Summer 2024
Sorrento, Italy:
Best things to do:
- Bagni Regina Giovanna!!! The best place to cliff jump, swim, and tan! You can walk from Sorrento center or take a bus!
- SHUB- a speakeasy in the center square of Sorrento! The drinks were so good, had a live DJ, and I loved the environment.
- Chaplains- An Irish pub in Sorrento! Cheap drinks, we played cards and hung out here a lot!
- Sit on Sorrento Pier and read a book
- Albergo Lorelei Sorrento- great spot for dinner and drinks while watching the sunset!
- A’Marenna: This was the BEST sandwich shop I have ever been to! The two ladies who own the shop are the kindest people ever, even if there is an hour wait, wait. You will not be disappointed.
This past summer, Megan and I chose to study abroad in Italy. I stayed for the entire summer, from May to August, while Megan was there from May to June. We went through CIS Abroad, a third-party program affiliated with Texas A&M. We were drawn to Italy after seeing countless photos of its stunning landscapes, and Sorrento, located right on the Amalfi Coast, looked especially breathtaking.
When we arrived at our apartment in May, we were in complete shock—it was absolutely stunning. Our place was just a five-minute walk from the beach and only three minutes from the campus where we’d be “studying” for the summer.
That said, Sorrento isn’t the destination for anyone seeking an authentic Italian cultural experience. Especially in the summer, Sorrento transforms into an American tourist hotspot. During my time there, I saw more Americans than Italians, which came with its drawbacks. With the influx of tourists, prices were inflated on nearly everything, yet people still paid. Transportation was particularly expensive since there were no Ubers in Italy; taxis were one of the only options and cost around 250 euros for an hour-long trip. Similarly, restaurants and accommodations along the Amalfi Coast were heavily marked up, making travel to nearby towns difficult and pricey.
We quickly adapted, though, and figured out how to navigate Italy on a budget. The train became our best friend. Sorrento has one main train station with limited trips in and out of the city, but with some planning, we could get to Naples (the nearest airport) for just 5 euros. Late-night buses were another option—although they took 3-4 hours to travel from Naples to Sorrento, they only cost 2 euros. It wasn’t glamorous, but hey, anything to save a dime!
Since traveling to other coastal towns wasn’t always feasible, we spent our time exploring Sorrento by foot and discovered some of the town’s hidden gems. We found a secret swimming hole that became our go-to spot on class-free days, a local tennis court, and a private dock where we could escape the hustle and bustle of the crowded streets. We even uncovered every cliff-jumping spot Sorrento had to offer and made the most of every moment.
Dolomites: June 2024
Our first weekend abroad, Megan and I decided to meet our cousin Rachel, who was studying in Scotland, in the Dolomites—a breathtaking mountain range in northern Italy. Hiking the stunning trails of the Dolomites had been a shared dream for all of us, so when our schedules finally aligned, we jumped at the chance to make it happen.
We started with a $50 flight from Naples to Venice, where we planned to spend the night. Upon arriving at our little hotel, we quickly dropped off our bags and hopped on a bus into Venice. Having heard so much about the city’s charm, we were eager to explore, but we were underwhelmed by what we found. Beyond admiring the boats gliding through the canals, Venice mostly offered shopping and dining—not exactly ideal for budget travelers like us. While it wasn’t quite what we had hoped for, we were glad to cross it off our list.
The next day, Rachel arrived, and we picked up our rental car for the weekend. The plan was to drive 2.5 hours to our Airbnb and use it as a base to explore the Dolomites. One thing we quickly learned is that the Dolomites, like most mountain ranges, are vast, meaning many of the trails we wanted to hike were another 1-2 hours away from where we were staying.
When we reached the Airbnb, we settled in, stocked up on groceries from the store across the street, and spent the evening watching a movie, excited for the next day’s adventure: canoeing on a beautiful lake about an hour away.
The next morning, however, our plans took an unexpected turn. As we packed the car to leave, we discovered it wouldn’t start. After trying unsuccessfully to fix it ourselves, we called the rental company, Rental Plus, and asked for a tow and a replacement car. While the tow truck arrived promptly, the replacement car never came. After hours on the phone with the rental company, they informed us that it wouldn’t be possible to get another car. With no other rental options nearby, we were stuck in the middle of northern Italy without transportation.
Determined not to let this ruin our trip, we shifted gears and decided to make the most of the situation. Instead of the dream trails we had planned to hike, we explored the nearby area on foot. We found beautiful local trails, spent afternoons reading by a nearby river, and even rode a gondola up the mountain and hiked back down. While it wasn’t the adventure we had envisioned, we still found ways to enjoy our time.
By the last day, we faced another hurdle: getting back to Venice. Without a car and far from any major city, our only option was to call a taxi. After a 45-minute walk to the nearest town with all our luggage, we found a cab—but at an eye-watering cost of 300 euros. Rental Plus assured us they would reimburse the expense (that didn’t end up happening).
We finally made it to Venice late that evening, only to encounter yet another challenge. Upon arriving at our hotel, the owner immediately began yelling at us in Italian. Apparently, we had mistakenly booked the room for two guests instead of three. Although we offered to pay the difference, she insisted on being paid in cash—euros we didn’t have on hand. After scrambling to resolve the issue, we finally got to bed, exhausted but relieved the ordeal was nearly over.
The next morning, we caught our flight from Venice back to Naples. Not all trips go as planned, but you sure learn from the challenges:
- Never use Rental Plus.
- Double-check your accommodation details, including the number of guests.
- Always carry euros when traveling in Italy.
Rome: July 2024
Megan and I passed through Rome on a 6 hour layover, and I visited once more with my friend Melissa to watch Coldplay in concert, so I’m not sure if we’re really a credible source for this city. Rome, especially in the summer, is a commitment. It’s nearly 100F from 10am to 6pm and is one of the most crowded cities in the world.
Personally, historical and archaeological sites aren’t my top travel priorities. Sure, there’s something incredible about walking the same streets the Apostle Paul once did or being in a city tied to foundational biblical stories, but beyond that, I’m not one to pay for a deep dive into history. That said, if you love immersing yourself in ancient wonders, Rome is perfect for you. It just wasn’t my favorite.
Melissa, one of my friends I was studying abroad with for the summer, and I decided a week before to purchase Coldplay tickets for a concert they were playing in Rome (the best $250 I ever spent by the way). We finished our midterm for our class at 11am and hopped on a train headed to Naples at 11:30am. We then took a connecting train from Naples to Rome, we got ready for the concert on the train and prepared ourselves for the miserable heat we were about to endure. We grabbed a taxi from the train station in Rome to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico where we could watch Coldplay perform. The concert started at 7pm, we were standing in line at 1:30pm. We brought plenty of water to keep us hydrated and hoped the reward would be worth the 5 hours standing in line in 100 degree weather. The doors opened at 5pm and Melissa and I made our way to the front of the stage. Worth it.
We couldn’t stop pinching ourselves, the concert that was 3 hours felt like 10 minutes. It was truly the best experience and concert I had ever been to. When the concert ended it was around 10:30 pm. Melissa and I had decided earlier that we didn’t want to waste money on a hotel for one night, and to be honest we were a bit scared of the Rome hostels, after one of Melissa’s friends told us about a bad experience she had with them previously. So we decided instead of wasting a couple hundred dollars on a hotel, we would site-see until our 5:15 am train departed. We found an electric scooter and rode around to different sites we had both wanted to check off our bucket list (Trevi Fountain, The Colosseum, and The Spanish Steps). We had basically all of the sites free of crowd, we were the only people there! I guess my best piece of advice is to explore Rome at night and see the beauty of Rome without the crowds.
When 5:15am came we could not be more grateful. We closed our eyes and woke up 2 hours later to switch trains. When we arrived back home in Sorrento, we walked to our apartment, took a shower, and slept for 10 hours. Again, worth it. If you’re traveling to Rome, more than likely a concert is happening around you, book the ticket.
Sicily: July 2024
On the last weekend of my study abroad trip, my best friends Cami and Sofia came to visit me in Sorrento. I hadn’t seen them all summer long and I was so excited to show them the hidden gems of Sorrento and we had plans to travel down to Sicily for the weekend. When they arrived I showed them the magic of Amerena’s sandwiches, which we picked up 4 times after this. We tanned and swam at Bagni Regina Giovanna, went for drinks at the speakeasy, played cards at the Irish Pub, and eventually began our journey to Sicily.
This trip, however, turned into yet another example of how travel doesn’t always go as planned. With all of us trying to save money—Cami and Sofia having spent their summer savings on flights from Houston to Italy and me nearly broke at the end of my summer abroad—we booked the cheapest flight from Naples to Sicily. That 8 AM departure seemed like a bargain, until we realized no trains from Sorrento would get us to Naples in time. Our only option was the 1:30 AM bus, which was supposed to get us to the Naples airport by 5 AM.
ust picture three girls on the side of the road with their luggage, half asleep, waiting for the bus to come in the pitch black, waiting for a bus that never came. By 1:40 AM, we knew we had to find another solution. Reluctantly, we ended up taking a €300 taxi and arrived at the Naples airport at 3 AM—well before it even opened.
When we finally landed in Sicily, we hopped on a train to Taormina, a stunning coastal town. Things took another turn when we arrived at our Airbnb. Our host spotted us from the balcony, and it was immediately clear something was off. I had forgotten to mention in the booking that three people would be staying, not two (you think I would’ve learned by now). While we assured her we were happy to pay the difference, she wasn’t having it. She gave us a lengthy lecture about how rude and inconsiderate it was to omit this detail, all while we sat awkwardly on the couch.
Once the dust settled, we made the best of it—even though the Airbnb had no air conditioning, and Sicily was a blistering 102°F. We explored Taormina, marveling at its beauty, and enjoyed an affordable and delicious pizza for €10, washed down with Hugo Spritz as we sat on the steps of the city.
Though our trip had its challenges and I unfortunately received my first bad review on Airbnb, we still managed to have fun and make memories we now laugh about. That said, if you’re planning a trip to Taormina, I’d recommend limiting your stay to 2–3 days; it’s a charming town, but you can see most of it in that time.
Florence: June 2024
- Coffee Mantra for Cappuccinos
- Grab drinks/dinner at Ristorante La Cupola (amazing view of the Duomo)
- Visit a Wine Window (multiple locations in Florence)
Lake Como: May 2024
Advice: Do not bring a suitcase, pack in a backpack! Everything is uphill/on stairs
Things to do:
- Take a boat out during sunset/sunrise
- Visit/stay in Bellagio
- Visit Villa Monastero for stunning views
- Jump/Swim by the Nesso Bridge
Lake Como, Italy is a budget traveler’s worst nightmare. Don’t get me wrong the place is INCREDIBLE, like one of my favorite places I have ever been! But just alone the Uber (which has to be a black Uber, because Italy does not do Ubers) was nearly $170 to the airbnb. Our airbnb, which was a 40 minute walk from the nearest store, was around $230 a night. Ferry is the only way to get from place to place, and all other tourists are over the age of 50 years old.
As two 20 year olds we definitely stuck out. We however, made the most of it, as cheaply as we could. I read my book on a bench to one of the most amazing views I have ever seen, I got snacks from the grocery store, I watched the boats (for those who could afford it) drive by on the lake, and we watched a lot of TV (granted we were still very jet lagged).
Thoughts in Transit 
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