Island Life: Spending Four Divine Days on Ischia, Campania, Italy

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn italy3 Comments

Getting there

Ischia was the second destination of a holiday following two days in Naples, and what an impression it has left.

After booking the flights, we knew we would want to spend some days at a calmer pace on a nearby island but the only one we knew of was Capri. Capri looks stunning and attracts millions of visitors each year for good reason, however, we had read about the crowds and we wanted something quieter.

Zooming in on Google Maps, we saw two small islands to the south-west of Naples, in the Gulf of Naples / Tyrrhenian Sea, called Procida and Ischia. Both looked beautiful but Ischia seemed to offer more in the way of good restaurants and had better reviews in blogs we read, so we booked the boat and an apartment and were set for what would make one of all of our favourite holidays to date.

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Forza Napoli! Two Memorable Days in Naples, the Capital of Campania, Italy

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn italy2 Comments

(In this blog entry, I am going to use both Naples and Napoli interchangeably)

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In Italian, the word vespa means ‘wasp’.

In Naples, the Vespa rules the roads; motor-wasps darting around and causing people to jump out of the way in alarm, warned by the ever-present revving and droning in the air.

Seconds after leaving our apartment for the first time on the main road of Corso Umberto I in the Centro Storico of Napoli, a Vespa crashed into the back of a car, halting traffic, which allowed us to cross the chaotic road but resulted in both drivers having to swap details. We took this as an early warning to be extra-mindful when crossing the roads in Naples.

Enjoying an espresso on the apartment balcony listening to the traffic on the street below

The constant buzz and rush of traffic and honking horns is the soundtrack to Napoli, and while it means that wearing earplugs at night is vital for a decent night’s sleep, it also mingles with laughter, jovial sing-song by workers, the ding of a bell to signify a pizza is ready, shouts of “attenzione” or “Forza Napoli!” adding to a general sense of hilarity, zest for life and rolling with the unpredictability in the best-humoured way.

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Jūrmala, the stunning beach town on the Baltic Coast in Latvia

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn europe, solo female travel2 Comments

[You can read Part 1 of my Latvia trip here.]

I was in Riga and although I easily could have spent another day or two there, when I learned that Riga is only half an hour away from the coast, I did a bit of investigation and as soon as I saw photos of Jūrmala, (pronounced Yurmala) my mind was made up- I had to go.

How to get there

Head to Rīga’s Central Station and take the train that heads in the direction of Sloka. I bought my ticket online at https://www.vivi.lv/en/ for about 1 euro 50! The journey lasts around 30 minutes and you get off the train at a station called Majori. From there, you cross the main road and walk under an arch and then you are on Jūrmala’s high street, Jomas Ieri.

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What to do in 24 hours in Riga, Latvia, as a solo female traveller

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn baltic, europe, solo female travel2 Comments

Welcome to the blog entry on the 30th country I have visited: Latvia!

Long ago, when I first fell in love with travelling abroad and seeing as much of the world as I had time for and could afford, I saw pictures of Riga in a city break brochure (remember travel brochures?!) and thought it looked stunning and have long kept the idea in mind but for years, I was put off by the unfair Stage/Hen do reputation and other places had presented themselves as holiday destinations until now.

So, in May 2025, I found reasonable flights to Riga from Manchester and booked them without much idea of what there would be to see and do there apart from pretty architecture. This is what I love about booking a trip- the research can then commence and the excitement builds as you uncover more and more of what will be waiting for you once you arrive.

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Košice, Slovakia: a safe and affordable city break for a solo female traveller

On By Laura Ferries WriterIn Eastern Europe, slovakia, solo female travel2 Comments

February half term was imminent and it had been a very busy time so I found myself playing Ryanair Roulette again, taking a spin on the search bar to see which flight dates, times and prices fitted in with my time off.

I have been to several destinations more than once so am not adverse to visiting the same place or country again but it does feel like a bonus when I get to see a new country so when cheap flights came up for Košice, a city that two of my friends had visited a couple of years ago and enjoyed, I booked then let the research commence.

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