Darcy just got back from a trip to the US so we thought we'd tell you all of our best tips and heads-ups on how to make your trip as smooth as possible. This week, we're revisiting a couple of episodes from a more than a year ago: we're talking about flights!

In this episode we're focusing on the airport. Do I have to take off my shoes? Why is that security line going faster? What documents do I need to board the plane? We'll answer all of that and get into our best tips: stay hydrated and eat a snack!

Thank you all to those who donated to help us purchase the new microphones! It means so much to us; your support helps us to improve the podcast!

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and tours/classes with ⁠⁠⁠⁠booking.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠omio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠viator.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening!

x Darcy and Nathaniel

As we bring this mini-series to a close, we discuss getting a phone plan that will work in Italy (I, Nathaniel, erroneously wrote that Episode 4 dealt with phone plans, however, that self-note was out of date; this is the episode we discuss the phone plans, I apologize for the confusion!), taking tours (and watching for any tour scams), and weighing the time constraints of tours and classes versus free time!

Lastly, thank you all to those who donated to help us purchase the new microphones! It means the world to us!

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and tours/classes with ⁠⁠⁠booking.com⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠omio.com⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠viator.com⁠⁠⁠. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel

Only A Bag

Today's episode delves into packing—though not in the same way our previous mini-series on packing for certain seasons did. In this episode, we discuss the basics of packing, how to pack a bag so it's comfortable to you, and most importantly, the type of bag to bring.

We also discuss bringing any prescription medicines or pharmaceuticals into Italy, which includes downloading the form from this website (linked here) which does require your doctor to partially fill out.

We'd also like to extend an enormous "thank you" to everyone who donated and made the new microphones a reality. Thank you all so much!

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and experiences with ⁠⁠⁠booking.com⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠omio.com⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠viator.com⁠⁠⁠. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel

Only A Bag

Instead of putting the "kitchen sink" episode (or, the episode filled with smaller tips and pieces advice that had no where else to go that made sense) at the end of the mini-series, we decided to put it in the middle, that way it ties together with everything that came before it and that will come after it.

As also mentioned in this episode (and the two coming out next week), we finally have new microphones! Which means a MASSIVE "thank you" to everyone who donated and made this a reality. Seriously, thank you all so much.

This also means that [hopefully] we will sound better, but there’s also going to be a slight adjustment period. If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or advice, please feel free to reach out at onlyabag.com.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and experiences with ⁠⁠booking.com⁠⁠, ⁠⁠omio.com⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠viator.com⁠⁠. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel

Only A Bag

Continuing the mini-series on how to plan your trip, this episode delves into overplanning, setting a loose schedule, and protecting your mental health. Of course, it covers so much more, such as finding your hotel in a strange areas of town, needing a kitchen, and choosing where to book your hotel.

As mentioned in the episode (multiple times), we finally have new microphones! Which means a MASSIVE "thank you" to everyone who donated and made this a reality! Thank you!

This also means that [hopefully] we will sound better, but there’s also going to be a slight adjustment period. In our free time as frequently as we can, we’ll be playing with the settings and getting familiar with how they work, but if you have any thoughts, suggestions, or advice, please feel free to reach out at onlyabag.com.

In this episode Darcy mentions a website for finding LGBTQIA+ friendly hotels. We couldn’t find the exact site Darcy was thinking of, but here are some other similar sites.

https://www.mygayhotels.com/en/region-gay-hotels-it.html

https://www.worldrainbowhotels.com/europe/italy

https://www.travelgay.com/

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and experiences with ⁠⁠booking.com⁠⁠, ⁠⁠omio.com⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠viator.com⁠⁠. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠⁠ko-fi.com⁠⁠ to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening.

x Darcy and Nathaniel

Only A Bag

Our mini-series on planning your trip to Italy continues! Today we're talking about step two: picking a theme. This means deciding what kind of trip you want to have. Is it a beach trip? Are you foodie looking to eat your way across the country with cacio e pepe, arancini, and gelato? Or maybe you're interested in adventure or archaeology! We'll talk about the importance of setting priorities and how that can eliminate stress during your Italy vacation.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and experiences with ⁠booking.com⁠, ⁠omio.com⁠, and ⁠viator.com⁠. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ⁠ko-fi.com⁠ to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening!

xDarcy and Nathaniel

This Wednesday's episode launches the start of this mini-series on planning your trip to Italy. Step one: figure out just how big Italy actually is, and how long it takes you to get from point A to point B. In this episode, we'll also talk about considering ways to break up your trip and tips like booking a multi-city flight.

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts! If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠ at onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Want to help the podcast? You can use our affiliate links for booking hotels, transportation, and experiences with booking.com, omio.com, and viator.com. You can also donate to Only a Bag on ko-fi.com to keep the podcast going!

As always, thank you all so much for listening!

xDarcy and Nathaniel

Wrapping up this segment, we talk about the strikes that might affect your trip, the Venice Regatta (boat races), Jimmy Kimmel's Italian citizenship (though, mostly how it might change the Italian government's outlook on jus sanguinis), and the famed (or infamous) Bridge to Sicily/Messina Bridge.

And if you’re headed to Italy this summer/fall—or already here—you can grab a ferry for 10% off! Such as the previously mentioned ferry from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast! ⁠Omio⁠ is running a 10% off sale on ferry trips! Here is a link to the site and discount codes for August-October 2025.

August code: SAILANDSAVE10

September code: SEP24

October code: OCT24

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a review and follow Only a Bag wherever you listen to podcasts!

If you'd like to get in touch, you can send us a message on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠onlyabagpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠, on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

For more info, check out our articles on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠onlyabag.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and read our Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letters from the Balcony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you'd like to support us directly, you can donate to us on Ko-fi (pronounced "coffee"), linked ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks so much for listening!

xDarcy and Nathaniel

Links marked with an asterisk* are affiliate links. By using these links you are supporting Only a Bag. If you make a purchase through these links, you will not be charged extra, but Only a Bag will receive a small cut of the business's profit.