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Posted by Danielle 27 June 2025 11 July 2025
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Danielle From Ciao Family Travel

Ciao! I’m Danielle!

 

I’m an American mom raising my 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy.

After traveling to over 48 countries, I’ve figured out how to make family travel meaningful and rewarding! I spend hours on hours researching my trips and am ready to pass all that along to you!

DESTINATIONS
DESTINATIONS
TRAVEL TIPS
TRAVEL TIPS
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It’s not necessarily about earning more, it’s abou It’s not necessarily about earning more, it’s about prioritizing. 🙌🏻

We drive older, cheap cars, our accommodations are almost always super simple, we rarely eat out, and my kids mostly wear hand-me-downs. Because honestly, I care way more about experiences than I do about the stuff in our life. 🌍 

And I know this isn’t a finance page, but I also wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t share what changed our lives financially: The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins, the FIRE community, and I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. 📚

These resources helped us get clear on our goals, figure out how we actually want to use our income, and taught us about making our money grow. These 3 resources completely changed our lives starting in 2019, and this could be the year they change yours too. ✨

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly #familytravel #firecommunity
The best things we did in 2025, according to all s The best things we did in 2025, according to all six of us! 💛

I have reels about most of these experiences, but if you’re curious about anything or want more details, just drop a comment or send me a DM!

What were the best things your family did this year? 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly #familytravel
I used to think this entire village nativity (wher I used to think this entire village nativity (where you literally have to search to find baby Jesus) was odd…

It’s now become my favorite part of Christmas in Italy and such a powerful reminder to seek our Christ.❤️

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#christinchristmas #christmas #nativity #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
The summer we did this is still my favorite. 💛 In The summer we did this is still my favorite. 💛

In 2019 we bought our home in Italy and had to install an entire kitchen (Italian homes usually come with nothing except a toilet… you have to buy the light fixtures, sinks, kitchen etc.), and it completely wiped out our savings. Plus my husband switched jobs into the travel industry literally months before COVID hit. 🫠 We were counting every penny.

At the end of February we went into lockdown and literally couldn’t leave the house (one person did have permission to go buy groceries!) until the beginning of May. 😅 By the time we were allowed to leave our region on June 3rd, I was itching to spend the whole summer outside exploring.

I still remember the night I logged onto Airbnb and used their map feature. I set the price per night at 50 euros for our family of six and scoured the entire peninsula. I didn’t care where we went. I just wanted a home near the sea, a lake, or have a swimming pool and to spend as little money as possible. 

We found 3 incredible and cheap homes, and ended up spending two weeks in each location. We were together discovering new towns, waterfalls, hikes, and lakes. It was magical. ✨

If I’m not set on a specific location, I still do this. Set the price filter ridiculously low and see what pops up on the map. Be flexible. If nothing comes up at 50 euros, bump it to 75. No matter where you live, there are incredible adventures to be discovered all around you. I’ve helped friends find adorable homes in the French countryside and Slovenia (with so many activities in the surrounding area!) using this trick.

Also don’t forget about Google Flight’s explore tab where you can see the cheapest flights available for any week! 🤩

The price filter and the map are your two secret weapons for finding incredible deals and discovering new places. ✈️😮

You still get the adventure, just without the scary price tag! And honestly, it might end up being your favorite summer too. 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛
Crazy to think about how different my life would h Crazy to think about how different my life would have been if I hadn’t taken that leap. 😅

I actually did end up going to BYU after my year in Europe, but if I hadn’t decided to keep studying Italian, I never would have met Andrea. 💛

I don’t usually jump on trend bandwagons, but it really is wild how these seemingly small decisions end up changing our whole lives. ✨

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly #familytravel
I’d go on this hike over and over again. And if yo I’d go on this hike over and over again. And if you’re going to Lapland, this hike definitely deserves a spot in your itinerary.

📍 Särkitunturi Fell

The trail starts from a little parking area on road 79 (just put “Trail to Fell Särkitunturi” in Google Maps and it will take you right there!). You can hike this trail anytime of year, but it’s especially magical in the winter when the polar sky glows pink.

Some people like to hike the trail with snowshoes, but if you stay on the actual trail (which gets very packed down by locals) it’s not a problem with regular boots.

Halfway up, there’s a tiny Lappish hut (kota) by a frozen pond, and it’s the perfect spot to warm up before the last push above the treeline. The firewood is provided by the local forest service, but you may need to bring a lighter (unless a local already has a fire going). We brought hot dogs, buns, and ketchup to roast for lunch on our way up.

The hike took us about two hours to finish, and even though it was mostly uphill, our kids, who were 11, 10, 8, and 7 at the time, didn’t have any difficulty getting to the top.

A few more tips:
❄️ Wear warm, warm clothes (including a merino wool base layer!) and bring hand warmers.
❄️ Go on a clear day so you can enjoy the pink skies.
❄️ Bring a couple thermoses of hot berry juice. (You can find it at the local grocery stores). You’ll be so glad for a drink of hot juice halfway through your hike!

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#muoniofinland #lapland #laplandfinland 
#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly #familytravel #stockingstuffers
We’ve tried so many games over the years, and thes We’ve tried so many games over the years, and these are the ones that have made the cut!

We started bringing games on our vacations about eight years ago…and we’ve never stopped. They’re perfect for winding down after a long day, keeping everyone entertained while waiting for food at a restaurant, or for a midday break at the park. 

Some of our forever favorites are Spot It, Qwixx (!!), Pass the Pigs, and Monopoly Deal. Comment “stocking” and I’ll send you the full list with links!

They’re the perfect size to toss in a bag (and a stocking!), they’re cheap, and the kind of games you’ll actually use for years.

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly #familytravel #stockingstuffers
At least that’s what the internet loves to tell us At least that’s what the internet loves to tell us… 🙄

And it’s such an impossible guilt trip. 😒
We can’t read every book, see every landmark, or have every experience in the world…and that’s okay! 

Choosing adventures that fit your budget and your season of life is normal and enough!!

I’d love to explore more of Asia and South America, but they’re far from us and more expensive (the price of 6 airline tickets! 😅) AND there are so many amazing experiences here in Europe that are cheaper and easier to get to. 

I was talking with my son the other day in the car when he told me how badly he wants to visit China. I said that maybe one day we could go as a family, but if we never do he can go on his own when he’s older. 

He turned to me with the biggest smile and said, “Ok, I’ll send you a postcard.” 🥰

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
If you’re like me and use November and December to If you’re like me and use November and December to plan your trips for the upcoming year, here at some couple trips you’ll definitely want to consider! 

I’d go back to any of these places in a heartbeat. 😍

A few more destinations on our couple’s-trip-wish-list are…
1. Svalbard, Norway
2. Tunisia (Tunis, Carthage, and a night in the desert!)
3. Lofoten Islands, Norway
4. Basque Country 
5. Jutland, Denmark 
6. Berlin, Germany
7. York and Lake District, UK

Have you been to any of these places? 
Where else would you add to my list?

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
Two years ago I heard something that completely re Two years ago I heard something that completely reshaped how I thought about raising confident kids: competence builds confidence, not praise. 🤯

Positive affirmations have had their spot in the limelight, but research suggests they’re actually NOT enough. 

Building real confidence comes when kids master a variety of skills: cooking their own pasta, ordering their own food at a restaurant, unloading the dishwasher, or navigating their way through an airport or subway system. (I’m still obsessed with “The Anxious Generation.” 😆) 

Travel is a great way to build confidence, but honestly it’s the small, everyday tasks that truly make the biggest difference. 

I remind myself often that every time I let my kids do something on their own or teach them a new skill, I’m showing them they’re capable…And that’s the foundation of real confidence. ✨

Up next on my reading list is “Hunt, Gather, Parent.” Has anyone read it? 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
The most underrated tourist spot in Florence…😮 I The most underrated tourist spot in Florence…😮

I don’t know why this palace isn’t more well known, because to me it’s totally on par with Versailles and Schönbrunn. Truly!! ✨

Plus, the fact that it was home to the Medici family means every corner is absolutely soaked in history. (And don’t even get me started on the Boboli Gardens. ⛲️ They’re incredible.)

If you want to go deeper than just the “big hits” when traveling, don’t forget to check out the @gaido.app ! 😍 It’s an incredible resource for planning your itinerary, and it’s also a fantastic place to book a private tour with exceptional guides. (They’re all hand-picked and truly such great quality!)

Have you been to Pitti Palace? Or is this going on your list now?!

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #lifeinitaly #expatinitaly
✨Here’s a full itinerary for the greatest girls tr ✨Here’s a full itinerary for the greatest girls trip ever! (Trust me, that’s not an exaggeration!!) 

📍Dinan - The most adorable, medieval French town! Just enjoy exploring all the streets and the old port. Thursday morning there is a fantastic market that has been happening for centuries! 🤩 DON’T miss my favorite French pastry from this region the kouign amann. Our favorite was from Steve McKouign. 😋

📍Saint Malo - Walk the ramparts, take a dip in the Bon Secours swimming pool (it fills up with ocean water at high tide!!), admire the stained glass at Saint-Vincent Cathedral, and relax on the beach. 🌊 For lunch get crepes at Le Corps de Garde. 🍽️

📍Mont Saint Michel - This is an absolutely incredible island town/abbey. ✨ Wander the streets, tour the abbey, and explore the mudflats…a tour guide will even show you the quicksand! 

📍Arromanches - Spend one day seeing the D-Day beaches and historical sites. ❤️ This day was sombering and learning so much about the sacrifice really changed my life. 

📍Paris - End with the City of Lights. 🥐 So much to do and see in Paris depending on your interests. Even just walking around and going up the Eiffel Tower is magical! 

↗️ Send this to the girlfriend/s you want to go with!! 

📚Best way to prepare for this trip…

🎧 D-Day: The Tide Turns Poscast 
🎬 “The Longest Day”
📖 All The Light We Cannot See 

👋🏻 Hi! I’m Danielle, an American mom raising our 4 kids in my husband’s hometown in Italy. 🇮🇹

I share our family travels with an emphasis on unique and educational experiences. So glad you’re here! 💛

#familytraveltips #travelwithkids #travelhacksforparents #momapprovedtravel #learningthroughtravel #traveleurope #travelhacksforparents #familytravel

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