What is it like to visit Italy right now, in 2025, and beyond?

Well, Kat was just in Italy (right before the Conclave no less), and things are…pretty busy. It’s the Jubilee year in Rome and the Vatican. It is a holy year that occurs every 25 years with many events, the chance to go through holy doors in 4 churches in Rome, and more.

So, needless to say, it is busy in Rome, the Vatican, and honestly Italy in general. Because who goes to visit Rome and doesn’t also say, “Well…while we’re already in Italy...”

Things are going to be busy throughout this year, but Italy is and will always be popular. Overtourism is still on the rise, and I think tourism will still be high in the years to come in Italy.

That being said, there are ways to adjust, adapt, and even alter your plans to make it far more enjoyable. Whether you’re hoping to find words of encouragement before your visit to Rome this year or are trying to find lesser visited spots in Italy, this episode has you covered and more!

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Information About the Jubilee Year: https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html

-Pristine Sistine Tour: https://fas.st/t/NxJysjUh

-Complete Vatican Tour: https://fas.st/t/WXvpVxHW

-Keys to Open the Sistine Chapel Tour: https://fas.st/t/ZkUFWfpS

-Hotels in Rome:

-Hotel Residenza San Calisto: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/J7j0bYy9dr

-Princeps Boutique Hotel: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/f3hGaI6R6p 

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Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

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France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

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After 8 years of traveling extensively together, we’ve been privileged enough to stay at some truly unique and iconic hotels. Here are our best hotels we’ve stayed in around the world!

Which hotels are your favorite around the world?

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Where to Stay in Paris: https://francevoyager.com/where-to-stay-in-paris/ 

Kat’s Top Picks:

1. The Peech Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/HABCI-9Ct8
2. Finca Rosa Blanca in Costa Rica: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/N9TnU5NXH2
3. Ballyseede Castle Hotel in Ireland: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/LwUb5pWsNB
4. Mane Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap: https://expedia.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/1WtI_T64jM
5. Chateau de Hieville in Normandy: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/ZUzv4Zg2BY

Kat’s Honorable Mentions:

1. Akyra Manor Chiang Mai in Thailand (now called AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai): https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/TouwuqFz9v
2. Terrass Hotel in Paris: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/9rnFDfy6PE
3. La Mirande in Avignon, France: https://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/la-mirande.html
4. Serenity at Coconut Bay in Saint Lucia: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/WXDJbUoqm8

Chris’s Top Picks:

1. Finca Rosa Blanca in Costa Rica:https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/N9TnU5NXH2
2. Stonefield Villa Resort in Saint Lucia: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/t7xn0pyJTt
3. Mane Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap: https://expedia.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/1WtI_T64jM
4. Rumi Wasi in Cusco, Peru: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/yJ7dTjeRPv
5. Ten Moons Lipe in Koh Lipe, Thailand: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/La8RbMdT__

Chris’s Honorable Mentions:

1. The Peech Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/HABCI-9Ct8
2. Vista del Angel in Quito, Ecuador: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/pEPIHlHNcz
3. Hotel Pod Vezi in Prague, Czechia: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/V4hdvwvuAr
4. Cuillin Hills Hotel on Isle of Skye, Scotland: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/RsrM9_pz9M

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

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World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

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Kat went on an 11-day Mediterranean cruise itinerary on the Norwegian Dawn with her parents and sister to celebrate her mom retiring soon.

And it was SO much fun! So Kat is breaking down the Mediterranean cruise itinerary. The stops are below:

Day 1: Depart from Trieste, Italy

Day 2: Koper, Slovenia

Day 3: Split, Croatia

Day 4: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Day 5: Kotor, Montenegro

Day 6: Corfu, Greece

Day 7: Valletta, Malta

Day 8: Messina, Sicily

Day 9: Naples, Italy

Day 10: Florence (Livorno), Italy

Day 11: Nice (Villefranche-sur-Mer), France

Kat also discusses what it was like on board the Norwegian Dawn!

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Norwegian Cruise Itinerary (This is the closest to what we did)

-TukTuk Tour of Split

-Pompeii Tour

-Gallerie dell’Academia tickets

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

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After spending 11 days on the Norwegian Dawn on a Mediterranean cruise, Kat has a list of pros and cons of cruising on a larger cruise ship.

I also have a Substack about this here: https://worldwidehoneymoon.substack.com/p/pros-and-cons-of-cruising

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2

Kat had the chance to visit Helsinki, Finland for a few days during her trip to Finland in late February/early March! She started her trip to Finland here before continuing to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland.

In this podcast episode, Kat is discussing all the best things to do in Helsinki, where to stay in Helsinki, where to eat, and more!

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Hotel Mestari: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/fGVRxu20bX

-Optional Day Trip Idea: Tallin, Estonia via Ferry

Don't Forget Your Ultimate Guide to Paris!

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2

You loved our current travel bucket list…so now let’s talk about our top bucket list hikes!

From charming day hikes to multi-day treks, these are our top 10 hikes around the world we want to accomplish...or run if you're like Chris!

Don’t forget to grab the Ultimate Guide to Paris for everything you need to know about visiting Paris!

https://worldwidehoneymoon.gumroad.com/l/parisguide

Kara and Nate Leadville 100: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8xHlz1ZjPI&t=1s 

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2

You all loved our current travel bucket list, so now we’re covering our top travel memories…and how we’re hoping to recapture it in future travels!

Whether it’s spotting new animals in the wild we’ve never seen before or capturing the magic of the Christmas markets, this is how we’re planning to capture it again in our travels.

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book through these links, I may earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Get Your Ultimate Guide to Paris here!

-Safari365

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2

Back in late February/early March, Kat went to Finnish Lapland. In a previous episode, we discuss travel to Rovaniemi, Finland, but in this episode, we’re discussing what it’s like to stay at Apukka Resort in Finnish Lapland.

We talk about the iconic glass igloos, things to do at Apukka Resort, what it was like learning to dogsled, food options, a traditional Finnish floating sauna experience, and more!

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book through these links, I may earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Get Your Ultimate Guide to Paris here!

-Apukka Resort

-Kara & Nate (Nate Running the Leadville 100): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8xHlz1ZjPI

-Aurora Alert Realtime App

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2

In late February/early March this year, Kat had the chance to visit Rovaniemi, Finland. She spent about a week in Finnish Lapland, chasing the Northern Lights, learning to dogsled, enjoying a reindeer sleigh across the night, and even meeting Santa Claus.

In this podcast episode, we’re talking about travel to Rovaniemi in Finland. Learn about the amazing things to do in Rovaniemi, where to stay, neat museums, where to eat, and more when it comes to visiting the Arctic Circle in Finland.

Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book through these links, I may earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!):

-Hotel in Rovaniemi: The Arctic City Hotel

-Hotel in wilderness: Apukka Resort

-Arctic GM Northern Lights Tour

-Arctic Snow Hotel Tour, Ice Restaurant Dinner, and Snow Sauna Experience

-Things I Learned About Life in Finnish Lapland Substack

-Go Husky Dogsledding

-Dangerous Business Tromso, Norway Post

-Santa Claus Village (and address to send a letter to Santa)

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2

We’re wrapping up our podcast episodes about Ecuador with our day trip to Cotopaxi and Banos from Quito.

We spent about a week in Quito and during this time, we knew we had to take some day trips. We already discussed going to the Mindo Cloudforest on the podcast, and now we’re talking about Cotopaxi National Park and Banos.

Between astounding waterfalls, beautiful flowers, a swing on the edge of the world, and a majestic mountain with incredible wildlife, this is how to spend 1 day exploring Cotopaxi and Banos.

Relevant links:

-Valensole Lavender Guide

-Sault Lavender Guide

-Real Dreams Ecuador Cotopaxi/Banos Tour

Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now!

Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more!

Don’t forget to follow along!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon

World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com

France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com

Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2