Explore the best beaches, safest places to swim, and the ideal towns for visiting and lodging. — If you’re visiting Northern or Central Italy, Lake Como should be on your itinerary. Not only is it a €5 train ride from Milan, but it’s easily one of the most scenic regions in all of Italy. Of all the Italian lakes, Lake Como is certainly worth visiting — I’ve…

Explore Milan’s famous slopes, including resorts for the budget-friendly and those without a car. — While you can’t ski directly in Milan, there is plenty of snow near Milan thanks to the city’s proximity to famous mountain ranges and the Swiss border. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. …

How to spend a weekend in Trieste, Italy — Trieste isn’t on the radar for most tourists — or even for most Italians! I happened to visit this city to complete an intensive twenty-six-hour Italian language course at Trieste’s Piccola Università Italiana. During my one-week course, I lived with an Italian family in Trieste’s hill-top town of Opicina —…

I filed my first claim with AirHelp in 2019, and now I can’t imagine flying without them. — As an American living in Europe, I’ve filed four claims with AirHelp since 2019 for delays and cancelations on international and domestic flights. Here’s a breakdown of how AirHelp works, how much money I’ve won with them, and why you should consider using them for your next travel mishap —…

Life is tough everywhere, and Italy is no exception. — If you’re someone who daydreams about chasing la dolce vita, you should know that while many of us adore living in Italy, this country has plenty of problems. Some of these problems show signs of fixing, and others will likely take generations of cultural and behavioral changes to resolve. Here…

Maybe not at the beginning — but it’s worth the effort. Here’s why. — I moved to Milan in January 2022 with only an A2 (beginner) level of Italian, and I’ve faced very few challenges by not fluently speaking the language. Despite the numerous jokes slung at Italians by their Northern European peers, I’ve found that the vast majority of young Italians understand English…

Embracing my captor: Life in the Nordics — Hey ya’ll, Bekka here — thanks for joining my live! Today I’ll be applying this Nars concealer while I talk about my amazing housing situation here in Stockholm. As most of you know, I moved here twelve months ago for a last-minute Masters program after my boyfriend contracted chlamydia from…

The reality of learning new languages as an adult. — In 2019, I sold my belongings in California and moved to Oslo, Norway to close the distance with my former Norwegian partner. Like many young and naive American emigrants, I assumed that being immersed in a foreign country and culture would rapidly improve my skills in the local language without…

A comprehensive guide to your first trip to Italy. — How Many Days Do You Need in Italy? As an American who visited Italy in 2016 and then fell in love with the country and moved here, I’m biased. I believe Italy has so many unique landscapes, foods, and micro-cultures that it’s worth a long trip. Even if you’re only interested in snapping pics of the main attractions…