Envision: The Anticipation of Travel
I’ve read that half the pleasure of travel is the anticipation. I’m in that phase now with my upcoming solo trip to Italy. I find myself envisioning the sights, sounds, tastes, and even the rose gold hues of sunset over the Arno River bathing Florence. I can almost taste the cacio e pepe (we made it in a cooking class in Tuscany) and the gelato di caffe’. I’m checking the weather report daily (mostly highs in the upper 60s) to envision my daily clothing needs and am fully packed early for this trip.
“When you plan your next vacation, it can create positive emotions and expectations. If you have a vacation next week, this week you’ll probably be feeling better.” —Chun-Chu Chen, PhD
I’ve read that half the pleasure of travel is the anticipation. I’m in that phase now with my upcoming solo trip to Italy. I find myself envisioning the sights, sounds, tastes, and even the rose gold hues of sunset over the Arno River bathing Florence. I can almost taste the cacio e pepe (we made it in a cooking class in Tuscany) and the gelato di caffe’. I’m checking the weather report daily (mostly highs in the upper 60s) to envision my daily clothing needs and am fully packed early for this trip. Early packing definitely eases the pre-travel stress. Of course, it’s a challenge to pack for business casual/dressy events in a fashionable city like Florence, as well as explorations and adventures on the Italian Riviera. Once that suitcase is finally closed, it is what it is and I let it go.
This will be a business + pleasure trip for my Curated Travel. I’ve been invited to attend a luxury travel event in Florence, DUCO, followed by a 6-day small group trip exploring Lake Maggiore, Lucca, and Forte dei Marmi on the Italian Riviera. The itinerary looks dazzling.
““Everything about Florence seems to be colored with a mild violet, like diluted wine.”
”
With so many of my clients traveling to Italy, I always appreciate the opportunity to explore and experience the best that Italy has to offer. It is also a perk to connect in real-time with my partners from Italy and around the world. These relationships are what enable us to make our client travel seamless and memorable. The truth is, this type of business travel is also a pleasure. And yes, sometimes I even wonder, “Pinch me, am I dreaming” (how do you say that in Italian)? The travel business is my second career and I couldn’t possibly be enjoying it more.
What are you envisioning for your next travels?
You can follow along with my Italian adventures below and on Instagram here.
Grazie Mille for being here!
Heather
Hot Tips for Preparing for International Travel (Revisited for 2025)
The travel industry is definitely booming and many travelers, tired of local haunts, are heading to far-flung destinations post-pandemic. At Curated Travel, our clients are headed to St. Lucia, Bora Bora, Cancun, South Africa, Germany, European River Cruises, the British Isles, Slovenia, France, and the always-popular Italy in the next several months. With 3 trips to Europe last year and Italy on my horizon later this month, I will attest that travel is back and more exciting than ever!
The travel industry is booming, and many travelers, tired of local haunts, are heading to far-flung destinations. At Curated Travel, our clients are headed to the Lake District of Italy, Bora Bora, European River Cruises, the British Isles, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, France, and the ever-popular Italy in the next several months. With 3 trips to Europe last year and Italy on my horizon later this month, I will attest that travel is back and more exciting than ever!
Hot Tips for International Travel
Pack your passport first (be sure it’s valid for 6 months or more post-return). Your passport is your most essential item for international travel. Take a picture of the info page and upload it to your phone in case your passport is lost during travel.
Check the website of your airline for luggage sizes and weight limits. If you can manage to pack your essentials in a carry-on only (and congrats!!) do it! If not, I strongly recommend packing a ‘capsule collection’ of basics and necessities in your carry-on in case of delayed luggage.
While you are checking the airline website be sure you have created your account and have the latest apps (including airline entertainment apps) downloaded before travel. Check-in 24 hours before travel and turn on notifications for any changes.
Contact your bank and credit card companies to alert them of your upcoming international travel and charges.
Call your cell phone company for the best international phone plan options during travel. Travel Hack: If you keep your phone in airplane mode for your entire trip, you can use your phone functions on free wifi at hotels, cafes, and airports with ease.
Purchase a universal adapter or two to use in the hotels for plugging in phone chargers and computers, or request one at your hotel. Check the voltage ratings in the small print on your electrical items. Most are rated for 100-240V; however, some are rated only for 125V (my blow dryer), which requires a converter from 220V to 110V US to European Converter.
Download WhatsApp on your phone for free international texting and video calling with family and friends (be sure they have the app too!). For our travel clients, WhatsApp is frequently used by our international travel partners to keep in close contact with tours/guides/transfers while you travel.
Bring your state driver’s license if you plan to rent a scooter during an excursion. If you plan to rent a car, an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended. It’s easy to obtain ahead of your travels from the American Automobile Association here.
For dining abroad, apps like TheFork are available internationally for easy booking. Use the Michelin Guide (one of our preferred partners) for more dining and travel inspiration.
Download a language translation app like TripLingo, or, better yet, learn the language before you travel.
UPDATE: Here I am, packing for my spring trip to Italy for 2 weeks at a luxury travel event. I couldn’t quite believe I was able to manage it all (fancy events included) in carry-on luggage only. Trust me, it was so freeing not to worry about my luggage arriving with me. It was also freeing not to be schlepping extra baggage around for 2 weeks.
Notes on Packing: After too many experiences with delayed luggage, I’m a recent convert to carry-on-only luggage (I use a small roller bag plus a Beis Mini Weekender and a small crossbody bag). If you do check bags I highly recommend creating a ‘curated capsule’ in your carryon of at least 2 multi-use outfits, 2 pairs of shoes, makeup/haircare basics, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, medications, and scarves/jewelry to change up your look. If you do check a bag toss in an Apple Air Tag to track your luggage. I’ve written several articles about the fine art of packing for longer trips. Read more about my travel advisor packing strategies, including the essential Carryon Capsule Collection here. If you are curious about how I survived for 6 days at my first luxury travel event in Italy with NO Luggage read here.
Spending power: Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere these days- including from your phone with digital wallets. That said, it’s always good to have some cash on hand, especially for tipping or smaller purchases. Also, you will want to tip tour guides and drivers along the way in cash.
You can exchange for cash at the airport OR you can request your transfer/taxi driver make a quick stop at a local ATM on the way to your hotel for lower exchange rates.
Please note, Apple and other payment apps are widely used in Europe these days so going as wallet-free as possible is a good security tip. My husband learned this the hard way when pickpocketed on his first day in Lisbon. For your cash, use a money belt or clip and never put your wallet in your back pocket. For women, I’m all about the cross-body bag.
HOT Tip: My husband has started bringing home some leftover currency like euros or pesos to ease our arrival on our next trip to the destination.
Notes on tipping: Tips are usually included in the meal price (check the receipt) so it is not necessary to tip at a restaurant unless service is above and beyond. In Europe, your server typically won’t bring your bill until you request it. Essentially, the table is yours for the evening if you like. That said, tours/transfers/guides do not include tips in the pricing. In Italy/France the common practice for transfers with a short drive is €10-20, for a long drive is €40-50, and for private guides, a full day is €50 and a half day is €30.
HOT TIP - When you leave your hotel, grab a business card with the hotel address and phone number included or snap a photo of it. If you get lost (and don’t happen to meet an English speaker), showing a taxi driver or a passerby the card with the address is extremely helpful, even with a language barrier. If you have an itinerary app (such as UMAPPED which I create for my clients) show them the hotel address on the app to keep it simple.
My Must-Haves 2025 -
Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds (Noise-canceling)
Makeup Case (and I love this hanging bag too - Toiletry Bag)
I hope this list of tips for international travel is helpful as you prepare for your upcoming travels.
Ciao! Ciao!
Heather
Contact us to help make your travel dreams come true!
Lake Garda: Mercurial, Magical and Idyllic
Arriving at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is an event in and of itself. Our driver whisked us through majestic gates, past antique statuary and formal gardens to this stately, historic property. It sits on 12 acres on the peninsula just north of Sirmione and is bordered on both sides by Lake Garda. This location yields the most amazing lake views from all angles.
Here I am! Popping back in with a blog post on my trip to Italy back in April. It’s hard to believe I’ve already returned to Europe for two weeks since I last posted. Needless to say, I’m catching up and am excited to have some new favorite destinations to share!
Here’s the scoop: Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, was one of my absolute favorite stays of this trip. I was invited to visit by the wonderful team at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel as a pre-stay before the Travelux luxury travel event in Venice. Trust me, it was an unforgettable experience.
Arriving at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is an event in and of itself. Our driver whisked us through ornate gates, past antique statuary and formal gardens to this stately, luxurious and historic property. It sits on 12 acres on the peninsula just north of charming Sirmione and is bordered on both sides by Lake Garda rimmed with majestic mountains.
As you can imagine, this location yields the most amazing lake views from all angles.
As we pulled up to the hotel, I was greeted by the staff and our host, General Manager Giacomo Grossi, with a welcome drink and escorted to my spacious, luxurious suite where gifts and goodies awaited.
This is a tour of my lake view suite. The view is stunning as is the Murano glass chandelier!
The next day, graced with sunshine, a scenic boat ride on Lake Garda and a festive wine tasting at Contithun were on the itinerary.
Our select group of international travel advisors was invited to experience the charms of Villa Cortine Palace. We enjoyed luxury accommodations, private tours of the historic hotel, grounds and gardens, gourmet dining with impeccable service at Il Molo, cocktails at Maria Callas bar & bistro, and enjoyed a wonderful time together thanks to our gracious host, Giacomo Grossi.
As you can imagine, we were all thrilled to be traveling in Europe again, and to be here was magical.
A tour of the historic Villa Cortine Palace Hotel
This video is a peek of the historical section of the hotel by our host, Giacomo Grossi.
Not only is the rich history of the property celebrated, but there are also modern touches like the luxurious linens, designer bath products, and the oh-so-chic beach club and dock.
My thanks to Giacomo Grossi for the fabulous stay and the introduction to magical Lake Garda.
I can hardly wait to introduce this property to my Italy-loving clients.
To learn more about travel to Italy contact us.
Up next: Venice
Grazie Mille!
Heather
Milan: Modern, Vibrant and Stylish (with Classic Soul)
The first stop on my long-awaited return trip to Italy, for a luxury travel event, was Milan. Though I have traveled through Milan, with stops at Malpensa airport and the train station, I have never ventured out to explore the heart of the city. On this trip, I blocked out time to recover from jet lag and acquaint myself with this vibrant city for a couple of days. And yes, on this trip my luggage arrived with me!
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milan
The first stop on my long-awaited return trip to Italy, for a luxury travel event, was Milan. Though I have traveled through Milan, with stops at Malpensa airport and the train station, I have never ventured out to explore the heart of the city. On this trip, I blocked out time to recover from jet lag and acquaint myself with this vibrant city for a couple of days. And yes, on this trip, my luggage arrived with me!
My Fitbit celebrated the 16,000+ steps in one day (not my norm!) which is proof there is much to see in this historical city.
Milan is a delicious and fashionable mix of modern design and classic charm.
My Stay: The iconic Grand Hotel et de Milan. They had me at prosecco and potato chips (a delicious pairing!) in my suite upon arrival. What could be wrong?
Located in the historic city center, between the Duomo and the shopping district, it couldn’t be more convenient for exploring. This luxurious property Is steeped in history and has been owned by the same family since 1863.
Visit: Piazza del Duomo, The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Teatro Alla Scala (theater), Brera District, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II for high end shopping.
A number of movie stars, legendary opera singers and lauded authors have lived at the Grand Hotel et de Milan with suites named in their honor. The most famous of these is opera legend Verdi who was in residence for years and passed away in his suite at the hotel.
My thanks to Andrea, Laura and the staff at Grand Hotel et de Milan for a lovely stay, tour and treats. I’m looking forward to my clients enjoying this fabulous property in the heart of Milan. Contact me to learn more.
Up next: Lake Garda, Venice, Naples, the island of Ischia!
Thanks for following along!
Ciao!
Heather
Bravo! Italy is finally back on my horizon!
After numerous canceled trips over the last 2 1/2 years, Italy is finally back on my horizon! I’m beyond excited to be invited to attend Travelux, a fully hosted luxury travel event in Venice, hosted by Nebe Club. If you’ve followed this blog for several years you may remember that I attended this same event at Lake Como in 2018. Yes, that’s the one where I had all the fancy events and my luggage didn’t arrive for 6 full days! Travelux is an exceptional experience and I found it to be a life-changer for my travel business.
After numerous canceled trips over the last 2 1/2 years, Italy is finally back on my horizon! I’m beyond excited to be invited to attend Travelux, a fully hosted luxury travel event in Venice, by Nebe Club. If you’ve followed this blog for several years you may remember that I attended this same event at Lake Como in 2018. Yes, that’s the one where I had all the fancy events and my luggage didn’t arrive for 6 full days! Travelux is an exceptional experience and I found it to be a life-changer for my travel business.
ON THE ITINERARY:
2 nights in Milan at the Grand Hotel et Milan.
Next, I’m off to catch a private transfer to Lake Garda for a few days of luxury, charm, and exploration at the Villa Cortine Palace Hotel in Sirmione.
Another private transfer and I’m off to Venice and a stay at the Venetian classic beauty of Baglioni Hotel Luna for the three full days of Travelux events.
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa is the location for the official Travelux event. I will meet with international luxury travel partners and brands, a few of whom I already partner with for Curated Travel clients. As opposed to my first Travelux event at Lake Como, I now have friends and colleagues who will also be attending and that makes it infinitely more fun. On the menu are one-to-one meetings, gourmet meals, cocktail parties, a villa garden tour, boat rides around the islands and so much more.
Following Travelux I’ll train to Naples for a post-Travelux event starting with a stay at The Britannique Naples, a walking street food tour, a tour of the ruins of Pompei, seaside dining (to include the famous pizza Napoletana to be sure).
The final stop on my trip to Italy is the island of Ischia. Ischia has long been near the top of my wander list for Italy so I’m excited to visit for a few days and explore. Following a short ferry ride from Naples, my stay at Hotel Regina Isabella will include alfresco sea-side dinners, cocktails on the terrace, spa treatments, visits to the beach club, and even a vintage tour of Ischia in a Piaggio Ape car (Mr. C.T. will be jealous of this one!;).
This and that:
My Trip to Travelux at Lake Como 2018 (Start Here)
For this trip, I’ll be packing much smarter with a ‘capsule collection’ of necessities and multi-use items in my carry-on bag. To learn more about having no luggage for six days: How I Survived Without My Luggage for Six Days on a Luxury Trip to Italy
A few notes on Prepping for an International Getaway
FOLLOW ALONG on INSTAGRAM:
Curated Travel
At Curated Travel we have so many clients headed to Europe in 2022! I’m excited to be the first to lead the way for my clients traveling to the British Isles (for an epic 79-day trip!), to Italy, France, Scandinavia, Portugal, and Greece this season.
By the way, we still have space available for you to join us on the Greek Islands Cruise in October. Learn more here.
Until next time. Ciao!
Heather
Announcing: Our Third Curated Travel Group Cruise Setting sail in Oct 2022 (Greece is the Word!)
In 2019 we set sail on our second Curated Travel group cruise on the Mediterranean/Adriatic on Azamara. We enjoyed ourselves, our fellow cruisers, and the fabulous destinations more than we ever imagined. Though we had to postpone for 2021, we are happy to announce that we are doing it again in 2022. This time, Greece is the word, and we would love for you to join us. Bon Voyage!
In 2019 we set sail on our second Curated Travel group cruise on the Mediterranean/Adriatic on Azamara. We enjoyed ourselves, our fellow cruisers, and the fabulous destinations more than we ever imagined. Though we had to postpone for 2021, we are happy to announce that we are doing it again in 2022. This time, Greece is the word, and we would love for you to join us!
Itinerary: Greece Intensive Oct. 15-22, 2022
(8 Days/7 nights)
Sailing on the Azamara Quest (small-mid size 686 passengers)
Athens to Athens
Athens - Tinos - Mykonos - Ephesus - Rhodes - Crete - Santorini - Athens
Club Ocean View Stateroom - *$2,599 per person - double occupancy (excludes port taxes & fees).
Club Veranda Stateroom - *$3,439 per person- double occupancy (excludes port taxes & fees).
This is also a Virtuoso Voyage available through Curated Travel: Virtuoso Guests booked in a Club Ocean View or higher category will enjoy an additional $100 USD shipboard credit per person.
Contact us to add your name to our group and reserve your stateroom.
View Cruise Details
We would love to have you join us (the second one was EPIC!).
Excited? Invite a friend to join our group! (Only fun travelers allowed.)
Bon Voyage!
Καλό ταξίδι
Heather & Scott Lindstrom,
Curated Travel
FAQ:
What are the all-inclusive amenities included for all guests?
Complimentary AzAmazing Evenings® event (on most voyages)
Select standard spirits, international beers, and wines
Gratuities
Bottled water, soft drinks, specialty coffees, and teas
Self-service laundry
Shuttle service to and from port communities, where available
Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
Does Azamara require vaccinations?
Currently, Azamara requires travelers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
