Adventures in Italy

I took a two week vacation for the first time in my life. Here's where I went and why.

After a furlough, a job change, and a global pandemic, my burnout levels were at all-time high. After working in the voting rights space during the 2020 election cycle, my contract was coming to an end. Before I took on another role, I knew I needed a break — a true opportunity to breathe and reset. I quite literally Googled, "best places to travel in September," and ended up with plenty of inspiration to go along with plenty of airline credit from my aforementioned furlough. With two weeks, a free flight, and a vaccine card in hand, I set off for Italy with plenty of pasta in my sights.

Why Italy? And where?

During the pandemic, my dad and I bonded over Searching for Italy, the CNN series hosted by the one and only (and incredibly Italian) Stanley Tucci. The gorgeous vistas and mouthwateringly delicious food were enough to sell me, not to mention the ease of travel between different parts of the country. Having one friend who lives abroad full time and others who were already planning trips there were the icing on the cake — or rather the ricotta in the cannoli. After researching COVID protocols, travel costs, and the Italian terrain, I landed on the following itinerary:

Venice - two nights

Bologna - two nights

Florence - three nights

Rome - four nights

Cinque Terre - one night

Milan - two nights

Lake Como was originally on my list as a day trip between Cinque Terre and Milan, but I made a game time decision to skip it after a friend's travel plans fell through. I'm still beyond happy with that decision because this itinerary, while possible, was packed.

Work, PTO, and Financing My Trip

When I first started planning, my contract role was coming to a close, and I wasn't sure what would come next. I use Ally to categorize my savings into buckets and had build up some travel funds, so even if I was facing joblessness, I kept planning and treated the trip as an opportunity to clear my head before a job hunt. In full transparency, I ended up accepting an offer before traveling and starting a new job at 18 Coffees, which I absolutely love. I mentioned my ideal adventure in my very first conversation with the company, which thankfully agreed to let me go (and offers unlimited PTO).

Flight funds were taken care of courtesy of canceled COVID flights. Since I was traveling alone and intended to spend as much time exploring as possible, I booked lodging on a budget. Between Europe's (sometimes) cheaper hotel prices, my first hostel stays, and one AirBnB for a friend-filled Roman holiday, my budget was more reasonable than I originally anticipated. I didn't track remaining costs like food and train tickets since it was my first big adventure since the Before Times, and I had saved a decent pandemic nest egg if I needed it. This was absolutely a privilege, and I acknowledge that — that said, know that if you plan accordingly, traveling internationally on a budget is more than possible. Pro tip: In Italy, travelers under 25 get discounts on museums, gardens, etc. so don't wait until 26 like I did!

Traveling Solo

Much to my mother's dismay, I didn't just feel called to travel — I felt called to travel alone. Outside of a quick road trip to Michigan, I'd never truly traveled by myself. I lived most of the pandemic in a one bedroom apartment, so I knew I'd be comfortable alone. Plus there is no opportunity like a solo adventure to get to know your true self and see what you're truly capable of. I wanted to test those limits, to add that layer of adventure and experience this glorious country as I saw fit without bearing the expectations of others. So while I had touch points of friends in certain cities along the way, I traversed Italy solo and felt perfectly safe while doing so. Awareness is key, of course, as is due diligence when planning your stay, but both (unfortunately) come pretty naturally to women in today's day and age. Honestly, I felt safer wandering Florence with friends at four in the morning than I ever have in Chicago past 10pm.

Again to my mother's dismay, I absolutely loved it. Wandering around new cities, figuring out where to go, deciding what to do in the moment — there comes a simultaneous stillness and confidence from traveling alone, and I can't wait to continue.

All of this is honestly the smallest glimpse into my experience in Italy, but my main takeaway is this: Travel as much as you can for as long as you can and enjoy every single second. The pandemic proved that we have no clue what life-altering changes are just around the corner, so don't put off for someday what you can enjoy today. Take proper safety precautions and get out there — trust me, you won't regret it.