What: I’m going to Italy!
Who: Me, no long flights for Lincoln. Luckily, I will be staying with the parental units then so I have a dog sitter for free!
When: In September for two weeks
Where: I’ll be flying out of Fort Lauderdale connecting in Philly then flying into Venice. And can I just say I love the idea of flying into an airport named Marco Polo? I will definitely have my valium on hand for the flight since this will be my longest flight ever.
Why: Why not? I doubt I will have the opportunity to go and not have to worry about getting time off from work or worrying about work while away.
How: I’m sure some of you are wondering how I am going to Italy if I’m unemployed. This is actually a once in a lifetime thing since my flight and lodging are basically free. My sorority sisters husband is in the Air Force and got stationed in Italy in the past year. She is still in the US and will be moving there at the end of August, along with her two dogs and I believe they will be there for two years. So I have a free place to stay and I will definitely be bringing her American goodies and cooking and cleaning in exchange for free board!
As for the flight, thanks to my US Airways Dividend Miles, it’s pretty much a free trip. All I had to pay was $100 for taxes and I still have some miles leftover to use towards my next free trip! I would love to stay for longer than two weeks but didn’t want to overstay my welcome and my best friends 30th birthday is at the end of September. She is having a party in Phoenix and I will not miss it! So September will be a traveling month for me.
We have some side trips planned when I get there, this is what we are thinking so far:
Milan
Verona
Florence
Slovenia
Croatia
I am fine with going anywhere but Florence and Croatia are my must visits. I’ve wanted to visit Florence ever since I was a little kid. I remember reading geography books (yes, I was a dork) and looking at the cities of Europe and Florence’s architecture always stood out to me. Add art, history, wine, gelato and men to the mix and I’m game! My grandmother was originally from Croatia and came over to the US in her teens so it will be terrific to see yet another part of my heritage. After Italy and Croatia, I just need to make my way to Poland.
Do you have any fun, summer trips planned?
How do you occupy yourself on a long flight? What’s the longest you’ve been on a plane?
Simply Shaka 
HOLY SHIT!
im jealous!
and happy
and jealous
and i want to go to there there there there and there.
that’s so exciting!! i love italy and wish i could go back with you!
That is SOOOO Awesome! My longest flight was my flight to Venice last summer 🙂 hehe.
Your gonna have an amazing time! Italy & Croatia are BEAUTIFUL!
how do I occupy myself? valium. I am a tense flier 🙂
girl, this is a trip of a lifetime, I’m so excited for you!! Jason lived in Florence post college, had an amazing time!
I hate you. I’m missing europe and suitcases and airplanes and hotels so much right now…nothing on the horizon : ( Although one of my friends said shes going to greece next summer, so I’m gonna start planning and saving for that now!
That’s going to be an amazing trip- and I’m completely jealous of your mile rewards! Venice was my favorite city, but I also really liked Sienna and Cinque Terre. I don’t have any summer trips booked, but I’m going to Denver right before Thanksgiving- I hope I can get some skiing in!
YES for almost free flights. I’m doing the same with JetBlue.
OMG pasta! Limoncello! Gelato! Some crazy dessert that is basically gelato in a bun! And the WINE 😀 Amazing trip – excited just reading about it! I’ve always wanted to visit Croatia: heard it’s gorgeous.
Longest flight? From the UK to America many times, as a kid, and adult…around 7 hours. The best part was back in those days if you squawked a bunch and were little enough, the flight attendants would offer to take you to visit the cockpit and see the pilot and co pilot. I remember seeing the stars out of the front window – unbelievable. Of course, my brother was the one that made the fuss, not me 😉
Whoop-whoop! Congrats on the trip- that’s so exciting! You’re gonna have a blast for sure.
Doug and I are going to my sis’ 21st birthday in Vegas in July. Pretty excited as it’s the first real vacation we’ve had in a few years!
That water in Croatia looks breathtaking!
The longest flight I have been on is to Hawaii. Just be sure to stretch and move your legs as a big fear is blood clots forming on long flights.
I still have a few vacations left this summer. Dale Hollow Lake with the family and visiting my cousins in Jersey. Then a Caribbean cruise in October.
Your trip is going to be unforgettable!
ahh I’m so happy for you (and ridiculously jealous) but mostly happy 🙂
I don’t have any big summer plans but I’m thinking October the husband and I will do something fun for our 1 year anniversary.
And to occupy myself on the plane I drink heavily and sometimes wash it down with a xanax. (I’m not a good flyer. Just being honest…)
Oh wow you lucky lady, sounds brill! My longest flight was to Vegas horrible, I def need to make enough money to fly first class 🙂 You’ll need thick, comfy socks, a cardigan as it gets chilly, books / music / films and be prepared to not liek the food on board!
That’s awesome news!! And putting your free miles to good use, is even better! Keep swiping the credit card =] The next vacation that I’m going on will be to Lake George, N.Y. with my husband and our friends, in the July 4th weekend. Can’t wait to check out your pictures of your Italy trip!! =]
Fucking amazing!
I’m so excited for you; hell, you might even find some way to stay longer.
Enjoy yourself and take lots of pictures of the food (I know you will).
And on the plane?…booze and people watch. My two favorite things to do, in the air or on the ground.
I’m so jealous of your big trip! I love Europe so much. I’ve been to Milan and Florence and absolutely adored Florence. It is the quintessential Italian city! Enjoy it and let me know if you have any questions about what to see, etc.
So great for you! I almost ended up going to Slovenia this fall (instead of the trip we choose). It looks beautiful there, and supposedly there is great hiking. Enjoy!
OMG!!! I am so excited for you! You have to make it to Poland! Will you get a chance to see Rome? Rome is amazing, Milan was nice and I have never been to the others. You are going to love it all.
For the flight, bring your own headphones, a good trashy read (think quick and mindless like Twilight series), your ipod, a neck pillow (I recommend and inflatable one, you can adjust it and it packs small), a magazine or two, snacks and make friends with the people sitting next to you. Even if you’re not the chat it up with strangers type even exchanging a few sentences every couple hours with the person next to you makes the flight go faster. I promise.
I’ve flown overseas quite a bit, the furthest to Mali, Africa that’s ~15 hours of flight time with a 9 hour layover.
Your trip sounds wonderful!!!!
Haha…we flew into Marco Polo airport too, and I also thought it was funny 🙂
We went to Croatia as a week-long sidetrip from Italy, and it was UH-mazing– we liked it even more than Italy. If you’re going to any of the same place we went, I can give you some restaurant tips!
Talk about AWE-SOME!! I love that you get to stay for free and so far your agenda is fabulous. Please take tons of pictures – food and otherwise. I do not do well on flights by myself. I usually travel with someone but lately I think – thank goodness for TVs on international flights. I traveled back home from India once by myself and I could not relax enough to go to sleep even. It could have been the creepy guy next to me.
Enjoy your trip! Last summer I traveled to Poland so I spent a little over eight hours in the plane. On the way over there was plenty of room to move around and one of my friends was on the plane so we chatted for a couple of hours. Other wise I rested, read a little and watched a movie. On the way back, I was by myself and the plane was packed! I ended up watching the different movies, tried to read and attempted to sleep.
I am beyond jealous. You are going to have a wonderful time–good for you for seizing the day. I am going to Tahoe next month, and for long flights I take Ambien and beer.
Ahhhhhh how exciting!!!!!! And you will be kinda near me in stinky Philly (as per our latest reputation) for however long you need to wait to connect 😉
I’M JEALOUS!
Venice is absolutely amazing! Best of all, Italians are super welcoming towards Americans — and absolutely stunning might I add.
oh i cant wait to hear how much fun you had!!!
Ahhhh, your trip looks like it’s going to be amazeballs. I’m going to Vegas in July, but I’ve been there, done that. Maybe I’ll go to the canal at the Venetian and pretend I’m in Italy too?
bahhhhhhhhhh!!!! A trip of a lifetime, indeed! Live it UP!!! And find yoself an italian stalion 😉
Definitely on the agenda!
Florence is amazing! I will blog about it soon! I absolutely love that city. Venice is my favorite Italian city so far. I already want to go back. Italy is my favorite.