Do you like traveling but get frustrated with the long lines for airport security?
Ruth’s Tips: Make your travel FASTER and EASIER by getting Global Entry!
Last month, I flew from Italy 🇮🇹 to the USA 🇺🇸 and back 🇮🇹. It was the FIRST TIME I used Global Entry, a US Department of Homeland Security “Trusted Traveler” Program.
I went through security in 5 minutes, compared to the 30-minute average for travelers going through the regular security line.
Global Entry makes it much easier to fly out of the United States AND return home:
✅ Expedited US customs screening for international air travelers upon ARRIVAL in USA
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✅ Global Entry members receive TSA PreCheck benefits as part of membership
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✅ TSA PreCheck provides expedited security screening for flights DEPARTING from USA
If you are planning on traveling to Italy in 2025, either to stay at our apartments in Vernazza OR to join us on our FIRST LIGURIA ADVENTURE in June, you are going to want to get Global Entry. It is worth every penny. It makes it so easy to fly out of the United States and even better when you come back.
To learn more about how to apply for Global Entry, check out the US Department of Homeland Security website.
➡️ Follow me for more Ruth’s Tips and an (almost) daily dose of Cinque Terre.
#TravelTips #ruthstips #GlobalEntry #AirportSecurity #Cinqueterre
🎉 Big Announcement! 🎉
Cristiano and I will be leading our FIRST small group tour on June 4-11, 2025 on the Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre and Liguria in collaboration with Adventures with Sarah.
This small group tour is perfect for you if:
✅ You enjoy good food, wine, and personalized experiences exploring both small Ligurian villages and the vibrant city of Genoa.
✅ You love travel AND you want to get the most out of your vacation time and money by choosing to travel with local experts who are American 🇺🇸 AND Italian 🇮🇹
✅ You are a couple, single, a small group of friends, or a family.
We are so excited to share our passion and insider knowledge of this gorgeous corner of the world with YOU.
If you love fun, cultural immersion, and new friends, come on a Ligurian adventure with us in June 2025!
See the link in stories or DM for details!
#LigurianRiviera #Genoa #ItalianFood #ItalianWine #SmallGroupTravel #AdventureTravel #Cinqueterre
Forget “shoulder season”! Know why?
Italy is becoming a country-wide destination of HIGH season and LOW season. For example: in Cinque Terre and Puglia.
Late October and November are great times to travel to discover the beauty (and lower prices) of Puglia in the Off-Season.
You should be flexible since the weather is unpredictable, with the possibility of rain.
We have been lucky in Cinque Terre and Puglia this year: warm, sunny days (short sleeve T-shirts!) and cool evenings (silk blouse + wool sweater + jacket).
Over the next few days, I will share some highlights of my trip to Puglia…and then we will return to our regularly scheduled programming of Cinque Terre, our beautiful apartments, and Ruth’s Tips.
❤️ Share this reel with a friend as a hint: ITALY 2025?!
#traveltoitaly #traveltips
#Puglia #Italy #Travel #LowSeasonDeals #BeautifulWeather
What’s on your mind today?
Here’s my thought for the day, inspired by this early morning view from the seafront terrace of our two bedroom Carattino 12 in Vernazza:
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
❤️ Tap the hearth to like this post
✅ Follow me @cinqueterrevacation for an (almost) daily dose of Cinque Terre, including my “Ruth’s Tips”, recommendations, details about our seafront apartments and more …
#vernazza #cinqueterre #nature #vacationrental
What are you doing right now?
If you are a US citizen 🇺🇸: STOP scrolling Instagram and VOTE! 🗳️
Once you’ve voted, start dreaming about where you want to travel in 2025.
If you like hiking, swimming in the Mediterranean sea, boating, learning about local food and wine culture, eating, drinking, and relaxing, a vacation in Cinque Terre is the right choice for you.
If you want to stay in stunning, seafront apartments with private terraces over the sea, AND enjoy personalized hospitality, stay at our two bedroom “Carattino 12” or one bedroom “Il Ciasso”.
✅ Our happiest guests stay at least 3 nights because there is so much to discover.
✅ My “Ruth’s Guide to Cinque Terre” has got you covered with all my favorite things to do, places to go and best recommendations.
🔗 Check out our website ( link in bio ⬆️) or DM for more info.
❤️ Like this post if you love a fun and relaxing vacation!
#vernazza #cinqueterre #italy #superhost
Ruth’s Tips: Did you know…
🚂 The train is the easiest way to get to and around Cinque Terre.
🆕 ➡️ The digital regional train ticket is now automatically validated at the departure time of the train. You NO LONGER have to do the digital check in. Buy your digital regional train ticket, get on, and GO.
🚂 The paper regional train paper MUST be physically validated (stamped) in the machines in the train stations.
💻 If you buy the Cinque Terre Train MultiService Card (access to hiking trails and unlimited train travel), you can buy your ticket online on the website of @parcocinqueterre and your digital ticket is validated.
ℹ️ If you buy the Cinque Terre Train MS Card in the train stations at the InfoPoints, you will need to validate the physical card.
❤️ Follow me for more Ruth’s Tips about travel in Cinque Terre.
🗝️ Stay with us in Vernazza for personalized hospitality, my “Ruth’s Guide to Cinque Terre” and more! 🔗 in bio to learn more and book for 2025.
#ruthstips #traintravel #travelinitaly #cinqueterre #vernazza
👀 Wait for it: DOLPHINS (and seagulls) in a feeding frenzy!
🐬 We were on our boat, waiting for the sunset, in the Gulf of La Spezia, between Palmaria and Tino Islands when, all of a sudden, we were surrounded by wild dolphins!
🐟 It looked like a school of fish was passing by and the dolphins (and seagulls) were taking advantage of a fishing bonanza. We watched them in their natural habitat and it was magical!
🌊 Did you know that the Cinque Terre is a Marine Protected Area?
🐬🐳🐙 Since 1999, it is part of the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals, a vast area from the French Riviera to Corsica to Sardinia to the Tuscan and Ligurian coasts to protect dolphins, whales, and other marine life.
✨If you are out on a boat in and around the Cinque Terre, keep your eyes open for dolphins frolicking in the waves! It is an awe-inspiring experience!✨
Have you ever seen dolphins in the wild?
#vernazza #cinqueterre #dolphins #lifeinitaly #traveltips #mediterraneanlife
Ruth’s Tips: Want to make your trip to Italy easier and faster, starting right from the airport?
🛫If you are flying from New York JFK to Milan MXP (like I did a few days ago), you can drop your bag(s) at the curb side check-in.
🧳 The airport attendant will process your bag(s) AND give you your boarding card. 🎟️
All you need to do after that is go through security.
⏱️ Be aware: the security lines were long for everyone (including “fast track” options). I took 30 minutes to get through security.
September is a busy month for travel so plan accordingly. Buon viaggio!
❤️ Like this post and share it with your travel partner(s).
#ruthstips #traveltips #traveltoitaly #superhost
Ruth’s Tips: Do you know the MOST important factor to staying SAFE when traveling?
Staying safe is about being AWARE. In Italy. In NYC. Anywhere.
👀 Be aware of your surroundings
👁️ Be aware of who is around you
🧳 👜 Be aware of how you are carrying your stuff and/or valuables
😎 Be aware of the VIBE you are giving off
Being AWARE is the opposite of being scared or stressed out or totally carefree.
✅ You do not need a special travel bag: If you are AWARE, you can carry a shoulder bag, a backpack or a crossbody. Be aware of where your wallet and phone are and make sure they are not easily accessible.
Being aware is about being smart:
🗝️ Lock your car/hotel/vacation rental doors
🔐 Lock your suitcases and/or keep an eye on them
👀 Don’t leave your phone, wallet or camera unattended, behind you or under your seat you in a restaurant or train
⚠️💍 Don’t wear expensive jewelry to sightsee (especially large diamond rings)
When you are AWARE, you are also ready to HAVE FUN. And that’s what travel is all about! 🛫😎
😅 Save this post as a reminder.
⏩ Share this post with your travel partners.
❤️ Follow me for more Ruth’s Tips to make your Cinque Terre vacation better.
#Vernazza #traveltips #ruthstips #italytravel #safetytips #traintravel
Did you ever choose a vacation rental and think, “I wish I had known ….”
Waking up at the right vacation rental makes your vacation better.
If you are looking for unobstructed views over the sparkling Mediterranean Sea and extraordinary interiors that are beautiful and comfortable, our two apartments may be the right fit for you!
Perfect for couples and families because our apartments are very private and have only 1 bathroom!
🔗Link in bio to learn more about our seafront apartments:
✅ two bedroom Carattino 12 with 3 terraces
✅ one bedroom Il Ciasso with 1 terrace
#vernazza #cinqueterre #ruthstips #travel #italy #lifeinitaly
Ruth’s Tips: Want to avoid those crazy long passport control lines when you fly to the USA from Italy?
✅ Download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app!
This FREE, SECURE app from US Customs and Border Protection allows US travelers to submit their travel document, photo, and customs declaration information on their smartphone AND skip the long lines.
🇮🇹🛫🇺🇸 We just arrived in JFK from Italy and using MPC made a HUGE difference: the lines for US citizens for passport control inspection were SOOOOOO long…and we just sailed through with MPC.
I filled out the entry process questions, uploaded photos for each member of our family, and submitted our information.
Saves hassle and overall wait time. Did I mention that it is FREE?
😅 Save this post as a reminder.
❤️ Follow me for more Ruth’s Tips to make your Cinque Terre, Italy vacation better.
#Vernazza #traveltips #ruthstips #italytravel
Do you know how to validate your physical train ticket in Italy?
Listen and watch this “Ruth’s Tips” to learn how to validate train tickets at train stations in Italy.
✅ Find the green “stamping for validation” box
✅ Insert your ticket into the small, green machine to get it validated BEFORE boarding the train.
⚠️ Please note: the green stamping machines are often located NEAR where you BUY your ticket but NOT necessarily on or near the train tracks so stamp before you head towards your train.
Easy. Done. Avoid the €50 fine!! 🤦🏻♀️
#TrainTravel #TrainTickets #TrainStations #Vernazza #LaSpezia #lifeinitaly #ruthstips
