Travel – The Luxi Look

By Amy Zhang May 24, 2023 in Travel 1 Comment

Milan Travel Guide

Although Milan is widely considered the design and fashion capital of Italy, I still feel it’s underrated and gets a bad rap from American travelers. In case you missed it, here’s my original guide to spending 72 hours in Milan from our first visit in 2018. Since this post, we’ve visited Milan several times and have grown to love the city more with each visit. Even if you’re not head over heels for Milan, it’s a fantastic base to explore Italy from.

Whether you choose to take advantage of Italy’s incredible rail network to take day trips to other cities or opt to rent a car and explore yourself, there is so much to do and see in Northern Italy. Inevitably, you may find yourself spending a day or two in Milan and asking yourself what there is to do and see. Here’s my updated travel guide to Milan with all of my favorite restaurants, shops, and more.

Milan Travel Guide

Compared to other popular Italian cities, Milan can feel industrial and boring to tourists. That’s because, in a sense, it is. There aren’t as many beautiful old buildings or museums as in Rome or Florence, and you can easily see the typical tourist sites in a day. The city feels definitively urban and corporate – after all, it’s the economic center of Italy. While la dolce vita is typically on full display in more tourist-driven destinations, Milan has a very real hustle and bustle energy that is more reminiscent of New York City than the Amalfi Coast. You’ll still find plenty of people having aperitivo at 7pm, but you’ll also see lines of Italians (somewhat impatiently) standing at the bar drinking their morning espressos on the way to work. There’s more of a balance of work and play.

With that said, I love Milan for precisely those reasons. There’s less pressure to do and see a million things in a day, but you still get all of the benefits of being in Italy. There’s incredible food, shopping, art, and more. The city is relatively small and easy to navigate – you can walk everywhere, and best of all, you have all of the comfort and convenience of a big city at your fingertips.

Where to Stay in Milan

+ For hotels, we loved Excelsior Hotel Gallia (right outside Milano Centrale) but have also heard wonderful things about Hotel Principe di Savoia and the Armani Hotel. I don’t normally recommend staying by the train station, but there are tons of affordable options by Milano Centrale and it’s convenient if you plan on taking day trips by train.

+ Airbnbs – there are actually many charming and design-oriented Airbnbs in Milan! I love the Brera neighborhood for its central location and walkability, but on our last two visits we stayed at this gem of an Airbnb in Isola. The photos don’t do it justice, it’s by far my favorite Airbnb I’ve ever stayed in.

Getting Around Milan

Milan is incredibly easy to get around – I recommend walking everywhere if you can, or grabbing an electronic bike on the street if you’re in a rush. The metro is also easy to use, but wasn’t as convenient and built out as other major cities I’ve visited. The train station is central and as far as train stations go, clean and safe.

If you’re flying into Milan, note there are 3 airports. If you’re flying internationally from the US, you will fly into Malpensa (MXP). However, if you’re flying between Italian cities or other parts of Europe, I highly recommend flying into Linate (LIN) if you can! It’s much smaller than Malpensa, which makes it easier to navigate, and is also much closer to the city. A taxi between central Milan and Linate is only around 40-50 euros.

old church to visit in Milan Travel Guide

What to Do

My favorite days in Milan are slow and leisurely, without much of an agenda – which is very opposite of how I typically travel! But if it’s your first time visiting Milan, you may want to see all of the typical sights – you can probably check most of these off your list in a day or so.

+ Visit the Duomo

A visit to Milan isn’t complete without a visit to see the Duomo! I still make a point to see it every time because it’s so awe-inspiring and beautiful. Although I’ve never actually gone up to the top of the Duomo, you can book tickets to visit the inside of the cathedral and rooftop. The Duomo is the most famous tourist attraction in Milan and is probably the only part of the city I’ve felt overwhelmed by crowds and tourists. If you don’t love crowds, go early in the morning or at night (seeing it lit up at night is an experience!) and avoid weekends.

+ The Last Supper

Tickets for The Last Supper book up a month in advance, so if you’re interested in this make sure to book your tickets ASAP!

+ Shopping

Porta Nuova has tons of boutiques – very famous is 10 Corso Como. All of the luxury houses have beautiful shops around Via Monte Napoloeone – La DoubleJ is unique to Milan and a must visit. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is also worth seeing for the design and architecture, but keep in mind it is always very busy due to its proximity to the Duomo. The first Prada store ever is inside, so if you’re looking to make a purchase at Prada this is a special place to do so!

+ Navigli Canals

A historic neighborhood in the southwest corner or Milan, linked by canals and reminiscent of Venice. Today, the neighborhood is very young and trendy – if you’re looking for a casual aperitivo spot around sunset the canals are a great place to wander and pop in for a spritz.

+ Villa Necchi Campiglio

An architectural gem of a villa in the heart of the city. There are several historic houses that have been converted into museums, this is my favorite and absolutely worth a visit.

+ Fondazione Prada

Modern art museum about half an hour away from the city – the museum exterior is worth seeing on its own, but the exhibits inside also make for a fun morning or afternoon. The ground also has a very aesthetic cafe designed by Wes Anderson, Bar Luce which is the perfect spot to grab your morning coffee and a pastry.

+ Take Day Trips

If Milan isn’t your thing, you can easily take a train 1-2 hours away to explore and make it back in time for dinner. We did Venice in a day which was 2.5 hours by train (we loved it so much and will 100% be back to stay there for a few nights) but you also have Florence (2 hours away), Lake Como (less than an hour away), Lake Garda (1.5 hours away), Turin (1 hour away), Bologna (1 hour away), Varenna (1.5 hours away), and more!

Where to Eat & Drink

Reservations are highly recommended for the restaurants below, in Italy when you reserve a table it is yours for the entire evening. Even if you walk into a restaurant and there is no one seated, you can be turned away because they are “fully booked” – this means they have reserved all the tables and within an hour the entire restaurant will be full. Also remember that restaurants close between lunch and dinner (usually between 3-7pm) so if you don’t eat at typical mealtimes, you won’t have many options for sit down meals (fast casual spots are a different story!).

+ Da Giacomo

An upscale seafood restaurant, a favorite for lunch. The restaurant itself is beautiful and a perfect setting for a special occasion.

+ Paper Moon Giardano

An elevated Milanese classics. Request a table outside if possible! You can’t go wrong with any of the pastas and the tiramisu is to die for. Also so dog friendly, every time we come they’ve brought treats for our dog and are so kind overall.

+ Cantina Della Vetra

An incredibly rustic and charming environment to try authentic Northern Italian dishes.

+ La Gioia

It’s the most romantic, intimate atmosphere with the best truffle pasta in Milan.

+ Trattoria Milanese

A traditional Milanese food. The portions are huge and everything is made with love, you will be rolled out of there! The cotoletta and risotto Milanese are must orders – it’s so heavy but SO delicious, I have to eat this meal once every trip to Milan.

+ Il Salumaio

The perfect spot for lunch after shopping around Via Monte Napoleone. Tucked away in the courtyard of the Bagatti Valsecchi museum, everything is simply prepared and incredibly delicious. Also fantastic people watching, and another strong contender for best tiramisu in Milan.

+ La Prosciuetteria

Get the charcuterie board. Perfect if you didn’t have a chance to make a reservation or want something more casual. For under 20 euros a person you get a massive board with meat, cheese, bread, spreads, fruit, and more. Whatever is fresh that day.

+ Trippa

We didn’t make it this time – you have to make a reservation 3 weeks in advance and it’s a very popular table! But have heard good things are adding it to the list for our next trip.

+ Coffee

My favorite spots for coffee in Milan: Gelsomina (cute interior and best pastries), Lubar (all day cafe with a beautiful garden and terrace), Zaini (also happens to be a chocolate shop so you can pick up some souvenirs/gifts after your coffee), and Marchesi 1824 (also a great spot for aperitivo). There’s also a Starbucks Reserve in Milan which is an experience in and of itself, but the coffee isn’t really anything to write home about.

For aperitivo, you have to try the Negroni Sbagliato invented at Bar Basso and check out the stunning rooftop pool at Ceresio 7.

Let me know if I missed anything! What are your favorite spots in Milan? xx

By Amy Zhang May 18, 2023 in Travel No Comments

Paris Travel Guide

Paris is always a good idea… and this year we took the leap to turn our dream of living abroad into a reality. We said goodbye to our life in Los Angeles and made the decision to test out living abroad for three months – starting with a month in Paris. Truly, living the dream! We are so fortunate that our work and lives collided in a way that made this possible.

After a month of living in the heart of the city (more on this below!), we came out of the experience with even more love and appreciation for all it has to offer than before. The month has flown by, and we both agreed we could have spent years in Paris without ever getting bored. It will be hard to leave, but we’ll be back soon (hopefully sooner than later)! In the meantime, I wanted to relive my time in Paris by sharing all of my favorite things to do and see in the city.

Paris Guide and Tips

As far as European destinations go, Paris is very easy to get to – most major US airports will have a direct flight to Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG). I prefer to take a flight that lands first thing in the morning so I have a full day ahead to get settled and sightsee to help me get over jetlag quickly.

+ Getting into Paris

Be prepared to spend up to a couple of hours in customs – if you can, I highly recommend booking a transfer into the city in advance. G7 is the official taxi booking app in Paris, but we always use Welcome Pickups which is available more broadly across Europe. After a long international flight (and potentially very little sleep), there’s nothing better than being able to get into a preassigned car and mindlessly get into the city to check into your hotel or Airbnb. It’s much more expensive than public transportation, but a splurge that is 100% worth it in my opinion.

+ Getting around

My favorite way to see any city is by foot, I think you just stumble across so many more hidden jewels than if you take a car or train everywhere. Some of our favorite days in Paris were spent walking around the city aimlessly and coming across the best *insert item/activity here* we had never heard of. Even though it rained most days we were in Paris, we still made a point to walk as much as possible (pack an umbrella!) – averaging over 10 miles a day. Make sure to pack comfortable shoes!! More on that later :).

+ Language and Cultural Barriers

There is a lot of misinformation on the ease of getting around Paris without speaking the language (you can easily get around without speaking French), and whether or not the French are rude to Americans (in my experience, it’s a resounding NO they have always been more than polite and kind). On the language front, in recent years many Parisians have learned English and you will rarely find yourself in a situation in the main tourist areas where there is no English spoken or used. Of course, it never hurts to learn some basic French phrases before visiting or looking up common phrases/words using a language app when traveling around. When in a pinch, Google Translate is fantastic.

+ Business Closures

Watch out for bank and local holidays during your visit. We were in town on May Day (May 1) which is a national holiday and most businesses are closed. If you are staying in central Paris, you will still find many tourist restaurants and cafes staying open, but more businesses (many museums, shops) will be closed than usual. Also, many businesses will be closed on Sunday and Monday, so always do your research in advance!

+ Make Reservations in Advance

On that note, I highly recommend planning as much as possible in advance if you can. Museum and tourist site tickets should all be booked at least a week in advance, and most restaurants will strongly encourage or require a reservation (especially if you are visiting during the summer or peak season!). If you prefer to have a more laid-back itinerary that is fine as well, there are definitely restaurants and museums you can walk into any day of the week, but you can expect more of a wait.

Where to Stay

One of the best things about Paris is how livable the city is – it’s surprisingly small and thankfully very easy to navigate. The entire city is only 6 miles across, and main tourist area is even smaller. Paris consists of 20 arrondissements (districts), each of which is unique and charming in its own way. If you’re visiting the city for only a few days and choose to stay in the more tourist central arrondissements, you’ll be able to get to most sights by foot (my favorite way to see the city!) or the metro easily.

We’ve stayed all over the city – most recently for our month long stay we found an apartment on the edge of the Marais. Although we loved how central the location was to everything we wanted to do and see, we did find that the Marais got overwhelmingly busy on the weekends – and this was in early April! I expect the city to be even more crowded once summer rolls around.

While truthfully you really can’t go wrong staying anywhere in central Paris, these are some of my recommendations on neighborhoods to stay in for a visit.

1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th are most popular arrondissements for tourists. 1 is where the Louvre and other central sites are. It will feel VERY touristy and busy! But the area is great if you are visiting for the first time or for only a couple of days as you’ll be close to all of the main tourist attractions. 6 and 7 are still central, but much quieter – these are very quintessentially charming Parisian neighborhoods. Saint-Germain-des-Prés is where I would recommend staying if you want an old-school Parisian feel. 8 is another good choice that is very close to the Eiffel Tower and where many luxury shops on Avenue Montaigne and Champs-Élysées are. Note that accommodations here will be a bit higher than in other areas.

The Marais (3/4) is another popular choice, I really love this area for family or couples trips. There is so much to do and the area is incredibly charming. This is where we spent the most time recently and where many of my recommendations below will be.

Last year we stayed in the 9th for a week and it was my favorite neighborhood to date – it felt very authentic and local, which we loved. If I was to spend more time in Paris long term, my first choice would be the 9th or 7th arrondissements.

What to Do

One thing I loved most about Paris is despite how touristy many attractions are, they are still magical and absolutely worth seeing. The perfect example – the Eiffel Tower! I never got sick of seeing the Eiffel Tower during the day or night (make sure to catch the hourly show on the hour). I’m including typical “tourist” activities along with more general things to do below, feel free to choose the activities that look most appealing to you to create your dream Paris itinerary.

+ Museums

The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are must-visits for anyone – be sure to book timed tickets in advance. Both are always busy so your best bet is to book a 9 am timeslot during the week. There are also so many incredible smaller museums that are absolutely worth a visit as well – my favorites are Musée Rodin and Musée de l’Orangerie. You could easily spend a month in Paris visiting museums and not even scratch the surface.

woman wearing dress and trench coat in white and sharing Paris guide

+ See the Eiffel Tower

If you are staying in central Paris you will most likely end up seeing the Eiffel Tower every day. Here are some of my favorite places to view the Eiffel Tower for photos 🙂

Ave de Camoens
Rue de l’Universite (always busy with people taking photos)
Any of the bridges along the Seine – Pont d’Iéna, Pont de l’Alma, Pont Neuf,
Along the Seine between Pont d’Iéna and Pont de l’Alma
Metro Line 6 between Passy and Bri Hakeim
Trocadero

columns outside a building for Paris guide

people around a fountain for Paris guide

+ Gardens

There’s nothing better than heading to one of the many beautiful gardens in the city on a warm, sunny day to read a book or have a picnic with friends. You’ll see many other locals and tourists doing the same exact thing! My favorites are Jardin Palais Royal, Jardin Tuileries, and Jardin du Luxembourg.

+ Shopping

Paris is my favorite place to shop no matter what your budget. For luxury brands, I love Avenue Montaigne and Rue Saint-Honoré for the individual stores, but Parisian department stores are also worth a visit (if nothing else but to window shop or admire the design!). My favorites: Le Bon Marche, Galeries Lafayette (there is an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower and the city from the top floor), and Samaritaine. I also highly recommend La Grand Epicerie for food gifts to bring home for yourself or others. The best way to describe it is a French Eataly – we will be bringing home lots of jams, tea, French mustard, madeleines, and butter. Don’t forget to claim your VAT refund for purchases over 175 euros 🙂

+ Walking Everywhere

There is so much to do and see, and it is all best done by foot! My favorite places to walk in the city:

Along the Seine river
To and around Montmartre
Rue Saint-Honoré and through Jardin Tuileries
Around the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain
Through the Marais
To Parc des Buttes-Chaumont – a bit off the typical tourist path, but a beautiful park just outside the main area. Bonus – there’s one of the super popular Fotoautomat vintage photo booths in the park, and because it’s less frequented by tourists there’s no line (unlike the one in Montmartre that blew up thanks to Tik Tok).

+ Crazy Horse

A modern cabaret show, we’ve been twice and each time has been so much fun!

view of a garden and palace for Paris guide

What to Eat

I can (and will) do an entire post on my favorite restaurants and meals – because one of the best parts of visiting Paris is truly the FOOD! I believe it’s genuinely very hard to have a bad meal in Paris – whatever your budget is, you’ll be able to find incredible food in the city. Over our past few trips we have had so many amazing meals – here are some of my favorites below (more to come here!).

+ Restaurants:

Le Bon Georges
Relais de l’Entrecote
Clown Bar
Le Petit Lutecia
Jais
Pompette
Deviant
Clamato
L’Avenue
Le Fontaine de Mars
Cafe Charlot
Carette
Cafe Marly

+ Casual/cheap eats:

Miznon
Udon Kunitoraya
Foderol
Biyo Durum
Song Heng
Chez Alain Miam Miam
L’As du Fallafel
Le Pain Retrouve (my favorite bakery in all of Paris!)

And of course you can’t forget coffee shops/cafes! I’d heard the coffee scene in Paris was not great, this could not be further from the truth. We had amazing coffee everyday in Paris, but be warned the good stuff is priced the same as LA. Also I know everyone goes to Cafe de Flore or Les Deux Magots, these are fine to visit once for the experience but between the long wait and the overpriced coffee I wouldn’t go back again (the people watching is excellent though!).

Noir
Laize Sainte Avoye / Laize Palais Royal
Recto Verso
Cafe Kitsune
Residence Kann
The Coffee
Merci
Telescope
Maison Fleuret

top view of two cups of coffee and sunglasses

Cooking in Paris is also an experience, and one we thoroughly enjoyed. Stopping at the various markets for ingredients became part of our daily routine: Carrefour for pantry items and staples, our local boulangerie for baguettes, the fishmonger or butcher depending on what we were making for dinner that night, and the neighborhood fruit and vegetable stand. Yes, it’s many more stops and way less convenient than back home, but we loved getting to know our local vendors and couldn’t believe the freshness and quality of food in Paris. Also, our Airbnb kitchen was tiny, to say the least – and didn’t even have an oven! So we had to be a bit creative with meals at home. With that said, we enjoyed simple meals of fruit and yogurt in the morning, ham and butter baguette sandwiches for lunch, and AJ mastered sole meunière for dinner. Delicious!

What to Pack – Wardrobe Essentials

Although the spring and fall months are my favorite months to visit Paris (the weather is generally milder and the city is much less crowded), the weather can be incredibly unpredictable. Even though I checked the weather forecast obsessively before our trip (looking at past years’ data and the forecast for the upcoming weeks), it turned out to be almost entirely wrong. It rained almost the entire time we were there and was much colder and windier than anticipated. While Paris is the best place to shop for a new wardrobe, if you bring the following essential capsule pieces you should be set for most situations. Also, don’t forget an umbrella!!

Trench coat

The classic and iconic spring/fall jacket in Paris. Everyone wears them! You can’t go wrong with a tan/beige version, if you want something with a little more spice I would suggest a leather version! COS makes incredible trench coats that won’t break the bank. I also love this one – it’s more expensive but will last forever!

Trousers

Ffor whatever reason I am not the biggest denim on vacation fan, I usually leave them at home although I did pack a pair this trip thankfully (they were much warmer than my other bottoms!). However, my go-to pant in Paris is typically a pair of trousers. I have these (only $65!) and also love these (want them in every color!).

Blazer

Great on its own for warmer days or layers well underneath a jacket when it’s cooler. This one is my favorite, I have it in two colors and I’m so tempted to get it in more!

Sweater

I love a striped sweater for Europe, this one is a great price and so flattering on everyone. Side note – I’m obsessed with ARKET, there aren’t any stores in the states and only a handful in Europe but there is a location in Paris in the Marais that is fantastic!

Matching lounge set

Parisians don’t wear sweatpants or leggings in public, but these matching sets by Naked Cashmere serve as comfort and style. They also keep you warm during transitional weather and are super lightweight in your suitcase!

Comfortable walking shoes

I don’t care if I look like a tourist, if I am walking over 10 miles a day I will always wear sneakers during the day. Most Parisians do as well! Of course, if you want to wear other shoes

I could go on for days… so please do not hesitate to reach out with ANY questions! And of course, I would love your best Paris recs to add to my list for our next visit. I hope this was helpful – stay tuned for even more travel guides!! xx

By Amy Zhang October 7, 2022 in Travel No Comments

Carmel-by-the-Sea with Lexus

Last month, we drove up the coast for a quick weekend trip to celebrate our friends getting married in Carmel. We’ve stopped in Carmel-by-The-Sea before on our way to Big Sur but had never stayed overnight. As you may already know, we love a roadtrip and staycation! We were in the process of getting ready for our extended fall travel away from home and my car happened to be in the shop – thankfully, Lexus was able to save the day. More on this below, along with my guide to Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Driving the Lexus NX 350 F Sport

As mentioned above, Lexus was kind enough to partner with us again for the weekend. This time, we tested a crossover SUV (NX 350 F Sport) and it made for such a fun and smooth ride up the coast. We drove 5+ hours each way between Carmel and LA and were comfortable the entire trip. We were honestly impressed with the safety features and overall experience with the car. It’s also the perfect size for us and the stage we are in right now – it felt roomy and spacious (I have a tendency to overpack or leave a lot of stuff in my car) but not too bulky to navigate and drive.

Carmel-by-The-Sea Guide with Lexus

woman who was driving the Lexus NX 350 F Sport

Where to Stay

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very small, walkable town. You won’t find big chain resorts in the main town, but rather lots of cozy bed & breakfast inns. We stayed at The Hideaway on a recommendation from our friend who is local, and really appreciated the recently renovated, more modern rooms (that are also dog friendly!). Our room didn’t have air conditioning and California was in the midst of a heat wave, but generally the weather in Carmel is temperate enough that you won’t need air conditioning. When we asked the front desk, they mentioned most places in town won’t have air conditioning.

If you’re looking for a bigger resort or luxury experience, nearby Big Sur has the incredible resorts Ventana and Post Ranch Inn (we loved our stay at Ventana!). For this trip, we really loved the intimate atmosphere close to the water in Carmel.

What to Do

If you’re familiar at all with the Coastal Grandmother trend, Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the ULTIMATE Coastal Grandmother towns. You really want to slow down and fully embrace the lifestyle. We were fairly busy with wedding festivities, but here is what my ideal day in Carmel looks like:

Wake up and get coffee and pastries from Rise + Roam.

Walk to the beach with your coffee – or go for a run!

Have brunch at Stationaery.

Go shopping in town, visit art galleries, or do a wine tasting in town (we loved Caraccioli – they do a fab sparkling flight).

Have dinner at La Bicyclette – our favorite!

If you have an extra day or two, be sure to hop in the car and drive to Big Sur for a hike, or visit the Monterey Aquarium. There’s also tons of hiking and beautiful beaches near Carmel if you prefer to stay in the area.

Have you ever been to Carmel-by-the-Sea?

By Amy Zhang October 5, 2022 in Travel 1 Comment

How to Travel With Your Dog Internationally

By far my most asked question around our extended trip to Europe. Hi, from Milan at the moment! It has been around our dog. Specifically, how we traveled to Europe with him. I’ve gotten this question so many times. It warms my heart to see how many of you consider your furry best friends to truly be part of the family! I wanted to share our exact process and steps we took to bring Puppers with us to Europe.

How to Travel With Your Dog Internationally

When we were planning to stay in Europe for an extended period of time (several months vs. the usual week or two we go away for), we knew we couldn’t leave him behind. The thought of leaving him with a sitter or our family was honestly unfathomable. So, I immediately began researching how we could safely and legally bring him along. Before I started my research, my initial thinking was this has to be practically impossible. But when we were in Italy for our wedding back in June, my interest was piqued when I saw a dog get off our flight in Rome from the states. I knew it was possible, I just wasn’t sure how difficult it would be.

Thankfully, depending on where you are traveling to (requirements vary by country), traveling with a pet is fairly straightforward. Before I go into depth on how we brought Puppers and what we had to do in order to bring him, I do want to caveat that travel can be extremely stressful on dogs – as it is for humans! I really wouldn’t recommend it if you are flying a long distance for a short period of time. Also, if you are going to be switching up locations constantly.

The only reason we brought our dog is because we were planning on being away for almost 3 months.

We were only visiting 3 separate countries and would be staying in 1 place for a long time. In general we tried to avoid hopping around too many cities and countries in our itinerary. Every travel day has been long, even the days between cities in the same country. I’ve felt it in my body (hello, 30’s?!) and noticed it in Puppers as well. His energy levels are definitely lower and he needs more rest, quiet, and sleep after a long travel day. Dogs are just like us, and they get jet lagged too! I know it’s so, so tempting to bring your pets with you everywhere. However, keep this in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to travel with them.

couple with their dog sharing how to Travel With Your Dog

How We Brought Our Dog to Europe

Before booking any tickets, the first thing we did was look up the entry requirements for the countries we were planning on visiting. I had heard horror stories about dogs having to be quarantined when they arrived. I knew I wanted to avoid that at all costs. Thankfully, most European countries have fairly straightforward requirements. The exception of UK, Ireland, Finland, Malta, and Norway – these are little trickier with deworming.

The countries we planned to visit all had the same requirements for the dog to be able to travel:

A health certificate for each country the dog will be visiting
Microchip
Up to date rabies vaccination

Some countries may also require additional vaccinations, test results for lab tests, or import permits. Again, this varies by country. Be sure to check the site above for each country’s requirements. Also, speak to your vet about traveling internationally with your pet. If your pet is microchipped and up to date on their vaccinations, then you can go ahead and schedule the health check with your vet. This is necessary in order to get the health certificate.

Next, when booking your flights, you will need to call the airline. Let them know you plan to bring a pet with you. The options for pets to travel are either in cabin or in cargo. If you have a service animal, these rules won’t apply to you. Most airlines will have a size or weight limit for pets that are allowed in the cabin. If your pet is above the limit, they will have to go in the cargo area of the plane, unless they are a trained service animal (emotional support animals don’t count, sorry!).

Pets in cabin are also only allowed in certain cabin classes, depending on the airline.

For example – we flew Air France, and they do not allow pets in all cabins. Most airlines won’t allow pets in business class, so you will have to book an economy or premium economy ticket. You will have to call the airline to reserve a spot for your pet (there are limits to how many pets can be on board a flight) and pay the fee, which will vary by airline. I believe we paid around $125 for one way from LA to Paris.

Once you have your pet’s “seat” reserved on your flight, this is the part that gets a little tricky. Your vet should be able to walk you through this, but you will need the health certificate dated no more than 10 days before your flight departs. The best way to coordinate this is to schedule the pet’s health check 10 days before your flight, and then work with your vet to make sure you have all of the documents needed to submit the health certificate.

You will have to pre pay an overnight or express shipping label so the vet can then submit the paperwork on your behalf, and you will be able to have the finalized health certificates overnighted to you. Of course, all of this is contingent on your pet being in good health and deemed “healthy” to fly by your vet.

Once you have all of the paperwork and admin done, you’re ready to fly with your pet! Again, please be sure to conduct your own research and speak to your vet, as requirements may change, and do vary by country.

How to Manage an International Flight with a Pet

The paperwork to get Puppers approved to come to Europe was the easy part. It took a bit of organization and diligence, but overall the process was straightforward (our vets in West Hollywood were also incredibly helpful!). However, the long flight was our biggest concern.

This is how we managed the trip from LA to Europe.

We didn’t feed Puppers the morning of our flight, and took him a long walk in the morning to make sure he went to the bathroom. Then, once we were at the airport we found the pet relief area (most/all airports should have this) and spent a good amount of time there before the flight.
Once we were on the flight, we gave (with the permission of our vet) a very mild sedative to relax him and help keep him calm during the flight.
Unfortunately, unless you have a service animal your pet has to be fully in their carrier under the seat for the entirety of the flight. This was really hard and sad, we checked in on him often and he was sleeping and just hanging out for the entire flight. But trust me, this was the worst part of the trip. I HIGHLY recommend investing in a high quality, comfortable pet carrier. I did a ton of research before our flight, this is the BEST carrier we found by far. We love this carrier because it’s super stealth and sleek. You can’t even tell there’s a dog inside. The padding is super comfortable for a dog to lay on, and the mesh allows them to see through while still being in a cocoon-like environment. If you’re going to splurge on anything, splurge on this carrier!!
As soon as we landed and made it through customs, the very first thing we did was let him out of his carrier to stretch his legs, and give him lots of water, food, and treats.

How Much Does It Cost to Travel With Your Pet Internationally?

Another factor that might weigh into your decision to travel with your pet internationally is the cost and all of the expenses tied to traveling with a pet. Here are just a few of the expenses we encountered when bringing our dog to Europe. This does not include his daily expenses or what it has cost to have him traveling with us.

Pet Fee for Flight to and from Europe (round trip) – $250

Vet Health Check for Health Certificates – $100

International Health Certificate – $195

3 Countries Health Certificate – $120 ($40/country)

Overnight Shipping Label – $40

Total: $665

There are also additional fees for every additional flight we take (although this fee is much less once you’re in Europe – we’ve paid between $40-$80 per flight here), as well as any hotel fees that come with bringing a dog. We’ve gotten pretty lucky booking dog friendly Airbnbs and finding hotels that have low/no pet fees, but these can add up quickly! Make sure to do research on where you can stay with a pet abroad.

Our Experience Traveling With a Dog Through Europe

One final note – I thought living in LA, we were already living in the most dog friendly place. But Europe (so far only France and Italy) has been so much more dog friendly, I honestly couldn’t believe it! Puppers has been allowed almost everywhere – no questions asked. Restaurants (indoor and outdoor), stores, the metro, beach clubs in Puglia – so far he has been welcome most places and treated so, so well. The French and Italians love dogs, they bring them everywhere.

The one time we were given a look was when we took him to a grocery store in Puglia. Even then they asked us to carry him vs. letting him walk around on his own. There are also some parks in Paris and beaches in Puglia that were no dogs allowed. Overall, Europe has been significantly more dog friendly than the US so far. It is another reason why we’re so happy we brought him along!

It truly has been the trip of a lifetime. As such, it’s even more memorable and meaningful we were able to bring our dog along. I’m really grateful we were able to do it safely. Any minor inconveniences that we’ve encountered from having a pet while traveling have been entirely eclipsed by the joy it’s brought us simultaneously and the memories we’ve made that we’ll cherish forever.

Let me know if I missed anything, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions on what it’s been like to travel with our dog. xx

By Amy Zhang July 19, 2022 in Style, Travel No Comments

Packing Tips for a European Summer

Packing Tips for European Summer | by The Luxi Look

When I first started packing for our wedding trip to Italy, I was overwhelmed, to say the least! From past trips I’ve learned that organization leads to success, so here are the packing tips I’ve implemented to make packing more streamlined and less stressful for big trips.

Packing Tips for a European Summer

+ Packing cubes

My #1 packing tip is to use packing cubes!! These are complete game changers, I don’t know how I ever packed for a trip without them. I get mine on Amazon. I have multiple sets. It doesn’t really matter the brand as long as the mesh is somewhat see-through so you can quickly see what’s inside. For my wedding trip, I was very careful with how I packed each cube. I used a large cube for each “region” or occasion of the trip (so every few days I would be using a new packing cube). For example: I packed a cube for Rome. One for Puglia before and after the wedding, the pre-wedding events, the wedding day itself, and Sicily.

In each cube I tried to group together the outfits, swim, pajamas, activewear, etc. for the set of days the cube was for. I also planned outfits in advance (more on this below) so I knew what looks were in each cube. This way, when I was in a certain destination I could just pull out the packing cube for that location. Then, unpack the outfits for that leg of the trip. I also knew once we moved to our next destination that I was “done” with a particular cube and wouldn’t need to dig into it anymore.

+ Pack versatile pieces

I always try to pack pieces that can be worn multiple ways. Don’t take up too much space (fabric is important!). I definitely overpacked this most recent trip for obvious reasons. I didn’t want to forget anything for my wedding,. But I usually try to re-wear pieces if I can, especially if I am taking an extended trip. Examples of versatile pieces I will usually pack are:

A printed scarf

Ascarf takes up little to no space and can be used in so many different ways. This is a must, especially in the summer months! You can wear it as an accessory tied around your neck or purse, as a headscarf, or my personal favorite, as a top. You can really use any square scarf, but I love a vintage one (you can find tons of options on The Real Real and other designer resale sites).

Wide leg trousers

Trousers always look chic, both on vacation and at home. I’m slowly building out my capsule wardrobe to include the perfect trousers in every color. You can wear these with any top for the most part or over a swimsuit. They don’t take up much space and can be worn multiple times over the course of a trip.

White linen shirt

Easiest swimsuit cover-up you can throw into a bag, you can’t go wrong with linen in the summer. I also will always pack an extra one to wear as an added layer in the evenings. It’s great for when it gets a little chilly but a light layer is sufficient.

+ Plan outfits in advance

A little advance planning goes a long way. I’ve seen a ton of videos of girls taking detailed photos of every outfit in advance, I have yet to do this but I love the idea for future trips! I usually just assemble pieces together. Then, write down in the Notes app on my phone the components of the outfit and what I think the outfit will be worn for. It helps to do a little bit of reverse engineering of your trip as well to really think through the different events/occasions you will need outfits for, and plan for these in advance.

+ Simplify your beauty routine

This one is sooo hard for me, I was fully convinced I needed my full skincare, haircare, and makeup routine in Europe and brought everything with me. The truth is, I am much lazier when I am on vacation and end up resorting to much more pared down version of my usual routine. When I came home, I could not believe how many skin and makeup products I didn’t even touch. For skincare, I like a more streamlined version of my usual routine and would probably limit my products in the future. These are the essentials I could probably get by with –

For day: vitamin C serum, moisturizer, sunscreen

For night: cleanser, micellar water, hydrating/soothing serum, moisturizer

Makeup: highlighter, skin tint, cream bronzer, liquid blush, brow pencil, lip oil

+ Limit the number of shoes you pack for European Summer

Unfortunately, shoes take the most space and weight (this is important if you are taking multiple flights and don’t want overweight bags!). If you’re headed to Europe in the summer, you will most likely walk more than you are used to, so practical shoes are key. Leave the heels at home (ok, maybe a kitten heel!) and stick to a comfortable (but chic) walking shoe, a couple of pairs of neutral flat sandals, and a dressier pair of sandals. This is a good foundation for shoe options, and you can add other options from here if you have more space or an extra suitcase.

Once you get in the habit of doing a little prep work before a big trip, it makes the overall trip go by so much smoother and you don’t run the risk of overpacking (nothing worse than an overweight bag fee) or finding out you packed tons of products you don’t need and forgot the ones you actually use everyday.

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