Bring a water bottle! In Rome, there are more than 2,500 drinking fountains, known as nasoni, that provide free, fresh water all year round. There are also super convenient water filling stations in your bathroom right next to the toilet! (Just kidding, I know that's a bidet!) It was hot on our trip, and we did a lot of walking, so it was necessary to always be hydrated. I found water bottles with clips on the lids that can be attached to a purse strap or belt loop. They were collapsable, which saved space in our suitcases.

Another way we stayed cool in the sun was with our rechargeable, handheld fans. Ours were small enough to fit in our purses and were a welcome respite from the heat. Folding fans would have worked too.

If you take as many pictures as I do, a portable battery charger is a necessity. I found a small, lightweight one that allowed me to keep using my phone while it was plugged in. It was slower than a wall charger, but got the job done while we were out and about during the day.

I had never used packing cubes before and borrowed some for this trip. I ordered some of my own as soon as I got back! They were very helpful in keeping me neat and organized. Since we were packing up and going somewhere new every couple days, it would have been a lot more work without the cubes.

There’s something to be said about going with the flow and letting the day take you where it will. However, if there are things you really want to see and do, plan ahead! There was a good balance of group tour activities and free time to explore on our own. Some of the more popular tourist destinations tend to book up far in advance, especially in Rome. I wanted to get the most out of our time everywhere we stayed, rather than wasting time figuring out what to do once we got there. I knew I’d be thinking about this trip obsessively until it was time to get on the plane, so I put that energy to good use and started researching. You should have seen all the spreadsheets! I joined social media travel groups for each area to find tips on what to do, where to eat, etc. Of course, Rick Steves’ books, TV shows, website, and app were excellent references too!