• Before having kids, my husband and I would travel carry-on only.
• With kids, we felt like we needed more space and often checked luggage.
• We took a trip through Sicily with carry-ons, and we are never going back to checking bags.

"Your bag didn't make it to this airport," the woman behind the counter told me in 2023. We had just arrived in Madrid, jetlagged, delayed, and exhausted.

Before having kids, my husband and I were experts at traveling with carry-on only, but since we had three kids in two years, our packing situation has become a little more, well, complicated.

That is, until this year, when I decided that we were going to try to travel without any checked baggage to Italy for over two weeks. It was a success, and I'm never going back to check luggage.

We got our kids cute roller suitcases

With my kids, everything new we do depends on the delivery. Knowing that they would moan if I simply said, "Everyone needs to roll their own carry-on," I decided to invest in cute, fun bags for them.

I got three Away kids' carry-ons in different colors. I figured they'd be into them because they are fun and smaller than a regular carry-on. I was correct.

They all practiced rolling their bags around the house and watched me pack their things into the separate compartments. We then talked about how they were responsible for their own bag at the airport and that we couldn't leave them behind.

I packed very light

We were in Italy for 16 days, and I decided to pack extremely light. Not just so the carry-ons wouldn't be super heavy, but also to have room for treasures I knew we would find in some of our magical destinations, and for new outfits.

I checked the listings for our Airbnbs and planned where and when we would be doing laundry. I ended up packing five outfits for each of us and bringing two pairs of shoes each.

In the end, because we spent so much time at the beach, I felt like I could've packed even lighter on clothes for the kids since they mostly wore bathing suits and flip-flops.

Having small bags made moving around Italy easier

Most of the places we stayed had stairs, which we didn't know in advance. The first house in Taormina had about three flights of stairs right as you walked in, on a flimsy staircase not for the faint of heart.

Bringing small bags made it easier to check in and out of places like these. We also took a trip to a remote island by ferry, and navigating the cobblestone streets and port was much easier with our carry-ons.

We each had a backpack to access things like passports, snacks, and stuffed animals. That way, once the carry-ons were zipped, I didn't need to get into them until the next location.

I'm not going back to checked bags

Now that my kids are older and we don't need to bring things like diapers, formula, car seats, and all the stuff that comes with babies, I'm ready to never check a suitcase again.

While it requires more planning pre-trip, I felt like it paid off significantly during our travels. My husband and I did, at certain points, take over our kids' carry-ons, especially when rushing to catch a connection or getting on and off escalators. Since our bags had four wheels, it wasn't super hard to do so.

And the idea of never losing a bag and having to track it with an AirTag from a different country sounds quite appealing to me.

• My grandmother always dreamed of going to Italy, but losing my grandfather put her plans on hold.
• My husband and I surprised her with a trip to Sicily for her 75th birthday.
• We found Sicily to be an accessible trip for an older relative, and can't wait to go back to Italy.

When she's not busy caring for everyone else, my grandmother loves to travel.

She's the one who really instilled a sense of wanderlust in our whole family. She's often embarking on a solo trip, or at least researching her next excursion across Europe.

For the longest time, her biggest dream was to visit Italy, and she spent years planning and saving up for a trip.

When my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, her travel plans were put on hold and she devoted herself entirely to his care. The last few years were extremely taxing on her physically and emotionally, leaving my grandmother burned out and in a state of grief after my grandfather died in the spring of last year.

For her 75th birthday, my husband and I decided to surprise her with a trip to Italy to fulfill her lifelong dream. We ended up going to Sicily and left with unforgettable memories.

We chose Sicily for a few reasons, including accessibility

With so many beautiful cities in Italy, it was difficult to choose the best place to go.

My grandmother had previously mentioned towns like Portofino and Cinque Terre, so we knew we had to stay coastal. Plus, since her birthday is in May, we wanted to go as far south as we could to enjoy some warm weather and the sea breeze.

We landed on Sicily and chose a quaint seafront hotel in Giardini Naxos, located just north of Catania. It turned out to be the perfect location and time of year to visit, especially with my grandmother's age, comfort, and needs in mind.

With two international airports located in Catania and Palermo, as well as a convenient railway system and a comprehensive bus network running across the island, Sicily is very easy to get to — and just as easy to navigate.

There was a direct bus from the airport to the town, giving my grandmother a chance to soak in the views and snap photos along the way.

May was the perfect time to enjoy warm weather with fewer crowds

The weather was warm enough to take a dip in the pool at our hotel, but we didn't have to deal with the sweltering Sicilian sun of the mid-summer months.

Since it wasn't peak season, the town had a relaxing feel with fewer tourists and crowds than we might've seen at a different time. We never had to wait in long lines, either.

From Giardini Naxos, we took a 15-minute bus ride to the iconic hilltop town of Taormina. The bus, running every 20 minutes, dropped us off right at the foot of the old town, which my grandmother greatly appreciated.

Although we skipped a "White Lotus" selfie at the Four Seasons in Taormina, we did meander down the side streets, indulge in gelato, and take in the panoramic views of Mt. Etna at Villa Comunale, the public gardens of Taormina.

I felt like we had an authentic Italian experience, complete with excellent hospitality and great food

Sicily taught me that the stereotype about Italian hospitality exists for a reason. Everywhere we went, we were greeted with "Ciao ragazzi" and warm smiles, making us feel right at home.

We ate fresh seafood dishes like pasta alle vongole (pasta with clams). Although she didn't partake, my grandmother admired my husband's adventurous appetite when he tried ricci di mare (sea urchins), a Sicilian delicacy.

All over the island, we saw the striking ceramic heads of a man and woman (teste di moro), often in the form of vases. Deeply rooted in Sicilian folklore, the heads have various stories explaining their origins, mostly involving themes of love and betrayal.

To remember our trip, my grandmother and I bought small ceramic pine cones, another powerful symbol in Sicilian culture, representing prosperity and good luck.

Making my grandmother smile on her birthday was the greatest gift of all

Although it was her first birthday without my grandfather, it was a beautiful experience for all of us.

For my grandmother, it meant not feeling alone in her grief and fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit Italy. For me, it meant making memories with my grandmother and seeing her smile.

Losing someone we love reminded us that we have to make the most of every moment. I'll always cherish this memory with my grandmother and am so grateful I was there for her first trip to Italy, though it certainly won't be our last.

• I've visited Italy's Amalfi Coast 3 times. It's beautiful, but I don't like the crowds and prices
• I prefer other Italian destinations like Cefalù, a small city in Sicily with great food and beaches.
• Sicily's Aeolian Islands and Matera, Basilicata, are also worth visiting.

Italy's Amalfi Coast is one of the country's most popular destinations, but after visiting three times, I think I'll skip it on my next trip.

The Amalfi Coast is known for its striking cliffside landscapes and seaside villages, but the famous region has several downsides. It gets crowded, local traffic can be horrendous, and prices are far from cheap.

I'm always looking for alternatives to popular tourist attractions, and after traveling extensively throughout southern Italy, I found a few places I liked better than the Amalfi Coast.

Next time I head to Southern Italy, I'd go to these three destinations instead.

Cefalù, Sicily

Of all of Italy's 20 regions, Sicily is my favorite.

On my first visit nearly a decade ago, the region's volcanic landscapes, unbeatable street-food scene, and welcoming locals won me over.

I've since been back three more times, and I can never seem to get enough. You can't go wrong with a trip anywhere on the island, whether visiting dynamic Palermo or the ever-so-popular Taormina.

Yet Cefalù, a small city on Sicily's northern coast, is my top pick.

The city's historic center is undeniably charming. Narrow pedestrian streets lead to Cefalù's centuries-old cathedral that's towered over by a massive cliff.

Cefalù's long, sandy beach and adjacent boardwalk made for an ideal summer getaway. Trying local cuisine is a must, too, from savory arancini rice balls to decadent granita — my Sicilian dessert of choice.

Plus, compared to navigating the often chaotic traffic along the Amalfi Coast, getting to and from Cefalù is a breeze. The city lies directly on a train line, and it only takes an hour to reach Cefalù from Palermo.

Aeolian Islands, Sicily

If you're near Sicily, I also suggest visiting Aeolian Islands, a volcanic island chain located off the region's northern coast.

The Aeolian Islands consist of seven main islands, which are home to about 15,000 people. They offer a coastal getaway with far fewer crowds than the Amalfi Coast.

Each island is unique. Some, like Vulcano, offer visitors the chance to bathe in volcanic mud baths. Others, like Panarea, feature eye-catching white buildings with vibrant blue doors.

My personal favorite is Stromboli, where you can watch a volcano erupt while sailing into or away from the island.

I'd say the best way to experience the area is with a boat tour. You can find day trips to the Aeolian Islands from the city of Milazzo in northern Sicily.

Matera, Basilicata

My last alternative to the Amalfi Coast is not on the coast at all, but in the rural southern region of Basilicata, located in the "arch" of Italy's "boot."

Nestled in the stunning Gravina Canyon is the ancient city of Matera. It's considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Matera certainly receives its fair share of tourists, but far fewer than cities like Sorrento and Positano on the Amalfi Coast.

Visiting Matera is like stepping into another era. Early inhabitants carved dwellings and churches into the canyon's limestone cliffs — I've never seen anything else like it in all of Italy.

The medieval historic center offers spectacular views, romantic restaurants built into caves, and bustling piazzas. Plus, getting to the city can be an adventure within itself.

It's not on a high-speed rail line, and the closest airport is about 40 miles away in Bari, the capital of the nearby region of Puglia. Many travelers take a local train from Bari to Matera, which takes about 90 minutes.

Visiting Matera was the highlight of my most recent trip to Italy, and I can't wait to go back.