Window or aisle?

The window seat sounds like a dream. You’ve got the view, somewhere to lean, and you feel a bit tucked away from everything. And it is great, until the person next to you falls asleep. And I don’t mean a light nap, I mean fully gone – head back, mouth open, not moving for hours. And you realise you are stuck. You need to go to the bathroom? Good luck! You either wake them up (which no one wants to do), or you attempt that awkward climb over them, trying not to fall, which you absolutely do. There is nothing graceful about it. At some point you’re hovering over a stranger in a very precarious way not sure if you hope they will stay asleep or wake up!

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In the aisle seat, you are basically a target! Every person walking past hits you – the drinks cart, the flight attendants, random bags – everything. You spend the whole flight slightly leaning in, trying to protect your head or shoulder like it’s under attack. And then there was ‘that’ flight to Spain. I’d just had my wisdom teeth out (great timing), so I was already sore and feeling sorry for myself. I thought, “I’ve got the aisle, I’ll be fine”. I was not fine. I got knocked so many times I lost count … proper hit hard, not just brushed past. And then the man in the middle seat fell asleep, and not just a little lean either. I think he thought I was his pillow.

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And the middle seat? Never. That’s a hard ‘No’.

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So now I fly Business. To be honest, it hurts every time I pay for it, but the second I get to the airport, all of that pain melts away and I am so thankful. The space, the calm, the seat, not having to climb over anyone or be used as a pillow or taken out by a drinks cart, it just makes the whole experience so much better and I love it. And when I land, I feel human and I can hit the ground running for work without missing a beat.

 

Sunrise or midnight wander?

Both! When I was younger, midnight was more about atmosphere. It’s quiet, magical, and a bit moody. Streets are empty, everything feels slower … like you’ve got the place to yourself. Today I feel more comfortable with sunrise. It’s more of a fresh start of the day. The locals are out, cafés are opening, and there’s that calm before the chaos. It feels a little like you’re in on a secret.

 

What’s your personal non-negotiable on a solo trip?

My computer. I get a lot of work done on solo trips, but as I am mostly in Italy and my Italian is terrible, my computer gives me down time. I can stream a show or Facetime my family. It keeps me connected but also entertains me. Sometimes, when I have been with people all day, I just want to zone out and it’s nice to be able to do that on my own terms (and watching bad Italian TV doesn’t do it for me!).

 

A place that changed you either quickly or slowly?

Bologna was a place some of my family lived but not a place I went to until the last 15 years. My Zia (aunt) Stella lived in Ravenna, not far from Bologna, so most family gatherings when we would come from Australia were there rather than Bologna. Over time, I came to see Bologna as my second home as I spent more time there with my family and I started to get to know the city better. With more regular trips, I became more entrenched in the lives of my Italian family and we shared experiences, like visiting the shop with the best gelati shop ever for an after dinner treat of my favourite – fig and ricotta! When I go back for work and I get to visit, we share more and my relationships become deeper, not just with the beautiful city but with my beautiful family.

 

Where does apprehension sit for you when you travel? In the front or the back seat?

Years ago, this ‘apprehension’ would be more like ‘full on anxiety’, but today I can safely say it’s locked in the boot … though it is good to have some apprehension as those instincts are sometimes the things that keep us safe.

 

When my children were young, I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks – a symptom from trying to do it all like many career women. I even wrote a book about it (clearly I was just not busy enough) called ‘Superheroes Eat Frogs Instead of Kissing Them’. My book was a personal and motivational journey through anxiety, stress, and the process of reclaiming my world back. Throughout the book I shared the tools and strategies that helped me manage stress and anxiety, including mindset shifts, practical stress‑management techniques, learning to say ‘No’, and building self‑belief. The underlying message is that there’s no quick fix, but growth comes from confronting fears, exploring your past, and learning to ‘eat your frogs’ (face difficult tasks) instead of avoiding them.

 

What’s underrated about travel?

The personal growth and connections you can make around the world. While I enjoy travelling solo, I also have a large number of friends around the world. I learn a lot from these people as they all have different cultures and different ways of tackling life. I love to hear their views and see the way they live, and I often bring a little of my learning from the people I meet back home with me. It may be as simple as a recipe that becomes part of our world back in Australia. It reminds me when I cook it of who I was with and where in the world I was when I first ate that dish.

 

Train? Plane? Boat? Coach? Or Car?

Definitely train – train, train, train! One of my biggest challenges is explaining to Australians how you simply do not need a car in Italy (or Europe) because the trains are so good! They go from city centre to city centre, and they have Wi-Fi, allocated seating, and often an area where you can get refreshments. One of my best tips? Often checkout is late (like midday), so you book your train for 1pm, grab some lunch as take away, and head to your train and have your lunch onboard watching the rolling countryside whiz past you. On arrival at your next destination, head to your hotel just in time for the 2pm check-in, which not only makes the most of your travelling time, but also the experience of the journey through the countryside on the train.

 

What does responsibility to a solo traveller mean to you?

As someone who is a solo traveller much of the time, I feel great responsibility to other solo travellers. I want my clients to be safe, happy, and have a great time. Being safe is important for all travellers and we offer an English speaking contact and office in Rome, and our operator is always there to help if there are unforeseen things that happen. This means help is only a phone call away and it is on local time with you when you are in Italy. This offers not just my travellers but also me peace of mind that they will be well looked after.

 

One of the most important things for solo travellers to look at is their personal preferences. If you are not a ‘people person’, why would you book a tour with a large group? Many solo clients do private touring where we can pepper their trip with other options to interact rather than being stuck on a tour for 14 days with people you don’t like. These types of activities can include day tours, cooking classes, language classes, dinners with a host family, art classes, and private guides. This allows my clients to meet people and interact, but it also allows them independence.

 

If you could gift every solo traveller one thing, what would it be?

My gift would be just what I started explaining in the last question – permission to do Italy (or any travel) on your own terms. Sometimes well-meaning friends and family (and even travel agents) can sway us into booking things that deep down we know will not work for us, but a little travel apprehension can sneak in, and we don’t think it through. We have an option for just planning and you don’t need to book with us – we will guide you through self-booking in a way that is safe. This service can save you huge amounts of time, money, and your sanity. Everyone needs a sounding board, and no one knows what they don’t know yet.

 

Finish this sentence: The world looks different when I walk through it alone because … I have time to self-reflect. I have time to think about what is important to me, to do things my way, and to then appreciate all of the amazing people that are intertwined in my life that I love and want to be with. After a walk alone for a bit, I appreciate and love them a whole lot more!