6 Things to Know Before visiting Vatican City

During our family Interrailing trip across Europe, we visited the Vatican City and while we are not religious at all, we still found the whole experience an interesting and culturally significant one. We also managed to do it in a fairly low-stress way, and I think they came down to research as it's not really one of those places you can easily visit on a whim due to crowds, so this really helped prepare us. I thought it would be beneficial to share some of these realistic tips with other families planning on visiting.  Visiting Vatican City is a must-do for many travellers, but showing up unprepared can turn this bucket-list experience into a frustrating ordeal. This tiny sovereign state, packed with Renaissance masterpieces, religious significance, and architectural wonders, deserves more than just a rushed walkthrough. Whether you're a history buff, art enthusiast, or spiritual pilgrim, understanding what awaits you will transform your visit from ordinary to extraordinary. ......

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4 Different Holidays to Try When Visiting Italy

Italy keeps reinventing itself for returning travellers. One trip might revolve around galleries and late dinners, while the next centres on sea swims and long walks. You might browse a ski holiday in Italy one year and linger over ferry timetables the next. Both routes deliver the same sense of ease and depth. Italy is popular because everyday pleasures sit close together. Explore Italy’s Iconic Cities Italian cities suit travellers who enjoy variety within walking distance. In Rome, Milan, Florence or Naples, you step from historic streets into neighbourhood cafés where locals squeeze an espresso between errands. A simple way to approach a city stay is to choose one central district and explore it in depth before branching out. You might spend a morning in a museum, then cross the river for lunch, and finish with a neighbourhood stroll that reveals markets and bakeries you would miss on a rushed itinerary. Public transport and high-speed trains make day trips straightforward, so you......

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My 5 Country European interrail Itinerary with kids

Our 3-week Interrail adventure across Europe was one of the best things we have done together as a family. I had Interrailed a few times before having kids so I was especially excited to jump back on the trains with my kids. May. people seem to have the impression that Interrailing is for gap-year youths but that simply isn't the case, it's suitable for every age and children under 12 years old receive their interrail pass for free with an adult.  In an earlier Interrail post, I go into detail on how to plan, book and ensure you have the right reservations, which is really important. But in this post, I wanted to focus on the route we took and where we stayed and a short overview of what we saw. I will do individual destination posts soon where I will go into more depth on activities, where to eat, see and do.  1. Newport - London As we booked an early morning Eurostar from London St Pancras which meant we needed to be at St Pancras no later than 8:30am, we felt it would be b......

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The Best Places to Visit in Italy

Nothing can compare to my stay in Italy, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. The food, the wine, the art, the architecture, the hillside towns, rich historical sites, incredible food, magnificent countryside, and coastlines made me fall in love with this magnificent country. The list of the best places to visit in Italy is inexhaustible given its vast diversity, which is why it may take more than one Jettly journey to see it all over the years! Here's a list of the places I enjoyed the most during my vacation: Amalfi Coast I had the best time touring the Amalfi Coast. It was quite a trek reaching the Amalfi Coast cliffside, but it's definitely worth it. Amalfi Coast has a vast coastline and is home to magnificent seaside towns, each with a unique history. Amalfi and Positano are two of the most popular Italian coastal towns with spectacular hotels and restaurants. While here, I went on hikes, relaxed, and ate to my heart's delight. The Amalfi Coast, loca......

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Tips when planning a trip to Rome

Oh how I love retro prints ( image ) As the Goons put it, “Rome, Rome! There’s no place like Rome”. And there isn’t. It is the eternal City, a place of immense beauty, history and culture which makes it one of the most popular places in Europe for people to visit at any time of the year, and annually over 15 million people do. For that reason any visit needs to be planned carefully, because coming unstuck is all too easy, and so a trip that just involves turning up and seeing what happens isn’t really the best approach. On both my last two trips to Italy have been done by train, going via the beautiful Milano Station The first consideration is accommodation and where to sleep. For ease and flexibility, getting an apartment is always a good idea since this will put you right into the heart of the city and among the Romans. The advantage over a hotel is that you have complete flexibility and you are sorted for where to sleep without the worry of having to be out of the room......

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