FAQ – Italy, Family & Solo Travel Questions

I’m Lisa, an Italy travel blogger and writer from southern Germany. I’m in my early thirties, started travelling solo and today I also travel as a mum – which is why JoyDellaVita covers both solo travel and family travel in Italy. You can read more on my about page.

I published my first blog post on JoyDellaVita in 2015, during a rail trip across Italy. I wrote the first blogpost sitting in my hotel bed in Milan while watching the Eurovision Song Contest.

I’m in my early thirties. I started travelling and blogging in my late teens/early twenties – and I’m still exploring new regions of Italy, now often together with my family.

Both. I started out as a solo traveller and still love exploring on my own, but since becoming a mum, my focus has shifted: family travel is now just as important on JoyDellaVita as solo travel. You’ll find both side by side – see my solo travel and family travel articles.

Yes. Family-friendly itineraries and practical tips are a growing focus of the blog. You can find them under family travel and in the category Family Travel in Italy.

In my experience, yes. Italy is very family-friendly: children are welcome in most restaurants, and many regions combine culture, nature, food and beaches in a way that works for all ages. My family-friendly itineraries show you where to start.

Yes. I create personal Italy itineraries for families, couples and solo travellers – from a weekend trip to a multi-week holiday. Have a look at my Italy trip planning service or get in touch.

I started JoyDellaVita as a solo traveller, so you’ll find plenty of tips under solo travel and solo female travel. Many of my city guides, for example for Milan, Rome or Verona, work just as well for trips on your own.

It depends on how long I’m travelling and where to. If I travel through different seasonal zones – for example from a beach to snowy mountains – I definitely check in a bag, because I need varied clothing and a warm winter coat alone fills up half a bag. However, I usually try to travel as light as possible, so most of the time it’s hand luggage only.

That depends on where I’m going. It’s impossible to reach Africa, the Americas or Oceania by train, but within a continent my first choice is always the train. Overnight trains are popular in Europe and a great option, too – and a good way to avoid a flight.

For overnight or two-night stays I currently use the 26–33 L AEVOR Trip Pack in Proof Black (I was debating the WANDRD PRVKE in 31 L, but settled on the cheaper AEVOR). For trips of about one week I prefer my trusty Osprey Farpoint 40 with 38 L – read my Osprey Farpoint 40 review. For day trips I usually use a 16 L Fjällräven Kånken.

A definite yes. I started using packing cubes some years ago and can’t imagine travelling without them anymore. Especially on trips with several destinations they are very handy: you don’t have to unpack your whole bag on arrival, you simply take out the one cube with the clothes you need. Read here: How I organise my packing cubes for multi-destination trips.

Because temperatures vary so much between summer and winter, there is no such thing as the perfect year-round travel shoe. I prefer Converse Chucks: they are comfortable, durable and take almost no space in a bag or suitcase, and they are available in many styles and materials. For summer I recommend sandals such as TEVA in a discreet colour, so they work from day to night.

I’m a huge fan of Vaude – and this is not influenced by the fact that I live about 12 km from their headquarters. I have known the brand all my life but only bought my first piece at 26, and I’ve loved it ever since. Vaude focuses on a full sustainable cycle: a CO2-neutral website, sustainable fabrics such as hemp and fair working conditions.

Not yet, unfortunately. So far I have only CO2-compensated my long-distance bus rides, but not my flights.

Our planet is facing a climate crisis, and we are at a tipping point: whether we can slow it down or our lifestyle will have to change drastically in the coming years and decades. That’s why a sustainable way of living is necessary – and therefore sustainable travel, too.