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I escaped the crowds of tourists in Rome by taking a cheap day trip to a dreamy lakeside town just an hour away

Selfie of the writer Timothy Moore sipping Champagne out of a straw
We took a day trip to Bracciano on our Italian vacation.

Timothy Moore

  • When my husband and I took a trip to Rome, we wanted a less-touristy Italian adventure.
  • At the suggestion of a tour guide in Rome, we took a train to a smaller town called Bracciano.
  • We explored the Bracciano Castle and relaxed on the beach without having to deal with any crowds.

During a 25-day trip to Italy, my husband and I spent six nights in Rome.

By the end of our time in the city, I would've done almost anything to escape the crowds.

Luckily, our tour guide for the Vatican told us about the less-populated lakeside town of Bracciano, just an hour's train ride away.

For our last full day in Rome, we packed a bag, hopped on a train, and got outside the city limits to explore something a little slower-paced.

Bracciano is a small town in Lazio, situated above a lake.
Grass and fields with trees and small houses with a lake and mountains in the distance
Bracciano is close to a lake.

Timothy Moore

Bracciano, which shares its name with the lake, is close to several other small towns you can explore.

For a day trip, though, I recommend just sticking with one town.

It was easy to take the train from Rome to Bracciano (we spent about $15 for two round-trip tickets), explore the town, relax by the water, and return to our hotel.

We started our day by walking to get cappuccinos and pastries in the town square.
Selfie of the writer wearing a peach-colored shirt and sticking out his tongue while his husband wears a yellow shirt and walks behind him on a pathway in Italy
We walked around the town after arriving by train.

Timothy Moore

The main attraction in Bracciano seemed to be a well-preserved historic castle.

Our train dropped us off about an hour before the castle opened.

To kill some time, we went to a cafΓ© and sat at tables overlooking the town square and the castle. We enjoyed pastries and cappuccinos and people watched.

This town is much less touristy than Rome, so we mostly saw Italians going to work, running errands, and walking their dogs.

The Bracciano Castle has a self-guided tour.
An upward-looking view of a gray, weathered stone Bracciano Castle
We were excited to explore the Bracciano Castle.

Timothy Moore

Exploring the Bracciano Castle, or Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano, was a welcome change from the guided tours in Rome.

Rather than ushering past all the highlights with a group of 20-plus people, we got to take our time in each castle area while listening to a free English audio guide.

We visited on a weekday at the end of the summer season and were the only people in the castle for most of our two-hour visit.

We went outside for some stunning views.
A view of a lake, trees, and an old-looking building with peaked roof and a bell tower
Bracciano Castle offered great views of the town.

Timothy Moore

We climbed ramparts and saw gorgeous views of the lake during our time at Bracciano Castle.

We stopped for pictures and enjoyed the nice breeze.

The rooms were filled with medieval history.
Room of medieval armor and weapons in Bracciano Castle. Red detailing is on the walls and the floor is brick
We admired armor in one of the rooms in the castle.

Timothy Moore

After exploring the ramparts, as well as the castle's armory, kitchen, and courtyard, we saw some of the interior rooms curated with furniture, weapons, and artwork from the castle's history.

The lake was also a highlight of the trip.
Bracciano Lake with paddle boats and floatation devices in the water. The sky is gray and overcast
There weren't too many other people at the beach.

Timothy Moore

After a few hours in the castle, my husband and I took a lunch break and headed toward the lake.

The walk from the city center and castle to the lakeside took about 20 minutes.

The castle and the town are technically up on a hill, so I recommend wearing shoes with a good grip for the descent to the water.

All the private beaches with boat rentals were closed for the end of the summer, but there were plenty of public shores for us to relax on.

We loved relaxing by the water.
Purple flowers in foreground with a field and bushes and the lake in the distance
We also explored the field surrounding the beach.

Timothy Moore

We got an excellent water-view spot and pulled out our books, which we didn't have much time to enjoy back in busy Rome.

We didn't end up swimming in the lake, but my husband snuck in a nap by the water.

I sat on the beach and watched people swim far out into the water, teenagers canoodle on the beach, and an older woman curse at her phone in Italian while waiting at a bus stop.

We finally felt immersed in Italian culture, far from other tourists.

We ended our day with wine and dessert.
Bottle of Regret wine and a glass on a table with more tables and lake in distance
We shared a bottle of wine before heading back to Rome.

Timothy Moore

Though it was the end of summer, a few restaurants were open on the lake.

We grabbed a table on the water, shared a bottle of wine, and ate some of the most delicious desserts of the entire trip.

I ordered a lemon sorbet, and my husband stuck with his tried-and-true tiramisu.

We then hiked back up to the city, which I found to be a much tougher climb, and boarded our return train to Rome.

Having escaped the crowds of the Eternal City for a day, we felt refreshed and ready to dive back into our hectic travels.

This story was originally published on January 13, 2024, and most recently updated on December 27, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I don't like celebrating Christmas. Now that my kids are older, it's the perfect time to take longer international vacations.

jamie posing in front of a bright blue ocean
Christmas is too stressful, so I take trips instead.

Jamie Davis Smith

  • It's not the most popular take, but I don't like celebrating the holiday season.
  • Instead, I book long, international trips to places I've always wanted to visit but never had time.
  • I love getting to see a new part of the world and give that priceless experience to my kids.

When my children were little, I felt the magic of the holidays deep in my bones.

Nearly every weekend, we dashed to see a light display or rode the Polar Express while drinking cups of rich hot chocolate.

Then, my kids got older.

As tweens and teens, they became hard to please. They seemed impervious to the joyful spirit of the holidays, grumbling when I booked holiday events and complaining about the gifts I chose for them.

I know this is developmentally appropriate, but it hurts. Last year, I decided to opt out of Christmas in favor of something I love: travel.

Instead of spending time and money on creating an extravagant day that would be stressful and (likely) unappreciated, I took my family on a trip to Morocco.

It was such a great experience that I've made international travel our new holiday tradition.

December happens to work for all our schedules

jamie's son in front of a wall with a mural in morocco
We went to Morocco last Christmas.

Jamie Davis Smith

There's no substitute for seeing the world and getting an up-close look at different cultures and ways of life. I also think it's the best way to raise empathetic, open-minded children, and I'm very fortunate to be able to provide them with these experiences.

However, my kids' school schedules make it hard to go anywhere for more than a few days. I try to make the most of our summers, but that's when it's hot and crowded in many parts of the world.

Luckily, the kids reliably have an extended school break around Christmas each year, making the holidays an ideal time for our family to travel.

It's refreshing to visit parts of the world where Christmas is just like any other day

Another big reason I travel during the holidays is to escape the stress of them, so I like to pick destinations where Christmas isn't widely celebrated.

In many parts of the world, it's just an ordinary day, so attractions aren't closed β€” aka, we don't sacrifice any vacation time.

Last year, in Morocco, I saw a smattering of holiday lights and small Christmas trees, mostly in hotels. That was perfect for me because I felt very little pressure to make Christmas Day magical.

I've figured out how to make holiday travel as easy as possible

jamie posing in a tropical location
Group tours have been a lifesaver.

Jamie Davis Smith

In order to make holiday travel easier, I book group tours.

Although I didn't originally intend to travel this way, I planned last year's trip in a rush, so it was the easiest and fastest way to make sure we could cover a lot of ground in the time we had.

It turns out that not having to worry aboutΒ booking hotelsΒ or planning the logistics of getting from place to place was a welcome reprieve.

Even though I had more time this year, I decided to skip the stress and use the same tour company as a gift to myself.

I may not like Christmas, but I'm not a complete Scrooge

jamie's daughter posing in front of a peanuts Christmas display
We still have a few family Christmas traditions.

Jamie Davis Smith

Skipping the holidays isn't for everyone, but it works for me.

Even though I no longer have the will to create an elaborate Christmas at home, I don't want my children to miss out completely.

Every year since my kids were little, I've taken them to the over-the-top Christmas displays at Gaylord National Resort in Maryland, and that has continued. We do all the Christmas things in a single day, from building gingerbread houses to seeing Santa.

It's the perfect way to continue a holiday tradition without any pressure to be perfect β€” and minimal whining from my kids.

Additionally, I've always believed that experiences are better than physical gifts, and now that we travel, I keep presents to a minimum. However, on Christmas Day, I let my kids choose a special souvenir to commemorate the holiday.

Read the original article on Business Insider

These are the busiest airplane routes in the world in 2024

Travelers waiting in line to check in inside Terminal 1 at the Hong Kong International Airport on December 20, 2022 in Hong Kong, China.
Hong Kong to Taipei was the busiest international flight route in 2024, according to an OAG report.

Vernon Yuen/Getty Images

  • Hong Kong-Taipei was the busiest international flight route in 2024, with 6.8 million seats.
  • OAG's report shows Asia-Pacific dominates the busiest international routes post-pandemic.
  • The busiest domestic route was between the South Korean island of Jeju and its capital, Seoul.

Hong Kong to Taipei is the world's busiest international flight route, according to a report published on Tuesday by air travel intelligence provider OAG.

The route has topped the list in 2024, with a total of 6.8 million seats β€” 48% higher than last year but 15% below 2019 levels, when it last appeared at the top of the list.

OAG's annual report, which examines global airline schedule data spanning from January to December 2024 and compares it to 2019 β€” before the COVID-19 pandemic β€” found that most of the busiest international routes are in the Asia-Pacific region.

The second most popular, with 5.5 million seats, was from Cairo to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The only route on the list in North America and Europe was between New York JFK and London Heathrow, which was ranked number 10 with 4 million seats, a 5% increase compared to 2019.

Here's the full top 10 list:

  1. Hong Kong to Taipei: 6.78 million seats
  2. Cairo to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 5.47 million seats
  3. Seoul to Tokyo: 5.41 million seats
  4. Kuala Lumpur to Singapore: 5.38 million seats
  5. Seoul to Osaka: 4.98 million seats
  6. Dubai to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 4.31 million seats
  7. Bangkok to Hong Kong: 4.20 million seats
  8. Jakarta to Singapore: 4.07 million seats
  9. Bangkok to Singapore: 4.03 million seats
  10. New York JFK to London Heathrow: 4.01 million seats

Domestic airline routes were significantly busier than international ones.

The busiest route overall is in South Korea, a roughly 280-mile journey between the island of Jeju and Seoul's Gimpo airport. The route provided over 14 million seats in 2024, which, despite being the world's busiest, was a 19% fall compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

Per the OAG report, eight of the 10 busiest domestic flight routes were in Asia, including flights in Japan, China, India, and Vietnam.

No routes in North America or Europe were ranked in the top 10. The most popular route in North America connected Vancouver to Toronto, with 3.5 million seats.

The busiest domestic route in the United States was Atlanta-Orlando, which trailed slightly behind the Canadian route with just under 3.5 million seats in 2024.

Honolulu-Kahului ranked third in North America with 3.4 million seats. It was followed by Las Vegas-Los Angeles and a route connecting Denver to Phoenix.

In Europe, the top route was Barcelona to Palma in Spain, which had nearly 3 million seats. Half of Europe's busiest 10 routes were in Spain, OAG said.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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