Insider Tips from
Experienced Travelers
For the type-A, always-optimizing travelers among us: Our ongoing Q&A series uncovers the secrets of professional voyagers and worldly connoisseurs. From planning and packing to navigating new terrain like a local, discover insider tips that elevate every journey to unforgettable heights.
Marina Cacciapuoti
Co-Founder and Creative
Director of Italy Segreta
Maria Cacciapuoti is the co-founder and creative director of Italy Segreta, an editorial platform dedicated to the understated beauty of Italian life. What began as a passion project has grown into a digital magazine, an annual print edition, and a Florence-based travel consultancy. Raised between Rome and Florence, Maria moved to New York in 2014 where she worked with Vice, Condé Nast Traveler, and Hearst Magazines. There, she recognized the disconnect between Italy’s image abroad and its lived reality. Italy Segreta bridges this divide, offering a more layered, intimate portrait of the country—one that feels true to Italians and revelatory to outsiders. In 2020, she returned home to establish Italy Segreta with her twin brother, Cesare Achille Cacciapuoti, turning their love of storytelling into a platform that evolves with the Italy it seeks to represent.
1. You’ll never catch me departing for a trip without…
The bare minimum. I like to feel free and not weighed down by stuff—but I always have a bottle of sparkling water and my camera.
2. The one thing I always have tailored before a trip…
A good jacket makes you feel ready for any occasion, no matter what you wear it with.
3. My favorite season to escape to Southern Europe is…
Off-season is the best season. In regards to Italy, cities like Florence and Rome are great from January to April, while the coast is ideal in May and June – if you don’t mind cold water – or in late September and October.
4. My go-to travel read when I need pure escapism is…
I love reading a book related to places I’ve recently visited, to take me back there. For example, after my Japan trip, I read Butter by Asako Yuzuki.
5. Carry-on only? My tip is…
I always travel with only a carry-on, even for a two-week trip.
6. The single most versatile item of clothing for a summer weekend jaunt is…
A pareo (wraparound skirt). It’s light and easy to carry, and it can effortlessly transform into a top, dress, skirt, or a towel to lay on for a spontaneous dip.
7. When choosing a private travel concierge, the three must-haves are…
I personally like to plan all my trips, but when it comes to travel concierge services, I would advise going with something smaller, more local, and specialized in one place rather than the whole world. It’s important to have a great network on the ground to give you access to behind-closed-doors experiences, similar to what we aim to offer with our travel consultancy.
8. My greatest travel extravagance that’s become an essential is…
When booking a hotel, I always ask for a room with a view, or one facing the street to watch life go by, along with plenty of natural light.
9. My favorite in-flight wellness ritual or remedy is…
Bring your own water – lots of it – and food. I usually pack some good prosciutto, crackers, and an apple.
10. A jet lag cure that actually works for me every time?
Powering through the first day and not thinking about what time it is back home.
11. My go-to way to capture travel memories is…
A film camera.
12. The travel app that’s saved me more than once is…
Waze for traffic, Slow Food for finding new amazing restaurants in Italy.
13. My method for securing a last-minute table at a starred restaurant is…
I go for small local joints over starred options, and even if there is an online reservation option, I always call.
14. If I have a day off in a city, my perfect agenda starts with…
A good coffee, a long walk, followed by another great coffee and an exhibition, then seafood and a glass of light wine for lunch al fresco with the sun on my face, especially if it’s by the sea.