, and the famous Giotto’s Campanile which is a free-standing bell tower that is part of the complex of buildings that make up Florence Cathedral on the Piazza del Duomo… basically all you need to know is that it is absolutely stunning and you need to see it. I can’t take credit for finding this hotel. My wonderful travel agent, and sister, booked all of our accommodations and they were all perfect! If you’re heading to Europe I would definitely recommend you contact her! You can find her contact by clicking here!

Where to eat?

This is a tricky question to answer simply because you really can’t go wrong, it’s Italy and well food is their culture.  I would suggest staying away from the restaurants in the squares as they are all super touristy and a little more expensive. Don’t be afraid to turn off Google maps and just wonder… when you feel like you’re getting lost, just keep going, you’re likely heading in the right direction because eventually you will stumble across a hidden gem.  For example, La Menagere.  We randomly came across this place while out and about one day with the intention of stopping for a quick glass of wine… well, a glass of wine and a bathroom break later and we discovered there was so much more to this incredible place: a lounge, floral shop, a coffee shop, a bakery, an antique store, and a restaurant  not to mention the decor was INCREDIBLE!!!  What started out as a quick stop for wine turned into us returning 4 times!

What to do?

Since this was our second visit, Kammy and I were very relaxed when it came it to our daily agenda… in fact we didn’t have one.  We both did the museums and touristy things our first go around so we knew going in those were not a priority for us.  Our agenda included eating, drinking wine, shopping, and exploring.  Thanks to you guys and your suggestions a reoccurring must do was watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo. I had done this the last time I was in Florence and it was just as magical as the first.  If you do only one thing while in Florence make it this.  Pro tip: bring wine (a bottle opener), cheese, bread, meat, olives… you know, all the goods! If you’re in the mood to go dancing, just ask locals! We lucked out with this when a local directed us to a tiny little pub style place that had 3 Euro tequila shots… #eeek it was nothing fancy but just a fun little spot to dance, my kind of place! Because we were having so much fun and met some friends that were significantly younger than us, they convinced us to go to Space with them… now that is a nightclub, lol! If you’re in the mood for a real party go to Space!

You will also want to make a quick stop by the Piazza della Repubblica which is a beautiful carousel and of course shop for some leather!  Florence, well Italy in general, is known for their leather goods so why not #treatyoself!

Last, find a rooftop patio to have a drink and take in the view.  Most hotels will allow you to go up for a drink even if you’re not staying, ie: Glance Hotel.  Or if you’re feeling brave walk in and ride the elevator up with guests who are staying at the hotel.  If they ask you to leave, they ask you to leave! Just act confident and no one will question you…

How to get around?

Walk/ get lost.  Not only is it a cost effective way to get around in the city, it will lead you to hidden gems that may not ever be found.  Obviously walking everywhere isn’t always a reality, we also took cabs and had no issues with them!

Everywhere we went the local were so friendly and genuinely wanted to help us have the best experience while exploring their city.  We were smart and didn’t put ourselves in any situations that could have caused us to feel uneasy but at no point did we ever feel unsafe!

I hope this answers your burning questions about Florence and more importantly, I hope it inspires you to visit- I promise, it won’t disappoint!

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Venice is one of those places you really have to see to believe.  Yes, it’s super touristy and mainstream but regardless of how touristy it is, it’s something that you need to experience once in your life (before it’s under water).

Venice in your future? Here are my top 5 things to see and do!

1.) Take a look around.  Walking through the tiny streets kept us busy most days.  With every turn there were new sights to see, shops to look in, and treats to try.  Go explore, get lost, and take millions of photos! Make sure you make your way up the bell tower- the wait can be long during the day so evening is usually a better option.  We happened to luck out when we went there was no line and the sun was just setting.  The view from the tower is breathtaking!  Make sure to have your camera/phone ready to snap some Instagram worthy photos!

2.) Eat…obviously… you’re in Italy after all!  Venice is (as I’m sure you have heard) littered with over priced, touristy restaurants so it’s important to do your research. We never eat at a place before reading the reviews on Trip Advisor or a blog and let me tell you it is worth it.  We discovered Dol Moro’s Fresh Pasta, a hidden gem in the heart of Venice.  A tiny hole in the wall, nothing fancy, not even a seating area but has cheap ahhh-mazing pasta… fresh pasta, honestly my mouth is salivating at the thought of it.  A perfect place to grab lunch!

3.)Enjoy a beach day.  In the middle of our three day stay we decided to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Venice and take the ferry over to Lido Beach.  A cute little beach town a ten minute boat ride away.  The sand was beautiful, the weather hot, and the water was super calm.  I highly suggest this if you’re staying in Venice for a longer period of time. It is a nice break from the site seeing.

4.) Experience the gondola! It took me some time to convince Brandon that it was worth it- I don’t remember the price but I know it seemed ridiculous at the time but trust me it was sooo worth it.  You can’t go to Venice and not go on a gondola ride.  It was as magical as I imagined it would be. Worth every penny!

5.)Watch the sunset from the Grand Canal bridge.  We did this by chance and it is one of the most picturesque moments I have ever experienced.  The photo I snapped actually looks like a postcard… nope! All me and my Iphone… go me!

Have you ever been to Venice? Did I miss anything?!

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