Real gear. Real guides. Real-world tested.

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Planning Your Trip

CheapOair
This is my go-to starting point when planning a trip. It’s fast, super intuitive, and perfect for spotting fare trends across multiple destinations or dates. I use it to track price drops or snipe last-minute deals when I’ve got flexible travel windows. The clean interface and calendar view are hard to beat.

Booking.com
I book 90% of my accommodations through this site. What I love is the free cancellation on most listings—it takes the stress out of changing plans mid-trip. Their filters are great, reviews are generally trustworthy, and you can often grab a great deal with zero upfront payment.

Viator
If I’m looking to book a legit local tour—especially something last minute—this is where I look first. Their listings cover everything from cooking classes and walking tours to once-in-a-lifetime stuff like hot-air balloon rides or private wine tastings. It’s saved me more than once when I needed a solid plan for the next day.

Tripadvisor
I don’t rely on Tripadvisor like I used to, but it’s still a solid tool when I’m researching a new city or comparing options. The photos from real travelers help set expectations, and their “top things to do” lists are usually spot-on for scoping out places I’ve never been. I often double-check their restaurant rankings too—especially in towns where Google Maps is a little sparse.

Travel Gear We Actually Use

Columbia Travel Gear
I wore Columbia nearly every day across Italy. Their shirts breathe well, their rain jackets are surprisingly lightweight, and their pants don’t scream “American tourist.” Whether I was hiking in the hills of Tuscany or running for a train in Palermo, this stuff held up. Durable, comfortable, and way more stylish than it should be for functional gear.

Bærskin Hoodies
This hoodie is the first thing I reach for on a cool morning or long travel day. It’s got just the right amount of warmth without being bulky, and the fleece lining makes it feel like wearing a blanket that looks good in photos. Bonus: Audrey always tries to steal it, which is probably the best endorsement it could get.

Photography Must-Haves

Adobe Lightroom
This is the heart of my editing process. Whether I’m doing a full desktop workflow in Lightroom Classic or making quick edits on Lightroom Mobile, this software keeps my travel photography looking sharp and cohesive. It works for every type of photo I take—DSLR, mirrorless, and even iPhone. If you’re even slightly serious about photography, start here.

Canon Gear
Canon’s been my go-to since day one. My setup isn’t crazy—just a mirrorless body, a couple of lenses, and a solid strap—but it’s traveled all over Italy and held up beautifully. Canon’s color science is legendary for a reason, and I find their gear intuitive, reliable, and just plain fun to shoot with.

GoPro
This is our go-to camera for filming our YouTube channel. Whether it’s Audrey dancing in a Sicilian piazza or me navigating some chaotic market scene, the GoPro makes it easy to grab spontaneous, high-quality footage. It’s small, waterproof, and practically indestructible—perfect for wide shots, time-lapses, and those moments that are way too unpredictable (or hilarious) for a DSLR.

SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Cards
Trust me, don’t skimp on SD cards. These are what I use for every shoot—they’re fast enough for RAW files, durable enough for rough travel days, and they haven’t failed me yet. I always bring a few extras, because once you start shooting in high-res, you burn through space quick.

Connectivity

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate Plan
After years of juggling local SIMs, sketchy airport Wi-Fi, and various eSIM services, I finally found a phone plan that just works everywhere. The Verizon Unlimited Ultimate plan gives me high-speed data, hotspot tethering, and zero SIM swapping—across 200+ countries. It worked in the middle of Rome and on rural Sicilian train platforms. One bill, one phone, no stress.

Lightroom & Editing Tools

Travel Preset Packs (Coming Soon)
These Lightroom presets are based on the actual looks I developed while editing my Italy photos—everything from moody mountain mornings in Tuscany to warm golden hour shots in Rome. They’re built for both Lightroom Mobile and Classic, and they’re designed to make your travel photos pop with just a few clicks. More regions coming soon.

Photo Organization & Editing Guide (Coming Soon)
Ever come home from a trip with 4,000 photos and zero clue what to do next? This guide walks through the exact Lightroom workflow I use to back up, tag, sort, and edit photos after a trip. It’s not fancy—but it’s fast, clean, and keeps me sane when the memory cards pile up.