Maya | Isle Passport

Places I've actually been, with notes on what actually makes them worth the trip.

I've spent weeks island-hopping the Balearics, shooting the Alhambra at sunrise, and getting hopelessly lost in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. The difference between a good Spain trip and an unforgettable one usually comes down to one thing — showing up with the right experience booked. I've done the research so you don't have to. These are the tours I'd personally book across Barcelona, Andalusia, Menorca, Mallorca, and Ibiza — small-group where possible, skip-the-line where it matters, and always chosen for the people who want to actually understand a place, not just walk through it. Whether you're planning a coastal island hop or a cultural deep-dive through Seville and Granada, start here.

Warning: reading this will make you want to quit everything and move to a cliffside village. I've spent years finding the coastal spots in Spain and Italy that don't show up on the first page of Google — and writing the honest guides to each one. Everything is here, organised by destination. Click through and start planning.

I’ve spent years traveling through Greece, Italy, and Spain with just a carry-on. And this is exactly what I pack every single time. This list includes the real essentials that make Mediterranean travel easier, lighter, and actually enjoyable. From the suitcase I trust on cobblestone streets to the outfits I rewear on repeat, plus the beauty I never leave behind. If you want to: pack light without sacrificing style avoid overpacking (but still have everything you need) and travel comfortably through Europe this is the exact system I use to make carry-on only travel work every time.

The stuff that makes 3-week trips through the Mediterranean actually comfortable instead of exhausting.

Everything that fits under the seat and keeps me sane on budget European airlines, ferry crossings, and island-to-island hops.

Everything I actually travel with to shoot beaches, cliffside towns, and ocean aerials across Spain, Italy, and Greece.

I've swum in the protected marine parks of Menorca, snorkelled in Greek sea caves, and spent entire weeks in the Mediterranean with nothing but a carry-on. Everything on this list is reef-safe, ocean-friendly, and actually works in heat, salt water, and humidity. No fillers, no products that photograph well but fail by day two. Just what I actually pack.

I've spent months at a time on Mediterranean islands and in coastal Southeast Asia, and my skin has been through it all: salt air, 90% humidity, reef-safe requirements, and zero access to a dermatologist. Everything on this list I've actually used, tested on real island trips, and would repurchase in a heartbeat. If you're heading somewhere hot and humid and don't want to come home with clogged pores, a patchy tan, or a guilty conscience about the reef you just snorkelled, this list is for you!