Elle's Travel Plans

Thanks for checking out my newest articles about my trips to Burgundy (& Paris), and Puglia! I still have one more summer itinerary to share which I’ll publish in the upcoming weeks.

As the summer wraps up, I’m reflecting on my 2026 travel and thinking about my goals for 2027. I know 2026 is not over, but sadly my travel is likely over for the year (unless I can squeeze in a December trip). When there are so many places I want to explore, it’s so hard to narrow it down and figure out where to go next!

How do you decide where your next trip will be?

Click the menu to check out itineraries, highlights, tips, and photos from each of my trips.

NEW PAGE: The page for my awesome last minute August 2025 getaway to Mexico City is now published!

I proudly plan my own trips and itineraries. Here’s some of the sites I regularly use!

• Expedia – good deals for flights and sometimes it makes sense to book as flight/hotel packages
• Skyscanner– to search for flight deals. If you don’t know where you want to go yet, it helps to brainstorm ideas by searching for lowest prices during your travel date range.
• Michelin Guide– Even if you don’t want to eat fancy dinners every night, the Bib Gourmand distinction focuses on great home cooking. The site also has helpful functions, like to view the restaurants on a map.
• Google Maps– Not only is this instrumental in getting around your destination, but I use it to flag the places I want to go ahead of time. You can also cross check restaurant or location reviews on Google.
• Trip Advisor– Yet another good place to cross-check reviews, particularly for hotels or tours.
• Airbnb– Ask yourself if it makes more sense for your location to get an Airbnb or hotel. This depends on the number of people in your party, length of stay, nature of trip and location, prices, and availability. I often love using Airbnb and always look for places with outdoor spaces, kitchen, and laundry. Beyond finding a place to stay, search Airbnb Experiences for cool tours or experiences you can sign up for at your destination.
• Lonely Planet– I find their travel articles particularly interesting. They have a lot of content about different destinations.
• Trainline– When traveling around Europe, I use trains like crazy. The Trainline app makes it super easy to compare and book train trips. It also has helpful articles about various destinations.
• Travel blogs like my own! – Part of the reason I created this blog was because of how often I read other travelers’ blogs to inform my own planning. I hope my experiences can help others plan smoothly and get inspired to bring their trips to life, too!

I’m currently working on building this site, both in content and design. I’m looking back at past trip plans, journal entries, and photos so I can add a page for each of my destinations. For each trip, I’m sharing my general itinerary along with some tips, recommendations, photos, and what I’d do next time. I hope sharing my plans and experiences can be helpful for other travelers!

I pack super light… but here are some of my favorite travel essentials and tips:

• Carry-on luggage – I only bring carry-on luggage, it’s a great way to save time and money at the airport.. try booking Airbnbs with laundry so you can pack light and reuse outfits
• Foldie Travel Bag– (or something similar)- I bring the bag in folded up form, then use it on the way home so I have space to bring home goodies!
• Packing Cubes– These really do help organize your stuff and maximize space
• Converters- If you’re going somewhere it’s needed, don’t forget a converter for your chargers/plugs
• Portable Charger- You’ll need your phone charged to take pictures and navigate on Google Maps!
• Thin Beach Towel– So easy to tote, it takes up almost zero space!
• Comfortable Sandals– I like Sofft brand, very comfortable and versatile
• Samples (upon arrival) – Forget to pack a lotion or beauty product? Try picking up a sample at the shops.
• Kindle– I love to read on vacation, and I used to be big on toting the physical books around… but now I find myself lightening the load and pretty much relying on the Kindle app.
• Airport Lounge Access– If you travel often, I recommend joining Priority Pass or some other perks to get airport lounge access. You’ll never have to buy airport drinks or snacks, and generally have a nicer area to relax before your flight.