In this episode, I share personal conversations with two independent and savvy travelers - Matt Littlejohn and Caroline Rausch. Matt's Italy trip began with a Zoom call with me during the COVID lockdowns, which gave me an idea for a new business offering that, over time, evolved into my signature Trip Consultations. His recent trip to Naples was preceded by months of reading books and watching movies in anticipation of his trip, which he explains made it richer for both him and his family.

I met Caroline shortly after I formalized Trip Consultations into a service and launched it on another Italy podcast. We worked out the details for a trip to Cilento and Calabria to search for family roots. Caroline is a master planner who loves considering every detail, but the most memorable thing that happened on her trip is an experience that could never be anticipated — and it will give you chills!

I’m sharing these conversations because both Matt and Caroline love research and planning, and yet they hit the same walls that everyone hits when trying to travel beyond Venice, Florence, Rome, the Cinque Terre, and the Amalfi Coast. I enjoyed geeking out with them and hope you will also enjoy listening and take inspiration from how their deep dives into history and culture made their trips unforgettable.

00:00 Introduction 00:10 Matt Littlejohn: The First Consultation

01:37 Caroline Raush: Heritage Trip to Calabria

02:33 The Importance of Research in Travel

03:41 Matt's Journey to Naples

08:03 Falling in Love with Naples

09:46 The best part of Naples: The People

16:46 “One of the best things I ever saw”

22:26 Exploring Naples: A Blend of History and Modernity

23:01 Planning the Perfect Trip: Research and Preparation

24:30 Buying a suit in Naples

26:04 Discovering Calabria: A Journey to the Roots

27:08 Falling in Love with Italy By Cheating on France

29:22 Deep Dive into Italian Culture and History

30:44 Uncovering Hidden Gems

38:41 The Magic House in Calabria

42:06 Reflections on Travel and Culture

45:05 Conclusion: Crafting Meaningful Journeys

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