the getAwayZ Podcast
Real travel stories and practical guides for exploring Europe the way people actually travel.
Welcome to the getAwayZ. We’re Erin and Lisa, friends and roommates who moved from the U.S. to Europe in 2017. Since then, we’ve spent years traveling across the continent, mostly by car, figuring out what’s worth your time and what isn’t.
Sometimes that travel includes Erin’s teenage son and Lisa’s dog, Rex. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, we talk honestly about where to stay, what to skip, what to eat and drink, when to go and what you need to plan ahead for.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Europe or thinking about living abroad, the getAwayZ shares realistic, practical advice based on real experience.
Episodes
60 episodes
Paris in 3 Days: What to Do, Where to Go and How to Plan Your First Trip
Paris is one of those cities everyone has an opinion about, which is exactly why we put off recording this episode for so long.In this episode, we’re breaking down how we would plan a first trip to Paris if you have three or four days. T...
Where to Stay in Europe: Hotels vs Airbnbs, Best Areas and What Actually Works
Trying to figure out where to stay in Europe and going back and forth between a hotel and an Airbnb? Same. We do this every single trip.In this episode we talk through how we actually decide. Not the perfect version, the real version. Wh...
Elba Island Italy: The Tuscan Beach Escape Tourists Miss
After a week in Puglia and another on the Amalfi Coast, we headed to Elba Island and it ended up being one of the most unexpected highlights of the trip.In this episode, we’re sharing what it’s really like to visit Elba, from beach hoppi...
Croatia's National Parks: Krka vs Plitvice Lakes (Which One Is Right for You?)
If you're planning a trip to Croatia and wondering whether to visit Krka National Park or Plitvice Lakes National Park, this episode is for you. We've been to both and they are not the same experience at all.Krka is an hour from Split, m...
Lavender Season in Provence: What You Need to Know
If you've ever seen a photo of Provence in June and thought you needed to go there immediately, same. This week we're talking all things Provence during lavender season, which is hands-down one of the most beautiful places either of us has ever...
Dubrovnik Travel Guide for Beaches Walls and Islands
Dubrovnik is stunning, but it’s not the effortless postcard people imagine. We’re fresh off a rough stretch of sickness and finally back behind the mic to unpack what Dubrovnik, Croatia actually feels like on the ground: steep cliffside neighbo...
Driving in Europe: What to Know Before Renting a Car
Planning to rent a car during your trip to Europe? Driving can be one of the best ways to explore the continent, especially if you want to visit smaller towns, scenic coastal roads, and countryside regions that are harder to reach by train....
Luxembourg City Travel Guide: Casemates, Castles and Europe's Most Underrated Capital
We've been to Luxembourg City four times and it started as a total accident. In this episode, we explore the UNESCO-listed upper and lower city, walk the underground Casemates built in the 1600s, stop at the famous Chocolate House right across ...
Normandy Travel Guide: D-Day Beaches, Omaha, Utah, Pointe du Hoc & Mont Saint-Michel
This is Part 2 of our two-part series. After covering Giverny, Honfleur, Étretat and Rouen in Part 1, we head to the D-Day landing sites. The beaches, the history, and the places that make this region unlike anywhere else in France.In th...
Zermatt, Switzerland: Glacier Paradise, Winter Storms and Life in a Car-Free Alpine Village
We have been to Zermatt twice and both trips were completely different.The first time we drove through a blizzard after a delayed flight into Milan, arrived at 3am, and learned quickly that cars are not allowed in Zermatt. The Matterhorn...
Why We Love Milan
Milan is a city we’ve spent real time in. Living nearby meant it was never just a stop on a trip and that changes how you experience it.In this episode, we talk about what it’s like spending time in Milan. The neighborhoods we kept going...
European Trivia Showdown: Food Edition
Erin hosts a fast paced European food trivia showdown with Lisa, Dylan and Meghan, and it got competitive fast. From iconic dishes to regional specialties and a few trick questions, this episode puts European food knowledge to the test.W...
Annecy, Aix-les-Bains & Grenoble Travel Guide | Rhône-Alps Part 2
In Part 2 of our Rhône-Alps series, we continue beyond Chamonix and talk about spending time in Annecy, Aix-les-Bains, Chambéry and Grenoble.We talk about what Annecy feels like once you’re there, how crowded it can get depending on timi...
Trailer | the getAwayZ Podcast
The Getawayz is a travel podcast about exploring Europe the way people actually do.We moved from Los Angeles to Europe in 2017 and have spent years traveling by car, often with a teenager and a dog. We talk honestly about where to stay, ...
Chamonix Travel Guide | Rhône-Alpes Part 1
In Part 1 of our Rhône-Alpes series, we’re starting in Chamonix, one of the most iconic mountain towns in the French Alps.We talk about what Chamonix is really like beyond the photos, how the town feels when you’re walking through...
New Year’s in Gothenburg
Spending New Year’s in Sweden, in the middle of winter.We spent New Year’s in Gothenburg with fireworks everywhere, busy streets and just enough going on without overplanning the days. Winter was fully in place and the city felt a...
New Year’s Traditions in Europe: Superstitions, Food and Traditions
Europe celebrates New Year’s in ways that are fun, strange, symbolic and older than most people realize. In this episode, we break down the traditions and superstitions that show up across countries like Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Denmark,...
Americans Living in Europe: Expectations vs Reality
In this episode, we talk about the expectations we all had before living in Europe and how those ideas compare to real life once you arrive. We cover safety, taxes, food and the small cultural shifts that stand out the most. Some things feel ea...
European Christmas Traditions and the Stories Behind Them
Europe has some of the oldest Christmas traditions in the world. In this episode we look at where many of them began. We talk about Advent calendars in Germany, the first Christmas markets, and why most of Europe celebrates on Christmas Eve. We...
Vienna Travel Guide: Winter Highlights, Palaces, Music and Christmas Markets
Experience Vienna in winter through our real stories of palaces, music, good food and holiday markets. We talk about the stops that stood out for us, from interactive museums to classical concerts in golden halls. We share what we ate, what we ...
European Trivia Showdown: How Well Do We Know Europe?
This week we switched things up with a European trivia episode. Lisa stepped into quizmaster mode while Erin competed against Meghan and Dylan in a mix of geography, culture and travel questions across Europe. There were confident answers, a fe...
Rome Travel Stories: Why We Keep Returning to the Eternal City
They say all roads lead to Rome, and somehow, ours always do. In this episode, we’re sharing the Rome we’ve come to know over multiple trips: the neighborhoods we love, the food we keep craving and the tiny details that make this city unforgett...
Teen Life in Europe: Dylan on School, Friends, Travel and Growing Up Abroad (Half His Life)
Half his life in Europe. In this episode Dylan answers questions about moving from the U.S., international school, travel, friends, culture shocks, favorite cities and what he’d tell other teens who might move abroad. Real talk on expat life, s...
Monaco Travel Guide: What to See, Eat and Do in a Day
From luxury yachts to hidden gardens, Monaco is more than just glitz and casinos. In this episode of The Getawayz, we share what it’s really like to visit the world’s second-smallest country, where you can walk the whole place in a day...
Bruges and Ghent: How to Explore Belgium’s Best Canal Cities
Bruges and Ghent are two of Belgium’s most unforgettable cities and we’ve been back many times, and yet still can't wit to return. In this episode, we talk about the cobblestone streets, canal walks, Christmas markets and the famous Ghent bar w...