Traveling to Spain & Italy: What's the Game Plan?
I'm a bit of a stickler for itineraries, so today's post will be all about my decision to choose these destinations, the timing, how I'm planning on spending my time, and more.
It's Star Wars Day! May the Fourth (Force) be with you, young Padawan.
Hi all, and thanks for coming back to read this blog. Just wanted to mention how much it means to me when you tell me that you love my writing and are looking forward to more content. 😊
Why Spain & Italy?
Let's get into the specifics about why I chose Spain and Italy as my destinations for this year. (I'll talk about Colombia in another post!)
For starters, I knew that Europe was somewhere I wanted to spend some time exploring this year, but couldn't decide on a specific place and the best time to just get up and go. But that's the thing— it actually came down to my sister. (Huge shoutout to her!) My younger and only sister was accepted into NYU this March, and on top of that, has gotten the opportunity to study abroad for her first year in none other than Madrid, Spain. I couldn't be prouder if I tried, and so, as the ever-present big sister that I am, I knew I'd go with her to move to Madrid. (Helloooo, no brainer right?!)
Once I made that decision, I started researching what there is to do in Madrid, and Spain in general. I wanted to know where I can get the best Paella from, what museums we'd have to see, and how we could get around. Then, when researching Spain and the major cities that everyone loves to visit, I realized that all the travel blogs kept talking about Mallorca (Majorca). Mallorca is the largest island off the coast of Spain in the Balearic Sea, similar to Ibiza. Mallorca has gorgeous beaches, winding roads, and majestic limestone mountains and cliffs. For me, Mallorca became a must-see city in Spain, so I began searching for flights. (Not an ad, since I am by no means sponsored by anyone, but I love to use a combination of Google Flights and Skyscanner when trying to find the best deals for flights!)
The original plan was to spend a week in Spain and then come back to NY; maybe do a smaller trip somewhere local in the winter, but nothing else. As I prepared to purchase my flights to Mallorca and Madrid (all one-ways, since I've found them to be cheaper), curiosity got the best of me and I looked up flights from Madrid to other places in
Europe— Scotland, England, Croatia, and so on. Then I looked up flights to Italy from Madrid, and I was sold. I'm tend to be a bit spontaneous like that, so be prepared for some semi-unexpected travel plans in the future! Anyways, I decided I'd extend my trip to two weeks and spend the first week with my sister in Spain, then take off on my own to spend a week in the Campania region of Italy, best known for the picturesque Amalfi Coast, limoncello, and the Path of the Gods hike. I booked a flight to Naples, Italy from Madrid for $63 one-way, and have since been creating my two-week itinerary.
Quick Rundown of the Seasons and What to Expect
Since I'll be traveling towards the very end of 'peak season' in these parts of Europe, it would only be right to begin my planning with what kind of weather I should plan for, how many tourists will be around, and how to best spend my two weeks.
Like South Florida, Spain is incredibly hot in the summer months. August will be no different— temperatures average between 85º F to 93º F depending on the region of Spain. Despite just how hot it can get, Spain (especially the Balearic islands) sees many travelers during the June-August months. In Mallorca, I plan on staying in Cala d'Or with my sister because of it's proximity to the Parc natural de Mondragó and SatanyÍ, though I know I'll run into many other tourists on holiday. I'll be renting a car to get from Palma de Mallorca to the Eastern side of the island, as well as to drive through all the smaller villages on the way there. We'll spend 3 days going from beach to beach, along the Eastern coast and hopefully enjoy some wonderful Spanish cuisine in the villages along our path.
Next on our trip will be Chamberí, Madrid! I'm actually quite apprehensive about this part of it all because at the end of the 4 days in Madrid, I'll have to say bye to my sister (even if only temporarily). 🥲 It's also the only part of my trip that I can't plan— I live for planning! Of course, we'll go to a museum or two together and make our way around Madrid, but most of the time will be spent helping my sister get settled into her new life abroad and going to orientation meetings.
The second week of my trip, which also falls on the first week of September, will be spent in the Campania region of Southwestern Italy. The Campania region is known for its ancient ruins, dramatic coastline, and mountainous terrain. Also, lemons and Limoncello! The weather is still quite warm in September, with daytime highs in the mid-80s— which is perfect for hitting the best beaches along the coast and walking under the hot Italian sun. Unlike August though, September tends to be the fall off of 'peak' season, meaning I should expect to see less tourists. And though I will be visiting lots of towns along the coast, I decided that I want to stay in a more quiet, central location and take the bus or ferries to get around. I'll be staying in a Bed & Breakfast in Furore, about 20 minutes from Amalfi, 50 minutes from Positano, and right below the village of Agerola, where the Path of the Gods hike begins. And right below the B&B, about 1,800 steps away is the Fiordo di Furore! (Actual steps though, down some pretty steep stairs... but who cares!)
I'm expecting a lot of sun, walking and plenty of gorgeous scenery. I'll definitely have to pack smartly for these two weeks away, since I only plan on taking a carry-on suitcase and my trusty Northface backpack for my cameras, laptop, and toiletries. Should that be my first Youtube video— how to pack for 2 weeks in a carry-on? Let me know what you think!
Next Steps for the Itinerary!
In the next 3 months, I'll be sitting down to create a list of all the sights and landmarks I want to see, along with all the activities I'll book in advance of this trip. And in my next blog post, I'll discuss some more of the research I've done on these destinations and what makes the most sense as far as booking certain tours/excursions vs. seeing the sights on your own!
Talk to you soon,
Megan
Mallorca beaches sounds fabulous! What a steal you got on that Italy airfare? Hope it's all you're expecting! I'm expecting to hear so much and be able to see these places through your lens too :)