the getAwayZ Podcast

Tuscany Travel Guide Part 1: Siena, Montepulciano and Tuscany’s Best Hill Towns

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we start our two-part Tuscany series by exploring some of the region’s most unforgettable hill towns and wine villages. We talk about Cortona, Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Volterra and Siena, along with the festivals, food and moments that made each place stand out to us. From Christmas markets inside castles to medieval festivals, underground wine caves and pici pasta in Siena, this episode is packed with the kinds of experiences that make Tuscany feel completely different from the big cities. We also share practical tips about driving in Tuscany, where you actually need a car, what towns are best for day trips and which places are worth slowing down for. If you’re planning a Tuscany road trip or dreaming about spending time in the Italian countryside, this is the episode for you.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Paris in 3 Days: What to Do, Where to Go and How to Plan Your First Trip

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] Paris is one of those cities everyone has an opinion about, which is exactly why we put off recording this episode for so long. In this episode, we’re breaking down how we would plan a first trip to Paris if you have three or four days. This is the actual itinerary Lisa gives people when they ask what to do, based on our own trips, living there for six months and all the things we always go back to. We talk about starting with a walking tour or a slightly ridiculous vintage Rolls-Royce tour, having a low-key picnic in Luxembourg Gardens, taking a Seine cruise at sunset and building in time for Saint-Chapelle, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur and a few classic Paris food moments. We also get into what is worth booking ahead, where Paris feels overwhelming, why you need to watch for pickpockets and why sitting at a café doing absolutely nothing is still one of the best things to do in the city. In this episode we cover: • How to plan 3 days in Paris  • The best first-day activities in Paris  • Luxembourg Gardens, Saint-Chapelle and the Seine  • When to visit the Eiffel Tower  • Why Montmartre is still worth it  • Paris with kids and teens  • Pickpocket tips and practical travel advice  • A few favorite food stops, including La Dôme, La Rotonde, Homer and street crêpes For more Paris travel guides, visit The Getawayz. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Where to Stay in Europe: Hotels vs Airbnbs, Best Areas and What Actually Works

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] Trying to figure out where to stay in Europe and going back and forth between a hotel and an Airbnb? Same. We do this every single trip. In this episode we talk through how we actually decide. Not the perfect version, the real version. When we book hotels, when we go with Airbnbs and the times we’ve gotten it completely wrong. We get into how to choose the right area first because that matters way more than the place itself. Using real examples from Paris, Amsterdam, Florence and Copenhagen, we break down what actually works and what doesn’t. We also cover: *  when hotels are the better move  *  when Airbnbs make more sense  *  how people end up booking in the wrong location  *  why cheaper is not always better  This is part planning, part rambling and a lot of what we’ve learned from traveling across Europe with a teen and a dog. We break this down city by city on our site with full guides on where to stay so you can actually book the right area the first time. If you’re planning a Europe trip and want to get your stay right the first time this will help. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Elba Island Italy: The Tuscan Beach Escape Tourists Miss

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] After a week in Puglia and another on the Amalfi Coast, we headed to Elba Island and it ended up being one of the most unexpected highlights of the trip. In this episode, we’re sharing what it’s really like to visit Elba, from beach hopping and hiking to the things no one warns you about, like jellyfish stings and the tiny fish that bite your feet. We stayed in Rio nell'Elba, a quieter part of the island that gave us a more local feel and easy access to some of our favorite spots. We break down the beaches you should actually go to, including Spiaggia di Cavoli and Spiaggia di Polombaia, what to expect when you get there, and why Elba feels completely different from places like Amalfi. We also talk about visiting Napoleon's Residence, where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled, plus some of our favorite moments from the trip, including octopus sightings, charcoal ice cream, and the spiciest pizza we’ve had in Italy. If you’re looking for a beach destination in Italy that is less crowded, more relaxed, and still full of incredible scenery, Elba might be exactly what you’re looking for. We’ll also be sharing a full Elba beach guide on the site this week. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]

Croatia's National Parks: Krka vs Plitvice Lakes (Which One Is Right for You?)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/fan_mail/new] If you're planning a trip to Croatia and wondering whether to visit Krka National Park or Plitvice Lakes National Park, this episode is for you. We've been to both and they are not the same experience at all. Krka is an hour from Split, manageable in half a day and a genuinely beautiful introduction to Croatia's waterfall parks. Plitvice is Croatia's oldest national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most extraordinary places either of us has ever been. Sixteen terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, turquoise water so vivid it looks unreal and wooden boardwalks that put you right in the middle of it. We talk through what each park is actually like, how long to spend there, the best time to visit and which one to do first if you're doing both. We also cover what it's like to visit with a dog and the Rex swimming incident at Krka. Find full show notes and photos at thegetawayz.com. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2057160/support]