Hey Brian, i'm one of the french guy that you met in koh samui, we've met in the swimming pool of our residence, come to Malta, great place to visit and me and my friend who was with me in samui will invite you to have a local beer!
I remember!! How are you two doing?! We are currently in Palermo! We would love to take you up on the offer but running out of time in the Schengen. We will be heading to Turkey next week. Come and join us. 😃
Love it when Brian carries both the bags up the stairs. My husband always does that for me. Love your travel vlogs. You helped inspire me to get back out there and travel. Finland and Portugal are on my horizons.
Thanks for another wonderful video. Now my wife Carrie is wanting to take a bus along our travels. Don’t know if I could take the snoring and would rather be somewhere in an hour or two versus 8 but as always, traveling within a budget helps make our decisions. We’re In Chiang Mai now and watched your video on that which was helpful. We too are looking forward to our time in Italy in October. Safe travels to you both.
Thank you! No pressure at all ☺, we know we aren't everyone's cup of tea. That's what we love about UA-cam, there is something for everyone. Cheers and thank you so much for watching!
Wow, what a bus ride, and nice Brian snacks, thanks for all the details especially phone charging and potty. Will keep everything in mind when I begin in your footsteps. Can’t wait to see your Italian videos. Ciao for now.🍺😍
Also in Rome a great restaurant right of the center fountain in Piazza Navona "Da Fracesco" almost looks like a pizzaria but you have to be there by 6 or 7pm to get a table. They have both a tavola caldi and freddo, just remember to load up your plates or they will charge you for a second plateful if you go up again
Italy is wonderful! Sicily is so very diverse with an immense history of rulers. Our favorite places on the island were Agrigento (Greek ruins) , Taormina (Just a beautiful town), Cefalu, and Ortigia. Quick cheap eats include the arancini. Cheers!
I was in Europe in March for almost a month. I spent a couple days in Paris, 4 days in Lisbon, 3 in Porto, 3 days in Barcelona, 2 days in Venice, 5 days in Florence, 4 days in Nardelli, Umbria, and 4 days in Rome. I just started following y’all a few days ago so not sure if you’ve been to Italy already. But, I would recommend Cinque Terre but try to stay in that area for a few days. Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Spello were all amazing. I didn’t spend a lot of time there but on my return trip I plan on staying longer at each location. I feel in love with Rome and couple spend a lot of time there. Also, the Amalfi coast. I know that’s a lot but all those places are just WOW!!
Sounds like an amazing trip!! This is our first experience in Italy, and we are loving it! We made our way to Cinque Terre, San Gimignano, and Siena from Florance before heading down to the Puglia region. We would absolutely agree that Cinque Terre is worth more than the 1 day that we tried to explore it all. Thank you for watching our channel and commenting! We are delighted that you found us!! 🙂 Cheers!!🍻
@non.8994 I hadn’t really planned on even going to Paris. I was there for a few days many years ago and didn’t really like it…well, it wasn’t the city I didn’t care for. This trip, it was the easiest/fastest fight to get to Europe non-stop from LA. I’m really glad I spent a couple days there this time. I have a completely different outlook on Paris and France. But, I was really wanting to get to Portugal since I had never been there before. I LOVED Lisbon and Porto. I will probably not spend time in Barcelona again but will definitely be back in Italy again next year.
@@BrianandCarrie Absolutely an amazing trip. I had a few people tell me I only need a couple days in Venice. I realized after making my plans that 2 days in Venice is NOT enough time there. I could have stayed much longer. I have friends that bought a house in Umbria so I now have a base camp when I get back over there.
I noticed after a while the type of luggage you guys chose for ease of traveling, especially as you are away for quite a few months. Very insightful video, as well as the journey to Italy. Have fun down there!
As always, I loved your video. I look forward to the new release every week. I'm going to Italy (Salerno/Amalfi Coast) next August into September. Finishing up my trip to Ireland today and flying tomorrow to Sofia, Bulgaria for a month. Have fun!
We have yet been to Sofia but hear good things. We may be back in the Balkans next year but still haven't figured out a plan. Thank you for watching and safe travels! Cheers!!🍻
I don't know how you take his volatile temper, Carrie. 😀 My first memory in life was from Venice on a family trip down from Germany. Florence is probably top 5 on my "someday" list after a summer school Art History class in college..
Omg! Milan!! Loved it! If you can make it to Lake Como area it’s so beautiful!!! Places of interest: the Duomo Cathedral, Da Vinci’s The Last Supper at the 15th-century Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie, Castello Sforzesco near the city center, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Royal Palace Cheers 🍻 and safe travels!
Thank you!! We are so excited to share our Milan video tomorrow, such a beautiful city ♥, we loved our few days there and tried to fit in as much as we could. Cheers 🍻
Have a great time, Lake Garda us best of the lakes, more to do and close to Verona, Romeo n Juliet land.Enjoy the food, the beer is gassy si go for the wines, Bardolino is superb.
Another fantastic vlog Brian & Carrie. I absolutely love you guy's !! Have a wonderful time exploring Italy & I/we so look forward to coming with you both :) Take care & Thank You for everything xxx
Come for the humor and stay for the snacks! Florence is in my top 5, enjoy! Can't go wrong going anywhere in Italy and Italian Pilsners have come a long way. Salute!
Gotta have those snacks!! We have only heard wonderful things about Florence - it makes so much sense why so many people have shared it's in their top 5 places to visit. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers 🍻
Did Flixbus twice. 8 years back Vienna to Munich, 4 years back Munich to Zurich. Both times doubledecker front row. No extra pay. Was like a panoramic movie. Always a bit of a grotty scene at the stops. The bus driver to Zurich wanted 5 Euro if he could not lift a suitcase into the loading bay. Well, mine was 70 pounds, I lifted it in myself and told him to stuff it. Recently, since I am a senior, I prefer to take first class train, especially being flexible. Like MUC to FRA 40 Euro with seat reservation.
We do prefer the train and we always prefer reserved seats. It just takes away any stress. Yeah, we will lift our own bags thank you very much!! 🙄 Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
Enjoy Italy! Lucca is an easy day trip from Florence. Lots of good food, and fun to rent a bike a go around the top of the city wall. It's also possible to do a high speed train to Bologna (about an hour from Florence). It's really interesting and beautiful.
It sounds as if you have run out of time in Italy and are now headed to Turkey? Did you happen to make it to the Dolomites? That wouid have been one of our recommendations. When we visited the Dolomites, we based out of the beautiful little town/village of Castelrotto/Kastelruth. It looks and feels as if you have left Italy and entered Germany. German, Italian and Ladin are spoken. The food is a wonderful mix of German, Italian and Alpine influence. The Dolomites are astounding and beyond description! If you didn't make it there on this trip, we hope that you will upon your next visit to Italy! We are enjoying your videos very much! Thank you! Fellow craft beer lovers (and a craft brewer). Think that we just missed you in Vienna, Prague, and a couple other stops. Happy travel!
We will be leaving next week for Turkey. We did not make it to the Dolomites this time but we already know our time here wasn't long enough. We will have to return soon! Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻
Just north of La Spezia there is a set of 5 towns along the coastline, referred to as Cinque Terre, so beautiful and quintessentially quaint italian Mediterranean cliff side villages. Great seaside cafes for enjoying a beer and some olives, great bars and restaurants, definitely a must if you can swing it for a ~2 day journey I would recommend
I second this recommendation. The whole coastline there is fabulous. My plan is to stay in Santa Margherita for a month and take day trips to the other coastal towns. Why? The topography isn’t as steep, and neither are the prices. -Elizabeth
@@BrianandCarrie Fabulous. Thanks for spending so much time in Italy. Would love to split my time between the Algarve and somewhere on the coast of Italy. Nice to have someone do the research for me. 😉
What wonderful couple you are. Don't ever stop and keep doing what you are doing. TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL. Go and see the Last Supper in Milan, Cinque Terre, Pompeii, have plenty of limoncellos in Sorrento and the Amalfi Cost. We all learn so much from your recommendations. I appreciate that.
Great video. I am in Sofia presently. When in Florence It. My hotel helped me book a ticket to see the David so there was no line. You might try that. Have a great time in Italy!
Nice trip. I drove down the Brenner Autobahn many times;-) Go to Lago Di Garda and Lago Maggiore. At Lago Di Garda there are little towns, called Sirmione, Lazise and Bardolino. It is like you are in a different time and world. Very beautiful. Have fun in Italy
So nice to have a bonus video! We used FlixBus to go from Cassino (province of Frosinone, south of Rome) to Salerno (south of Naples), and it was a decent option for us. The only issue was that we had to rely on local knowledge as to where to stand to catch the bus, and we were quite nervous that we'd miss it until it showed up. This was 2017 I recall. I have Italian citizenship in addition to U.S., so this leg of your travels is super exciting to me. Having just completed a trip to both Spain and Italy this past July, I was reminded that sometimes the infrastructure in my beloved Italy requires a little finessing; buttons need to be pressed slowly and deliberately, sometimes more than once for it to take 😅- still my favorite country in the world, but when we select a place to live full time, Spain gets the nod, with frequent trips home to my Italy.
We can absolutely relate to questioning exactly where to catch a bus. Rarely is it marked well, but to locals, it's obvious, not so much to everyone else. So far our time in Italy has been wonderful, and we are excited to have this opportunity to really explore so much of it. Thanks as always for watching and commenting - Cheers 🍻
Great scenery and the guy snoring ...hahaha.. not good . One thing i love traveling with are the Sony noise cancelling headphones ...life savers !!! Safe travels !!!
It was a beautiful ride with some added sound effects 😂. Those headphones are a great idea! I have noise-canceling earbuds and they have been a lifesaver on planes, trains, and buses. Even if they just help mute the sound, it's well worth it. Cheers 🍻
Transportation in Italy is fantastic. Check out Castello di Verrazzano. Just outside of Florence. Bus ride super easy. Absolutely still my favorite experience in Italy. And that's saying a lot. I adore that country. The balsamic they make will make you dream about it for years. And let's not forget their incredible wine and food.
Admired you guys very much and inspired my wife and I. Great vlogs with perfect presentation (at least for me) of scerencies, transportations, drinks and foods. If you guys at Palermo Sicily, try Sicily Sea Urchin pasta, very unique and tasty. Cross street from grant theater.
The best trick I’ve learned for eating snacks like chips and staying clean- I save the cheap chopsticks from Chinese restaurants and learn to eat chips w chopsticks. It’s really not hard and when you’re done your hands are perfectly clean:)
I love this idea!! Brian may not like this idea so much as it would take quite a while for him to eat his snacks. But, it sure would be a great way to perfect your chopstick abilities 😂. Cheers!!
I'm looking forward to your videos of Italy. Are you planning on going to the lake area? I went to Lake Como last year, which was nice, but I fell in love with Lake Orta (Orta San Giulio).
We are not going to make it to the lake area. Lake Como was on our list, but we had to make a budget decision and decided against it. We will be back someday soon! Thank you for watching our channel! ❤
😂That scene in the bus with the man snoring loudly made me think immediately of that scene in the hit 80's movie: " Planes, Trains, & Automobiles". If you've seen it, you know what I'm referring to. 😅So enjoyed taking in the beautiful countryside on that first bus ride. No working bathroom on the second?! Yikes! I appreciate your sense of humor throughout. Great video!
Great that you've made it to Milan. Nice bus trip scenery. I absolutely loved Milan. I was there in Summer 2017 and had a great Airbnb. I stayed for 3-4 nights before heading back up to DK. As far as Italy over the decades, my favorites have been Florence, Milan, and Treviso. You'll have a blast in Italy. Greetings from Los Angeles
Great! I can't wait to see the rest of your destinations in Italy. Now, let me get off of UA-cam and go to sleep. It's 2:07 AM. I must be part vampire. LOL! Greetings from Los Angeles@@BrianandCarrie
OOooohh an 8 hour bus trip!! Fun! And the second half with no bathroom! The joys of travel. I know you mentioned that airlines are a hassle, although the discount airlines in Europe are usally much better priced than rail (Ryan Air, TUI Fly, Easy Jet etc). You have such a great attitude, even when Brian needs an adjustment periodically! Enjoy Italy!! Adult son and his GF loved the Montese Cooking Experience in San Gimignano. Likely out of budget. For Italy, I am an Amalfi Coast fan but that would be a considerable distance for you. Have fun! Cheers!
We have checked the airlines as we go. The bus is the least expensive and by the time you go to the airport, security, and getting from the airport to your Airbnb you spend about as much time as taking the bus or train. The bus and train stations tend to be in the middle of town and the airports are, of course, outside of town some distance. We include the Uber or taxi cost in the overall ticket price as well. With that being said Ryan for a longer stretch would be the best choice even if the price is more. As always, Robert, thank you for watching and commenting. We appreciate your support. 😀
On your way to Palermo, try to stop and see Tropea in Calabria (it’ll be on your way to Palermo). We were there in May and loved it -a small quaint town.
Just subscribed to your channel and Love your videos. If you get a chance, try Bolzano. When there try and go to the South Tyrol Archeological Museum. The iceman ,Otzi, is there, not a huge museum but impressive none the less. Lots of beautiful small villages and towns in the Dolomite area. Enjoy and keep the videos coming
Cinque Terre is a must for sure! We will not be making it to Rome until December after we explore Turkey for a couple of months. We will explain why in an upcoming video! 🙂 Thank you for watching and supporting us!! Cheers!!🍻
In Florence, a couple places with a local feel: Caffè del Verone on an upper floor of Museo degli Innocenti (nice view of the Duomo dome) and the cafe in the Biblioteca delle Oblate. Both are relatively inexpensive hangouts
We were in Palermo on 8/28. We visited Cefalu, which I highly recommend. It's a beautiful town along the coast. In Palermo, we ate pizza at Appeti, which was very good. We love your channel!
Thanks for another awesome video folks. I have taken short Fllix buses before but not long distances. I may use Flix on my next long-distance trip after watching your video. By the way, I loved the snack stash you had on the bus :). I sent you an IG message, I hope that you see it :) :) !!!!!!! Have fun in Italy. :).
We had taken FlixBus in the past and hadn't really had any problems. The bathroom on this particular bus really is just an inconvenience more than anything. Overall, we have been happy with the service. We will check our IG! Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻
From Florence; recommend Siena (need to change trains + will be a long day trip since it’s a large place to visit on foot), Pisa (very easy train ride w/bus or walk to tower-most don’t go to cathedral, baptistery or cemetery near tower or walk along the Arno River), Bologna (another easy train ride and lots to see plus great food), and Lucca as others mentioned (slow train from Florence so need time to enjoy) 👍🏻 Other recommended places like San Gemignano and Volterra aren’t easy to get to from Florence so plan accordingly for day trips. ☝🏻
You guys travel with a similar philosophy to both of us. You had asked for suggestions for Tuscany etc. We have visited Italy extensively over three visits. There are virtually endless experiences to have there and much of it can be very spontaneous. Others have mentioned the Cinque Terre which we endorse. (Lake Como, Florida, Sienna and a host of famous mountain top towns like Montepulciano etc just to name a few.) You would like the experience of visiting and bathing in the hotsprings called the Whale at Bagni San Filippo (free to enter any really worth it). There is so much to do and experience where you are and also in Umbria and elsewhere that I look forward to see what you discover on your own. We drove ourselves so nothing was beyond access. Roger
Great info here guys, thank you. Being able to drive yourself from place to place does open a lot of opportunities. Something that we will be looking into in the future. Thanks again. Cheers!!🍻
You guys are so funny! "BUG JUICE" 🤣...I mean 4 hours with no bathroom would definitely be an issue for my middle-aged woman bladder! 😵💫 Sorry TMI! LOL!
Ha - totally get it! I have major bathroom anxiety (when and where will there be one). On our travel days, I've learned to typically skip the coffee, drink minimal water, and never pass up a bathroom, even if you feel like you don't need it yet. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers 🍻
Here is a few suggestions of really good and not expensive restaurants where we ate while in Firenze: 1. Trattoria Mario 2. I’Brindellone (small neighberhood restaurant with typical Florentine dishes) 3. All’Antico Vinaio: uge amazing sandwich 4. Dei Neri (best gelato). Firenze is my second home and my fovirite place in the world. Enjoy!
Wondering if language was an issue? Took a bus from San Antonio, TX into Monterey, MX. The drivers didn't speak any English to or from so when they did stop we had no idea what his announcements said. We made it, but was unexpected since we started in the US.
In all of our travels, we have only had a couple of instances where language was a problem. However, we have not been to non-tourist parts of Mexico or Central America. From what we have heard English is not spoken. It does seem strange that a bus driver starting in the US can't speak English at all. We believe that there are times when people choose not to. 🙄
Once you get to Palermo, I would love to know how easy it is to get around the island. We will be going next year to visit the birthplace of my grandparents in Naso, Sicily. We will be staying around 4-6 weeks. Thanks in advance.
You two have great tips and advice. Love the videos and all the information. Thank you! You guys seem happier in Europe than Thailand. Maybe, it's just me?🤔
We are just happy to be traveling!! We loved SE Asia but towards the end the heat and humidity really started getting to us. We will be doing a video soon on Europe VS. SE Asia. Cheers!!🍻
We discovered Flix bus while traveling in Portugal. While we prefer trains, Flixbus is inexpensive and convenient! One driver did not allow food to be eaten on the bus so be aware that may be a possibility. Also look at your ticket for the bus # (in addition to destination) to locate the right bus. Looking forward to your Italy travels!
Hey guys, a bit off-topic, but can we check into a hotel at night? I have a night flight and need to catch a FlixBus in the morning. The hotel is near the airport, and the booking site says check-in is at 3 PM. You all travel a lot, so I thought you might have an idea.
Agreed!! If we could have planned that far in advance we would have saved so much on the trains. Unfortunately, we don't plan that far ahead so we can alter our path if we decide to. Thanks so much for watching ☺
We will not be making it to the Amalfi Coast this time. We decided on heading to the Puglia region instead. Not going this will give us a reason to come back!! 😀
Loved the footage of the guy behind you snoring. How hilarious, but could become irritating. Are you sure you weren't paid to do a promotion on Flixbus? That's actually great, giving another option on traveling through Europe. Besides, the landscape was absolutely beautiful. I noticed you are using hotels a lot more now. Doesn't that get pricey? I remember watching a video on someone who went to Florence during the off season. I think she said she only paid $3000 for an entire two months and absolutely loved it. Don't know if October is off, on or a shoulder month. In your travels, do you ever have concerns of being pick pocketed? Italy seems to have heavy hitters when it comes to that, especially at train stations and on them. So be vigilant! Thanks so much for this transportation video. Very informative and helpful.
Hi, Paul! As we moved quickly through Europe it was easier and about the same cost to get a hotel rather than an Airbnb. Either way, it does get pricey moving that fast. We will have a cost breakdown video out in the next couple of weeks on what it all costs. We are aware of pickpockets, so we use our shoulder packs when out in public, and our valuables are packed away in our suitcases on travel days. Especially at the train and bus stations. Thank you for watching, Paul! Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Took another look at your travel video. After your first 4 hour leg, it looked like you were under a freeway along side beautiful painted murals. Behind you I noticed what may have looked like a twin bed. I live 1.5 hours north of San Francisco, unfortunately the mecca for the homeless in California. Was curious if you have observed homelessness throughout your travels in Europe. BTW, I'm with Brian, though the landscape was beautiful, 8 hours on a bus is a long time. I would have probably needed an attitude adjustment at the end as well. Though he looked fine. My derriere would have been crying out for a little mobility.
We actually do not see the type of homelessness in the rest of the world like we do in the US. California, Washington, Florida its all the same. We are guessing that in other parts of the world family takes care of family? If it was an easy answer, it wouldn't be such a massive problem.
Hi guys! i love your videos and wonder if you'll be doing another Q+A video any time soon because I have a few questions I'm curious about. For example, what your favourite and least favourite destinations so far? What country has been the friendliest and which has been the least friendly? Also, wondering if you've figured out the exact "recipe" or ingredients that make up a perfect travel destination for you. By that, I mean are there any common denominators to your favourite destinations or experiences since you started travelling? Do you ever find it difficult to stick to your budget? For example, do you ever get tempted to stay in fancier hotels/Airbnbs and spend more money in certain places? If you had to settle down somewhere for a few years, where would it be and why? Lastly, if you could to go back in time and talk to your past selves (the ones who are just about to start this adventure of travelling around the world), what would you tell them? Thanks so much for your inspiring videos!
It was so great to read your comment as we just honestly finished having a conversation about doing another Q&A video (because it's been a long while). Thank you so much for these questions - I've already added them to the list! Cheers 🍻
We just spent 90 days in Italy (Torino, Milan, Modena, Sardinia, and now Arenzano, north of Genoa). Now that it's September, it's sooooo much easier to get around. I have to say that Modena is a fantastic place to be, not far from Florence. Housing isn't cheap, but everything else is! Certainly less than Milan and it's a relaxing place with a lot going on, easily reached by train. Modena is famous for Ferrari, Lamborgini, and Ducati, but the joke is everyone rides a bike! I like Florence, but it's very touristy while Modena is not. I did not know I would like Modena as much as we did. Also, Arenzano, on the Ligurian coast is great too - pretty cheap and beautiful views.
We have slowed down to our normal crawl now that we are in Italy. We have a video coming out next week and we will explain our thoughts on slow vs. fast travel. Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻
Carrie mustve booked the tickets after she just woke up and been very groggy. Sounds better than greyhound I once took a trip on greyhound that takes four hours by car that took them twelve hours. Almost every interstate exit it was at least five miles to some town to let people off and stopping for smoke and dinner breaks.
Haha, nope, wide awake and aware 😂. Shows that there just isn't any guarantee with travel and it keeps it interesting. Oh goodness, 12 hours that should have been 4 would be miserable - and when it's for smoke breaks that's even more frustrating unless you're a smoker. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers 🍻
Have a great time in Italy- some of the Best places to visit are there. I would strongly recommend that you visit Cinque Terre (aka the Italian Riviera ). CT means 5 villages and every one of them is beautiful. Buy a day train pass for i think 10 Euros and you can go between the villages by train. There are some nice hiking you can do from one village to another (i forget the names we did), and views from up above are breathtaking. YOU JUST CANT MISS IT and I will be very disappointed if you dont do it. We stayed in Rio Maggiorie and loved it. The walk will be steep and you both are very fit and will handle it easy and be able to handle it. Another place is Portofino. stay in Rapallo and a 30 min bus ride will take you to Portofino. The entire Italian Riviera is just breathtaking. And Finally the Amalfi Coast try to squeeze in 7-10 days with Sorrento / Sant Agnello (where we stayed) for day trips to Positano, Amalfi, Capri Island (A MUST VISIT day trip from Sorrento), Mt. Vesuvius, and Pompei and even a day trip to Naples. All possible with 1 hour from Sorrento on a day trip. Cheers!
Thank you ☺. We did make our way to Cinque Terre - absolutely gorgeous! Wish we had chosen to stay as it was quite a long day, but either way glad we made it there. So many beautiful places to see in Italy, the list is long! Cheers 🍻
Yes, we do edit all of our own videos. With each of us editing it does go twice as fast however it is very time-consuming. When we landed in Florance for a month we cracked down and spent the better part of 2 weeks editing! We typically slow travel, so this isn't usually a problem. Thank you for noticing our hard work!!! 😀 Cheers!!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie That's really amazing! I do agree that video editing is really time consuming and takes a lot of patience, especially when viewing the raw videos. By the way, is it alright if I send you an email?
You can, Lester but we do enjoy the editing process and continuing to learn new techniques. It is a part of our daily routine and we will continue to do so, we can't afford any other way besides doing it ourselves. 😀
We actually found Flixbus to be really comfortable, especially in comparison to some other countries. But when possible still prefer a train. Thanks for watching. Cheers!!
Hi Jennifer! Brian has an Osprey backpack and I have a weekender bag from Beis. We've both been very happy with them and we've been using them for about a year and a half full time. Cheers!!
I could so relate to this video. We have been taking buses here in Mexico when moving to different destinations. We’ve taken several double decker buses (which we love) and several single buses. They come with all the features of what your bus did and they are very affordable! Unfortunately, we have had to take several very long bus rides and I don’t care how comfortable those seats are to start with, after 11-15 hours, it’s brutal. We’ve not had any where the bathrooms were out of order, however, on those long bus rides they don’t check the bathrooms to restock anything, so they always run out of toilet paper and paper towels (our buses have always had sinks to wash your hands). Thank goodness I always have that handy little roll of toilet paper in my bag. 😉. The buses here don’t allow you to place, or retrieve, your bags. Someone always does that. We’ve also gone though many checkpoints with many different branches of military. I’ve been so grateful that they don’t even notice us on the bus. They have, several times, taken people off the bus and the bus driver just leaves them there. 😮. The scenery has also been gorgeous on these trips! One other thing different about the buses here. They are not very nice at all about changing or cancelling your tickets. It has been my biggest frustration with them. Twice now I’ve had to buy another pair of tickets. 😡. They are easy to buy online, but if your plans change, they expect you to go to the bus station in person with your identification to do anything about different tickets, which I think is ridiculous, especially since most of the agents don’t speak English. 🤦🏼♀️. I think it’s one area they definitely need to improve their customer service. I laughed so hard watching this video, between Brian trying to beat Carrie’s score, the attitude at the subway, and the disappointment about no free beer in the mini frig! 🤣😂🤣😂 Love y’all and your videos so much! So excited to see your trip through Italy! Safe travels.
Oh goodness, the buses experience in Mexico sounds even more eventful than we've experienced. We plan to be there in the Spring, so we will get to have this experience 😊. Thank you so much for watching and commenting, we really appreciate it. Cheers and safe travels.
@@lauramaryland the buses here are generally very nice. We haven’t found them to be on time, most of the time, but that’s one of the realities of life in Mexico. They are very affordable, too. We have not visited the areas you were referring to, but if mountains are involved, which for us it has been every trip, be aware that they are very corkscrew, so if you get motion sickness at all, have medicine with you. 😉 Mexico is a beautiful country and I know you will enjoy it! Let me know if I can help you with any other questions. Btw….it’s probably a good idea not to bring your dog. There are always dogs wandering the streets everywhere you go, so it’s probably safer to leave him home. 😉
@@lauramaryland one more tip: bring some hydrating eye drops. We’ve had to take mostly long bus trips (11+ hours), but the windows on the bus don’t open and they tend to make my eyes dry. Make sure you have some toilet paper always on hand, too. And snacks. 😉
I sometimes wonder if you can string together enough bus trips to cover 24 hour. If it’s actually cheaper to live on a bus. No bathrooms on a four hour bus ride? That would be a non-starter for me and likely other passengers. I guess carry a wide mouth bottle with you in case of emergencies. Maybe you should look into getting a block game sponsor for your videos?😂 so you can’t get at your luggage during the ride if it’s all underneath your seats. I guess that would be an advantage of taking the train? I hope you walk the roof on the cathedral at Milan
Haha - yes, I actually think you could spend 24 hours on buses for less than the cost of an Airbnb. Truly one advantage we love of the train is being able to get up and walk around, plus typically a few bathrooms (in case one has an issue). I was shocked at just how much train travel in Central Europe was in comparison to the buses, which not only cost considerably more but also typically took much longer. We did walk the roof!! You'll see that in Saturday's video ☺
@@BrianandCarrie nice. We just visited the US national cathedral last week and I mentioned Milan’s roof walk. I was just north of Italy in July and drive through Austria’s Silvretta pass. Gorgeous. I want us to visit lake como and being a car guy want to go south to Ferrari and others. Enjoy!
guys love the video however if i am on the bus he would have to pull over I LOVE MY BEER lol love the video s keep up the videos and great content thanks jeff southern cali guy
If You go to Venice, stay in Padua about 20 minutes outside and when in Venice take the #1 Boat/taxi, it will take You all over without taking an expensive gondola. Drink lots of Chianti LOL
We only got a sim card on arrival in Krakow (Orange) and since then haven't had internet. In Italy, it's been quite expensive for a monthly SIM and we just haven't found the need for the most part.
Hey Brian, i'm one of the french guy that you met in koh samui, we've met in the swimming pool of our residence, come to Malta, great place to visit and me and my friend who was with me in samui will invite you to have a local beer!
I remember!! How are you two doing?! We are currently in Palermo! We would love to take you up on the offer but running out of time in the Schengen. We will be heading to Turkey next week. Come and join us. 😃
@@BrianandCarrieFrom Italy to Turkey? Where fashion goes to die, sigh...
HA! Yes, but we need to go somewhere, and Turkey is inexpensive.
Love it when Brian carries both the bags up the stairs. My husband always does that for me. Love your travel vlogs. You helped inspire me to get back out there and travel. Finland and Portugal are on my horizons.
He's awesome like that..I used to decline being the I'll do it myself independent type. But, now I accept and love it 😍😍
Thanks for another wonderful video. Now my wife Carrie is wanting to take a bus along our travels. Don’t know if I could take the snoring and would rather be somewhere in an hour or two versus 8 but as always, traveling within a budget helps make our decisions. We’re In Chiang Mai now and watched your video on that which was helpful. We too are looking forward to our time in Italy in October. Safe travels to you both.
We are flying from Sea-Tac to Milan. Arriving Oct. 1. We will be all over Italy through the 20th. So excited.
My husband does that to and he always opens my car door ❤️
Enjoy Italy! Looking forward to our next trip there.
Don’t let people pressure you guys. We love the bar/restaurant videos. You guys are great❤
Thank you! No pressure at all ☺, we know we aren't everyone's cup of tea. That's what we love about UA-cam, there is something for everyone. Cheers and thank you so much for watching!
Glad you made it to Italy. And I'm always a fan of the mid-week bonus video! Cheers! 🍻
So excited to be in Italy and bring this area to you. Thanks for always being a great supporter. Cheers!!
You guys rock! Hope you’re having a wonderful time❤❤ Brian’s rant😂😂I can’t .
Thank you so much ♥ . We are so far LOVING our time in Italy! Cheers 🍻
Wow, what a bus ride, and nice Brian snacks, thanks for all the details especially phone charging and potty. Will keep everything in mind when I begin in your footsteps. Can’t wait to see your Italian videos. Ciao for now.🍺😍
Gotta have those snacks 🤣Thanks so much for watching - Cheers!!
Also in Rome a great restaurant right of the center fountain in Piazza Navona "Da Fracesco" almost looks like a pizzaria but you have to be there by 6 or 7pm to get a table. They have both a tavola caldi and freddo, just remember to load up your plates or they will charge you for a second plateful if you go up again
Great to know, we will be in Rome later in the year and will be sure to check this place out. Cheers!!
Italy is wonderful! Sicily is so very diverse with an immense history of rulers. Our favorite places on the island were Agrigento (Greek ruins) , Taormina (Just a beautiful town), Cefalu, and Ortigia. Quick cheap eats include the arancini. Cheers!
I was in Europe in March for almost a month. I spent a couple days in Paris, 4 days in Lisbon, 3 in Porto, 3 days in Barcelona, 2 days in Venice, 5 days in Florence, 4 days in Nardelli, Umbria, and 4 days in Rome. I just started following y’all a few days ago so not sure if you’ve been to Italy already. But, I would recommend Cinque Terre but try to stay in that area for a few days. Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Spello were all amazing. I didn’t spend a lot of time there but on my return trip I plan on staying longer at each location. I feel in love with Rome and couple spend a lot of time there. Also, the Amalfi coast. I know that’s a lot but all those places are just WOW!!
Sounds like an amazing trip!! This is our first experience in Italy, and we are loving it! We made our way to Cinque Terre, San Gimignano, and Siena from Florance before heading down to the Puglia region. We would absolutely agree that Cinque Terre is worth more than the 1 day that we tried to explore it all. Thank you for watching our channel and commenting! We are delighted that you found us!! 🙂
Cheers!!🍻
@non.8994 I hadn’t really planned on even going to Paris. I was there for a few days many years ago and didn’t really like it…well, it wasn’t the city I didn’t care for. This trip, it was the easiest/fastest fight to get to Europe non-stop from LA. I’m really glad I spent a couple days there this time. I have a completely different outlook on Paris and France. But, I was really wanting to get to Portugal since I had never been there before. I LOVED Lisbon and Porto. I will probably not spend time in Barcelona again but will definitely be back in Italy again next year.
@@BrianandCarrie Absolutely an amazing trip. I had a few people tell me I only need a couple days in Venice. I realized after making my plans that 2 days in Venice is NOT enough time there. I could have stayed much longer. I have friends that bought a house in Umbria so I now have a base camp when I get back over there.
Had to keep going back to watch the snoring guy😂😅😊. Can hardly wait to see Italy. Kathleen
😂😂😂
Wow you are here ❤😮😊 there is so much to explore.... everywhere. Maybe you find some nice places outside the touristic spots? Enjoy
We are so excited to be in Italy and explore as much as we can. Cheers 🍻
@@BrianandCarrie dont miss rom ;) and venice
Around Florence I would highly recommend visiting Siena, San Giminiano, Lucca, Volterra and Poggibonsi.
Thank you, Stew!! We appreciate the recommendations!
Cheers!!🍻
I noticed after a while the type of luggage you guys chose for ease of traveling, especially as you are away for quite a few months. Very insightful video, as well as the journey to Italy. Have fun down there!
Thank you, John. We use carry-on luggage and pack as light as possible. This is an adjustment from the time that we left back in Sept. 2021.
As always, I loved your video. I look forward to the new release every week.
I'm going to Italy (Salerno/Amalfi Coast) next August into September. Finishing up my trip to Ireland today and flying tomorrow to Sofia, Bulgaria for a month.
Have fun!
We have yet been to Sofia but hear good things. We may be back in the Balkans next year but still haven't figured out a plan. Thank you for watching and safe travels!
Cheers!!🍻
You are one of my new favorite travel vlogs :) Keep going and do not forget to visit Estonia ;)
I would love to visit Estonia one day!!!!
Thank you so much ♥.
I don't know how you take his volatile temper, Carrie. 😀 My first memory in life was from Venice on a family trip down from Germany. Florence is probably top 5 on my "someday" list after a summer school Art History class in college..
Right?? He's so out of control sometimes 😂. So many wonderful places to visit in Italy, we can't wait!! Cheers 🍻
Omg! Milan!! Loved it! If you can make it to Lake Como area it’s so beautiful!!! Places of interest: the Duomo Cathedral, Da Vinci’s The Last Supper at the 15th-century Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie, Castello Sforzesco near the city center, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Royal Palace
Cheers 🍻 and safe travels!
Thank you!! We are so excited to share our Milan video tomorrow, such a beautiful city ♥, we loved our few days there and tried to fit in as much as we could. Cheers 🍻
Have a great time, Lake Garda us best of the lakes, more to do and close to Verona, Romeo n Juliet land.Enjoy the food, the beer is gassy si go for the wines, Bardolino is superb.
We have discovered the wines!! We are really enjoying the whites from the Puglia region. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!! 🍷🍷
Another fantastic vlog Brian & Carrie. I absolutely love you guy's !! Have a wonderful time exploring Italy & I/we so look forward to coming with you both :) Take care & Thank You for everything xxx
Thanks, guys!! We very much appreciate the kind words and support. ❤
Come for the humor and stay for the snacks! Florence is in my top 5, enjoy! Can't go wrong going anywhere in Italy and Italian Pilsners have come a long way. Salute!
Gotta have those snacks!! We have only heard wonderful things about Florence - it makes so much sense why so many people have shared it's in their top 5 places to visit. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers 🍻
You two are troopers! If I found that the bathroom was out of order in a 4-hour bus ride, I would have bailed.
It did cross our minds!! 😆
Sorrento is a must, best family vaca we ever had, lots of Peroni!
Did Flixbus twice. 8 years back Vienna to Munich, 4 years back Munich to Zurich. Both times doubledecker front row. No extra pay. Was like a panoramic movie. Always a bit of a grotty scene at the stops. The bus driver to Zurich wanted 5 Euro if he could not lift a suitcase into the loading bay. Well, mine was 70 pounds, I lifted it in myself and told him to stuff it. Recently, since I am a senior, I prefer to take first class train, especially being flexible. Like MUC to FRA 40 Euro with seat reservation.
We do prefer the train and we always prefer reserved seats. It just takes away any stress. Yeah, we will lift our own bags thank you very much!! 🙄 Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
Enjoy Italy! Lucca is an easy day trip from Florence. Lots of good food, and fun to rent a bike a go around the top of the city wall. It's also possible to do a high speed train to Bologna (about an hour from Florence). It's really interesting and beautiful.
Thank you for the recommendations, Richard. We are here for a month, and we have a lot to see and do. Hopefully we can see it all.
Love the views of this ride. Soooo green and lush. I love Germany so much.
We will be back someday soon. We would love to be there during the Christmas season.
It sounds as if you have run out of time in Italy and are now headed to Turkey? Did you happen to make it to the Dolomites? That wouid have been one of our recommendations. When we visited the Dolomites, we based out of the beautiful little town/village of Castelrotto/Kastelruth. It looks and feels as if you have left Italy and entered Germany. German, Italian and Ladin are spoken. The food is a wonderful mix of German, Italian and Alpine influence. The Dolomites are astounding and beyond description! If you didn't make it there on this trip, we hope that you will upon your next visit to Italy! We are enjoying your videos very much! Thank you! Fellow craft beer lovers (and a craft brewer). Think that we just missed you in Vienna, Prague, and a couple other stops. Happy travel!
We will be leaving next week for Turkey. We did not make it to the Dolomites this time but we already know our time here wasn't long enough. We will have to return soon! Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
I look forward to seeing your Italy trip. Good luck!
Thank you so much!! ❤
I am so jelly you're in ITALY!!!!!! I can hardly wait to see your next vids!!!! MMMMMMWAH! 😘😘
😘😘
Just north of La Spezia there is a set of 5 towns along the coastline, referred to as Cinque Terre, so beautiful and quintessentially quaint italian Mediterranean cliff side villages. Great seaside cafes for enjoying a beer and some olives, great bars and restaurants, definitely a must if you can swing it for a ~2 day journey I would recommend
I second this recommendation. The whole coastline there is fabulous. My plan is to stay in Santa Margherita for a month and take day trips to the other coastal towns. Why? The topography isn’t as steep, and neither are the prices. -Elizabeth
We did make it to La Spezia and Cinque Terre - Gorgeous!! That video will be out in a few weeks ☺
@@BrianandCarrie Fabulous. Thanks for spending so much time in Italy. Would love to split my time between the Algarve and somewhere on the coast of Italy. Nice to have someone do the research for me. 😉
What wonderful couple you are. Don't ever stop and keep doing what you are doing. TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL. Go and see the Last Supper in Milan, Cinque Terre, Pompeii, have plenty of limoncellos in Sorrento and the Amalfi Cost. We all learn so much from your recommendations. I appreciate that.
Thank you so much for the kind words! We will never stop traveling, not anytime soon anyway! And yes, we have had plenty of limoncellos already! 😀
Great video. I am in Sofia presently. When in Florence It. My hotel helped me book a ticket to see the David so there was no line. You might try that. Have a great time in Italy!
That is a great tip!! Thank you!
Nice trip. I drove down the Brenner Autobahn many times;-) Go to Lago Di Garda and Lago Maggiore. At Lago Di Garda there are little towns, called Sirmione, Lazise and Bardolino. It is like you are in a different time and world. Very beautiful. Have fun in Italy
Thank you for the recommendations!! Hopefully, we have enough time to see everything!
Cheers!!🍻
So nice to have a bonus video! We used FlixBus to go from Cassino (province of Frosinone, south of Rome) to Salerno (south of Naples), and it was a decent option for us. The only issue was that we had to rely on local knowledge as to where to stand to catch the bus, and we were quite nervous that we'd miss it until it showed up. This was 2017 I recall.
I have Italian citizenship in addition to U.S., so this leg of your travels is super exciting to me. Having just completed a trip to both Spain and Italy this past July, I was reminded that sometimes the infrastructure in my beloved Italy requires a little finessing; buttons need to be pressed slowly and deliberately, sometimes more than once for it to take 😅- still my favorite country in the world, but when we select a place to live full time, Spain gets the nod, with frequent trips home to my Italy.
We can absolutely relate to questioning exactly where to catch a bus. Rarely is it marked well, but to locals, it's obvious, not so much to everyone else. So far our time in Italy has been wonderful, and we are excited to have this opportunity to really explore so much of it. Thanks as always for watching and commenting - Cheers 🍻
Great scenery and the guy snoring ...hahaha.. not good . One thing i love traveling with are the Sony noise cancelling headphones ...life savers !!! Safe travels !!!
It was a beautiful ride with some added sound effects 😂. Those headphones are a great idea! I have noise-canceling earbuds and they have been a lifesaver on planes, trains, and buses. Even if they just help mute the sound, it's well worth it. Cheers 🍻
Transportation in Italy is fantastic. Check out Castello di Verrazzano. Just outside of Florence. Bus ride super easy. Absolutely still my favorite experience in Italy. And that's saying a lot. I adore that country. The balsamic they make will make you dream about it for years. And let's not forget their incredible wine and food.
Admired you guys very much and inspired my wife and I. Great vlogs with perfect presentation (at least for me) of scerencies, transportations, drinks and foods. If you guys at Palermo Sicily, try Sicily Sea Urchin pasta, very unique and tasty. Cross street from grant theater.
Thank you so much ♥. Thank you for the suggestion - we will be sure to check that out while we are in Palermo. Cheers 🍻
The best trick I’ve learned for eating snacks like chips and staying clean- I save the cheap chopsticks from Chinese restaurants and learn to eat chips w chopsticks. It’s really not hard and when you’re done your hands are perfectly clean:)
I love this idea!! Brian may not like this idea so much as it would take quite a while for him to eat his snacks. But, it sure would be a great way to perfect your chopstick abilities 😂. Cheers!!
The views are fantastic! I guess there are no stops between destinations, unlike trains. Other than bathroom breaks.
I'm looking forward to your videos of Italy. Are you planning on going to the lake area? I went to Lake Como last year, which was nice, but I fell in love with Lake Orta (Orta San Giulio).
We are not going to make it to the lake area. Lake Como was on our list, but we had to make a budget decision and decided against it. We will be back someday soon! Thank you for watching our channel! ❤
Thank you for the travel day video, very helpful!
Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers 🍻
Look forward to your Italy series. Cheers 👍
We are so excited to share our time in Italy - so far it's beautiful ♥
Loved this! Might need to add to bucket list!
Just found you guys on UA-cam this week. Love your content! Happy travels!
So happy that you found us, Lisa! We will try the Trattoria Za Za!! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Cheers!!🍻
😂That scene in the bus with the man snoring loudly made me think immediately of that scene in the hit 80's movie: " Planes, Trains, & Automobiles". If you've seen it, you know what I'm referring to. 😅So enjoyed taking in the beautiful countryside on that first bus ride. No working bathroom on the second?! Yikes! I appreciate your sense of humor throughout. Great video!
Thank you, and yes, we have seen that movie!!😂
Great that you've made it to Milan. Nice bus trip scenery. I absolutely loved Milan. I was there in Summer 2017 and had a great Airbnb. I stayed for 3-4 nights before heading back up to DK. As far as Italy over the decades, my favorites have been Florence, Milan, and Treviso. You'll have a blast in Italy.
Greetings from Los Angeles
We love both Milan and Florance and looking forward to Puliga! Italy has been fantastic so far.
Great! I can't wait to see the rest of your destinations in Italy. Now, let me get off of UA-cam and go to sleep. It's 2:07 AM. I must be part vampire. LOL!
Greetings from Los Angeles@@BrianandCarrie
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OOooohh an 8 hour bus trip!! Fun! And the second half with no bathroom! The joys of travel. I know you mentioned that airlines are a hassle, although the discount airlines in Europe are usally much better priced than rail (Ryan Air, TUI Fly, Easy Jet etc). You have such a great attitude, even when Brian needs an adjustment periodically! Enjoy Italy!! Adult son and his GF loved the Montese Cooking Experience in San Gimignano. Likely out of budget. For Italy, I am an Amalfi Coast fan but that would be a considerable distance for you. Have fun! Cheers!
We have checked the airlines as we go. The bus is the least expensive and by the time you go to the airport, security, and getting from the airport to your Airbnb you spend about as much time as taking the bus or train. The bus and train stations tend to be in the middle of town and the airports are, of course, outside of town some distance. We include the Uber or taxi cost in the overall ticket price as well. With that being said Ryan for a longer stretch would be the best choice even if the price is more. As always, Robert, thank you for watching and commenting. We appreciate your support. 😀
On your way to Palermo, try to stop and see Tropea in Calabria (it’ll be on your way to Palermo). We were there in May and loved it -a small quaint town.
Tropea is on our list, we will be there for 2 nights!!
Looks like you'll be gone before we get to Italy. Were there from Nov.15 - 23. Then we cruise home.
We will be "cruising" home December 1st!! 😃
Great and informative, appreciate all the details
Thank you so much - Cheers 🍻
Just subscribed to your channel and Love your videos. If you get a chance, try Bolzano. When there try and go to the South Tyrol Archeological Museum. The iceman ,Otzi, is there, not a huge museum but impressive none the less. Lots of beautiful small villages and towns in the Dolomite area. Enjoy and keep the videos coming
Thank you, Jim! We very much appreciate the recommendations!
Cheers!!🍻
Galleria dell 'Accademia, Florence. The David is a sight to behold. I also wholly agree with all the Cinque Terre and Rome recommendations.
Cinque Terre is a must for sure! We will not be making it to Rome until December after we explore Turkey for a couple of months. We will explain why in an upcoming video! 🙂 Thank you for watching and supporting us!!
Cheers!!🍻
In Florence, a couple places with a local feel: Caffè del Verone on an upper floor of Museo degli Innocenti (nice view of the Duomo dome) and the cafe in the Biblioteca delle Oblate. Both are relatively inexpensive hangouts
Thank you for the recommendations and for watching our channel!!
Cheers!!🍻
We were in Palermo on 8/28. We visited Cefalu, which I highly recommend. It's a beautiful town along the coast. In Palermo, we ate pizza at Appeti, which was very good. We love your channel!
Thank you, Cathy! ❤
We went up on the roof of the Duomo, wow breathtaking views.
Thanks for another awesome video folks. I have taken short Fllix buses before but not long distances. I may use Flix on my next long-distance trip after watching your video. By the way, I loved the snack stash you had on the bus :). I sent you an IG message, I hope that you see it :) :) !!!!!!! Have fun in Italy. :).
We had taken FlixBus in the past and hadn't really had any problems. The bathroom on this particular bus really is just an inconvenience more than anything. Overall, we have been happy with the service. We will check our IG! Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
Very helpful! Thank you.
Thank you for watching and yes, plenty of room for luggage!!
Cheers!!🍻
From Florence; recommend Siena (need to change trains + will be a long day trip since it’s a large place to visit on foot), Pisa (very easy train ride w/bus or walk to tower-most don’t go to cathedral, baptistery or cemetery near tower or walk along the Arno River), Bologna (another easy train ride and lots to see plus great food), and Lucca as others mentioned (slow train from Florence so need time to enjoy) 👍🏻 Other recommended places like San Gemignano and Volterra aren’t easy to get to from Florence so plan accordingly for day trips. ☝🏻
Thank you for the recommendations! We have booked a day trip that will allow us to see a few of the places that you have mention!!
Cheers!!🍻
You guys travel with a similar philosophy to both of us.
You had asked for suggestions for Tuscany etc. We have visited Italy extensively over three visits. There are virtually endless experiences to have there and much of it can be very spontaneous. Others have mentioned the Cinque Terre which we endorse. (Lake Como, Florida, Sienna and a host of famous mountain top towns like Montepulciano etc just to name a few.) You would like the experience of visiting and bathing in the hotsprings called the Whale at Bagni San Filippo (free to enter any really worth it). There is so much to do and experience where you are and also in Umbria and elsewhere that I look forward to see what you discover on your own. We drove ourselves so nothing was beyond access.
Roger
Great info here guys, thank you. Being able to drive yourself from place to place does open a lot of opportunities. Something that we will be looking into in the future. Thanks again.
Cheers!!🍻
You guys are so funny! "BUG JUICE" 🤣...I mean 4 hours with no bathroom would definitely be an issue for my middle-aged woman bladder! 😵💫 Sorry TMI! LOL!
Ha - totally get it! I have major bathroom anxiety (when and where will there be one). On our travel days, I've learned to typically skip the coffee, drink minimal water, and never pass up a bathroom, even if you feel like you don't need it yet. Thanks so much for watching!! Cheers 🍻
Here is a few suggestions of really good and not expensive restaurants where we ate while in Firenze: 1. Trattoria Mario 2. I’Brindellone (small neighberhood restaurant with typical Florentine dishes) 3. All’Antico Vinaio: uge amazing sandwich 4. Dei Neri (best gelato). Firenze is my second home and my fovirite place in the world. Enjoy!
Thank you for all the suggestions, Danielle!!
Cheers!!🍻
Wondering if language was an issue? Took a bus from San Antonio, TX into Monterey, MX. The drivers didn't speak any English to or from so when they did stop we had no idea what his announcements said. We made it, but was unexpected since we started in the US.
In all of our travels, we have only had a couple of instances where language was a problem. However, we have not been to non-tourist parts of Mexico or Central America. From what we have heard English is not spoken. It does seem strange that a bus driver starting in the US can't speak English at all. We believe that there are times when people choose not to. 🙄
Day trip from Florence to Siena.
It's in the plan to do for sure - can't wait!! Cheers 🍻
Once you get to Palermo, I would love to know how easy it is to get around the island. We will be going next year to visit the birthplace of my grandparents in Naso, Sicily. We will be staying around 4-6 weeks. Thanks in advance.
We will be sure to report back, Chris. So far, the trains and buses have been convenient and easy to navigate. Thank you for watching our channel!
@@BrianandCarrie ❤️
You two have great tips and advice. Love the videos and all the information. Thank you! You guys seem happier in Europe than Thailand. Maybe, it's just me?🤔
We are just happy to be traveling!! We loved SE Asia but towards the end the heat and humidity really started getting to us. We will be doing a video soon on Europe VS. SE Asia.
Cheers!!🍻
We discovered Flix bus while traveling in Portugal. While we prefer trains, Flixbus is inexpensive and convenient! One driver did not allow food to be eaten on the bus so be aware that may be a possibility. Also look at your ticket for the bus # (in addition to destination) to locate the right bus. Looking forward to your Italy travels!
Great tip on the bus number! No food!? 🤔 Seems like that would be difficult to enforce.
@@BrianandCarrieHe did stop at a rest stop halfway thru our 4hr ride so we ate there!😉
Enjoy your time in Italy.
Thank you, Robert!
Try Trattoria Za Za in Florence for an amazing dinner! We still talk about it a year and a half later.
Hey guys, a bit off-topic, but can we check into a hotel at night? I have a night flight and need to catch a FlixBus in the morning. The hotel is near the airport, and the booking site says check-in is at 3 PM. You all travel a lot, so I thought you might have an idea.
You shouldn't have any problems, Jerry. Safe travels!
How far ahead do you book? I always book 3+ months ahead and get really good deals on the trains. Closer to the departure date - not so much.
Agreed!! If we could have planned that far in advance we would have saved so much on the trains. Unfortunately, we don't plan that far ahead so we can alter our path if we decide to. Thanks so much for watching ☺
Lucca. Lucca. Lucca. We've gone over twice this year and love it. We did Pisa last week and were pretty disappointed to be honest.
Thank you! We missed it this time but will be back in the area at the beginning of Dec. and will make our way.
Thank you for the suggestion!
Cheers!!🍻
Please go to the seaside town of Lerici on the Italian riviera for me ?
I plan on living there for a few months and would love to see the place again.
Will you be going to the Amalfi Coast at all? If so, I have rec’s for the town of Praiano.
We will not be making it to the Amalfi Coast this time. We decided on heading to the Puglia region instead. Not going this will give us a reason to come back!! 😀
Loved the footage of the guy behind you snoring. How hilarious, but could become irritating. Are you sure you weren't paid to do a promotion on Flixbus? That's actually great, giving another option on traveling through Europe. Besides, the landscape was absolutely beautiful. I noticed you are using hotels a lot more now. Doesn't that get pricey? I remember watching a video on someone who went to Florence during the off season. I think she said she only paid $3000 for an entire two months and absolutely loved it. Don't know if October is off, on or a shoulder month.
In your travels, do you ever have concerns of being pick pocketed? Italy seems to have heavy hitters when it comes to that, especially at train stations and on them. So be vigilant! Thanks so much for this transportation video. Very informative and helpful.
Hi, Paul! As we moved quickly through Europe it was easier and about the same cost to get a hotel rather than an Airbnb. Either way, it does get pricey moving that fast. We will have a cost breakdown video out in the next couple of weeks on what it all costs.
We are aware of pickpockets, so we use our shoulder packs when out in public, and our valuables are packed away in our suitcases on travel days. Especially at the train and bus stations. Thank you for watching, Paul!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie
Took another look at your travel video. After your first 4 hour leg, it looked like you were under a freeway along side beautiful painted murals. Behind you I noticed what may have looked like a twin bed. I live 1.5 hours north of San Francisco, unfortunately the mecca for the homeless in California. Was curious if you have observed homelessness throughout your travels in Europe. BTW, I'm with Brian, though the landscape was beautiful, 8 hours on a bus is a long time. I would have probably needed an attitude adjustment at the end as well. Though he looked fine. My derriere would have been crying out for a little mobility.
We actually do not see the type of homelessness in the rest of the world like we do in the US. California, Washington, Florida its all the same. We are guessing that in other parts of the world family takes care of family? If it was an easy answer, it wouldn't be such a massive problem.
Hi guys! i love your videos and wonder if you'll be doing another Q+A video any time soon because I have a few questions I'm curious about. For example, what your favourite and least favourite destinations so far? What country has been the friendliest and which has been the least friendly? Also, wondering if you've figured out the exact "recipe" or ingredients that make up a perfect travel destination for you. By that, I mean are there any common denominators to your favourite destinations or experiences since you started travelling? Do you ever find it difficult to stick to your budget? For example, do you ever get tempted to stay in fancier hotels/Airbnbs and spend more money in certain places? If you had to settle down somewhere for a few years, where would it be and why? Lastly, if you could to go back in time and talk to your past selves (the ones who are just about to start this adventure of travelling around the world), what would you tell them? Thanks so much for your inspiring videos!
It was so great to read your comment as we just honestly finished having a conversation about doing another Q&A video (because it's been a long while). Thank you so much for these questions - I've already added them to the list! Cheers 🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Awesome! Looking forward to it!
We just spent 90 days in Italy (Torino, Milan, Modena, Sardinia, and now Arenzano, north of Genoa). Now that it's September, it's sooooo much easier to get around. I have to say that Modena is a fantastic place to be, not far from Florence. Housing isn't cheap, but everything else is! Certainly less than Milan and it's a relaxing place with a lot going on, easily reached by train. Modena is famous for Ferrari, Lamborgini, and Ducati, but the joke is everyone rides a bike! I like Florence, but it's very touristy while Modena is not. I did not know I would like Modena as much as we did. Also, Arenzano, on the Ligurian coast is great too - pretty cheap and beautiful views.
That's so good to know - we will have to add Modena to the list of places to visit. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers 🍻
I wonder how many hours you'll spend in Milan, you guys always seem to be on the run
We have slowed down to our normal crawl now that we are in Italy. We have a video coming out next week and we will explain our thoughts on slow vs. fast travel. Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
Carrie mustve booked the tickets after she just woke up and been very groggy. Sounds better than greyhound I once took a trip on greyhound that takes four hours by car that took them twelve hours. Almost every interstate exit it was at least five miles to some town to let people off and stopping for smoke and dinner breaks.
Haha, nope, wide awake and aware 😂. Shows that there just isn't any guarantee with travel and it keeps it interesting. Oh goodness, 12 hours that should have been 4 would be miserable - and when it's for smoke breaks that's even more frustrating unless you're a smoker. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers 🍻
You must go to Cinqua Terra, it is just beautiful.
Thank you, Nathan!!
Cheers!!🍻
We're on the Flixbus from Lisbon to Madrid for 7.5 hours - legroom? I'm over 6ft and have no facility to choose seats.
We have found that some have more leg room than others. Fortunately, we have short legs! 😆 Safe travels!!
Omg😂 u guys are nicer than me. I would have gone to the bathroom and accidentally tripped into that dude waking him all the way up
Haha - we contemplated this idea!! 😂
Have a great time in Italy- some of the Best places to visit are there. I would strongly recommend that you visit Cinque Terre (aka the Italian Riviera ). CT means 5 villages and every one of them is beautiful. Buy a day train pass for i think 10 Euros and you can go between the villages by train. There are some nice hiking you can do from one village to another (i forget the names we did), and views from up above are breathtaking. YOU JUST CANT MISS IT and I will be very disappointed if you dont do it. We stayed in Rio Maggiorie and loved it. The walk will be steep and you both are very fit and will handle it easy and be able to handle it. Another place is Portofino. stay in Rapallo and a 30 min bus ride will take you to Portofino. The entire Italian Riviera is just breathtaking. And Finally the Amalfi Coast try to squeeze in 7-10 days with Sorrento / Sant Agnello (where we stayed) for day trips to Positano, Amalfi, Capri Island (A MUST VISIT day trip from Sorrento), Mt. Vesuvius, and Pompei and even a day trip to Naples. All possible with 1 hour from Sorrento on a day trip. Cheers!
Thank you ☺. We did make our way to Cinque Terre - absolutely gorgeous! Wish we had chosen to stay as it was quite a long day, but either way glad we made it there. So many beautiful places to see in Italy, the list is long! Cheers 🍻
Another pro of taking the Flix bus is there is more room to store luggage than there is on trains.
I love the content! Do you guys edit your videos yourselves? If so, that must've been hard while you're travelling.
Yes, we do edit all of our own videos. With each of us editing it does go twice as fast however it is very time-consuming. When we landed in Florance for a month we cracked down and spent the better part of 2 weeks editing! We typically slow travel, so this isn't usually a problem. Thank you for noticing our hard work!!! 😀
Cheers!!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie That's really amazing! I do agree that video editing is really time consuming and takes a lot of patience, especially when viewing the raw videos. By the way, is it alright if I send you an email?
You can, Lester but we do enjoy the editing process and continuing to learn new techniques. It is a part of our daily routine and we will continue to do so, we can't afford any other way besides doing it ourselves. 😀
Flixbus is cheap , but not comfortable. The bus was packed. We went from Jönköping to Hamburg(10 hours) and it was the first and last Flixbus ride.
We actually found Flixbus to be really comfortable, especially in comparison to some other countries. But when possible still prefer a train. Thanks for watching. Cheers!!
Looks like you have different personal item bags. What brand are these?
Hi Jennifer! Brian has an Osprey backpack and I have a weekender bag from Beis. We've both been very happy with them and we've been using them for about a year and a half full time. Cheers!!
@@BrianandCarrie is it a regular or mini weekender?
It is the Day Lite Plus.
I love when you give prices for everything
We are making a conscious effort to get back to doing more of that in every video. Thank you for noticing!
Cheers!!🍻
Nice video!
Is ID card enough or you must have passport as well on flixbus?
Thank you 😃
We always use passports. We don't have ID cards; it is always best to have your passport.
@@BrianandCarrie thank you ✌️
I could so relate to this video. We have been taking buses here in Mexico when moving to different destinations. We’ve taken several double decker buses (which we love) and several single buses. They come with all the features of what your bus did and they are very affordable! Unfortunately, we have had to take several very long bus rides and I don’t care how comfortable those seats are to start with, after 11-15 hours, it’s brutal. We’ve not had any where the bathrooms were out of order, however, on those long bus rides they don’t check the bathrooms to restock anything, so they always run out of toilet paper and paper towels (our buses have always had sinks to wash your hands). Thank goodness I always have that handy little roll of toilet paper in my bag. 😉. The buses here don’t allow you to place, or retrieve, your bags. Someone always does that.
We’ve also gone though many checkpoints with many different branches of military. I’ve been so grateful that they don’t even notice us on the bus. They have, several times, taken people off the bus and the bus driver just leaves them there. 😮.
The scenery has also been gorgeous on these trips!
One other thing different about the buses here. They are not very nice at all about changing or cancelling your tickets. It has been my biggest frustration with them. Twice now I’ve had to buy another pair of tickets. 😡. They are easy to buy online, but if your plans change, they expect you to go to the bus station in person with your identification to do anything about different tickets, which I think is ridiculous, especially since most of the agents don’t speak English. 🤦🏼♀️. I think it’s one area they definitely need to improve their customer service.
I laughed so hard watching this video, between Brian trying to beat Carrie’s score, the attitude at the subway, and the disappointment about no free beer in the mini frig! 🤣😂🤣😂
Love y’all and your videos so much! So excited to see your trip through Italy! Safe travels.
Oh goodness, the buses experience in Mexico sounds even more eventful than we've experienced. We plan to be there in the Spring, so we will get to have this experience 😊.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting, we really appreciate it. Cheers and safe travels.
@@lauramaryland the buses here are generally very nice. We haven’t found them to be on time, most of the time, but that’s one of the realities of life in Mexico. They are very affordable, too. We have not visited the areas you were referring to, but if mountains are involved, which for us it has been every trip, be aware that they are very corkscrew, so if you get motion sickness at all, have medicine with you. 😉
Mexico is a beautiful country and I know you will enjoy it! Let me know if I can help you with any other questions.
Btw….it’s probably a good idea not to bring your dog. There are always dogs wandering the streets everywhere you go, so it’s probably safer to leave him home. 😉
@@lauramaryland enjoy your trip! Safe travels.
@@lauramaryland one more tip: bring some hydrating eye drops. We’ve had to take mostly long bus trips (11+ hours), but the windows on the bus don’t open and they tend to make my eyes dry. Make sure you have some toilet paper always on hand, too. And snacks. 😉
Brian ever thought about having empty bottle for an 'emergency' urge on the bus.
I didn't think about it until it was too late!! 😂
I sometimes wonder if you can string together enough bus trips to cover 24 hour. If it’s actually cheaper to live on a bus.
No bathrooms on a four hour bus ride? That would be a non-starter for me and likely other passengers. I guess carry a wide mouth bottle with you in case of emergencies.
Maybe you should look into getting a block game sponsor for your videos?😂 so you can’t get at your luggage during the ride if it’s all underneath your seats. I guess that would be an advantage of taking the train?
I hope you walk the roof on the cathedral at Milan
Haha - yes, I actually think you could spend 24 hours on buses for less than the cost of an Airbnb. Truly one advantage we love of the train is being able to get up and walk around, plus typically a few bathrooms (in case one has an issue). I was shocked at just how much train travel in Central Europe was in comparison to the buses, which not only cost considerably more but also typically took much longer. We did walk the roof!! You'll see that in Saturday's video ☺
@@BrianandCarrie nice. We just visited the US national cathedral last week and I mentioned Milan’s roof walk.
I was just north of Italy in July and drive through Austria’s Silvretta pass. Gorgeous.
I want us to visit lake como and being a car guy want to go south to Ferrari and others. Enjoy!
Iam flying in to Paris, would I be able to take a flexi bus to Barcelona?
Thank you, Jayne for the kind words and for watching our channel! You will love Thailnd! Safe travels! ❤
guys love the video however if i am on the bus he would have to pull over I LOVE MY BEER lol love the video s keep up the videos and great content thanks jeff southern cali guy
Thank you, Jeff!! 🍻
If You go to Venice, stay in Padua about 20 minutes outside and when in Venice take the #1 Boat/taxi, it will take You all over without taking an expensive gondola. Drink lots of Chianti LOL
That's a great suggestion - we will keep it in mind for next time as we won't make it there this visit. Cheers!!
What network you are using for phone and internet in Europa
We only got a sim card on arrival in Krakow (Orange) and since then haven't had internet. In Italy, it's been quite expensive for a monthly SIM and we just haven't found the need for the most part.
How did you guys find the hotel?
We loved where were stayed and it was easy to locate. Cheers!
Thanks as always. I launch in early 2024.
Not far off - will be here before you know it! Cheers 🍻
Careful you two, Pepsi will replace your beer habit if you are not careful 😅
Thankfully I don't forsee that happening - but soda is sure a drink of choice in many areas we've traveled. Cheers 🍻
My husband said that Florence is the most beautiful city, apart from San Francisco, he's ever been to.
Great to know, as I've also never been to San Francisco. Thanks for watching!! Cheers 🍻
What is the luggage limit?
We didn't have any issues with what we carry. There were much larger bags than ours so we don't think there is a size limit.
Palermo is a big dirty city, think about Syracuse. Lots of good food and easy to get around.
Good to know, we may make it to Syracuse 😊