Travel bags

Most of us like to pack our things in a bag to travel with. So which bag is the RIGHT bag for travel? That depends on you, mofo.

Your main travel bag

I hate wheelie bags because you have to pick them up to walk up steps and they twist around on cobblestones and I want to throw them through the nearest window whilst screaming. Therefore, I choose to travel with a backpack.

Backpacks: the best backpack in the entire world — and this is undisputed — is the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45. There is no debate about this, so don’t even try. They are so well-structured, with three compartments so the weight is evenly distributed. They’re indestructible, with industrial-sized zippers and heavy-weight fabric. A train could run over them and they’d be fine. And, they’re a local Seattle company, they’re fabulous, and they’re dog friendly.

Rolling bags: As mentioned above, wheelie bags are from the devil. If you can’t or don’t want to wear a backpack, my best advice is to get a spinner. A spinner has four wheels as opposed to two, so it’s more stable on the cobblestones, and more flexible. You can drag it or push it. Yay for that.

We just introduced spinners at work (remind us to tell you THAT whole story), and you get them through Kate if you like the looks of them. Otherwise, these Aero spinners are freaking gorgeous and very highly rated.

Your one personal item

I don’t know you guys, Tom Bihn still rules when it comes to a personal bag. I have the Pilot and Steve has the Co-Pilot and I am SHOCKED by how much I can fit in there. I put my iPad, meds, my small everyday purse, Colin’s headphones, and what seems like a crap ton of other stuff in there. It’s also comfortable to wear, especially since I use a backpack.

Another great personal item bag, which doesn’t work for me anymore because of the aforementioned backpack insistence but works great if you’re getting yourself a spinner, is the Euro Flight Bag. I sound like a corporate shill and I don’t even care about it; this thing is a freaking Tardis. It works great as a weekender here in the States, and will pack up literally everything in the entire world and STILL fit under the seat in front of you.

What to Pack

One cool thing about choosing a travel bag is that now you can fill it with stuff. How much stuff should you fill it with, though? And what kind? I know, right?

Bring way less than you think you should

You guys, Italy is not the middle of the desert. They sell things there, like shampoo and toothpaste and mouthwash and razors and shoes and clothes! I know it’s weird, but it’s true.

So the biggest piece of advice I can give you about packing is: bring a shit ton less than you think. Pack a week in advance, then revisit your bag a few times before you leave, paring down as you go. I once pared down to half of what I originally packed, and I was so much happier. When I was going to Florence with the Seattle U kiddos, I stopped bringing body wash, shampoo, conditioner, or face wash. I would either stop at a Body Shop in Gatwick Airport on my layover, or have the taxi driver drop me at one when I landed. (The very first thing I do when I arrive is take a shower and let me tell you, it is the most glorious goddamned shower in the WORLD.)

Since I’m now David Rose and have to follow a simple 9-step regimen twice daily for my face, I can’t buy face wash when I land anymore. But I still recommend the body wash and shampoo, etc. stuff.

How many clothes and stuff though?

If you have seen any of my photos from Italy since Steve and I first started dating, you’ve seen what he wears in Italy. He dresses up a little more than he would here: he never wears jeans or shorts. In the summer when we usually go, he wears button-down linen shirts, fitted linen or lightweight pants, slip-on shoes or sandals with no socks, and he’ll bring a sweater and/or a blazer in case it gets cold at night. For me, it’s linen dresses, linen pants, and nice, neutral shirts that aren’t tee-shirts. Basically, I avoid looking like the giant American shlub I can get away with looking like in Seattle.

I pack enough underwear for seven days so the only time I absolutely have to do laundry is once during a two week trip. (TMI but shut up, we’re all friends here my god.) I’ll pack two pairs of light, linen pants, two dresses (also light linen), and probably five shirts so I can wear something different each day.

There is a pool there, and if you’re anything like Barb and plan to literally do nothing but sit by the pool and make people (i.e. Kevin) bring you drinks all day, you’ll want a bathing suit because this isn’t Burning Man, you hippie.

For April, I would bring a light jacket and super small umbrella. I also bring two pairs of shoes… I pack one pair and wear the others on the plane. I also wear the jacket on the plane so it doesn’t take up room.

I will ask the castle about whether they have hair driers in the bathrooms.

Transportation

Driving, trains, busses, taxis, airport shuttles, Uber… they are all forms of transportation. I’m going to attempt to break some of this down the best I know how. For YOU.

Uber

There is no Uber in Florence. Take a taxi.

Taxis

As everywhere else in Italy, you can’t wave down a taxi in Florence or Rome. You will have to find a taxi stand. Luckily they’re all over the place and clearly marked. You can also use a taxi app (I use Free Now), but keep in mind that even if you’re calling a taxi on the app, there’s no guarantee a taxi will answer your call.

If you’re taking a taxi from the hotel to the airport, be sure to have the hotel arrange the taxi the night before you leave. If they wave you off and they’re all, “I’ll just call one in the morning for you! That’s a spicy-a meat-a-ball-a!” Tell them to get on it call RIGHT NOW, MISTER. Simply because there is no guarantee they’ll either remember or that taxis will even be available in the morning. Since we’ll be there in April, there’s a good chance it will be raining, and Rome and Florence basically shut down in the rain.

Don’t drive in Florence (or Rome)

The first rule of Florence is: don’t drive in Florence.

A lot of people… I mean a lot… all the best people, really… have been asking me why I’m renting a car out by Florence’s airport when there is a car rental place RIGHT THERE NEAR THE TRAIN STATION YOU GUYS. Here’s why: the train station is right in the middle of town. You will have to rent it and then… get out of town. If you’re just looking at a map, it would seem like it’s an easy hop onto the freeway from the train station.

It isn’t.

Florence is an unholy nightmare to drive in even if you’re a local. The traffic is horrible, the streets were not set up for driving, much less getting anywhere quickly, and even after visiting Florence almost every year since 1997, I still don’t understand the street signs. Like, there will be a sign with a circle with a slash through it which I assume would mean DO NOT ENTER but then I see people ENTERING that street and that’s when I start drinking. I’m also not convinced you even CAN drive in Florence without a permit.

Also, the way to the castle is the exact opposite side of town than the train station.

Anyway, don’t drive in Florence.

Tram from the train station to the airport

There’s a brand new tram from the train station to the airport to the airport which runs every like, every 5 minutes. It’s €1.50, and allegedly it works. That’s how I’m getting to the airport, where I’ll be renting my car, and how I’m getting back from the airport, where I’ll have dropped my car off.

Driving to Florence

If you want to drive into Florence on one of the days we’re at the castle, there are options for parking outside of the city center. Kathleen, who is a rock star on most days, elevated herself to super amazing awesome rock star by finding this parking map for places around the Florence city center.