Our mini-series on planning your trip to Italy continues! Today we're talking about step two: picking a theme. This means deciding what kind of trip you want to have. Is it a beach trip? Are you foodie looking to eat your way across the country with cacio e pepe, arancini, and gelato? Or maybe you're interested in adventure or archaeology! We'll talk about the importance of setting priorities and how that can eliminate stress during your Italy vacation.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and experiences with ⁠booking.com⁠, ⁠omio.com⁠, and ⁠viator.com⁠. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠ko-fi.com⁠ to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening!

xDarcy and Nathaniel

This Wednesday's episode launches the start of this mini-series on planning your trip to Italy. Step one: figure out just how big Italy actually is, and how long it takes you to get from point A to point B. In this episode, we'll also talk about considering ways to break up your trip and tips like booking a multi-city flight.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and experiences with booking.com, omio.com, and viator.com. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ko-fi.com to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening!

xDarcy and Nathaniel

Wrapping up this segment, we talk about the strikes that might affect your trip, the Venice Regatta (boat races), Jimmy Kimmel's Italian citizenship (though, mostly how it might change the Italian government's outlook on jus sanguinis), and the famed (or infamous) Bridge to Sicily/Messina Bridge.

And if you’re headed to Italy this summer/fall—or already here—you can grab a ferry for 10% off! Such as the previously mentioned ferry from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast! ⁠Omio⁠ is running a 10% off sale on ferry trips! Here is a link to the site and discount codes for August-October 2025. 

August code: SAILANDSAVE10

September code: SEP24

October code: OCT24

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you'd like to support us directly, you can donate to us on Ko-fi (pronounced "coffee"), linked ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel 

Links marked with an asterisk* are affiliate links. By using these links you are supporting Only a Bag. If you make a purchase through these links, you will not be charged extra, but Only a Bag will receive a small cut of the business's profit.

This week we're talking about current events and news that may affect your trip this late summer and early fall. We'll tell you how to stay up-to-date on wildfires in Italy, why beaches are less crowded this year, and talk about instances of tourists behaving poorly in Italy's national parks.

Important phone numbers:

To report a fire call 115

For forest rangers call 1515

And if you’re headed to Italy this summer/fall—or already here—you can grab a ferry for 10% off! Such as the previously mentioned ferry from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast! ⁠Omio⁠ is running a 10% off sale on ferry trips! Here is a link to the site and discount codes for August-October 2025. 

August code: SAILANDSAVE10

September code: SEP24

October code: OCT24

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you'd like to support us directly, you can donate to us on Ko-fi (pronounced "coffee"), linked ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel 

Links marked with an asterisk* are affiliate links. By using these links you are supporting Only a Bag. If you make a purchase through these links, you will not be charged extra, but Only a Bag will receive a small cut of the business's profit.

Tying off this mini-series, we delve into Italy's least-consistent season: spring. While this episode still focuses on how to blend in and things to bring to keep you dry, we also loop in packing tips and advice since it can feel like you have to bring three seasons' worth of clothes if you come in the spring.

As we talked about in the first episode, we realized in the course of making this that we have so many more thoughts on the matter than we could stick into four episodes, so in the near future we'll revisit clothing. If you have any questions, please reach out and let us know, so we can also answer those!

And if you’re headed to Italy this summer/fall—or already here—you can grab a ferry for 10% off! Such as the previously mentioned ferry from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast! Omio is running a 10% off sale on ferry trips! Here is a link to the site and discount codes for August-October 2025. 

August code: SAILANDSAVE10

September code: SEP24

October code: OCT24

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠[email protected]⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you'd like to support us directly, you can donate to us on Ko-fi (pronounced "coffee"), linked ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel 

Links marked with an asterisk* are affiliate links. By using these links you are supporting Only a Bag. If you make a purchase through these links, you will not be charged extra, but Only a Bag will receive a small cut of the business's profit.

Movies may have a lot of us believing that Italy is perpetually warm and sunny, existing in a summer-time golden hour, but don't be fooled, it gets cold! Winter in Italy can be brutal, at least for a girl from the southern US (that's me). In this episode we'll talk about what the locals wear in Italy from North to South and how to pack for a winter vacation in Italy.

As we have repeated throughout this mini series: you do not need to buy a whole new wardrobe for your Italy trip, and whatever you own is perfectly fine! All of our tips on what to wear are to help you feel like you’re blending in with Italians and Italian life, however what’s most important is that you wear what you feel comfortable in! 

And if you’re headed to Italy this year—or already here—you can grab a ferry for 10% off! Such as the previously mentioned ferry from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast! Omio is running a 10% off sale on ferry trips! Here is a link to the site and discount codes for August-October 2025. 

August code: SAILANDSAVE10

September code: SEP24

October code: OCT24

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to support the podcast, you can donate to us on Ko-fi (pronounced coffee)!

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel 

Links marked with an asterisk* are affiliate links. By using these links you are supporting Only a Bag. If you make a purchase through these links, you will not be charged extra, but Only a Bag will receive a small cut of the business's profit.

In this episode we talk about what to wear to blend in on your Italy vacation in the Fall. We also talk about how to pack for this shoulder season. Plan for both warm and cool weather and consider what part of Italy you'll be visiting, Sicily and Tuscany have pretty different weather in the Fall.

Of course, the two main takeaways will always be: never buy a whole new wardrobe for Italy, and whatever you own is perfectly fine! All of our tips on what to wear are to help you feel like you’re blending in with Italians and Italian life, however what’s most important is that you wear what you feel comfortable in! 

We realized in the course of making this that we have so many more thoughts on the matter than we could stick into this week's episode, so in the near future we'll revisit clothing. If you have any questions, please reach out and let us know, so we can also answer those! 

And if you’re headed to Italy this summer/fall—or already here—you can grab a ferry for 10% off! Such as the previously mentioned ferry from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast! Omio is running a 10% off sale on ferry trips! Here is a link to the site and discount codes for August-October 2025. 

August code: SAILANDSAVE10

September code: SEP24

October code: OCT24

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel 

Whether you want to blend in as a local, or stay cool in the summer, this episode aims to answer most—if not all!—of your questions. 

Of course, the two main takeaways will always be: never buy a whole new wardrobe for Italy, and whatever you own is perfectly fine! All of our tips on what to wear are to help you feel like you’re blending in with Italians and Italian life, however what’s most important is that you wear what you feel comfortable in! 

We realized in the course of making this that we have so many more thoughts on the matter than we could stick into this week's episode, so in the near future we'll revisit clothing. If you have any questions, please reach out and let us know, so we can also answer those! 

And if you’re headed to Italy this summer/fall—or already here—you can grab a ferry for 10% off! Such as the previously mentioned ferry from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast! Omio is running a 10% off sale on ferry trips! Here is a link to the site and discount codes for August-October 2025. 

August code: SAILANDSAVE10

September code: SEP24

October code: OCT24

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening! 

xDarcy and Nathaniel 

Many people will tell you not to visit Italy in August, we've been those people before (check out our previous episode if you're looking for reasons not to go to Italy in August). However, there are upsides to visiting in this dreaded travel period! In this episode we look on the positive side to tell you some of the bright spots about traveling to Italy in August.

If you're craving a few nights on the water, and the few thousand euro price tag didn't make you gasp, you can see ⁠the hotel we're talking about⁠* with a tennis court on the sea.

In this episode we mention that smaller towns become more vibrant in August and could be just what you're looking for for your vacation. You can do this easily by booking a train or bus with Trenitalia. More off the beaten areas like southern Italy , where we live, may seem more difficult to get to. If you're looking to travel to south-eastern Italy, try Lamanna, Curcio, or Sita Sud.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠email⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening!

xDarcy and Nathaniel

Links marked with an asterisk* are affiliate links. By using these links you are supporting Only a Bag. If you make a purchase through these links, you will not be charged extra, but Only a Bag will receive a small cut of the business's profit.

Why do so many people recommend not visiting Italy in August? Is it the heat, the train line maintenance, the packed beaches? Yes. Looking for a reason to vacation in Italy anytime makes sense, but August? We'll break down all the difficulties associated with traveling this month and explain why so many Italians are confused by international travelers visiting in August.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠ at [email protected], on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening!

xDarcy and Nathaniel