When I Win The Lottery I Wil l Move To Rome

When I win the lottery, and I am convinced that I will, 

I will move to Rome.

I will find myself un attico con terrazzo - an attic apartment with a little garden terrace, in my favorite neighborhood, the Trastevere and I will spend my days studying history and art.

I will lead a simple life full of great wine, bold coffee and easy travel. 

If money were never to be an issue again, if you could live any life you wanted, what would you do and where would you go?

Have you booked your summer travel yet?
Maybe you've just decided to try and getaway and are worried that everything will be too expensive now?
I found this article on how to save on summer travel on Airfare Watchdog

8 Ways to Save on Summer Travel

The summer travel season is here and we've found that more and more travelers plan to hit the skies this year. In an effort to help you get the best value from your vacation, we've put together a list of our top money-saving tips for summer travel.

1. Avoid ‘peak’ summer travel. Summer doesn’t officially end until well after Labor Day. Since school starts earlier and earlier these days, you’ll find that airfares and hotel rates tend to go down for travel after around August 18, when kids go start to return to school. So plan your travels for “off-peak summer” if you can.
2. Look into low-season destinations. Check out some of the not-as-popular summer destinations that still offer great activities and good weather. Since thousands of tourists won’t be flocking to those locations, prices for hotels, transportation, and everyday activities will be lower. Plus, crowds will be much smaller.
3. Use a flexible search to find better deals. When planning your travel, try to be as flexible as possible with your departure and arrival dates. That way, you can take advantage of flexible travel date airfare searches. If you can flex your travel dates slightly, and don’t need to travel on specific date, you can take advantage of huge savings, sometimes simply by booking a day or two earlier or later. Some of our favorite flexible search tools include those of JetBlue,Southwest, and United for airlines, along with Google Flights and Kayak.
4. For European travel, focus first on crossing the Atlantic cheaply. At this point, it’s no secret that fares to Europe are at historic lows, and the euro has dropped considerably, both of which make for cheaper travel within the continent. However, some cities may still be pricier than others, so to get the best deal you may have to fly into a nearby airport and then travel city-to-city by plane or train. Check out some of our favorite smaller airlines, such asNorwegian, Condor, and Wow Air, where you’ll find great deals within Europe. While you might have to spend some extra time getting to your actual destination, you’ll save money while touring two cities for less than the price of one. For example, while round-trip fares to Vienna may be about $1,200, you could instead fly into Milan for under $700 (thanks to US and European carriers trying to keep pace with low fares from Emirates). A flight or overnight train ticket from Milan to Vienna is fairly inexpensive and the savings certainly add up!
5. Check out your options with frequent flyer miles. When researching flights, see if it makes sense to cash in reward miles with any of your frequent flyer programs. In certain situations, you might have better luck calling the airline’s reservation center and speaking directly with a booking agent.
6. Do your research before booking an air + hotel travel package. While the package deals for airfare and hotels stays seem promising, sometimes they are significantly overpriced. Before whipping out your credit card and snagging that “great package deal,” search airfare and hotel prices on their own. That way, you’ll get a feel for what the prices are when they are separate and you’ll know if you’re actually saving money by booking a package. For example, British Airlines often has package deals for airfare and five nights in London for far less than the cost of the flight alone. In these scenarios, the package deal is a definite a no-brainer!
7. Check to see if your credit card offers travel insurance. Many travelers purchase travel insurance without first checking to see if their credit card offers any coverage. The credit card you use on a daily basis might already offer you enough insurance to cover your trip. Our favorites are the Chase Sapphire card, United Explorer card, and some Citibank AAdvantage cards, which all offer superb insurance protection.
8. After you book, check for airfare and hotel price drops. Airfare and hotel prices fluctuate on a daily basis. It’s a total bummer when you’ve paid for a hotel or flight and find out that someone else paid less. If you stay on top of it and check for price drops after you book, however, you might still be able to save some money. You can either get cash or a credit for future travel if you know how the system works. For example, Tingo will give you your money back if the price of your hotel room drops after you book.

Explore. Dream. Discover. Capri.

20 years from now

you will be more disappointed

by the things you didn't do

than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover

~ Mark Twain

Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance. Get a free quote.

Today the Glam Italia Tour is in Capri.

Check out some of the things we will be doing here

Follow us on Instagram @ Corinnamakeup

Travel Scams To Watch Out For This Summer

I don't just love to travel - I live to travel.

Traveling the world is fun and fabulous, there is always so much to discover!
If you are traveling this summer you need to be aware of some of the scams that are floating around and keep yourself protected.

Travel Scams To Watch Out For

WiFi

If you've traveled internationally lately you will already know just how maniacally expensive data is. My cell carrier, Verizon, charges $25 for every 100 MB. It's crazy, especially with our lives functioning around our smartphones. When you travel you tend to use your pocket sized portable mini-computer all the time - googling facts about what you're seeing, searching for a great seafood restaurant nearby, downloading driving directions, watching the 30 second video you just took - it's constant. 
100 MB doesn't go far, so you need to use Wifi as much as possible, but it comes with certain risks.

image via Jarrang.com

The latest wifi scam involves free wifi. Maybe you are in an airport, a hotel lobby, a public square, maybe you are in a coffee shop, and bingo - you find free wifi. You quickly log on to facebook, upload photos, check your email, and please no, check your bank account before heading off on your way. Public wifi is not secure at the best of times, it is well known to be an easy hack.

One of the current scams involves hackers setting up free wifi hotspots and targeting your personal information, your private photos, your social security number, your mobile banking, your insurance information, your credit cards, you name it.

Hackers use both SSL decryption to capture your personal information, and SSL stripping to downgrade secure domains and gain access to your passwords and payment information. No matter how tech-savvy you are, assume they are a step ahead of you, because they probably are.

Airport ATM Machines

Travelex ATM Hong Kong airport

The first thing you need to know about changing currency at the airport is that you are going to get the absolute worst exchange rate. They know they've got you - either you are arriving and need local currency or you are leaving and want to unload it, so they can make the exchange rate as terrible as they want. 

If you are using the ATM machine at the airport be super savvy. Many international airports are no longer using ATMs operated by large national and international banks, instead opting for ATM machines run by companies such as Travelex. 
Retail foreign exchange companies have the monopoly on airport ATMs. They pay big fees to the airport and recoup that money plus more from you, the unsuspecting and weary traveler.

They advertise 'free withdrawals', so you think you are backing a winner when in fact they are killing you with their exchange rate.
I was just reading that travelers are losing more than 10% with the exchange rate these ATMs give.
You are better off to buy foreign currency from your bank at home before you leave, and then use bank ATM machines inside banks at your destination. If you have to use the ATM at the airport, only pull out what you absolutely need to get you from the airport to your hotel.

(Traveling through Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport? Phoenix has the highest out of network ATM fees. Check it out here at Phoenix's ABC15.com)

RFID Credit Card Readers.

This is not just a problem when you are traveling, it is a huge problem domestically too.
For as little as $50 a hacker can buy a cell phone sized card reader that will wirelessly read the information on the magnetic strip on your credit or debit card, through your wallet, hangbag or pocket.
The reader will pick up your card number, expiration date and CCV code and then seemlessly transfer that information to a $300 magnetizing tool which encodes that info onto a new card. 

Both domestically and when you travel you should keep all of your credit and debit cards inside RFID blocking sleeves in your wallet, or RFID blocking wallet. Your passport information is readable too, so you can now get RFID blocking passport sleeves that protect the information digitally stored in your passport. All of these are available at The Container Store

Check out this article on Forbes.com about RFID hacking





Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links that can result in monetary compensation

Wanderlust

Are you embracing your inner nomad?
Today on the Glam Italia Tour we are leaving Tuscany and heading to Rome, exploring this magical world.
Follow us on Instagram @Corinnamakeup

Lago Maggiore, Italy

Single Female Traveler?

I found this super cool blog recently - Dirty and Thirty.com

It may just be my new favorite thing. My latest obsession.

You have to go check them out!

This is a re-post of one of their travel articles. They have some fabulous tips for single female travelers, or girls traveling in groups, so read on.....

When traveling by yourself you should be always take into consideration your safety and security.  In this day and age business travelers are no longer just male travelers, females acount for 43% of business travelers.  Hotels and Airlines are now forced to make sure they offer the safety and security of all guest and cater to everyone’s needs.  Below find tips on things you should do prior to taking a trip/vacation by yourself:

Get to know your destination

*Google your destination.  Find out the pros and cons of what occurs in the local community nearby your hotel.  If you read about negative or bad opportunities that have occured recently near your hotel; I would recommend that you change your accommodations.

*If you found that your hotel is located in a non-reputable community or a community that you would not feel comfortable jogging down the street with your IPOD then I would recommend to change your hotel accomodations.

*Go on TripAdvisor.com – read the testimonies from other travelers who were passionate about their stay and left an honest review.  Only judge a hotel when you see alot of current reviews that show a pattern of bad service, product or unique occurences.  Some incidents that you should pay attention to: bed bugs, lice, theft, harassment, auto theft, identity theft.  When you see reviews about those types of incidents you have a right as a consumer to call the hotel and question them about it (prior to booking that hotel)!

*City Search-go online find out what there is to do in that community.  Read the reviews from patrons.

*Four Square-many people hate it BUT there are more people who LOVE it. Read the reviews for your destination, hotel, restaurant, activities, etc…  These reviews are FRESH, HOT and HONEST reviews or tips.  The average person on Four Square will leave the tip or review during their transaction.  You will be able to see if you should truelly avoid that restaurant or perhaps not drive through that unsafe community.

Investigate where your staying

*Does the hotel have exterior corridors?

*Is the parking lot enclosed?  Is it a well lit parking lot?  Do you offer valet service?

*Does your hotel room door have double locks? Or a safety lock feature?

*Investigate any negative reviews about safety on TripAdvisor with the hotel management team.  Call or email them directly from their brand website.

*Stay away from hotels that are located right off the freeway.  They attract transit guest with no loyalty to the hotel, area or the community.  Hotels that are off the freeway also attract sex and drug trades in the sleeping rooms.  This is a bad environment for any female traveling alone.

*If the hotel has exterior corridors-Ask if you are arriving late do they provide an escort to your room?  And do they have overnight security?

Upon Check-In at your destination

*Upon check-in make sure you take note of all emergency exits for the building.

*Ask them if they have a Manager on Duty.  This is the person you would contact if anything should occur during your stay.

*In the restaurant/bar never leave your food or beverage unattended if your eating alone!  Most restaurants will cover your food if you walk away and almost all non-alcholic beverages have free refills.  If you have to leave your drink ask for a refill in a new glass.

*If you are charging anything to your room DO NOT SAY YOUR ROOM NUMBER out loud.  You can right it down or right it on your official reciept.

*Every time you leave your room.  Make sure the door closes shut.  Try the knob to ensure it has locked itself completely.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions!  Remember as the traveler you have a right to know.  Most hotels have a safety/security plan in place but sometimes it is good to know that all employees are aware of this program.  It brings a sense of security to each individual checking in.  Remember when planning Girlfriend getaway trips-same rules apply!  Have fun!

Celebrities Who Just Cannot Resist The Alluring Helen Mirren

Do not for one split second think that age has anything to do with crazy hot sex appeal!
Helen Mirren is 70 years young and as hot as ever. If you are freaking out about turning 30 or 40 or 50 (or any age), just check out how some of the sexiest men on earth respond to standing next to her. They look anywhere between totally smitten and in complete awe of her!
Popsugar posted 27 celebrities reacting to the divine Dame Helen.
I am re-posting their article and a handful of the men adoring her.
You can see the full 27 in the link at the bottom of this post.

Celebrities Who Just Cannot Resist The Alluring Helen Mirren.

Text by Brittney Stephens. All images via Popsugar.com


In addition to being one of the greatest actresses of our time, Dame Helen Mirren also happens to have an incredibly electric (and flirtatious) personality. The 70-year-old actress seems to draw in even the most conservative of stars with her wit, allure, and one-of-a-kind sense of humor. Most recently, she shocked Late Show host Stephen Colbert with a steamy snog, and actress Blake Lively even joked about her husband, Ryan Reynolds, being besotted by the esteemed star. Ryan gushed about Helen's charm in a 2015 interview, saying, "Everybody who meets with her flirts with her. I don't care who you are — guy, girl, fat, skinny, tall, short, gay, straight — everybody flirts with Helen Mirren." In celebration of one of the baddest b*tches in Hollywood (and across the pond), we've rounded up all the men who have been honored to have been flirted with by Helen Mirren.

And can you even handle her wearing the hell out of that black suit?? (see below with Aaron Paul)


Ryan Reynolds. Mesmerized.




David Beckham. Smitten.



Aaron Paul. Look at her working that black suit! #SavageAF.




Idris Elba. Flirting.



Colin Firth. Tended to.



Jamie Foxx. Puckered Up.



Christopher Plummer. Looking charmed.



Bruce Willis. On his knees.



Tom Hiddleston. Whipped.




They all look just giddy over her!
Okay - so I gave you 8 of them, bump on over to Popsugar to check out 19 more! Popsugar's 27 Celebrities Who Couldn't Resist The Flirtatious Charm Of Helen Mirren