Stay Fabulous
Stay Fabulous is the travel podcast for dreamers, seekers, and design-minded travelers who crave more than just checklists and tourist traps. Hosted by Anastasiya, founder of Fabulous Vita Travel Agency and expert in curated travel through Italy, Greece, and France, each episode is a blend of insider insight, personal storytelling, and soulful advice on how to travel beautifully and live intentionally.
From navigating the chaos of Rome to finding stillness in the Cyclades or discovering hidden towns in Provence, this podcast offers practical tips, emotional takeaways, and honest reflections from someone who’s helped thousands of Americans design unforgettable journeys through Europe.
Whether you're planning your first trip to Italy or dreaming of a summer on the Amalfi Coast, Stay Fabulous is your companion for travel that feels as good as it looks.
Stay Fabulous
Why Rome Feels So Overwhelming for Tourists
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Most travelers arrive in Rome believing they have planned everything perfectly, only to quickly realize that the city feels far more overwhelming in reality than it ever did online. In this episode, I talk about why Rome so often exhausts travelers, not because the city itself is difficult, but because most itineraries are built without understanding how Rome actually functions once you are here.
In this episode, I unpack the small planning decisions that quietly shape the entire Rome experience and break down the logistical and cultural mistakes travelers often make. From scheduling too much immediately after arrival and underestimating how long it takes to move around Rome, to relying on taxis for airport transfers or booking major attractions too late, we discuss the details that can quickly turn excitement into unnecessary stress.
I also explain why some of Rome’s most extraordinary experiences - such as the Domus Aurea or Palazzo Colonna require far more strategic planning than travelers expect, and why places like the Borghese Gallery continue to surprise visitors with how quickly tickets disappear.
Beyond logistics, this episode also touches on the cultural side of traveling in Italy, including one of the most misunderstood topics among U.S. travelers: tipping etiquette. Because Rome is not a city that rewards rushing. The more intentionally it is planned, the more extraordinary and effortless the experience becomes.
__
0:00 Why Rome Feels So Overwhelming for Tourists
2:06 The First-Day Mistake That Exhausts Travelers Immediately
4:10 Why Getting Around Rome Is Harder Than It Looks Online
5:30 Rome Taxi & Airport Transfer Mistakes Travelers Make
9:28 Hidden Rome Experiences Most Tourists Miss: Domus Aurea & Palazzo Colonna
11:33 Why Borghese Gallery Tickets Sell Out So Quickly
14:21 Tipping in Italy: What U.S. Travelers Should Actually Expect
__
Connect with me:
Fabulous Vita Travel Agency : https://fabulousvita.com
Youtube Channel : https://youtube.com/c/StayFabulousTL