Stay Fabulous – Details, episodes & analysis

Renting a car in France can elevate your trip or complicate it in ways most travelers don’t anticipate. In this episode, I explain what U.S. travelers need to understand before booking a rental car in France, and why the real question is not whether to rent one, but where, when, and for how long it actually makes sense.

While driving is unnecessary and often impractical in cities like Paris, the experience shifts entirely once you move into regions such as Provence, the Bordeaux countryside, or Dordogne. These areas are not built around train travel, and accessing villages, wineries, markets, and countryside properties requires a far more flexible approach, one that often depends on having a car.

Beyond the decision itself, this episode unpacks the details that frequently catch travelers off guard: limited rental office hours, midday closures, the prevalence of manual cars, and the importance of booking correctly in advance. It also offers a grounded perspective on what driving in France actually feels like, from navigating narrow village streets to managing toll roads and parking.

For those considering alternatives, I also talk about when it makes sense to rely on private drivers or structure your stay around a central base, rather than committing to a car for the entire trip. Because in France, the most successful itineraries are not built around fixed rules, but around a clear understanding of how the country truly works and how to move through it with ease.

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0:00 Renting a Car in France: What U.S. Travelers Get Wrong

1:29 Do You Need a Car in France? Where It Actually Makes Sense

2:20 Car Rental Hours in France: Lunch Closures & Timing Mistakes

4:02 Self-Service Car Rental in France

6:02 Automatic vs Manual Cars in France: What to Book in Advance

7:50 Driving in France: Roads, Parking, Tolls & What to Expect

8:40 Rental Strategy: When to Use a Car vs Private Driver

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/

Booking a hotel in Paris may seem straightforward, but for many U.S. travelers, it’s where expectations and reality begin to diverge. In this episode, we explore one of the most overlooked aspects of planning a trip to: how choosing the wrong hotel can quietly affect every single day of your experience.

Unlike in the United States, where hotels often follow a consistent and predictable standard, Paris operates differently. Properties are frequently set within historic buildings, rich in character and location, but far less uniform in layout, amenities, and overall comfort. Room sizes tend to be smaller, elevators are not always guaranteed, and details such as air conditioning or bed configuration require far more attention than most travelers anticipate.

Beyond the room itself, location becomes a defining factor. Each neighborhood in Paris carries its own rhythm, atmosphere, and level of convenience - shaping not only how you move through the city, but how the city feels to you. Choosing the right area is not simply about proximity, but about aligning the setting with the pace and experience you want your trip to have.

This episode offers a clear, experience-led perspective on how to approach hotel selection in Paris with intention. From understanding what truly matters in a stay to avoiding the common mistake of booking based on photos alone, you will gain the insight needed to make decisions that elevate your time in the city.

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0:00 Booking a Hotel in Paris: The Mistake U.S. Travelers Make

1:17 Paris vs U.S. Hotels: What Works Differently

2:46 Hotel Room Size in Paris: What to Expect Before You Book

4:25 Air Conditioning, Elevators & Bed Sizes: Comfort Details That Matter

8:35 Where to Stay in Paris: Why Location Shapes Your Entire Trip

10:29 The Biggest Booking Mistake: Choosing Hotels Based on Photos

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/

Traveling to Italy now comes with an important change that many visitors, especially Americans - are only discovering upon arrival. In this episode, I share my firsthand experience navigating Europe’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) at Rome Fiumicino Airport, where traditional passport stamping is being replaced by biometric border control technology, including passport scanning, facial recognition, and fingerprint registration. As the European Union rolls out the EES across Schengen borders in 2026, the arrival process in Italy is evolving, and early implementation is already creating longer wait times, technical challenges, and confusion for international travelers.

With this episode, I offer a clear, practical look at what Americans traveling to Italy should expect at airport immigration, how the new EU border control system works, and how to plan your arrival in Rome and other Italian destinations more effectively. Whether you are visiting Italy for the first time or returning to experience la dolce vita again, understanding these new European travel procedures, airport arrival delays, and Schengen entry requirements will help you arrive prepared, confident, and ready to begin your journey.

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0:00 Italy’s New Entry/Exit System (EES): What Changed at Airport Arrival

3:00 Arriving in Rome: Real Experience at Passport Control in Fiumicino

5:40 What American Travelers Should Expect When Entering Italy

6:16 How to Plan Your Italy Arrival Under the New EU Border System

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/

Planning a spring trip to Italy in April or May? This episode is a must-listen if Italy spring travel is on your mind. Each year, searches for Italy in spring skyrocket in January, yet many travelers are caught off guard by how quickly availability disappears. By the time planning begins, the most desirable boutique hotels, private tours, local guides, and key train routes across Italy are often already booked.

Drawing on over a decade of my experience living in Rome and designing bespoke Italy itineraries, this episode explains why spring has become one of the busiest travel seasons in Italy and why January is now the most important month to start planning. From Rome and Florence to Tuscany, Venice, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily, spring travel requires earlier decisions, sharper timing, and a clear understanding of how Italy actually works behind the scenes.

You’ll learn what sells out first when planning a spring vacation in Italy, including intimate accommodations, highly sought-after local guides, and high-demand train routes during Easter and other major Italian holidays. So, if you’re dreaming of an effortless Italian spring getaway rather than a trip shaped by last-minute availability, this episode will help you plan with clarity and confidence. Whether Rome, Florence, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, or Sicily is calling, this conversation will help you set the foundation for a beautifully planned journey.

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0:00 Italy Spring Travel: Why April and May Book Out Early

3:10 Why January Is the Best Time to Plan a Trip to Italy

5:06 What Sells Out First in Italy in Spring

6:31 Train Travel in Italy: Rome, Florence, and Venice

7:37 Designing a Seamless Spring Trip to Italy

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/

Today I'm sharing some exciting news for the year 2026. For the first time, I’m going to talk about my most personal and ambitious travel project yet.

In this episode, I’m announcing a year-long journey living and traveling through Italy, Greece, and France - not as a tourist, but as someone fully stepping into the rhythm of these places. I’ll be living in each destination, experiencing daily life, local culture, and the Mediterranean the way you only can when you slow down and truly live there.

After more than ten years living in Rome and nearly two decades of extensive travel experience, this project truly feels like a natural evolution. It’s my way of looking at Italy, Greece, and France from a completely new perspective, deepening my connection to the destinations I work with every day, and sharing that experience with you in real time.

This episode marks the beginning of The Mediterranean Diaries, a series where I take you behind the scenes of what it truly means to live in Europe long-term. Throughout the year, I’ll be sharing the everyday beauty, the local rhythm, the cultural nuances, and the authentic moments that exist far beyond the postcard version of Italy, Greece, and France.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, Greece, or France, dreaming of living abroad in Europe, or simply want to experience the Mediterranean through storytelling, perspective, and real-life travel insight, this series is going to be the one for you. My goal is to show you how these destinations feel when you experience them deeply, slowly, and with intention.

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0:00 Traveling Italy, Greece & France for a Year: The Big Announcement

2:10 Why I’m Choosing Slow Travel

3:45 From Rome to the Mediterranean: A New Chapter in My Travel Journey

6:12 What The Mediterranean Diaries Is Really About

7:33 Experiencing Italy, Greece & France Beyond the Tourist Experience

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/

Planning a trip to Italy in 2026? This episode offers a clear and intentional roadmap for turning your dream Italy vacation into reality. With travel demand already rising and travelers planning further ahead than ever, the decisions you make now will shape whether your Italy trip feels effortless and extraordinary or limited by last-minute compromises.

In this episode, I share how you should approach Italy trip planning for 2026 and why timing, intention, and thoughtful design make all the difference. From Rome and Florence to Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and the growing allure of Puglia and Matera, I’ll guide you through how to choose destinations, seasons, and pacing that reflect the experience you actually want to have.

Whether you’re dreaming of a romantic honeymoon, a milestone celebration, or a meaningful family trip, I walk you through the essential planning phases that turn an idea into a beautifully orchestrated journey, while helping you avoid the common mistakes I see travelers make year after year.

I also share how we design fully customized Italy trips at Fabulous Vita Travel Agency, taking care of every detail from handpicked accommodations to seamless transportation and personal concierge support. If Italy has been on your mind for 2026, this episode will help you turn that vision into something real - and unforgettable.

Link to the YouTube video on ITALY Trip Planning 2026: How to Book Your DREAM TRIP Like an INSIDER - https://youtu.be/sk1Gn-eN3eo?si=9eJAxVIFpGb0_4Mf

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0:00 Italy 2026: Why Planning Starts Now

2:00 Designing Your Italy Dream Trip

3:56 Italy Trip Planning 2026: Three Key Phases

10:07 Choosing The Right Season and The Right Destinations

11:25 When to Book Your Italy Trip - Book And Build

13:02 Refine & Revel: Designing a Seamless Italy Itinerary

14:37 The Power of Planning Early

16:13 Custom Italy Travel with Fabulous Vita

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

As the year comes to a close, this special episode reflects on how travel in 2025 has evolved - not just in where we go, but in how we choose to experience it. With record-high tourism across Italy and Greece, a meaningful shift has emerged: travelers are approaching their journeys with more intention, curiosity, and care than ever before.

Instead of simply asking where to travel next, more people are asking how they want their days to feel. This episode explores the beauty of slow travel, thoughtful planning, and well-paced journeys through Italy, Greece, and France - trips that feel calm, elevated, and deeply personal rather than rushed or overwhelming.

Guided by the philosophy behind my travel agency Fabulous Vita, this message is both a reflection and a thank-you. It celebrates a community that values meaningful moments, intentional travel, and experiences that linger long after the trip ends, while offering a glimpse of exciting changes coming in the year ahead.

Thank you for listening, for engaging, and for trusting us with something as meaningful as your time and memories. Wishing everyone a season of rest, reflection, and beautifully chosen journeys and an inspiring year to come.

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠⁠https://fabulousvita.com⁠

Youtube Channel : ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/

Planning a trip to Italy in 2026? These essential Italy travel tips will help you avoid the most common mistakes travelers make and elevate the way you experience the country. In this episode, I share the top three pieces of Italy travel advice that made the biggest impact for travelers in 2025 - insights that listeners consistently saved, revisited, and used while planning their Italy itineraries.

You’ll learn why timing is everything when booking tours and experiences in Italy, which iconic attractions like the Vatican Museums, the Last Supper in Milan, and Florence’s Duomo must be reserved months in advance, and why “skip-the-line tours in Italy” are often misunderstood. This episode also clarifies the reality of peak season in Italy, explaining why September and October are no longer shoulder season in destinations such as Rome, Florence, Venice, and Tuscany, and how misinformation around this topic leads to crowded itineraries and inflated prices.

I will give you practical advice on topics like tipping in Italy with clarity and confidence, explaining coperto, servizio charges, and what Italians actually expect at restaurants, so you can travel respectfully without overthinking.

Link to the YouTube video on ITALY Trip Planning 2026: How to Book Your DREAM TRIP Like an INSIDER | Italy Travel Tips - https://youtu.be/sk1Gn-eN3eo

Link to the YouTube video on FALL in ITALY: Why SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER Are the PEAK SEASON | Italy Travel Tips - https://youtu.be/oz5ekPARF-E

Link to the YouTube video on Tipping in Italy: The TRUTH Tourists Need to Know - STOP OVERPAYING! | Italy Travel Tips - https://youtu.be/OEsO0QEMJVQ

Link to the YouTube video on THE ULTIMATE MILAN TRAVEL GUIDE 2026: Local Favorites and Hidden Gems YOU CANNOT MISS! Italy Travel - https://youtu.be/M26fvV_jehw

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0:00 Introduction: The Most Important Italy Travel Tips for 2026

2:24 When to Book Tours and Experiences in Italy

4:47 Skip-the-Line Tours and the Value of Expert Local Guides

7:09 Peak Season in Italy: The Reality of Fall Travel

8:54 Tipping in Italy: Coperto, Service Charges, and Etiquette

12:20 Planning Italy with Confidence and Intention

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

Thinking about visiting Italy in January? This episode uncovers the real truth about winter travel in Italy - what the weather feels like, how the crowds change, what actually stays open, and why this season offers a completely different, and often more intimate, experience of the country. From quiet Roman streets and peaceful museums in Florence to the misty canals of Venice and the snowy beauty of the Dolomites, January reveals an Italy that most travelers never see.

I'll tell you about the balance between the charm and the challenges: colder days, earlier sunsets, and some seasonal closures, but also lower prices, easier reservations, empty landmarks, and a slower rhythm that lets you experience Italy the way locals do. Whether you’re drawn to art, food, culture, or simply the idea of seeing Italy without the chaos of high season, this episode will help you decide if winter is the right moment for your trip.

If intentional, immersive, beautifully designed travel is what you crave, at Fabulous Vita we create bespoke journeys to Italy, Greece, and France throughout the year. Each hotel, restaurant, experience, and transfer is handpicked so you can simply arrive and enjoy the moments most travelers miss - https://fabulousvita.com

After listening, you might find yourself dreaming of a quieter, deeper version of Italy, one that belongs only to those who choose to see it in winter.

Link to the YouTube video on Italy's New Travel Trend: All-Inclusive Resorts in 2025 - https://youtu.be/QVMZ1onE2u8?si=_BDLSUay6rIj3t0q

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0:00 A Different Italy: The Winter Mood

1:40 Italy in January: What Winter Really Feels Like

3:10 Off-Season Italy: Fewer Crowds, Quiet Museums, and a Slower Pace

4:50 Lower Prices, Hotel Availability, and Italy’s Winter Sales

7:58 North vs. South Italy in Winter

9:56 Shorter Days and Seasonal Closures

11:21 Is January a Good Time to Visit Italy? The Final Verdict

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Connect with me: 

Youtube Channel : ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/⁠

Today's special episode is all about embracing the Thanksgiving spirit, where I reflect on a very impactful moment that shifted something in me - a reminder of how delicate life can be, and how essential it is to cherish the people who walk beside us. After ten years of living in Italy, I’ve learned the elegance of slowing down: lingering at the table a little longer, letting conversations unfold naturally, savoring the small details that often go unnoticed, and just the gentle permission to simply exist in the now - but a recent emergency made these lessons more real than ever. This year, gratitude has taken on a deeper, more intimate tone for me.

If you’ve felt the rush of the year pulling you away from yourself or the people you love, my true hope with this episode is to inspire you to bring yourself back to center - to gratitude, love, and intentional living. Let this episode be an invitation to pause during a season that celebrates appreciation. It’s a gentle reminder to return to presence, to acknowledge the relationships that steady us, and to honor the moments, both ordinary and profound, the moments which shape our inner world.

Whether you’re listening from home, traveling for the holidays, or spending Thanksgiving far from family - take a moment to reflect, reconnect, and share gratitude with someone you love today.

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0:00 The Life-Changing Moment in Italy

2:26 The Realization: What Truly Matters

3:40 Living in Italy: Slowing Down and Appreciating Life

4:35 Thanksgiving Reflections on Gratitude and Connection

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Connect with me: 

Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : ⁠https://fabulousvita.com

Youtube Channel : ⁠https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiya.gorshkova/