3 Reasons I Pay More to Fly With Legacy Airlines on International Trips

There’s a never-ending back-and-forth comparing low-cost airlines to pricier legacy airlines.

I tend to book low-cost flights when traveling domestically in the US or Europe. (I live full-time in Barcelona but regularly travel to the US, usually to the East Coast and Midwest.) By contrast, I’m happy to pay more for pricier tickets for intercontinental trips.

But that’s a new approach for me.

I only recently made the decision to pay more to fly between the US and Barcelona, and that decision was driven by a mishap with a KLM booking last year that lost me almost $1,000. (Consider this your reminder to always read closely what comes with an economy booking.)

That mishap with KLM was ultimately my fault. Not only did I need to cancel my trip at the last minute, but I had also failed to read the fine print when buying the ticket.

When it came time to rebook that trip, I opted to go all-in on a Delta booking from Barcelona to Saint Louis, Missouri. It cost around $1,600—which is no small bill for a trip home.

But I’ll never go back because, despite the fact that Delta didn’t get my checked bag on my flight between Atlanta and Saint Louis, I wasn’t too worried about it… even though I hadn’t slept in a day and didn’t have all the necessary supplies in my carry-on to get through a day without my bag.

Sounds like a disaster, right? Actually, it all turned out okay. And I have that Delta booking to thank for it.

If you’ve been on the fence about spending more on a reliable legacy airline on international flights, let me tip you over into ‘I’ll never go back’ territory.

These are the three reasons I will only book international trips with reliable airlines—even if those tickets are outright expensive.

3 reasons to start booking with pricier legacy airlines on international trips

Reason #1: Legacy airlines tend to fix problems on their own

Things go wrong with baggage all the time. Checked luggage is misplaced, lost, or rifled through by customs agents regularly.

And given it’s the airport’s ground crew that’s responsible for transporting luggage into the cargo hold, you won’t be calling them when things go wrong. It’s the airline’s responsibility to get your luggage to your final destination.

My flight from Barcelona landed in Atlanta; from there, I had a connecting flight to St. Louis. But after getting through customs and waiting at the baggage carousel, my suitcase never arrived.

I checked with an agent who said that the bag was accounted for but had been stopped by customs. (It was full of gifts—no surprise there.) The agent recommended that I continue on my journey to make my connecting flight, which I did.

Unfortunately, when I boarded my connecting flight, I could tell from the Delta tracker that my bag wasn’t onboard. A flight attendant told me to leave it—and that Delta would have it on the next flight to St. Louis.

I doubted that with my entire heart, but I wanted to get home before I crashed from exhaustion, so I let it go. (Also, I had no other option.)

To my wonderment and relief, when I landed in St. Louis, I could see that my luggage had made it onto the next flight headed into my hometown.

I did not speak with a single Delta agent to make this happen. No phone calls. No waiting at the Delta kiosk.

While the delay was a nuisance, it was handled efficiently and, most importantly for someone who’s burnt out after a 12-hour flight, without any instigating on my part.

I have no words for that type of customer service magic. It was like a warm embrace. Again, it was inconvenient to return to the airport to pick up the bag—but it wasn’t actually Delta’s fault that my bag was lost in the first place. Still, they fixed the problem.

Here’s what I’ve learned: The higher the ticket price, the more likely the airline is to solve these types of problems without any pushing on your part.

Reason #2: Dual bookings from third-party sites give airlines the opportunity to point the blame elsewhere

Let me take you back to 2022. I was heading from Barcelona to New Orleans for a wedding. The wedding was on Saturday, so I didn’t have much time to spare when I left work on Friday to head to the airport.

I boarded a British Airways flight to Miami, where I would then board an American Airlines flight to NOLA.

But the flight was delayed. And delayed. And then it got delayed a little bit longer until the clock struck midnight, and we were told our plane wouldn’t be taking off. I waited for well over an hour in a customer service line before being sent to an airport hotel… without any way to get there.

Ultimately, I was rescheduled on a flight for noon the next day—giving me barely enough time to make the wedding.

I ended up booking a Spirit Airlines flight to make it on time the next morning. I could go into greater detail about everything that went wrong that evening, but I think the fact that a hyper-discount airline saved the day paints a solid picture.

After almost missing the wedding, I tried to contact customer support for a partial refund for the flight between Miami and New Orleans. Or, at least, my taxi fare to and from the airport hotel. American Airlines and British Airways pinged me back and forth until my soul could fight no more.

(To clarify: American Airlines and British Airways are both legacy airlines—but booking separately won’t give you the full experience with either. Book a single trip whenever possible.)

Here’s my advice: Booking directly with an airline costs more but can also save you down the line—and completing one booking makes it easier to hold an airline accountable for messing up.

Reason #3: The little details come into focus with legacy airlines

My last point is about those creature comforts. Every time I’ve booked with a pricier legacy airline for international flights, I’ve been treated to an elevated experience.

This translates to almost every facet of the flight—from getting ready to board at the gate to de-boarding on another continent.

Lining up at the gate is more stress-free and organized. Agents and flight attendants tend to be more ‘on their game’ because they’re being paid at a higher rate. (That’s not always the case, of course.)

These small factors make the entire journey feel more streamlined and calmer. Again, this is a personal decision for me—feeling that I’m part of a well-oiled flying process lets me board a long-haul flight with a greater sense of ease. And that ease helps alleviate stress, restlessness, and other worries.

Here’s what I’ve learned: If hectic airport experiences have left you with airport stress, paying more for a legacy airline ticket (even a basic economy tier) can revolutionize your travel experience.

Best Hot Chicken in Nashville: Top 7 Restaurants

Every city has a special dish—and Nashville’s is hot chicken.

Though I’ve seen hot chicken billed as barbecue, it’s not quite like the US’s other slow-cooked meat traditions.

Hot chicken is prepared using bone-in cuts of chicken, which are marinated in a water-based blend that’s cayenne-centric. After being floured and fried, hot chicken is served with slices of white bread and pickles.

That basic recipe is just the bare bones. True hot chicken looks different at every Nashville restaurant—and some do it better than others.

Looking for the best hot chicken in Nashville? Here’s where to find it, including at chains and mom-and-pop shops. (If hot chicken isn’t on your radar, start with these restaurants.)

Best hot chicken in Nashville

Hattie B’s (chain)

You don’t need to head to an upscale eatery to get your hands on delicious hot chicken. Hattie B’s (along with a few others on this list) is a chain that serves up some of the tastiest hot chicken in Nashville.

In fact, Hattie B’s is so highly regarded that, despite being a chain that recently expanded outside Nashville’s boundaries, you can expect a wait.

Red’s 615 Hot Chicken

It’s a hot chicken movement at Red’s 615 Hot Chicken. Not only can you expect a mouthwatering hot chicken experience (they brine the buttermilk and hot sauce for almost two days), but you can also sample other Nashville classics, including catfish and a crunch wrap version of the sandwich.

Come for the hot chicken, stay for the rest of the menu.

Slow Burn Hot Chicken

If you can’t handle the heat (like me), then head to Slow Burn Hot Chicken. As the name suggests, hot chicken is made to be spicy. But the great minds at Slow Burn have shown mercy on the spice-challenged like me, offering a highly mild sauce (‘sprinkle’) up to ‘inferno’ levels.

There are even vegan options for those who want the hot (fake) chicken experience.

Party Fowl (chain)

Similar to Slow Burn, Party Fowl lets you choose your own hot chicken adventure. Along with varying levels of spice, you can also sample other dishes that have been treated with the same hot chicken seasoning that has put this restaurant on the map. They even have a whole special requests menu.

The Loveless Café

Located a little outside the city limits, The Loveless Café has been serving up homemade chicken and biscuits for over half a century. That’s a highly traditional hot chicken experience. If you don’t want to wander too far outside of Music City, you look for the Loveless Café food truck.

Granddaddy’s Famous Hot Chicken

Along with The Loveless Café, you can find Granddaddy’s Famous Hot Chicken just a twenty-minute drive from the city center. There, you can sample some of the best hot chicken in the country—along with other unique eats like a hot chicken-inspired chimichanga and a hot chicken-spiced baked potato.

Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish

I’m rounding off this list with arguably the most famous hot chicken spot in Nashville. Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish has been a favorite for locals for almost three decades. But the recipe is actually much older, having been passed down in the Polk family for generations.

Not only will you be gnashing into hot chicken lore, but you’ll also be supporting a growing franchise. Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish recently hosted a successful pop-up in Los Angeles.

My Good Friend Just Summited Kilimanjaro—Here’s His Advice For You

Standing at 19,341 feet, Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.

For context, the world’s tallest building is Dubai’s famous Burj Khalifa. The Burj Khalifa rises over 2,717 feet… which means you would need to stack seven Burj Khalifas on top of one another to compare to Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Think of it this way: when domestic jets travel between nearby cities, they rarely climb above 19,000 feet.

So, if you’ve summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, you’ve hiked more than seven Burj Khalifa’s to reach commercial airline heights.

Summiting Kilimanjaro is more accessible than you think

That probably doesn’t sound like an adventure for the faint of heart—and it isn’t. But one of my best friends just accomplished the feat with only 35 days of prep time and no background in mountaineering.

That’s pretty damn incredible, so I wanted to share his story with any other travelers who have dreamed of summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro but aren’t sure how to get started undertaking such a colossal task. Consider this your look behind the curtain.

Was his journey easy? No.

Did it get actively messy at times? Yes.

Does he wish he would have had a love affair with a Stair Master beforehand? I’m quoting him on that.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to travel across the world to accomplish one of the greatest feats on Planet Earth, you might want to look at what the experts have to say—but I think you should also know what it’s like for an average traveler.

Here’s your crash course on what it’s like to plan a trip to summit the mountain, get to Tanzania, reach the Roof of Africa, and make it back home in one piece.

Meet Cody Decker, personal trainer & breathwork coach

Meet Cody Decker (far right) and the team that he summited with, including porters (Photo courtesy of Accelerate Change)

Cody Decker is a certified personal trainer, breathwork coach, and contrast therapy guide. He works as a personal trainer, breathwork facilitator, and contrast therapy guide in St. Louis, Missouri.

If you’ve ever seen people plunging into half-frozen lakes and tubs of ice water, that’s part of contrast therapy. (The other part is heading straight into a sauna after.)

Cody lives in Saint Louis, Missouri where he works at Edge Fitness and Breath & Exposure STL. His professional experience gave him a huge leg up in Tanzania—still, his journey probably doesn’t look exactly how you’d imagine.

Here’s how the average traveler ends up summiting Kilimanjaro.

Cody learned about the trip on Facebook—and joined only 35 days out

Cody and crew mid-summit (Photo courtesy of Accelerate Change)

In December 2024, Cody saw a Facebook post from a friend who works at a non-profit called Accelerate Change. After his father’s unexpected death, this friend decided to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro once and for all. It was something he and his father had dreamed of doing but ran out of time, unfortunately.

Inspired by undertaking that journey once and for all, this friend shared his plans to summit the mountain—and also encouraged others to spend time with loved ones. After all, we never know how much time we’ll have left with them.

Cody resonated with the message and shared the post, hoping to attract a few donations for Accelerate Change’s trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Shortly after, Accelerate Change’s leader reached out to invite Cody on the trip. With two international adventure trips under his belt (a sacred site journey across Peru and a romp around the jungles of Panama), Cody knew it was time for another adventure.

This time around, he was off to Africa.

So, how did Cody get in shape in time for the trip?

With only 35 days to prepare for Accelerate Change’s trip to Tanzania, Cody knew he was in for a tough challenge. To get in shape, he trained his lungs with breathwork (an important factor for anyone heading to low-oxygen altitudes) and used a Breather Fit device to train his respiratory muscles.

And that was about it.

He didn’t learn about mountaineering. In fact, Cody hasn’t climbed any other mountains. (We’re from Missouri—it’s mostly flat.) He didn’t do any cardio to prepare. I told you—this isn’t the average Mt. Kilimanjaro story.

As Cody puts it, “It’s nice to know my baseline fitness is Mt. Kilimanjaro.”

(Don’t worry—we’ll get to all the things he wishes he’d done differently below. And, yes, cardio is one of them.)

What about budgeting for summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro—was it a pricey trip?

Cody wasn’t responsible for planning the entire journey to Mt. Kilimanjaro because he joined Accelerate Change’s trip. Their crew had already booked the trip with a travel company, which arranged all those added details like porters, cooks, camp setups, and medical equipment like oxygen tanks.

The vast majority of people who summit the mountain rely on highly trained teams that work around the clock to make the journey possible. And these crews come in all shapes and sizes for all different budgets.

Cody spent a lot more money than he thought he would because his crew went with the top rated travel company and the most expensive Mt. Kilimanjaro package. (They took the Lemosho route, known for being the most beautiful.)

This elaborate package ensured the climbing team had added luxuries like more comfortable toilets and oxygen masks at the ready. On top of that, Accelerate Change had a camera crew following the journey, which required extra budgeting. Their focus was on leading breathwork exercises throughout the summit.

Another major cost was equipment; Cody opted to buy his mountaineering equipment rather than rent it. With plans to summit Denali in 2026, that decision made sense for him—but it’s not necessary for everybody. You can save big by renting.

Lastly, transportation. Though Cody found the flights to be less expensive than anticipated (around $1,300 from Saint Louis, Missouri), the whole journey was a lot more costly than he originally thought.

His advice: You can save a lot by booking a less comprehensive package with fewer creature comforts, renting equipment rather than buying, and booking flights as early as possible.

His summit experience took almost 12 hours

Cody summited Mt. Kilimanjaro with a crew of climbers aged 18-55. I was pretty floored to learn that it took five and a half days to summit the mountain, and then almost two to climb back down.

On the actual day of the summit, the crew woke up at 11 pm to start hiking at 11:50 pm and didn’t reach the peak until 8:50 am.

That’s a solid 12-hour hike. And Cody says about seven hours of that total time is spent taking tiny baby steps up the steepest ascent. (9 hours up and 5 hours back down)

At the peak, he could barely stand or breathe. He almost took oxygen near the summit, but when the guide said there was only 6 minutes to summit, he chose to see if he could complete the hike without it. He did.

He says he didn’t accept oxygen because no one else on his crew did—and he didn’t want to be the only one. In fact, Cody says that it was his dedication to all those who had helped donate to his trip and encouraged him to succeed that helped him finish the summit.

Using his hiking sticks for support, Cody propped himself up on the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, put on the biggest smile he could muster, and posed for the picture of a lifetime.

Next time, he’d prepare more using a Stair Master and an oxygen mask

Cody’s biggest piece of advice for anyone who wants to summit Kilimanjaro: have a love affair with a Stair Master. To succeed and feel good, invest in cardio—and a Hypoxic Mask. He wishes he would have trained using an oxygen mask to train his body for low oxygen levels.

Aside from added training, Cody also wishes he would have booked his trip earlier. Arriving in Tanzania a week or so before the trip would have given his body more time to acclimate to the time change, diet, and more.

He also advises booking the trip out earlier than 35 days. This opportunity came up quickly for Cody, and he has no regrets about going—but he would have had a smoother trip if he had had more time to prepare physically and financially.

In summary…

Here’s my TL;DR advice for anyone who wants to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro but doesn’t have a lot of experience traveling or physically training:

You can save money by renting equipment rather than buying, opting for a more affordable but less comfortable travel company, and joining an existing summit crew
You need to train the body in terms of cardio and low oxygen levels
But don’t forget about the mind; Cody’s background in breathwork and contrast therapy gave him a leg up in terms of mental fortitude and clarity
Give yourself time to adjust to life in Tanzania before going on the journey—Cody recommends between three to seven days

The 8 Best Desserts in Boston & Where to Eat Them

Boston is famous for its historic sites, which are conveniently linked by a red-brick road known as the Freedom Trail.

Aside from history, you probably think of higher education universities like Harvard and MIT, or maybe the more casual (but equally fanatical) world of sports. Even the Red Sox’s Fenway Park has the moniker of the oldest continually occupied professional sports stadium in the US, opened back in 1912.

Toss in a few fantastic public museums and galleries, a handful of stroll-worthy neighborhoods to stay in, and comprehensive public transportation, and it’s easy to see why Beantown has remained a near-perfect New England getaway.

But let’s refocus our lens on Boston’s most visitable spots.

What I remember most about my last visit to the city was biting into an incredible dessert—one that I hadn’t tried before or even heard of. The Boston cream pie.

In celebration of Boston’s tastiest desserts (including but not limited to the cream pie), I’m listing out some of the best places to feast on the city’s most unique desserts. It’s time to polish off that sweet tooth!

Which desserts should you try in Boston?

Boston specializes in the Boston cream pie (shocker), but the city’s legacy has lent itself to other sweet treats. Apple pies, with their American heritage, are another favorite, along with the powdered cannoli commonly found in Italian-American neighborhoods across the country.

There are two other desserts you should know about: Indian pudding and something called a Baked Alaska.

The former is yet another callback to Boston’s colonial era. Indian pudding was once a classic New England dessert, likely a spin-off of the British hasty pudding that includes corn meal, milk, and sugar. The Baked Alaska is an ice cream cake topped with scorched meringue.

Very different vibes—but equally delicious. Here’s where to find the best desserts in Boston.

Where to find the best desserts in Boston

Oleana: The Baked Alaska

Oleana, located in Cambridge, is a Middle Eastern restaurant with special vegan and vegetarian dishes. Flavors are vibrant, dishes are colorful, and guests rave about the cozy ambiance.

But all you need to focus on is that dessert menu—and the Baked Alaska. It’s the restaurant’s most famous dish, which is strikingly assembled in a marble-like meringue that’s accented with coconut and passionfruit.

Bar Volpe: Cannoli

Bar Volpe serves up some of the best Southern Italian food in the city. Fresh pasta is made daily, while a wood-fire stove adds complexity to each dish.

While you won’t be short on great cannolis in Boston, Bar Volpe’s cannolis have won the hearts of hundreds. Come in for the hand-prepared pasta, but stay for that sweet, sweet cannoli.

Mike’s Pastry: Cannoli

You’ll get a pretty dressed-up cannoli at Bar Volpe, but if you want to keep things quick and easy, head to Mike’s Pastry. This famous institution has been catering to sweet tooths across the city for around 80 years. That means you can order a near-perfect cannoli without dining at a restaurant.

Plus, you can sample some of Boston’s other tastiest treats.

Petsi Pies: Apple pie & beyond

Along with Mike’s Pastry, Petsi Pies is a well-known Boston dessert shop despite being founded recently in 2003. The specialty is—you guessed it—pies. I’m recommending you sample their classic apple pie as an ode to Boston’s colonial history… but I’d also make room for their cherry crumble pie and brown butter pecan pie, too.

Union Oyster House: Indian Pudding

Like I mentioned before, Indian pudding is a colonial dessert that combines cornmeal, milk, and sugar. That’s not the flashiest combination by modern standards, but Union Oyster House offers a delicious take on this historical favorite.

Established in 1826, this restaurant is now a National Historic Landmark. That’s two layers of history for you to enjoy—and one of them you get to eat.

Flour Bakery & Café: Pies, pastries, & more

A newer and more innovative take on dessert-slinging, Flour Bakery and Café includes savory dishes and also offers cooking classes. But there are cream pies galore for you to taste-test, including a chocolate cream pie, lime cream pie, and coconut cream pie.

(The chocolate cream pie is a Boston cream pie—they’re sometimes used interchangeably.)

Lyndell’s Bakery: Boston Cream Pie

Finally—we’re moving into firmer Boston Cream Pie territory. Though you might see full pies and mini versions of this treat offered around the city, head to Lyndell’s Bakery (or Omni Parker House, below) for a master class in Boston cream pies.

Lyndell’s opened up shop back in 1887 and has been serving pies, pastries, and breads daily since then. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it—and this cream pie is perfect.

Omni Parker House: Boston Cream Pie

Last, but certainly not least, we have Omni Parker House—the birthplace of the Boston cream pie. This historic hotel opened in 1855, at which time head chef Augustine Francois Anezin created the dessert using two sponge cakes and a thick custard, then topped with chocolate fondant.

It’s remained largely unchanged since then—and you can enjoy one right in the same spot where the dessert was first presented and tasted.

9 Things to Do for St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago

Chicago knows how to party.

From New Year’s Eve to July 4^th, Chicago regularly turns into a block party. From private parties at rooftop bars to street parades that snake through the city, there are dozens of ways to join the seasonal calendar of festivities.

But there’s something about St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago that stands out.

Though cities like Boston and New York City also have substantial Irish-American populations that have shaped massive St. Patty’s Day celebrations, Chicago is arguably the top spot to ring in the holiday in the US.

Is it all down to the green river dye that plumbers dump into the Chicago River? Is it owed to Chicago’s rowdy party culture? Or is it a callback to the city’s well-known and well-preserved Irish heritage?

Probably all three—but I’ll let you decide. I’ve rounded up the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, including my own top pick. (Special thanks to my brother who lives in Chicago and knows how to drink.)

If you want to keep digging into St. Patty’s Day fare, stick with Choose Chicago.

Top 9 activities in Chicago for St. Patty’s Day

#1: Watch the river run green

It’s been happening for almost half a century for a reason—and you can watch as local plumbers spew a harmless, green dye into the Chicago River. The event happens between State and Columbus streets each year. You can watch live from Upper Wacker as the dying starts at 10 am. Just make sure to get there early to nab your spot.

#2: Take a river cruise to party at a safe distance from the mayhem

I’m not one for crowds, so piling onto one of the parades isn’t my idea of a great St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago. If you’re like me, book a river cruise that’s offering a St. Patty’s Day route.

You can choose from a handful of options, many of which include events like live bagpipe music, Irish dishes, and plenty of beer and cocktail options. All while cruising down an electric-green river. (Head to the Choose Chicago page linked above to find more St. Patrick’s Day river cruise offers.)

#3 Or kayak through the currents

If you’re a fitness buff or simply like to get out on the water, you can book a kayak tour that cuts through the Chicago River. Don’t worry—you won’t get in the way of those cruises. The Chicago River is wide, and tour guides are adept at helping you navigate the channel safely and happily.

#4 Join a parade—but choose wisely

You have three main options when it comes to choosing a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Your three options are the South Side Irish Parade, North Side Irish Parade, and the main St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Grant Park.

The South Side has the strongest Irish associations, as neighborhoods like Beverly, Bridgeport, and Morgan Park still have strong Irish Catholic demographics. In fact, you might see them called the South Side Irish. This is the most homegrown St. Patty’s Day parade in town.

That being said, you can also join the North Side Irish Parade, which has been going strong for over two decades. This smaller celebration heads through the Norwood Park neighborhood.

The largest event is this year’s 70^th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is the largest in the city and one of the most prestigious in the country. You can expect live performances, step dancers, marching bands, bagpipers, and more over three hours.

#5 Keep it old school at Shamrock’n: A Family-Friendly Irish Celebration

Old St. Patrick’s Church is a Catholic assembly that has been hosting a family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration for the past few years. This warm pop-up includes an a la carte menu, alcoholic beverages, a pot’o gold-themed raffle, and live entertainment that’s fit for all ages.

#6 Or at the Irish American Heritage Center

Similar to Old St. Patrick’s, you can find a more family-friendly party at the Irish American Heritage Center. In fact, if you’ll be out of town on the actual holiday, you can still join the festivities at the center. They host a range of celebratory events leading up to March 15^th, from Celtic art classes to Irish singing workshops.

#7 Reserve your spot at an Irish pub—I vote you go to Replay Lincoln Park

Like I said before: Chicago knows how to party. You won’t be shorthanded looking for bars and cocktail lounges that are rolling out specialized St. Patty’s Day menus, drinks, and more.

I actually got to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago a few years back at Replay Lincoln Park. This pop-up, high-décor bar did not disappoint—and I’m sure it’s hardly the only option out there.

(Replay Lincoln Park is one of my favorite bars of all time—so check it out even if you’re not in Chicago over St. Patrick’s Day!)

#8 Or go on a bar crawl

If committing to a single bar experience is a little underwhelming, avoid FOMO with a bar crawl. I’d hate to repeat myself, but here I go again: Chicago has some of the best bars, lounges, and watering holes in the US. You can explore them at full speed over St. Patrick’s Day.

#9 Enjoy themed menus at restaurants celebrating St. Patty’s Day

If Guinness and lime-green cocktails aren’t your thing, then look for a menu that sparks joy. From casual eateries like Pizzeria Portofino to more refined private parties like Raised, An Urban Rooftop, you can find restaurants celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in style.

You can also find restaurants that offer a party-like atmosphere, which is a pretty solid compromise for anyone who wants to eat, drink, and stay warm over the holiday.

5 Perfect Day Trips from Rome To Escape the Jubilee Rush

The 2025 Jubilee is in full swing in Rome.

If you’ve been following updates and tips on how to navigate Rome during the Catholic jubilee (which is a time for added spiritual reflection), then you know that millions of pilgrims are converging in the city alongside tourists throughout the year.

The jubilee offers tourists another way to learn more about Catholic culture and history in the city, which is home to the Vatican. At the same time, the added number of visitors is sure to cause hectic scenes citywide.

While the city has been preparing with added public transportation and services (like public toilets), you’re still bound to be caught up in more crowds than usual.

One of the best ways to make sure your trip to Rome isn’t interrupted by the jubilee is to book a day trip outside the city. There are dozens of options at your fingertips, and they’re all accessible by public transportation.

But which towns are worth your time?

If you want to plan a day trip during your jaunt around Italy’s capital city, I suggest you head into one of the areas listed below. They’re five of the best day trips around Rome according to travelers, travel advisors, and locals.

Top 5 day trips around Rome

Orvieto

I’m drawn to Orvieto thanks to the sheer number of Etruscan sites, from tunnels, caves, and a vast necropolis. The Etruscans were pivotal in the formation of ancient Rome—and you’ll probably recognize their sophisticated alphabet, much of which we inherited.

The Etruscan caves are hardly the only historic appeal. You can also explore Orvieto Cathedral, San Giovenale church, and Albornoz Fortress.

But part of the magic is the view. Orvieto is situated on a towering hilltop. From the peak of Torre del Moro, a large tower in the center of town, you can gaze across the gorgeous Umbrian countryside. At sunset, the views are unreal.

Want to stay in Orvieto? Book a room and find something to do.

Assisi

Assisi is the hometown of a beloved Catholic saint: St. Francis of Assisi. I’d personally love to visit Assisi because I grew up in the Catholic church, where St. Francis is renowned as a protector of animals and the environment.

Regardless of what you know (or don’t know) about this saint, a visit to Assisi will let you gain a hands-on look at this saint and what makes him so special to millions around the world.

Assisi is a picturesque rural town that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The big attraction is the Basilica of St. Francis (that’s San Francesco in Italian), along with Cathedral of San Rufino, which is where St. Francis was baptized.

I’d also plan to visit the Rocca Maggiore, a magnificent stone fortress with panoramic country views.

Want to stay in Assisi? Book a room and find something to do.

Anzio

Don’t want to dig into history when you escape Rome for the day? No problem—you can soak up the coastal views in Anzio. If it’s warm enough, you can lay on the beach and enjoy the sunshine. Or if you’re looking for a more active adventure, try out windsurfing or diving.

But let’s not forget that just about every town, village, and city surrounding Rome has some type of major historical tie. In Anzio, that’s the palace of the cruel emperor Nero, known as the Villa Imperiale di Nerone.

This eroded site lines the beach, letting you soak up sea views while looking down on the remains of a two-thousand-year-old palace.

Want to stay in Anzio? Book a room and find something to do.

Tivoli

Tivoli is made up of two sites: Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este. Once again, there’s an ancient imperial tie; Tivoli’s Villa Adriana was a preferred escape for Emperor Hadrian in the 2^nd century CE.

That being said, I’d probably explore Villa d’Este, instead. Villa d’Este was established in the 1500s as the Renaissance took hold of Italy. It’s dotted with gorgeous fountains, pools, and basins. Sort of like Versailles’ gardens, only on a smaller scale.

But don’t forget about Cascata Grande, Italy’s second-tallest waterfall, which is located in a nearby park.

Want to stay in Tivoli? Book a room and find something to do.

Calcata

Tired of ancient villas? That’s too bad in Italy—but you will find a slightly more modern experience in Calcata (written as Il Borgo di Calcata). This tiny medieval village has those cobbled walkways and buildings that you expect in central Italy.

But there’s also plenty in the way of contemporary culture, which adds extra allure compared to other day trips from Rome.

Along with boutique shops selling clothes, notebooks, and more, you can find galleries showcasing local artists and photographers, museums that dig into the area’s history, and a handful of fine dining establishments.

It’s also a perfect place to sit at a café and people-watch or simply soak up the calming, historic atmosphere.

Want to stay in Calcata? Book a room and find something to do.