Italy’s Jubilee is Here—Keep These 7 Tips in Mind If You’re Heading to Rome This Year

The latest jubilee kicked off in late December 2024, which means millions of Catholic pilgrims are planning their trip to Rome.

These pilgrims will be sharing the city with locals and tourists alike. And given how congested Rome has become over the last five years, you can’t expect a simple, flawless trip.

To put it bluntly, you can expect an Olympics-level rush month after month in Italy’s capital.

If you want to see the city at your leisure, you need to actively plan ahead. Last year, I recommended getting ahead of the rush by booking hotels, transportation, and tours as early as possible. Assuming you followed my advice, you probably have the basics of your Roman adventure planned out.

Still, you’re going to need a few bonus tips if you want to keep your head above water. If you’re heading to Italy this year (regardless of whether you’ve booked anything), use this advice to learn how to join the jubilee rush—or steer clear.

Tips for visiting Rome during Italy’s 2025 Jubilee

If you haven’t booked your trip yet, go in August or November.

In August, sweltering heat means many locals flee the city (to go to places like Sicily)—but you’ll need to survive the 100+ temperatures. In November, there’s a slump in tourism, which makes it ideal for travel.

Pay for skip-the-line tours.

It doesn’t matter what city you’re heading to in Italy—I always recommend booking skip-the-line tours to beat the crowds. Just remember that Italy is now so popular with tourists that you’ll still need to wait in a line… albeit an expedited one.

In the context of the jubilee, you need to leave yourself plenty of time to explore Catholic sites and landmarks; they’ll be packed with pilgrims.

Research Rome’s hidden gems to avoid the crowds.

Locations like the Basilica di San Clemente and the Protestant Cemetery let you learn more about Rome’s lesser-known history, while also avoiding thousands of tourists and pilgrims. The further outside the city center, the more breathing room you’ll have.

Skip out on the taxis.

Rome has a solid public transportation system that will be working overtime this year to account for the added 32 million pilgrims. But many visitors will be using taxis and ride-share apps, meaning Rome’s already-congested streets will face added traffic. The fastest way to get around is via the metro.

If you’re a pilgrim, don’t forget to get your Pilgrim’s Card.

Keep in mind that some jubilee events aren’t open to the general public—you need proof that you’re a pilgrim to visit the Holy Doors and other major sites. Get your Pilgrim’s Card before leaving.

(There’s also an app you can download for real-time updates on Catholic events during the jubilee.)

If you’re new to visiting spiritual sites, don’t forget to cover up.

Even if you’re a religious person, it’s easy to get swept up in that vacation spirit. But remember that you’ll be expected to cover your shoulders and legs when entering holy sites.

That’s doubly important during a jubilee, which is a holy year that calls for Catholics to put their beliefs into practice with even greater purpose and mindfulness.

Learn a bit about the jubilee.

All jubilees have a theme. This year’s jubilee is ‘pilgrims of hope’, which Pope Francis declared last May. The official papal bull (that’s just a public decree made by the Pope) calls upon words of hope, paths of hope, signs of hope, appeals for hope, and actions anchored in hope.

If you’ll be in Rome this year, toss your coin into the Trevi Fountain with a word of hope—then you can say you joined the 2025 Jubilee!

6 Airports with the Best Duty-Free Deals

For years, I looked at duty-free shoppers as a rare breed.

Who actually has the time to shop in an airport? Who has the competence to stay aware of the time while on the hunt for a great product? And who the hell can afford those prices?

As it turns out, many flyers are more than practiced at getting to the airport on time. They might leave themselves an hour or two to wander through duty-free shops at their leisure.

Why bother, you might ask?

Though we’re used to paying a premium for basic things at airports (from quesadillas to macchiatos), duty-free shops are actually high-savings zones—even when it comes to luxury brands.

If you’re going to be setting off around the world, you might want to set aside a little added time to explore a major duty-free shop—especially if you’ll be passing through one of the airports listed below.

They’re renowned for their duty-free shops where you can find high-quality brands with slashed price tags, along with tons of other valuable deals.

Just make sure you have enough room in your carry-on to lug those steals once you land at your destination. (And try to focus your duty-free shopping on your return trip home. Otherwise, you’ll be carrying around those finds for the duration of your trip.)

Top airports for duty-free shopping

Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Unsurprisingly, Dubai’s penchant for luxury extends to its airport’s duty-free section. You can shop for spirits, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, electronics, and confectionaries in all three terminals. Terminal 1 has the largest duty-free section, while Terminal 3 has a handful of high-fashion brands, cosmetics, and fragrances.

In Dubai fashion, you can even hire a personal shopper to help you find the right products. Or if you’re short on time, you can also shop online and then pick up your orders at the duty-free shops.

Hamad International Airport (DOH)

Though Doha isn’t usually as well-known by American travelers, the capital of Qatar has a similar approach to luxury as Dubai. You’ll feel that focus in the airport, with shops and offers from leading brands like Adidas, Hermes, Bulgari, Kenzo, Dior, and plenty more. There’s even an Apple store in case you want to grab a tax-fee iPad.

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Hong Kong has a luxury shopping obsession. Shopping for upscale brands is such a bona fide pastime that you don’t even need to leave the airport to take advantage of some seriously elevated brands and shops.

In fact, Terminal 1 of HKG is a who’s-who of boutique high-fashion giants like Louis Vuitton and Maison Margiela.

Just keep in mind that many shoppers have noted that Hong Kong’s duty-free prices aren’t actually much lower than retail options. As one of the most expensive cities in the world, it looks like avoiding those import taxes doesn’t actually help too much.

Still, if you like luxury shopping, you’ll have plenty of stores to keep you busy during a longer layover.

John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)

Compared to other airports on this list, JFK’s luxury fashion options aren’t nearly as extensive. There’s a stronger emphasis on electronics and gadgets, along with spirits, wines, and tobacco.

According to some duty-free resources, you should be focusing on wines and spirits at JFK for the heftiest savings. If you have a spare hour or two to kill before your flight, you’ll find plenty of duty-free shopping options throughout each departure area.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Want to shop in Paris without actually heading into the city? CDG has extensive duty-free shopping options with some brands having multiple stores.

But you can only take advantage as a non-EU citizen, so make sure to use your American passport if you’re a dual holder.

The focus is on high-fashion brands like Bulgari, Bottega Veneta, Cartier, Hermes, Prada, and more. But you’ll also be able to purchase upscale wine and liquor brands, along with fragrances and cosmetics.

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)

Singapore Changi offers the most well-rounded duty-free shopping experience in the world—which shouldn’t come as a surprise given the over-the-top nature of this airport.

Along with the standard duty-free fare of fashion, spirits, cosmetics, and tobacco, you can find steals on electronics, entertainment, children and family retail, sports products, eyewear, and even health and wellness.

To be fair, you might be more taken with Changi’s extensive list of experiences. If you want to set aside some time to be a tourist at Singapore’s airport, leave yourself a multi-hour layover. It’ll be a vacation within a vacation.

5 Apps Social Butterflies Can Use to Make Friends Abroad

It’s easy to make acquaintances while traveling—but it’s tougher to forge lasting friendships.

Travel is a transient art. While we often add people on Facebook or Snapchat when we cross paths during vacation, the connection is based on short-lived interactions. These vacation-acquaintances add texture to our trip and make them more memorable… even if we don’t stay in touch with our new friends.

On a longer trip, social connections are a lot more important.

Having a circle of friends helps you stay in touch with yourself, digest new experiences, learn about hidden gems, and more. That circle can also help you work through tough challenges, like visa delays, and offer a helping hand when you get sick, like dropping off medicine and soup.

If you’re on a long business trip, doing a semester abroad, living on a digital nomad visa, or are backpacking around the world with no return ticket home, you have more options to make friends than you might think.

I’ve made lasting connections using Meetup, a popular event-making and event-joining platform—but it’s far from the only option.

If you want to up your social game on your next trip, use these apps. (And though social connections are more important on longer trips, there’s no rule against making friends on a short getaway! Don’t feel shy about joining the fun even if you’re only gone for a few days.)

Looking for a date, instead? Use these international dating apps.

5 apps that let you make friends anywhere: at a glance

Find your bestie: Bumble
Befriend locals & learn a language: Tandem
Make like-minded friends: Meetup
Eat like a local… with locals: Eatwith
Casual connections: Backpackr

First: a note on safety

All five apps listed in this article are trusted by users, come with security features, and have near-five-star ratings on the Google Play and Apple App Stores. That being said, I recommend sticking to activities that are hosted for groups.

If you’re going to meet up with someone solo, be sure to at least speak with them beforehand rather than solely on a chat—and always go to high-traffic public areas to meet up for the first time.

5 apps that let you make friends anywhere: at a glance

Find your bestie: Bumble

Bumble For Friends (BFF) lets you use the Bumble network to find friends. It’s definitely geared toward twenty-somethings, but I think the main requirement is to be young at heart.

You can set up a profile with kitschy little descriptions of yourself, whether you’re bad with plants, only eat comfort food, and more. If you enjoy heading to those hyper-trendy pop-ups and boutique shops, BFF is a great spot to find a co-adventurer.

Befriend locals & learn a language: Tandem

Tandem is a language-learning app that lets you pair with native speakers around the world. While you practice another language with them, they’ll speak English with you.

Given the app’s global network, you can find a buddy anywhere in the world. But the company also offers a face-to-face meeting option. I suggest using those live chat and message features before opting for a face-to-face meeting. From there, you can make a connection before meeting in person.

That being said, this is a fantastic way to brush up your language skills while also making friends.

Make like-minded friends: Meetup

Meetup is by far the most comprehensive and dynamic social app. The app works by letting people host meetups that are activity-centric.

My partner is a UX designer who hosts meetups with his fellow designer friends to network with other professionals and help beginner designers design their career paths.

There’s a meetup for every single interest—and if you can’t find one that suits you, you can always host your own.

Eat like a local… with locals: Eatwith

Eatwith is a food-focused tour platform—so it’s not a free-to-use social app by any stretch. That being said, Eatwith isn’t quite like the tours and cooking classes that you’d find on TripAdvisor or Booking.

That being said, Eatwith is focused on local meals and offers dinners hosted by locals. Its experiences are slightly less tourist-focused, meaning you can rub elbows with other travelers who will be in town for a while.

And what brings people together more than food?

Casual connections: Backpackr

It’s not too hard to make friends as a backpacker. Usually, hostels are hubs for making life-long friends—especially if you’re inching your way around the globe.

Backpackr is a fantastic way to meet travel buddies who are heading along the same route as you. Or if you’re not heading in the same direction, you can still use Backpackr to meet up and gain some insights from others. (In case you have never backpacked, fellow backpackers are usually generous and want to pass on their knowledge of a place to help out others.)

Plus, you don’t need to be a backpacker to join the network.

PLAY Airlines Has a Valentine’s Day Deal—30% Off from February 11-18

Can’t find a Valentine this year?

Don’t sweat it. PLAY Airlines has a plan in mind for you: fly to Europe with a 30% discount to find yourself a French lover. Oh, la-la!

Or, on the other hand, if you’re already happily involved with a romantic partner, you can surprise them with a pair of tickets to Denmark, France, the UK, Ireland, Germany, or Iceland.

Ready to smash this Valentine’s Day by creating your own rom-com-worthy adventure? Gift yourself a little jaunt to Europe—or squire your lover across the pond.

Here’s what you need to know about the deal. (Plus, a few tips on putting together a budget trip to Europe.)

When is the PLAY Airlines Valentine’s Day Deal live?

This is a very short sale—so mark your calendars. You can take advantage of up to 30% off on PLAY Airlines flights from the East Coast to select European destinations from February 11-18. You’ll be able to shop around for these offers here.

What does the offer include?

PLAY Airlines’ Valentine’s Day offer is only available for select airports in the US and Europe. You can fly out of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and New York Stewart International Airport (SWF).

Boston is the most accessible airport for the average traveler. BWI is fairly easy to get to from Washington DC and other Maryland cities thanks to the MARC Train; there’s a free shuttle from the train station to the airport. SWF is accessible from New York City and most parts of New Jersey via the Metro North, along with service from Amtrak.

I’m not always the biggest fan of flying out of smaller regional airports simply because they’re harder to get through—but that’s not the case in the Northeast where public transportation is a lot more comprehensive than other regions.

In other words, it’s not such a headache to reach BWI or SWF.

So, where can you fly to? The PLAY Airlines’ Valentine’s Day Deal connects you to seven European hotspots, including Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, and Berlin.

Again, make sure to write down the deal dates in your calendar—this is a first-come, first-serve promotion.

What about the fine print for the PLAY Airlines Valentine’s Day Deal?

In addition to that short booking window (February 11-18), this deal also comes with booking windows.

Usually, it’s a good idea to book a trip further out because it gives you more time to plan other elements, like lodging and tours. It also lets you target more budget-friendly activities. That being said, it’s totally up to you.

You can book flights in the following periods:

February 25-28
March 23-April 6
April 8-May 11
May 13-25
September 7-19

Budgeting in Europe

This is a unique offer because it lets you book a cheap, accessible flight to Europe—which is the most expensive continent to travel to.

So, how can you stay within budget after landing those PLAY Airlines tickets?

Here are my three suggestions:

Do some research into the destinations. Berlin, with its young population and tens of thousands of students, likely has highly affordable and trendy hostels that aren’t too pricey. Copenhagen, on the other hand, is known for its high prices.
Once you land, head to a detour destination instead of staying in an expensive hub. Europe is full of drool-worthy detour destinations—and you can usually get to them for free. Use the PLAY deal to get to Europe, then head off the beaten path.
Plan not to check a bag. This deal doesn’t include a checked bag. Don’t bring one; not only can you save on the checked luggage, but you’ll also stay more agile as you use public transportation.

3 Saunas in Munich for Every Mood—Plus, Your Guide to Going Nude

Spa culture in Central Europe is serious stuff, especially when it comes to the sauna.

Many Americans are aware that our European counterparts like to unwind in hot spaces while scantily dressed. Still, the entire affair is still a little foreign.

Though we love to have fun, Americans aren’t nearly as practiced in the art of relaxing—especially not naked in a sauna. But we’re also fairly daring, meaning we don’t mind trying out new activities when on vacation in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Munich is usually known for its larger-than-life Oktoberfest celebration, along with historical attractions, architecture, and nearby landmarks like Neuschwanstein Castle.

But as a major German hub, it’s also home to a handful of state-of-the-art spas that let you unwind in style… and in the nude.

Ready to shed it all for a cultural experience in Munich? Here’s what to expect and where to go.

Yes, you need to get naked in the sauna

It’s normal to strip down in spas around the world, especially in Europe and parts of Asia. But there’s one big difference in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria: the spots where people disrobe (the sauna) are co-ed.

In a recent piece on spas in Seoul, I laid out why travelers shouldn’t be nervous about trying out the nude area (the wet sauna, aka jimjilbang)—mainly because it’s gendered. That makes it slightly less terrifying to get naked.

That’s not the case in Munich.

Saunas are no-clothes-zones because they’re designed for wellness, relaxation, and total rejuvenation—not sopping and sweaty layers. And while we tend to think any type of nudity is automatically sexual in the United States, that’s far from the case in Germany.

In Munich, you need to leave all your layers in your locker; usually, you’ll have a robe and shoes to wear. Though I haven’t enjoyed a spa in Munich, I’ve soaked up the saunas of Switzerland butt-naked.

To be fair, I’m a bit of a naturist, so it wasn’t nerve-wracking for me—I think once you manage to drop your layers, you’ll find that the normalcy with which others are naked and relaxed lets you do the same.

No one will sexualize the experience. I promise.

One last note: you will be turned away if you try to enter the sauna area with your clothes on. Be prepared to strip down or don’t go.

Best spas in Munich for your first sauna experience

Mullersches Volksbad

A classic spa set inside a gorgeous Art Nouveau building. This is an iconic local pick that showcases the old world of spa culture and a design that will have you lost in the details. At the same time, you’ll have all the amenities you need for a solid afternoon of relaxation.

Südbad

A modern, no-frills spa experience where you can bring the whole family. Just know that this family-centric approach means that you might not have quite as much quiet time as you want. That being said, if you have kiddos with you, they’ll love this spot.

*Wait, isn’t this a nude spa experience? Most spas have sauna areas that are clothes-free, but you’ll wear swimsuits in the rest of the spa. Or your robe.

Therme Erding

It’s a sauna-centric world at Therme Erding. This spa includes a handful of themed saunas where you can unwind without any layers.

But this is a massive complex where you can find tons of other water-centric ways to relax, like a water park with multiple slides. Here, you can also expect an Aufguss experience—which is a special performance saved for the sauna.

Planning to Travel the World? Read Up on Vaccines & Other Illnesses

The fastest shortcut to learn about vaccine requirements and suggestions is to check out the Center for Disease Control’s travel resources. There, you can find a list of suggested vaccinations and treatments based on your destination.

That being said, it’s a pretty long and mind-numbing process to look through specific requirements.

While you do need to dig in country by country if you want to depart from home safely and in full health, I’d like to demystify the basics and give you a rundown of what types of vaccines you’ll see mentioned and why they’re important—along with other important medical suggestions, like malaria pills.

Ultimately, the decision is yours about what to take when you head abroad. (Aside from requirements, of course.)

Here’s your crash course on vaccine requirements and medication suggestions based on which continent you’ll travel to.

Full disclosure: I’m not a doctor

In the off chance anyone thinks I got my medical degree, I’d like to reiterate: I’m a very well-traveled writer with no medical qualifications aside from a basic understanding of pet first aid.

I highly suggest diving into the CDC’s list of suggestions for vaccines and medications. On top of that, I also recommend you read about taking medications and getting vaccines from experienced travelers.

Why do you need both? Because many medical suggestions are general, while travel stories are hyper-specific.

For example, I spent four months in India where it was highly suggested that I take supplements to prevent malaria. But the pills had side effects like causing really intense dreams, so I ultimately stopped taking the pills to get a good night’s rest. I figured because I was living in a city (Bengaluru), I’d be okay.

My decision paid off—I didn’t get malaria.

However, two of my housemates did get dengue fever. Those malaria pills wouldn’t have done anything to protect me against dengue. So, I kept away from the malaria pills and went hard on mosquito prevention.

See what I mean about knowing how these things go in practice?

Below, I’m going to list common vaccination requirements by continent and other illness-related topics by region. I like to use TravelDoctor for these types of inquiries, but it’s far from the only resource out there.

Do your own follow-up research to learn which vaccines are required versus suggested in each country—and don’t forget to consider the practical applications.

The most common vaccination suggestions by continent

North America: Latin America, & the Caribbean

Yellow fever should be top of your priority list; there have been sporadic outbreaks since 2018 in Latin America. Mosquito-borne illnesses are also a common risk, including malaria, dengue, and ZIKA.

Get a vaccination or booster to prevent these illnesses: Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, and Rabies
Consider looking into: Typhoid, Cholera, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis, Influenza, Chickenpox, Polio, Malaria

South America

Yellow fever should be top of your priority list; there have also been sporadic outbreaks since 2018 in South America, especially in Brazil. Mosquito-borne illnesses are also a common risk, including malaria, dengue, and ZIKA.

Get a vaccination or booster to prevent these illnesses: Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, and Rabies
Consider looking into: Typhoid, Cholera, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis, Influenza, Chickenpox, Polio, Malaria

Europe

Check out Europe’s disease control resources before heading over. Avian flu has been on the rise over the last year.

Get a vaccination or booster to prevent these illnesses: Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, and Rabies
Consider looking into: Typhoid, Cholera, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis, Influenza, Chickenpox, Polio, Malaria

Africa

Mosquito-borne illnesses are also a common risk, including malaria, dengue, and ZIKA. Additionally, cholera outbreaks have been reported in East Africa in January 2025.

*A friend of mine recently traveled from Missouri to Kenya to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro; he opted for yellow fever and typhoid vaccines for his 10-day stay and returned healthy.

Get a vaccination or booster to prevent these illnesses: Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, and Rabies
Consider looking into: Typhoid, Cholera, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis, Influenza, Chickenpox, Polio, Malaria

Asia

As of late 2024 and January 2025, there is a parvovirus outbreak in Japan and a string of rabies-related deaths in Vietnam. Your doctor might also recommend additional vaccines for a trip to India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. I was vaccinated for Japanese encephalitis for travel in both.

Get a vaccination or booster to prevent these illnesses: Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, and Rabies
Consider looking into: Typhoid, Cholera, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis, Influenza, Chickenpox, Polio, Malaria

Oceania

There are reports of Dengue in the Torres Straight (north of Australia), along with cases of Japanese Encephalitis in Australia.

Get a vaccination or booster to prevent these illnesses: Hep A, Hep B, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, and Rabies
Consider looking into: Typhoid, Cholera, MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis, Influenza, Chickenpox, Polio, Malaria