Last year, Hannah and I set out on an adventure through Italy, France, and Spain in just ten days. We flew into Rome, took the train to Florence, continued through Nice into France, and eventually flew home from Barcelona. We packed a lot into a short amount of time—and while it was an amazing trip, we learned that next time we’d probably slow the pace down a bit.
We were changing hotels every couple of days, hauling our big suitcases on and off trains, and always thinking about where we had to be next. It was exciting, but by the end we realized we’d rather spend more time in fewer places. If I were planning this trip again, I’d probably choose just two destinations over ten days instead of trying to fit in three countries.
One of the highlights of the trip was our cooking class in Florence. It was one of the few times we weren’t rushing to catch a train or check into another hotel. We learned how to make fresh pasta from scratch, homemade ravioli, a traditional Italian Bolognese sauce, and a simple sage and butter sauce. Sitting down to enjoy the meal we had just created together was the perfect break from our busy itinerary.
Rome was a lot of fun too. Since I’d already toured the Colosseum on a previous visit, we were happy seeing it from the hop-on, hop-off bus. Hannah’s favorite discovery, though, was Italy’s famous wine windows—tiny openings built into centuries-old buildings where you can walk up and order a glass of wine. It’s one of those uniquely Italian experiences that we still talk about.
If you’re thinking about traveling through Europe by train, I have a couple of tips. A Eurail Pass can be a fantastic value, but remember that many high-speed trains between popular cities require a paid seat reservation in addition to your pass. I also recommend upgrading to first class if it fits your budget. We found it much more comfortable, especially on the longer rides, and the extra space was well worth the relatively small additional cost.
One thing that always makes me laugh is how different the culture feels. On afternoon train rides, it wasn’t unusual to be offered a glass of wine just as casually as you’d be offered a soft drink back home. It made every train ride feel like part of the vacation.
A few random “lessons learned” from this trip:
- If you’re a woman dealing with hot flashes like I am, think twice before enjoying several glasses of red wine in an open-air cooking class in the Italian summer! It made for a funny memory, but let’s just say it wasn’t my most comfortable moment. Note to self for next time. But on a lighter note, the wine in Europe, either red or white does not cause those nasty headaches like the wine served in the states!!
- European sidewalks are beautiful, but many are made of uneven cobblestone. They add so much character to the cities, but rolling large suitcases over them can be a workout. I also found myself thinking how difficult they would be for someone using a wheelchair or pushing a stroller, so it’s something to keep in mind when planning your trip.
- Packing lighter than you think you need is probably one of the best travel decisions you can make. Your back will thank you every time you have to lift your suitcase onto another train.
Every trip teaches you something. Ours taught us that we love experiencing local food, taking cooking classes, and traveling by train—but next time, we’ll spend a little more time in each destination. Sometimes seeing a little less lets you experience a whole lot more.