17 Sep 2021

Genuinely immersed in a beautiful Italian home, my homestay

Tell us about your homestay experience.

Staying at Villa Cortese gave me exactly what I was looking for in my trip: to feel genuinely immersed in a beautiful Italian home. This was the direct result of Gabriella's warm hospitality, along with her sidekick Zoe (a very charismatic border collie). She received me with such warmth and kindness and really looked after me during my stay, especially as a female solo traveler. By the end of my trip, we joked that Gabriella truly is my "Italian mama."

For the latter half of my 10 day stay, her son Stefano visited as well. There was nothing sweeter than enjoying home made pasta together, with Stefano skillfully translating jokes from Italian to English and back.

Despite the fact that a majority of communication between Gabriella and myself occurred through Google translate, we developed a really lovely bond during my stay. I think if you are able to connect with someone without the ease of verbal communication, that must be something special. Possibly the greatest evidence of this is that I ugly cried when it came time to leave.

What did you do in massa lubrense?

Massa Lubrense and the quaint town of Sant'Agata were wonderful for exploring the Amalfi Coast. I was grateful to meet another couple staying at Villa Cortese in one of those fateful travel moments where one day of exploring together turns into five.

We hiked to stunning local beaches in area, diving off of rocks and buying Aperol Spritz from water taxis that would come up to shore to sell food and drinks. A jaw dropping moment for me! We went to dinners in the lovely nearby Sorrento and took a boat tour to the nearby island of Capri. Last but not least, we explored the incredible Positano, Amalfi, and Pompeii and and managed to mess up many, many bus schedules to and from those locations.

Any tips or advice for other travellers?

RENT! A! BOAT! One day, we rented a gommone (rubber boat) for six hours in the nearby coastal town of Nerano, splitting the cost between the three of us. It was the best money I spent the entire trip.

We traveled up and down the coast, stopping to anchor to swim in cerulean blue water next to sheer faced cliffs. For lunch, we anchored in Positano and enjoyed a picturesque view. A lot of pinch me moments in a 6-hour timeframe. We were next to ridiculously nice yachts but nonetheless thrilled to be eating sandwiches and grapes from our little dingy. We also stopped at a nearby cave and were able to swim into the middle.

Truly an experience I'll never forget!

How was your experience with your host?

I think the biggest takeaway from my trip was the sweetness of day-to-day life and the appreciation for doing nothing. As an American who recently decided to leave a job that wasn't fulfilling me, I was in desperate need of seeing a life outside of the hustle culture that is normal in Los Angeles and beyond. I had many conversations with native Italians and other Europeans that shifted my perspective on the kind of work-life balance I'm looking for.

Travel has an special way of helping you realize what really matters in life. This trip opened my eyes wide!