How to Plan a Unique European Trip | The Travel Speakeasy Method
Travel, for me, was never meant to be rushed or checklist-driven. It’s something you feel – in the music, in the light, in the food – something local you didn’t plan to find.
That’s why I created what I call The 5 Senses Travel Method – a way of exploring that blends self-guided discovery with thoughtfully chosen experiences.
I don’t believe you need to book a tour or excursion for everything. In fact, some of the most meaningful moments happen when you wander.
But there are times when the right experience – the right guide, the right access – transforms a place entirely.
The Travel Speakeasy Approach
Self Guided Exploration
My guides and scavenger hunts are designed for travelers who want freedom – to move slowly, notice more, and experience a place through their own lens.
These are:
Walkable
Flexible
Affordable
Designed around atmosphere, culture, and hidden details
👉Try a Scavenger Hunt Experience
When I Choose a Tour
I recommend tours very intentionally – not as a replacement for exploring, but as an enhancement.
The right tour gives you:
Access you wouldn’t have on your own
Context the deepens what you’re seeing
A more refined, immersive experience
Explore Through The 5 Senses Method
Structure like this:
Sound
Live music
Cultural storytelling tours
Local guides
Taste
Food tours
Wine tastings
Aperitivo culture
Sight
Museums
Architecture tours
Historic access tours (skip-the-line)
Touch (Movement/Feeling)
Walking/hiking tours
Boat/Water experiences
Biking tours
Smell
Perfumerie tours
Tea rituals/Wineries
Outdoor Markets
My Trusted Tour Partners
Premium Experiences (Highly Curated)
Liv Tours
If I’m booking a guided experience in Europe, this is where I start. Their tours feel more intimate, thoughtful, and elevated than most –less rushed, more immersive.
Ideal for:
Vatican/Rome
Paris Landmarks
Florence tours
Venice tours
👉Explore Liv Tours Experiences
Flexible & Affordable Options
Viator + GetYourGuide
These are excellent for flexibility – especially when you want to:
Book last minute
Compare options
Fill in gaps in your itinerary
Alternatives to more expensive Cruise excursions (just watch your boarding times!)
👉Find Experiences on GetYourGuide
Deep Cultural Travel
Untold Italy
For Italy, this is one of my favorite resources. It’s less about “tourism” and more about understanding how Italy actually works – culturally, regionally, and experientially.
👉Explore Untold Italy Experiences
How I Recommend Planning Your Trip
The best trips are layered – not overbooked.
Example Structure:
Day in Europe:
Morning → Self-guided walk (Travel Speakeasy Guide | Curated Sunrise Walk)
Midday → Café / wandering
Afternoon → Guided Experience (tour)
Evening → Aperitivo / free time (or Travel Speakeasy Guide | Curated Sunset Walk)
Travel doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful – but the right experiences, chosen well, can elevate everything.
Here’s an example of how I structured a trip through Italy using my method – blending self-guided discovery with a few carefully chosen experiences:
The Itinerary:
I booked my flights using American Airlines points and American Express – nearly free, aside from a small fee.
Instead of a hotel, we stayed in a simple apartment in Arona on Lake Maggiore, using Expedia points – about $75 per night.
One afternoon, I booked a small, affordable experience- a Borromean Islands boat tour through GetYourGuide – about $20 per person. It was simple, easy, and added just enough structure to the day without taking it over.
The rest of the time was ours – finding dinner, and listening to live jazz in a little corner of Arona.
We rented a car and made our way down to Naples – completely self-guided – stopping along the way to explore hidden gems.
But then, I chose one moment to elevate the experience.
Through Untold Italy, I booked a private cooking class and wine tasting in Capri, with olive oil tasting and even a professional photographer to document the experience.
It was around $500 – and completely worth it!
The Philosophy
That’s the balance I always come back to:
Most of my travel is slow, self-guided, and inexpensive – built around wandering, atmosphere, and discovery.
(I have never been drawn to crowds, so it seems to work out.)
But I choose a few moments – very intentionally – to invest in something more elevated.
Not everything needs a tour. But the right experience, at the right time, can change how you remember a place entirely.
→Recreate This Style of Travel:
Browse affordable tours (GetYourGuide)
Explore deeper Italian experiences (LivTours)
View my curated recommendations
Explore affordable accomodations (Expedia)
Happy Travels!
~Jen
The Travel Speakeasy
