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I visited Italy's Instagram-famous Cinque Terre in the aftermath of COVID-19, and it was eerily peaceful

<ul class="summary-list"><li>We <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-skip-in-italy-arent-worth-it-2023-10">visited Italy for 25 days</a> this past summer, and there are things we'd do differently next time. </li><li>We'd only stay in a few places, learn more Italian, and buy comfy shoe inserts.</li></ul><h2><strong>We'd stay in 2 or 3 places, tops</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="View of Lake Como waters and mountains" height="960" width="1280" msid="104659037" hostid="261" sizebytes="158008"></div><p>Across our 25 days, we stayed in seven different places, which let us see the best of Venice, the Dolomites, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast.</p><p>But every four days or so, we had to pack up, <a href="https://www.insider.com/italian-bullet-train-high-speed-florence-to-rome-review-worth-it-2023">board a train</a> (or brave a rental car), and travel to our next location.</p><p>For a first-time trip, I stand by this choice. But now that we've been and hit all the bucket-list items, I look forward to a return trip where we stay in two, maybe three, spots and really <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-never-do-in-italy-as-tourist-from-local">soak in the local culture</a>.</p><p>If I had to choose, I'd definitely spend more time in Cinque Terre or the Amalfi Coast, and I could spend months in some of the small towns we visited between Rome and Florence and be thrilled. </p><h2><strong>Small towns would take priority over more famous ones</strong></h2><p>Some of our best memories were our days in Orvieto, Bracciano, and Civita di Bagnoregio, all charming towns between Rome and <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-see-florence-in-one-day-2018-12">Florence</a>. Wandering the streets, sampling the food, exploring a castle, and just observing the culture was so relaxing.</p><p>We visited a few other small towns in Tuscany during day trips from Florence, but most of our days were spent in the larger, sprawling cities you've more likely heard of.</p><p>Although those cities were full of adventure, great food, beautiful architecture, and even nightlife, I found myself drawn to those smaller towns — and I can't wait to go back and explore more.</p><h2><strong>Bus tours will not be on our itinerary ...</strong></h2><p>We took two guided bus tours — one to Tuscan towns and one to wine tastings — but we felt the experiences were rushed, overpriced, and spent mostly on the bus.</p><p>For instance, when we visited Siena on a tour bus, we only had an hour to see the city. But we had a half day of exploring when we drove to Orvieto and a full day of exploring when we took the train to Bracciano.</p><p>Going on your own can be scary and stressful, but there's lots more adventure that way, too. </p><h2><strong>... and neither would Airbnbs</strong></h2><h2><strong><div type="image" title="View of the Dolomites from a hotel in Italy" height="960" width="1280" msid="104659038" hostid="261" sizebytes="204796"></div></strong></h2><p>We mostly stayed in hotels and agriturismos (<a href="https://www.insider.com/family-save-money-farm-stays-instead-of-hotels-europe-travel-2023-10">farmhouse stays</a>) during our trip, with just one Airbnb, but that wasn't the original plan. When we booked the trip earlier this year, our itinerary featured mostly Airbnbs.</p><p>However, hosts kept canceling our bookings with little explanation. One said he needed to cancel our reservation and ask us to book again at a higher price.</p><p>After multiple cancellations — and plenty of frustration — we decided it would be easier to just <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-guests-should-stop-doing-at-hotels-former-employee">stick with hotels</a>, for the most part. (We held onto one Airbnb because we loved the location and wanted access to its washing machine.)</p><p>Going forward, we plan to stick to formal lodging when traveling internationally. Back home in the US, we'll still rely on a mix of hotels and Airbnbs.</p><h2><strong>We'd wander farther south</strong></h2><p>Our trip started in Venice, and then we went a little north. Eventually, we made our way down to Florence and Rome, then the Amalfi Coast. But then we went back up to the Roman airport and headed home.</p><p>Italy's a massive country, and we completely missed the actual "toe" and "heel" of its boot shape. Most notably, we didn't make it to <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-know-change-trip-to-sicily-italy-2023-5">Sicily</a>, which I've read is a trip on its own. We intend to go back someday just to explore this region.</p><h2><strong>Better-fitting shoes and inserts for them would be essential </strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The author and his husband looking tired while walking on a dirt path" height="960" width="1280" msid="104659040" hostid="261" sizebytes="166254"></div><p>My husband and I are avid hikers, and we packed some of the best hiking boots REI has to offer. But we only wore those when hiking in the Italian Dolomites and the <a href="https://www.insider.com/tips-for-hiking-path-of-the-gods-italy-amalfi-coast-2023-10">Path of the Gods</a> on the Amalfi Coast.</p><p>The rest of the time, we walked in tennis shoes. And we walked <em>a lot</em>.</p><p>When you're touring Italy's cities and small villages, it's easy to walk 10 to 15 miles a day. Doing so took a toll on my feet. By the end of the trip, my tennis shoes were down for the count, and I had blisters all over my feet. </p><p>When we go back, I will definitely be <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-i-pack-only-carry-on-month-long-trip-packing-tips-2023">packing shoe inserts</a> — and some better-fitting sneakers.</p><h2><strong>We'd learn more Italian</strong></h2><p>Although we certainly got by with English, our Italian cheat sheet, the little we learned from Duolingo, and Google Translate, I definitely wish I had learned more Italian before the trip.</p><p>I don't foresee ever being able to have a full-on conversation with a local, but I would at least like to make an attempt. After all, I'm in their country — I'd love to <a href="https://www.insider.com/italy-things-to-never-do-there-according-to-local-photos-2023-8">try to speak their language</a>.</p><h2><strong>We'll be wearing plenty of linen clothing next time </strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The author wearing linen shorts on a bike in Italy" height="960" width="1280" msid="104659041" hostid="261" sizebytes="283828"></div><p>Linen shirts, shorts, and pants are all the rage in Italy, and it's clear why: They're cool and comfortable on hot Italian days. </p><p>We each bought a pair of linen shorts about halfway through our trip, and they were a huge improvement from the khakis we'd been wearing. Linen is much lighter and more breathable, which was great on long days of walking around cities and hopping on and off hot buses and trains. </p><p>Close to the end of the trip, I splurged on <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/style/best-linen-shirts-men">linen shirts</a> as well. How I wish I would've worn those shirts every day.</p><h2>The beautiful thing about not having all the best experiences on our first trip to Italy is that we have a reason to go back</h2><p>My husband and I have plenty of other trips abroad on our horizon, but I know we'll return to Italy to relive some of our favorite memories and make some new ones. </p><p>That's the thing to remember about a <a href="https://www.insider.com/tried-to-save-money-staying-outside-major-city-ruined-trip-venice-italy">trip to Italy</a> — or anywhere, really. Just understand that you can't possibly see it all on any single trip, and there will always be things you'd do differently if you could.</p>

I spent nearly a month traveling through Italy. Here are 8 things I'll do differently when I go back.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I went on an extended trip to Europe for the second time in my life this summer.</li><li>I decided to invest in packing cubes this time around.</li></ul><p>I've been lucky enough to go on two extended trips to Europe in the last five years.</p><p>In 2018, my sister and I went to Paris, London, and Antwerp over the course of three weeks, visiting family in our grandmother's home country of <a href="https://www.insider.com/belgium-destroyed-cans-of-american-beer-advertised-as-champagne-2023-4">Belgium</a> and exploring cities we had always wanted to see. </p><p>Then in August, I went on a road trip through Italy for two weeks with my father, stepmom, <a href="https://www.insider.com/engagement-ring-shopping-together-before-proposal-2023-5">fiancé</a>, my sister, and her partner, visiting the bustling city of Rome, the countryside in Umbria, and the beaches of Cinque Terre.</p><p>Both trips were a dream come true, and I felt more prepared for the international trip to <a href="https://www.insider.com/us-tourists-european-tap-water-local-fountains-nasonis-free-safe-2023-8">Italy</a> given my first vacation to Europe.</p><p>However, I knew I wanted to change the way I packed the second time around. </p><h2>My luggage was one of the biggest pain points on my first Europe trip</h2><div type="image" title="A woman poses for a selfie in front of an ocean and mountain." height="1500" width="2000" msid="103185901" hostid="261" sizebytes="423360"></div><p>I packed a large <a href="https://www.insider.com/fanny-pack-best-bag-for-airport-2023-7">suitcase</a> full of clothes, a smaller roller bag with toiletries and clothes for my carry-on luggage, and a backpack with things like medication and my passport. </p><p>My bag quickly became a mess as I picked out ensembles for my adventures, which made it harder to find things as time went on.</p><p>Repacking my luggage each time we went to a new city also took up valuable time I could have spent exploring, and it was annoying to haul it all onto planes and trains.</p><p>So ahead of the trip to Italy, I decided to <a href="https://www.insider.com/packing-cubes-essential-for-travel-2022-8">buy packing cubes</a> in the hopes that it would make my travels smoother. </p><h2>Packing cubes made a huge difference on my second trip to Europe</h2><p>After doing a bit of research, I purchased <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-60724-20&amp;h=6ba666064b97633ee85e5436dd12f917347ac5e26b818e8952d045e4662c57ad&amp;postID=64ed0fddb26093bc4de1fafa&amp;postSlug=packing-cubes-made-europe-trip-easier-2023-8&amp;site=in&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBAGAIL-Packing-Lightweight-Organizers-Toiletry%2Fdp%2FB08S33QT5F%2Fref%3Dcs_sr_dp_5%3Fcrid%3D5ANXQFQTXZ0T%26keywords%3Dpacking%252Bcubes%26qid%3D1693317129%26sprefix%3Dpacking%252Bcubes%252Caps%252C102%26sr%3D8-16%26th%3D1">BAGAIL's $25.99, eight-piece set of packing cubes</a> because they were affordable and seemed to have everything I needed.</p><p>I chose the light-purple set, though you can select from 13 different hues.</p><p>They arrived packed into one cube, and I appreciated how compact they were. I knew it would make storing them when I wasn't using them a breeze.</p><div type="image" title="A packed packing cube." height="1500" width="2000" msid="103185903" hostid="261" sizebytes="366922"></div><p>As I unpacked the cubes, I saw the assortment of sizes matched their description online. Most were just plain cubes with buckles to help compress your clothes, though some had additional pockets to stow toiletries or shoes. It also included a laundry bag with drawstrings designed for dirty clothes. </p><p>I used the larger packs for clothes, separating pieces by category so they would be easy to find on my trip.</p><p>I also decided to put the toiletry cube and the drawstring bag in my <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-you-need-to-pack-carry-on-easier-smoother-flight-2023-8">carry-on bag</a>, which was a simple backpack, filling them with items I didn't want to be separated from on the <a href="https://www.insider.com/air-travel-in-every-decade-2017-8">plane</a> in case of lost luggage.</p><h2>I was able to bring just as much clothing in fewer suitcases thanks to the packing cubes</h2><p>The cubes had plenty of room for my clothing, and I ended up rolling my garments so I could put even more inside of them.</p><p>I was able to fit all of my clothes into the cubes with ease, and they went into my suitcase with room to spare. I even had space at the top of the bag for pieces I planned to purchase on the trip. </p><p>With the help of the cubes, I was able to fit all of my clothing into one large suitcase and a backpack, even though I brought just as much as I did on my first trip to <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-sure-you-dont-miss-your-train-europe-2023-8">Europe</a>.</p><p>I loved being hands-free as I made my way through the airport, and I was glad I didn't have too much luggage as my family packed the van we used to make our way through Italy. </p><div type="image" title="A suitcase full of purple packing cubes," height="2667" width="2000" msid="103185906" hostid="261" sizebytes="1115138"></div><h2>The packing cubes also helped me stay organized as I traveled</h2><p>Normally, my suitcase becomes messy within moments of my arrival at a location as I try to pick out outfits or find my toothbrush. </p><p>But with the packing cubes, it was simple to pull out items I needed for my time in each location and separate dirty and clean clothes. I loved that my bag and room remained tidy because I wasn't rifling through my luggage to find what I needed.</p><p>Plus, it took me mere minutes to pack up each time we left for the next stop on the trip, so I didn't feel like I was wasting any time.</p><p>And when my luggage filled up as I bought souvenirs for loved ones, I tossed one of my cubes into my fiancé's suitcase, ensuring my bag didn't weigh too much and incur fees on the plane ride back.</p><p>Investing in <a href="https://www.insider.com/dad-never-travels-without-packing-cubes-luggage-2023-8">packing cubes</a> helped ensure the logistics of my trip were as easy as possible. I can't imagine traveling without them again. </p>

I've been to Europe twice, and packing cubes made all the difference the second time around

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Love and Wanderlust is an Insider holiday romance series where people who found love traveling tell their stories. </li><li>Here, a couple who crossed paths on Hinge unexpectedly had their first date on a Delta flight.</li></ul><p>LaGuardia Airport is hardly a romantic destination — but for at least one couple, it's where their love story began. </p><p>Though they'd never met IRL, Austin Puckett, 31, and Madison Kinsella, 30, were not total strangers when they caught each other's eye at LaGuardia, waiting to board a Delta flight to Denver, Colorada in January 2022.</p><p>You see, Kinsella, a documentary filmmaker, and Puckett, a software and hardware engineer manager, matched on the dating app Hinge. After exchanging a few messages, they made loose plans to meet up. </p><p>The only thing getting in the way of them meeting sooner was that both were coincidentally heading out of town for a few days. Neither had said where, so little did they know the journey to their destination was identical. </p><div type="image" title="Austin Puckett and Madison Kinsella have been together for two years." height="2019" width="2693" msid="103736416" hostid="261" sizebytes="719952"></div><p>"I look over and I'm like, 'No way. Absolutely, no way,'" Puckett told Insider, recalling when he saw Kinsella at the airport. "There's something about this girl that I recognize, but no way."</p><p>Meanwhile, Kinsella, who swears she saw Puckett first, said she recognized him instantly, even though he wore a face mask. "I look up and notice this guy who's tall and cute," she said. "And I'm just like, 'That would be crazy.'"</p><p>But if you thought it sounded like a scene out of your favorite romantic comedy, think again because Kinsella wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of bumping into her Hinge date at the airport. </p><p>"Let's be very clear, I was freaking out," she said. "I had whitening strips on my teeth, and I had broken out in a few spots, so I had pimple patches on little spots."</p><p>For a split second, she worried what Puckett would think of her. </p><p>"And then I thought, "If he doesn't like me like this, this is what I look like a good chunk of the time,'" she said. "So we're gonna find out real quick if he's a keeper or a dud.'</p><h2>Their first date took place in economy on a Delta flight</h2><p>It's safe to say Puckett was far from a dud.</p><p>Though neither approached the other at the gate, Kinsella decided to shoot her shot and text Puckett after seeing him board early in first class. </p><p>"Long shot, are you boarding this flight to Denver right now?" Kinsella wrote. "You've got to be kidding me," Puckett responded.</p><p>Soon after, they discovered they were not only on the same flight but had the same plans for the weekend in Colorado, including skiing and attending Winter on the Rocks, a music festival headlined by Diplo.</p><p>As fate would have it, Kinsella discovered she had a free seat next to her once she boarded, so decided to retake the lead by inviting Puckett to join her midway through the flight.</p><div type="image" title="Kinsella said she made the first moves to turn their flight into a date." height="877" width="1170" msid="103736418" hostid="261" sizebytes="31672"></div><p>From years of dating experience in NYC, Kinsella was done waiting for a guy to make the first move.</p><p>"Let this be an invitation. And if he's smart, he'll take it," she said.</p><p>Over text, Kinsella oozed confidence, but the reality was that she was so nervous that she passed a note to strangers seated in front of her in premium economy asking if she could give them cash to buy her a bottle of red wine. </p><p>"I was like, 'Listen, this sounds crazy. I know this is weird, but I'm about to have a first date, and I am freaking out,'" she said. </p><p>Thankfully, they obliged. Not only did Kinsella use the wine for liquid courage, but since her makeup was stored away in her luggage, she said she dipped her fingers into the glass in a desperate attempt to DIY some blush. </p><p>"It didn't work at all," she added, laughing. </p><p>Two hours later, Puckett made his way down to economy. Bottle of wine in tow, he squeezed into the middle seat next to Kinsella.</p><p>He was nervous too, he said, but intrigued to see where the experience would lead. </p><p>"If anything, this will be a funny story we tell our friends," he said. </p><h2>On their second date, Kinsella and Puckett put their cards on the table</h2><p>Kinsella and Puckett like to refer to that flight as their first date. </p><p>Before returning to New York, they saw each other several times in Colorado, including at the music festival, which was a pleasant surprise. "Finding people at a concert is a miracle, even if they're your friends," Puckett said.</p><p>Once they got back to New York, the pair planned to meet for a proper date. The night started with a comedy show and ended with drinks back at Kinsella's apartment, where they said they spent hours talking about everything from their pasts to their plans for the future. </p><p>Without intending to, they said they put their cards on the table.</p><p>"It felt as though, without realizing, that we both were kind of sharing like, 'These are the things you need to know about me,'" Kinsella said. </p><p>For her part, Kinsella wanted Puckett to know how dedicated she was to her career at this stage in her life. She said that her ambitions to shoot documentaries around the world caused friction in past relationships where she felt like she had to impose limits on herself to appease others.</p><p>She told Insider she immediately knew it was different with Puckett: "Based off of Austin's reaction to what I was sharing with him, all the ideas I had for film and directing, he was just constantly like, 'Oh, that's amazing.'"</p><p>And for his part, Puckett wanted to be transparent about his romantic history and the fact he'd previously been engaged. </p><p>"I'd been in situations where it had maybe taken longer to come up, and then that had kinda been the end," Puckett said. "So I was like, "I don't wanna waste your time if this is a dealbreaker for you.'"</p><p>With Kinsella, it wasn't.</p><h2>Puckett and Kinsella's love of adventure never stopped </h2><p>Early into their relationship, it became clear that Puckett and Kinsella shared a love of adventure and traveled well together. </p><p>For their first adventure as a couple, they went on a road trip to Vermont where, looking back, nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong. </p><p>"We quickly found out that we would survive the desert island test together," Puckett said. </p><p>On the drive out from New York, they accidentally rear-ended the car of an FBI agent — Kinsella, whose idea it was to go on the trip in the first place, was in the driving seat. </p><p>The damage was minimal, a "New York love tap," but they said the agent was not happy with the situation nonetheless.</p><div type="image" title="Madison Kinsella and Austin Puckett bonded over their love of travel." height="1536" width="2304" msid="103736421" hostid="261" sizebytes="134580"></div><p>Kinsella panicked but noticed that Puckett remained as calm as ever. </p><p>"Austin's like, 'I got this.' He just goes over and talks to him, and basically we had to fill out a small piece of paper of what happened, and that was it," she said. </p><p>Although they got past that first speed bump, things turned for the worse yet again when they arrived at the ski resort hotel in Vermont, where Kinsella discovered she reserved a room for the wrong dates. The hotel was booked solid, but they were allowed to stay one night.</p><p>"I was so embarrassed," Kinsella said. "I was like, 'I have to fix this.'"</p><p>After rejoicing at finally finding another hotel the next day, Kinsella said she fell down a flight of stairs at a restaurant while trying to pull out allergy medication from her coat. </p><p>"I was fine, but it was just like one embarrassing thing after the next on this trip," she said. </p><p>"It's one of those few moments in my life that if I had slow-mo and I could replay it, I would," Puckett said. "She's falling backwards, laughing, pills are flying through the air."</p><p>As unfortunate as their Vermont vacation was, it ultimately proved how compatible they were as a couple.</p><p>"We had a few wild run-ins that really proved that," Kinsella said. "I remember telling my mom and she was like, 'Well, if he sticks around after this, he likes you.'"</p><h2>Two years later, Puckett proposed to Kinsella in Greece</h2><p>At the time of their initial interview with Insider, Kinsella had zero clue Puckett was in the midst of planning to propose to her during an upcoming trip to Greece in August 2023, which he revealed in secret to Insider.</p><p>Puckett said he realized that not only had he found his best friend and confidant, but someone he could get through all of life's ups and downs in "a way that never left either of us feeling less than."</p><div type="image" title="The couple bonded over their shared love of travel." height="1536" width="2049" msid="103736423" hostid="261" sizebytes="181220"></div><p>"Dating in your late twenties is hard," he said. "With Maddy, I always felt at ease and like we were just two pieces of an unknown puzzle that was just getting started."</p><p>Addressing Kinsella directly, Puckett added: "From a first date at 30,000 feet to falling down on the slopes of Hennu Stall, hangry tiffs on hikes through Cinque Terre and the rocky beaches of Greece, we've kept our promise of no dull moments alive. You have made me a better man, partner, and friend since we met."</p><p>"No matter where we go, I'm excited for the journey with you," he said. "The destination never really mattered anyway."</p>

A couple matched on Hinge and unexpectedly had their first date on a Delta flight. After 2 years of wild adventures, they got engaged in Greece.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>When Anita Michaud first moved to New York in July 2021, she struggled to find a way to make friends.</li><li>Inspired by speakeasy restaurants, Michaud held her first "Dinner With Friends" in May 2022.</li></ul><p><em>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Anita Michaud, the founder of Dinner With Friends, a dinner party-with-strangers project that's been celebrating immense success. It's been edited for length and clarity. </em></p><p>Growing up in the small city of Plymouth, Michigan, I had always dreamed of living in a huge metropolis like New York City, as cliché as it may sound.</p><p>Having visited several times as a child, I was instantly drawn to the energy of the place — it felt like the possibilities for what I could do and who I could become were endless.</p><p>Before moving to New York, I went to the University of Michigan, which was close to my hometown. So many of the people I grew up with went to college with me, and I had an amazing experience. </p><p>I thrived there, where I was heavily involved in both academics and extracurricular activities on campus. And as soon as I graduated from college, I was looking forward to starting a new chapter in New York, where I always imagined it would be really easy to meet new people and make friends.</p><h2>I went through a bit of culture shock when I moved to Brooklyn in July 2021 and was faced with the reality of being all alone.</h2><p>I quickly realized that without the social communities and campus living, meeting people was much more difficult. </p><p>Despite being in a city filled with over <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/newyorkcitynewyork" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8.4 million</a> people, and living during a time when social media has us more connected than ever before, I was inevitably lonely. </p><div type="image" title="anita michaud" height="792" width="1056" msid="99262281" hostid="261" sizebytes="101974"></div><p>I got inspired to do something about it a year later, during a vacation to visit my parents in Lisbon in April 2022. It was on that trip that I discovered that the Portuguese city was littered with speakeasy Chinese restaurants. I became fascinated by the idea of underground communal dining, hidden from everyone except those who are privy to the secret.</p><p>Growing up with parents who owned a restaurant, I was lucky to always be surrounded by food and seeing them being created by the community. </p><h2>Like many people during the pandemic, I started taking my hobby of cooking more seriously with all the spare time I suddenly had on hand.</h2><p>After some time spent toying with the intriguing idea of a secret dinner party, where strangers could convene to make friends, I finally decided to host one in May 2022 with my very own "strangers."</p><p>These strangers were all people I knew, but didn't know each other. There was just enough room for that genuine awkwardness which allows new friendships to bloom, and I also needed to see if the idea could work logistically.</p><p>And true enough, the dinner turned out to be a huge success — we were all having so much fun that none of us wanted it to end. </p><div type="image" title="anita michaud party" height="553" width="1106" msid="99262282" hostid="261" sizebytes="76442"></div><p>Using that as proof that hosting dinner parties with strangers was a good idea, I started Dinner With Friends, a small passion project where I would post dinner party invites on Instagram whenever I was free to host. </p><p>Each of the Dinner With Friends menus that I curate are very personal and thoughtfully put together, drawing inspiration from places I've traveled, as well as what's in season, to make each dish as fresh and local as possible. </p><p>The delicious food I ate on one of my favorite trips I recently took to Florence and Cinque Terre in Northern Italy actually inspired several menus. </p><p>And I'm half Chinese, half English and French, so a lot of my cooking also draws on my heritage.</p><p>For my first dinner party, both the unofficial and official ones, I made Ligurian focaccia with flaky salt, ratatouille, homemade garlic-basil fettuccine in red sauce, and tiramisu.</p><p>I filmed the whole preparation process from start to end and shared it on Dinner With Friends' <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dinnerwithfriendsnyc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official Instagram account</a>.</p> <p>The account started out with just 80 followers in May last year, and I would accept RSVPs through direct messages.</p><p>Now, with more than 2,000 followers, it would be virtually impossible for me to keep track of the endless list of applicants without my website-embedded form and ticket lottery system.</p> <p>As it turns out, being lonely in a huge city like New York wasn't a unique experience. There are many like me who yearn for a genuine human connection but struggle to form one in this vast, fast-paced world. </p><p>After hosting around 20 dinner parties, there's so much I have learned about forming bonds with strangers and making them last. </p><p>Here are my top three tips for making friends that may come in handy for those seeking a new connection.</p><h2>1. Take a leap of faith and be vulnerable</h2><p>If there is only one thing all the attendees that came to my dinner parties have in common, it's that they all took a leap of faith. </p><p>When someone signs up for a Dinner With Friends, they only get the address to my place 24 hours before the party. And they typically come alone, eager to have dinner with strangers and to have a good time. </p><div type="image" title="pasta with friends" height="805" width="1074" msid="99262283" hostid="261" sizebytes="113130"></div><p>It's a completely new experience that honestly can be pretty daunting — new dining room, new people, and food that they may haven't tried before.</p><p>To be the first one to put yourself out there to initiate a friendship is one of the hardest steps in forming new connections, but all my attendees took that leap of faith to come together as strangers and be vulnerable.</p><p>And that's how they could leave as friends. </p><h2>2. Remember that good things take time</h2><p>My dinner parties aren't a one-stop shop for friendship and will always come to an end. They are merely a bunch of starting points — precious opportunities to meet someone and for that short connection to possibly blossom into a beautiful relationship. </p><div type="image" title="parisian soiree group" height="603" width="1206" msid="99262284" hostid="261" sizebytes="159168"></div><p>But all relationships take time and effort to build. </p><p>After every Dinner With Friends, I create a chat group for the attendees to continue talking to one another. Some groups have met every other weekend to hangout since their dinner party, while some never speak again. </p><p>It takes dedicated effort to keep up with follow-throughs after meeting someone, but the fruit of your labor may be an invaluable friendship you can cherish for a lifetime.</p><h2>3. Power through the awkwardness</h2><p>Though there are certainly times where you meet someone and instantly hit it off, most times it takes leaning into the awkwardness to discover what the friendship has to offer. </p><p>There's that fear of being seen and known, and possibly being judged. But when two people choose to overcome that ordeal and power through the awkwardness to form a bond, there's beauty in that, and you have the possibility of creating something really amazing. </p> <p>Coming out of a pandemic where people felt acutely lonely, and still do, Dinner With Friends offered many of my guests the authentic human interaction they'd been seeking.</p><p>Though the project first began as a way for me to find friends in a new city after graduating from college, it became clear that loneliness and the desire to make new friendships are not confined to a single generation or demographic.</p><p>As the project continues to gain immense support, I'm bringing on new hosts around New York City of many backgrounds so that everyone has the opportunity to find genuine, fulfilling friendships through a Dinner With Friends event. </p> <p>Many people have also reached out to me from other cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, and LA, expressing interest in expanding the project, and it honestly feels quite surreal. </p><p>While I continue to build Dinner With Friends, I'm also working on building strong partnerships with the right people and brands that align with our motto — food is best paired and shared with great people and conversation.</p><p>Making new friends may always be a mortifying ordeal to many, but if having a casual meetup with strangers over dinner with a host to facilitate sounds less daunting to you, do find out more about Dinner With Friends on our Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dinnerwithfriendsnyc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@DinnerWithFriendsNYC</a>, and keep an eye out for upcoming events on our <a href="https://www.dinnerwithfriendsnyc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website.</a></p>

I felt lonely after moving to New York City during the pandemic and got over it by hosting dinner parties for strangers

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Emma Rechenberg</span></p><p class="caption">The best photo opportunities are from the trail. Here's a look at Corniglia on the way to Vernazza.</p></div><p></p></div></div>There's no debating it. The Cinque Terre in Italy is breathtaking.</p><p>What you won't see when you're looking at the picturesque photos on social media is the out-of-breath photographer behind the lens. <span>Trust me, there's no way after hours of hiking, anyone would look anywhere near as glamourous as the views ahead.</span></p><p><span>The experience, however, was absolutely worth the hike. In total, I hiked almost 4.5 miles of uphill terrain and my phone tracked 119 flights climbed. Needless to say, I got my steps in for the day.</span></p><p><span>This was a few weeks ago. It was my first time exploring the cliff towns along Italy's west coast. After learning the proper pronunciation (think cheenkwah-terrah) and discovering it's English translation ('<em>cinque'-five</em>, '<em>terre'-lands</em>), I was ready to take to the trail. </span></p><p><span>I'll admit- my previous hiking experience was limited. And while I can't compare hiking the Cinque Terre with hiking Everest, I did learn a few tips that should benefit visitors of all experience levels.</span></p><p><span> </span></p>

I hiked one of the most beautiful trails in Italy -&#160;here's what I wish I had known going in

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/photo/sunrise-at-camilo-beach-lagos-portugal-gm487312486-72840209">Smileus / iStock</a></span></p><p class="caption">Lagos, Portugal, offers postcard-worthy beaches and friendly locals.</p></div><p></p></div></div><br />Although traveling solo can seem daunting, it's something that <a href="http://www.thisisinsider.com/why-you-should-travel-alone-2016-9">everyone should try at some point</a>.</p><p>Solo travel allows for more self-reflection, and chances are, you'll take in more of the culture.</p><p>We've put together a list of 30 places that are ideal for traveling alone, from an adventure in New Zealand to a relaxing getaway in Cinque Terre, Italy.</p><p>Because the majority of the US is safe for solo travel, we decided to focus more on international destinations.</p><p><em>Talia Avakian contributed to a previous version of this article.</em></p>

The 30 best places to travel alone

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-915092p1.html">Inu/Shutterstock</a></span></p><p class="caption">Wealthy travellers love to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cinque Terre.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Renowned for its grand old architecture, beautiful scenery, and world-class cuisine, Italy has become one of the best countries in the world for luxury tourism.</p><p>To find out where the rich travel when they go to the European nation, <a href="https://www.routeperfect.com/">RoutePerfect.com</a> has shared data for the most popular Italian destinations booked by wealthy travellers on a luxury budget, who spend an average of £13,900 ($20,000) on their overall trip. </p><p>The ranking is based on over 150,000 trips booked via the European travel website.</p><p>Parts of the country that made the cut include charming coastal towns with multicoloured houses, plush lakeside resorts, and islands with immaculate beaches. </p><p>Check out Italy's top 10 destinations for luxury travel below.</p>

10 Italian destinations frequented by the super rich

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesteeringwheel/8866432726/in/photolist-evuMxL-g7dVWk-5hkSDV-55SJfq-8B5eeu-NYHFM-dg7Hi7-dhxFmJ-diLaXF-o5cZZ1-o7fqsx-8TVNcp-pswzCb-54NuXL-obwWuS-en4TvZ-oofP4Y-ojXD6-8o7aW-4yQmS8-9SUi1Y-en4TQc-dbXuMV-5mwAf-dg7JT7-ay3MvH-4Jnemw-2yxpu-ndjQ3H-vA1iNA-aAXd6C-mKr5ED-mKsQRw-dbXuKM-2aUG4m-9SQtm2-g7d1JS-8vzLP5-awfPxM-mYBHX-nYzsXv-oN8s1K-pGQvAu-DCzE8-6e2tV-hNnhE-9FCobL-axEHjR-nYZi9P-pstZ43">Paul D'Ambra / Flickr</a></span></p><p class="caption">The Greek Islands are perfect for solo <keyword id="6354692" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword>.</p></div><p></p></div></div>While traveling alone might seem scary, it doesn't have to be.</p><p>In fact, t<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-you-should-travel-alone-2015-4">here are many reasons to travel alone</a>. Solo travel allows for more self reflection, and chances are, you'll take in more of the culture.</p><p>We've put together a list of 30 places that are ideal for traveling alone, from an adventure in New Zealand to a relaxing getaway in Cinque Terre, Italy. </p><p>Because the majority of the US is safe for solo travel, we decided to focus more on international destinations. </p><p> </p>

<ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>After living in <keyword id="72226" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="New-York-City">New York City</keyword> for 5 years, I sold 90% of my belongings and decided to live in a new US city every month.</strong></li><li><strong>At first, I missed having a routine and an apartment of my own, and worried I'd be lonely.</strong></li><li><strong>However, I quickly realized I </strong><strong>didn't miss any of the clothes or items that I gave away.</strong></li><li><strong>I also discovered the joy of exploring a new place on foot, and saving more money on <keyword id="6361997" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rent">rent</keyword>.</strong></li><li><strong>Here are the 5 lessons I learned over the 2 years I lived out of suitcases.</strong></li></ul><p>After living in New York City for five years, it hit me that I wasn't actually making the most of it.</p><p>I was spending over a third of my paycheck on rent every month for an apartment that was less than 400 sq. ft, and I was walking around the same neighborhood every day, sticking to my boring routine — eating at the same few restaurants, going to the same coffee shops, and shopping at the same stores.</p><p>I had been working for myself for the past two years, so I did most of my work from my couch and kitchen table. I realized it was time to pack up and go someplace new.</p><p>Because I'm not good at making big commitments, I decided that rather than pick one place to move to, I'd venture to a new US city that interested me every month, which meant I'd only be able to lug around two suitcases — that's it.</p><p>I waited until the lease on my apartment expired, sold 90% of my belongings, and put a few boxes of keepsake items that were too bulky to <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> with in my family's basement. I packed two suitcases with essentials that could not only support me in different climates, but could also come in handy for all occasions (fancy to comfy) since I couldn't pack much.</p><p>After doing this for two years and living in places like Austin, Denver, Portland, Chicago, <keyword id="6354803" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Los-Angeles">Los Angeles</keyword> and more, I've learned five valuable, life-changing lessons that made the whole city-hopping <keyword id="15482" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="lifestyle">lifestyle</keyword> worth it.</p><h2>1. You don't need a closet full of clothes</h2><div type="image" title="jen glantz with belongings" height="1597" width="1200" msid="77702933" hostid="261"></div><p>Before I made the change, I had become a hoarder of fast-fashion, holding onto items that I wore maybe once a year and then crammed back into my closet.</p><p>Living out of two suitcases taught me how to get creative with styling outfits so I could reuse pieces and turn a casual outfit into a fancy one if I had to. I traveled with staple items like black leggings, jeans, a blazer, two blouses, plain but nice t-shirts, and flats that could pass for a daytime and nighttime look. Whenever I was tempted to refresh these looks, since I wore a lot of the same outfits on repeat, I would add a bold necklace with color or sparkle to make myself feel like I was wearing something different than I wore last week.</p><h2>2. Odd living quarters make you more tolerant</h2><div type="image" title="jen glantz portland" height="1500" width="1200" msid="77702940" hostid="261"></div><p>For years, living in just one apartment in New York City, I became a creature of comfort. But when I lived in new cities, I stayed at other people's apartments that I found on AirBnb, Craigslist, or in Facebook groups.</p><p>The apartments I rented rarely looked like the pictures, and they always had a surprise (bugs, a tiny bathroom you could hardly fit in, mold, odd smells, itchy beds, and more). At first, I was homesick and missed my old bedroom and my own sheets, but slowly, I got used to living in odd spaces and dealt with it, since there was always a 30-day countdown until I'd be in another place.</p><p>I built up a tolerance, and it now it takes a lot more than rats and a toilet that hardly flushes to get me all riled up.</p><h2>3. Walking is the best mode of transportation</h2><div type="image" title="jen glantz hiking" height="900" width="1200" msid="77702946" hostid="261"></div><p>When I did this living experiment, I didn't have a car with me. That meant my only mode of transportation was walking. I did bike occasionally and took ride shares, but for the most part, I walked around. It was often the best way to see a new city, and stumble upon cool restaurants and pop-up events that I would have missed if I had a car. </p><p>I would walk anywhere between 10,000-12,000 steps living in New York City (because that was my primary mode of transportation there), so I made that a goal in all the cities I lived in. It helped make unfamiliar places feel like home.</p><h2><strong>4. You can make friends anywhere you go</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="jen glantz speaking" height="1200" width="1200" msid="77702954" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>One thing I worried about was making friends. Since I was going to be in so many cities, and none for a long time, I wondered if I would feel lonely.</p><p>To avoid this, I made a promise to myself to go to at least once local event or meetup each week. When I went to those things, I tried to talk to at least five new people. I ended up making friends in most of these cities that I'd ended up eating meals with and hang out with, and have kept in touch with since.</p><p>You can make friends in any new city, you just have to put yourself out there. </p><h2>5. You save more money than you'd think</h2><div type="image" title="jen glantz with food" height="902" width="1200" msid="77702959" hostid="261"></div><p>Traveling with just two suitcases prevented me from buying things I didn't need. I rarely bought new clothes, which saved me at least $100 every single month. I spent less on rent, since so many of the cities are less expensive than New York City, and often rented apartments for the month that were at least 25% less expensive than my previous rent in Manhattan. </p><p>The most costly part of living in new cities is the food — you're tempted to try everything. I made a goal to only eat out once a day and take home leftovers for lunch the following day. I also set a budget, meaning I wanted to try an expensive restaurant, I ordered an appetizer over a pricey meal.</p><p>While selling all your belongings, ditching your lease, and moving to a new city every month might be radical for most people, breaking your routine and habits can be a life-changing thing to commit to doing, even in your own way.</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/photos-moogoo-eczema-cream-healed-my-skin-and-changed-my-life-2020-8">A $16.50 eczema cream originally made for cows completely healed my skin and changed my life</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/photos-italy-cinque-terre-vacation-post-coronavirus-covid-2020-7">I visited Italy's Instagram-famous Cinque Terre in the aftermath of COVID-19, and it was eerily peaceful</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/lessons-learned-driving-from-guatemala-to-canada-during-the-pandemic-2020-7">7 lessons I learned while driving a camper van from Guatemala to Canada during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic</a></p>

You Searched For "Cinque Terre" and got 10 results

I visited Italy's Instagram-famous Cinque Terre in the aftermath of COVID-19, and it was eerily peaceful

Alice Johnston

I spent nearly a month traveling through Italy. Here are 8 things I'll do differently when I go back.

Timothy Moore

I've been to Europe twice, and packing cubes made all the difference the second time around

Samantha Grindell

A couple matched on Hinge and unexpectedly had their first date on a Delta flight. After 2 years of wild adventures, they got engaged in Greece.

Maria Noyen

I felt lonely after moving to New York City during the pandemic and got over it by hosting dinner parties for strangers

Reena Koh

I hiked one of the most beautiful trails in Italy - here's what I wish I had known going in

Emma Rechenberg

The 30 best places to travel alone

Sarah Schmalbruch

10 Italian destinations frequented by the super rich

Chloe Pantazi,Chloe Pantazi

The 30 best places to travel alone

Sarah Schmalbruch,Talia Avaki…

5 things I learned when I sold 90% of my belongings and moved to a new city every month for 2 years

Jen Glantz

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You Searched For "Cinque Terre" and got 10 results

I visited Italy's Instagram-famous Cinque Terre in the aftermath of COVID-19, and it was eerily peaceful

Alice Johnston

I spent nearly a month traveling through Italy. Here are 8 things I'll do differently when I go back.

Timothy Moore

I've been to Europe twice, and packing cubes made all the difference the second time around

Samantha Grindell

A couple matched on Hinge and unexpectedly had their first date on a Delta flight. After 2 years of wild adventures, they got engaged in Greece.

Maria Noyen

I felt lonely after moving to New York City during the pandemic and got over it by hosting dinner parties for strangers

Reena Koh

I hiked one of the most beautiful trails in Italy -&#160;here's what I wish I had known going in

Emma Rechenberg

The 30 best places to travel alone

Sarah Schmalbruch

10 Italian destinations frequented by the super rich

Chloe Pantazi,Chloe Pantazi

The 30 best places to travel alone

Sarah Schmalbruch,Talia Avaki…

5 things I learned when I sold 90% of my belongings and moved to a new city every month for 2 years

Jen Glantz

Popular Keywords

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I hiked one of the most beautiful trails in Italy - here's what I wish I had known going in