ITALY & MALTA 2026
April 27 – May 18, 2026
Last updated: April 26, 2026 · 4:30pm
12:49pm
Delta DL 5025
AVL → LGA · Arrives 2:47pm
delta.com~3:30pm
Uber · LGA → TWA Hotel, JFK
One Idlewild Drive
5:00pm
Sunken Lounge · TWA Hotel
Reservation confirmed
⚠ Buy Wizz Air bags & seats online NOW — cheaper than airport
twahotel.com/thesunkenlounge8:45pm
AirTrain → JFK Terminal 7
Norse Atlantic check-in
12:30am
Norse Atlantic N0 402
JFK T7 → FCO · Departs midnight
flynorse.com
2:30pm
Arrive FCO · Best Roma NCC Transfer
Driver meets you in arrivals · T1: NCC Limo Service 1 · T3: NCC Limo Service 2 · Switch on data on landing · pay driver directly (cash or card +10%) · If no driver: +39 392 060 6062
4:00pm
Airbnb Rome · Trastevere
Via di San Francesco a Ripa 145 · Conf HM23B2RQRM · Host: Maurizio Ragonese
5:00pm
Explore Trastevere
Grab wine & snacks for golf cart tour · Via della Lungaretta or Via del Moro
7:30pm
Rome by Golf Cart · Rolling Rome
Piazza Trilussa 2 · $265 balance due (~€240) · cash/Visa/MC · Ref ROL-89075081
rollingrome.com9:30pm
Freni e Frizioni · Cocktail Bar
Via del Politeama 4 · Reservation confirmed · cancel if tired after tour
freniefrizioni.com
7:30am
Caffè Trastevere
Viale di Trastevere 50 · espresso & pastry
8:00am
Colosseum Underground Tour
Via dei Fori Imperiali 25 · Ref 1379123609 · Conf 1761820279 · $210.09/person · Viator · bring photo ID
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum12:00pm
Roman Forum
5 min walk from Colosseum · Ancient heart of Rome where senators, gladiators and emperors once walked
2:30pm
St. Peter's Basilica
Taxi ~15 min from Monti
7:00pm
Roma Sparita
Piazza Santa Cecilia 24, Trastevere · Reservation confirmed · cacio e pepe in parmesan bowl
romasparita.com
9:00am
Check-out · Uber to Roma Termini
~15 min
9:45am
Mercato Centrale Roma
Lower level of Termini · coffee & snacks for the train
10:25am
Frecciarossa 9607
Roma Termini → Napoli Centrale · Arrives 11:38am · PNR BD3YLN · Premium Class · Michael 6/7B · Jonny 6/7A · Rick 6/8B · Todd 6/8A
11:45am
Bounce Storage · Farmacia Cozzolino
Corso Umberto I · Ref FP59P4YB · 4 bags · €24.84 · drop-off 11:30am · pick-up 4:30pm · show code in Bounce app
12:00pm
Lunch along Spaccanapoli · The arrow-straight street that splits Naples in two
→ Piazza del Gesù Nuovo · try Mercato della Pignasecca · time permitting: Spanish Quarter
2:45pm
Via Caracciolo lungomare
Scenic seafront promenade along the Bay of Naples with sweeping views of Vesuvius and Capri · Castel Nuovo → Molo Beverello
3:20pm
Sfogliatella riccia at Caffè Beverello
Right at the port · Crispy shell-shaped Neapolitan pastry filled with sweetened ricotta — a Naples icon
5:15pm
Alilauro Ferry
Molo Beverello → Sorrento · Arrives 6:00pm · Booking 41277TCCCX · €19/person
6:00pm
Arrive Marina Piccola · Airbnb Sant'Agnello
Corso Italia 83 · Conf HMJD5SFSYR · Uber to Airbnb (~5 min)
7:30am
Leave Airbnb → Marina Piccola
Ticket office by 7:40am
8:00am
Ferry · Marina Piccola → Capri
Laser Capri · Booking 0000395440 · C773 · NOT valid for boarding · collect pass 20 min prior
lasercapri.com9:00am
Hire a private boat · Marina Grande dock · negotiate on arrival · ~€150–175
Blue Grotto: sea cave lit by an otherworldly blue glow · Faraglioni: dramatic rock formations rising from the sea · swimming stops (water ~64°F in May — refreshing but cold)
11:30am
Funicular up to Capri town
€2.50 each way · Steep cable car linking Marina Grande to the charming hilltop Piazzetta
12:00pm
Bar Tiberio · Piazzetta
Lunch & people-watching · Capri Spritz · Gran Caffè Vuotto next door if full
bartiberio.it1:30pm
Via Camerelle · shopping
Capri's glamorous main shopping street lined with designer boutiques · Giardini di Augusto: terraced gardens with breathtaking views of the Faraglioni rocks and Marina Piccola
3:30pm
Funicular down · collect boarding pass
4:10pm
Ferry · Marina Grande → Sorrento
Laser Capri · Booking 0000395440 · C773 · collect pass 20 min prior
7:45am
Walk to Sant'Agnello Circumvesuviana
~10 min
7:55am
Buy tickets · €2.80/person each way
No reservation needed · PICKPOCKET WARNING: bags in front on train
8:10am
Train · Sant'Agnello → Pompei Scavi
~25 min
8:35am
Arrive POMPEI SCAVI – VILLA DEI MISTERI
GET OFF HERE — not the "Pompei" town stop
9:00am
Pompeii Plus · timed entry
Trans VIVATK162392140414 · Boxoffice TL50S1000143811800 · Smart Pass · arrive within 15 min · includes Villa of the Mysteries, Villa Diomede, Antiquarium · free shuttle
1:00pm
Return train to Sant'Agnello
~25 min
8:00pm
Il Buco · 1 Michelin star
2ª Rampa Marina Piccola 5 · Reservation confirmed · reconfirm day before
ilbucoristorante.it
9:00am
Ferry · Sorrento → Positano · NLG
Booking 0001802022 · Control Code C8BD · collect pass 20 min prior · €23/person · nlg.it
9:30am
Fratelli Grassi Beach Club · Fornillo Beach
Optional · loungers · cocktail bar · kayak rentals · lunch 12–5pm · free boat shuttle every 30 min
12:30pm
Posides · lunch
Viale Pasitea 157 · walk-in · arrive early
4:24pm
Ferry · Positano → Sorrento · NLG
Booking 0001802022 · Control Code C8BD · collect pass 20 min prior · €23/person · nlg.it
7:00pm
Chantecler's Trattoria
Via Santa Maria della Pietà 38 · Reservation PENDING
chanteclers.com
9:00am
Ferry · Sorrento → Amalfi · NLG
Booking 0001802024 · Control Code 7F96 · collect pass 20 min prior · €26/person · nlg.it
10:30am
Amalfi · Duomo
Stunning 9th-century Arab-Norman cathedral at the top of a dramatic staircase · town stroll · coffee
12:00pm
Bus/taxi to Ravello · lunch
~20 min
2:00pm
Villa Cimbrone + Villa Rufolo
Two legendary hilltop gardens with jaw-dropping clifftop views over the Amalfi Coast
3:30pm
Bar Caruso · Belmond Hotel Caruso
San Giovanni del Toro 2 · aperitivo · stunning terrace · last ferry ~5pm · reservations recommended
5:02pm
Ferry · Amalfi → Sorrento · NLG
Booking 0001802024 · Control Code 7F96 · collect pass 20 min prior · €24.50/person · nlg.it
——
BOOK: Bar Caruso reservation
10:15am
easyJet EJU4107
Naples → Catania · Arrives 11:20am
easyjet.com11:00am
Sant'Agnello Airbnb check-out
~1:00pm
Arrive Taormina · luggage storage TBD
5:00pm
Airbnb Taormina check-in
Via Giovanni di Giovanni 40 · Conf HMBAYRZE8R · Host: Mike Gloeggler
1:00pm
Bounce Storage · Taormina Games Point
Via Giovanni di Giovanni 67/b · show code in Bounce app · drop-off 1:00pm · pick-up 5:00pm · same street as Airbnb
——
Day to be planned · Corso Umberto · Teatro Antico
evening
Morgana Lounge Bar
Scesa Morgana 4
evening
Daiquiri Cocktail Bar
Piazzetta Paladini 6
morning
Taormina · Corso Umberto · morning at leisure
11:15am
Uber to Castelmola · ~8 min · ~€10
11:30am
Explore Castelmola
Medieval streets · Norman castle ruins · Mt. Etna views
12:00pm
Bistrot A' Ficaredda
Largo San Giorgio 1, Castelmola · Reservation confirmed · party of 4
2:00pm
Antico Caffè San Giorgio · since 1907
Piazza Sant'Antonio · birthplace of Blandanino almond wine · panoramic views
barsangiorgio.com5:00pm
Uber back OR walk Sentiero dei Saraceni
~60 min downhill
11:00am
Airbnb Taormina check-out
9:55pm
Ryanair FR 396
Catania → Malta · Arrives 10:45pm · boarding passes via Ryanair app only
ryanair.com11:30pm
Stone Villa Valletta check-in
Boat Street · Conf HM2DTRPY9P · lockbox entry
9:30am
Valletta Street Food & Culture Tour
Republic St · Conf #1767384731 · $65.51/person
10:30am
Arrive Bugibba Jetty · Uber ~30 min from Valletta
11:00am
Gozo, Comino & Blue Lagoon Sea Caves Tour
Conf #1766572325 · Booking #1383938679 · 6 adults · $41.85/person · Sea Trips operator
——
Blue Lagoon swim · sea caves · Gozo stop
Blue Lagoon Landing Passes: Order #575730 (4) + Order #575727 (2) — all 6 confirmed
9:30am
Explore Valletta
Baroque limestone capital of Malta, one of the smallest capital cities in Europe · St John's Co-Cathedral · Upper Barrakka Gardens
7:30pm
Private Dinner · Chef Matt Vella
Stone Villa Valletta · Reservation confirmed
mattvella.com
9:30am
Mdina · The Silent City
Walled medieval capital with virtually no cars, stunning views and Game of Thrones filming locations
11:00am
Popeye Village · Anchor Bay
€18/person · 9:30am–5:30pm
popeyemalta.com3:00pm
Għajn Tuffieħa Bay
Golden sand · dramatic clay cliffs
5:00pm
Uber back to Valletta · ~35 min
10:00am
Stone Villa Valletta check-out
2:20pm
Wizz Air W4 6218
Malta → Rome FCO · Arrives 4:00pm · PNR KRLCXK
wizzair.com~5:00pm
Uber to Fly Decó Hotel · ~10–13 min · ~€45
——
Fly Decó Hotel check-in
Lungomare Paolo Toscanelli 52/A, Ostia · Booking #5125106963 · PIN 5154
flyhotelrome.com6:30pm
Stroll Lungomare · dinner near hotel
8:00am
Breakfast · walk Lungomare · check out by 1:00pm
2:30pm
Shuttle/taxi to FCO · be there by 4:30pm
7:05pm
Norse Atlantic N0 401
FCO → JFK T7 · Arrives ~10:30pm
flynorse.com——
CONFIRM: Hotel shuttle to FCO tonight · €13/person
4:30pm
Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport
3 rooms · Conf #86880730 / #86880745 / #86880754 · free shuttle to Terminal C in morning · marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lgaal-aloft-new-york-laguardia-airport
9:30am
Delta DL 5025
LGA → AVL · Arrives 11:41am · Seats 8C & 8D · Terminal C
delta.com
EAT, SEE & DO — ROME & ITALY
ROME
Roma Sparita
Piazza Santa Cecilia 24, Trastevere
Cacio e pepe in parmesan bowl · Anthony Bourdain favourite
romasparita.comFreni e Frizioni
Via del Politeama 4, Trastevere
Cocktail bar · aperitivo · outdoor piazza
freniefrizioni.comSORRENTO & AMALFI COAST
Il Buco
2ª Rampa Marina Piccola 5, Sorrento
1 Michelin star · tasting menus · historic cellar
ilbucoristorante.itChantecler's Trattoria
Via Santa Maria della Pietà 38, Sorrento
Reservation pending
chanteclers.comPosides
Viale Pasitea 157, Positano
Walk-in only · arrive early
Bar Caruso
San Giovanni del Toro 2, Ravello
Belmond Hotel Caruso · aperitivo terrace · reservations recommended
SICILY
Bistrot A' Ficaredda
Largo San Giorgio 1, Castelmola
Reservation confirmed · party of 4
Antico Caffè San Giorgio
Piazza Sant'Antonio, Castelmola
Since 1907 · almond wine · panoramic views
barsangiorgio.comChef Matt Vella
Stone Villa Valletta
Private dinner · reservation confirmed
mattvella.comEAT, SEE & DO — MALTA
RESTAURANTS — VALLETTA
Rampila
St. John's Cavalier, Valletta
Dine inside 16th-century Knights' bastions · tunnel restaurant · outdoor terrace
rampila.netPalazzo Preca
54 Strait Street, Valletta
16th-century palazzo · traditional Maltese · seafood · intimate
palazzopreca.comLegligin Wine Bar
119 St. Lucy Street, Valletta
Michelin-mentioned · €45 tasting menu · Maltese meze · 30+ local wines · no à la carte
Noni Restaurant
Valletta
Contemporary Maltese fine dining · highly rated
de Mondion
The Xara Palace, Mdina · 1 Michelin star · rooftop terrace · panoramic island views · modern Mediterranean · book well in advance
demondion.xaracollection.comone80
45A St. Christopher Street, Valletta · Michelin-listed · Mediterranean bistro-chic · Chateaubriand for two · daily fresh catch · great wine list
one80.com.mt/vallettaAki
Corner of Strait St & Santa Lucia St, Valletta · Michelin-listed · Japanese/Asian · Saikyo Miso Black Cod · sleek basement · cocktail bar
akimalta.comION Harbour by Simon Rogan
11 St. Barbara Bastion, Valletta · 2 Michelin stars · hyper-local tasting menu · Grand Harbour views · book well ahead
ionharbour.comRESTAURANTS — ST. JULIAN'S
Caviar & Bull
Corinthia Hotel, St. George's Bay
Michelin-listed · Chef Marvin Gauci · aged beef + caviar · open 18:30–23:00
caviarandbull.com.mtBarracuda Restaurant
St. Julian's seafront
Fresh seafood · 18th-century limestone building · bay views
barracudamalta.comGiannini Restaurant
St. Julian's
Italian/Mediterranean · outdoor seating · bay views
RESTAURANTS — MDINA & ELSEWHERE
Ta' Kris Restaurant
Sliema
Traditional Maltese · bragioli · stuffed rabbit · rustic · popular with locals
The Fish House
Marsaxlokk
Fresh local catch · colorful fishing village · visit Sunday fish market
Tartarun
Marsaxlokk
Family-run · grilled fish · steps from the sea · highly rated
Diar Il-Bniet
Dingli
Farm-to-table · organic Maltese produce · rabbit stew · Gozitan cheese
Ta' Philip
St. Anthony Street, Għajnsielem, Gozo · wood-fired oven · locally sourced · suckling pig · zero-mile philosophy · highly rated
taphiliprestaurant.comCardamom
Marsalforn, Gozo · authentic Indian with Far East Asian twist · great curry · welcoming staff · lunch & dinner daily
cardamomgozo.comTHINGS TO DO
St. John's Co-Cathedral
Valletta
Don't miss the Caravaggio paintings · one of Europe's finest baroque interiors
stjohnscathedral.com.mtUpper Barrakka Gardens
Valletta
Best harbor views in Malta · free · saluting battery fires at noon
Three Cities
Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua
Less crowded than Valletta · just as historic · ferry from Valletta waterfront
Mdina — The Silent City
Mdina
Medieval walled city · St. Paul's Cathedral · go late afternoon for golden light
Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra Temples
South Malta
Megalithic temples older than the pyramids · UNESCO World Heritage
heritagemalta.mtBlue Grotto
South Malta
Boat ride into sea caves · vibrant blue water · best visited in morning
Marsaxlokk Fishing Village
Marsaxlokk
Traditional luzzu boats · Sunday fish market · colorful · photogenic
Golden Bay
North Malta
Best sandy beach on the island · popular · beach bar
Dingli Cliffs
West Malta
Highest point on the island · sunset views · dramatic coastal scenery
Paceville / St. Julian's
St. Julian's
Malta's nightlife hub · bars · clubs · seaside lounges
Markus Divinus Winery
Dingli, Malta · boutique winery · private tours & tastings by appointment · under 6,000 bottles/year · native Gellewza & Girgentina grapes
markusdivinus.comFalconry Experience
Malta · watch trained falcons, owls & hawks · long tradition dating to the Knights of Malta · local private experts available
LOCAL FOOD TO TRY
Pastizzi
Any local bakery
Flaky pastry with ricotta or mushy peas · the ultimate Maltese snack
Fenek
Traditional restaurants
Maltese rabbit stew · the national dish
Ftira
Local bakeries
Traditional Maltese bread · topped with tuna, tomatoes, capers
Lampuki
Seafood restaurants
Local fish · often served in pies · seasonal specialty
Ġbejniet
Markets & restaurants
Maltese sheep's cheese · try with honey or in a salad
TRAVELING COMPANIONS
Michael McMurtreyFull trip · Apr 27–May 18
Rick RamseyFull trip · Apr 27–May 18
Todd BaileyFull trip · Apr 27–May 18
Jonny KatzmarekFull trip · Apr 27–May 18
Mark LavinMalta only · May 8–16
Scott CulpepperMalta only · May 8–16
BAGGAGE ALLOWANCES
Delta
Carry-on: 22×14×9 in · Personal: 18×14×8 in · Checked: 62 in / 50 lb
Norse Atlantic
Personal: 15.5×11.5×5.5 in free · Carry-on: 22×18×10 in / 10kg free · Checked: 23kg/50lbs · Economy Light: purchase · Classic/Flextra: 1 included
easyJet
4 × 23kg hold bags purchased · Small bag free: 45×36×20cm under seat · Seats: Michael 10A · Jonny 10B · Rick 10C · Todd 10D
Ryanair
2 × 20kg checked bags purchased · 2 × cabin bags purchased · Priority boarding · Seat 16C
Wizz Air
Small bag free: 40×30×20cm under seat · Cabin bag: paid · Checked bag: paid — BUY ONLINE before airport · Options: 44lb or 57lb · Seats: purchase online
