How I’m Using Travel to Reroute My Life This Fall

Ryan Garcia
Jun 19, 2025
3 min read

This fall, I am spending almost three months in Europe—not just to explore, but to reroute. After an unexpected career shift toward the end of last year, I am choosing slow, intentional travel as a way to reset, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most.

If you have followed me for a while, you know I am a big believer in slow travel—immersing in one place, taking your time, and traveling with purpose instead of pressure. This fall, I am walking that talk (literally) through Spain and Italy.

I will start in late August by walking part of the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. From th

ere, I will spend September based in Naples, Italy, and then (depending on what feels right) I will spend October in another European city—maybe Paris.

Why Start With the Camino?

To be honest, hiking the Camino was not originally on my radar. But it has been on my mom’s—literally. A few years ago, she walked the full Camino de Santiago on her own, and it was a life-changing experience for her. She has talked so much about the people she met, the rhythm of the walk, and the space it gave her to reflect and reconnect.

This year, when she asked if I would join her and a close friend for a shorter section of the route, I said yes. I had been planning to take a sabbatical this fall—space to reset and figure out my next chapter. Life moved faster than I expected, and that sabbatical arrived a little early. The Camino feels like a fitting way to begin: a literal walk into a new season of life.

It is a way to slow down, clear my head, and start this next chapter with intention.

Why Naples?

Naples is more than a stop on the itinerary—it’s home. I spent three years living there, and every time I return, I fall for it all over again: the food, the character, the people who treat you like family, and the way life spills out into the streets.

As a travel advisor, I send a lot of clients to southern Italy. And returning to a place that shaped so much of who I am feels like an anchor during this season of personal transition. By spending a full month based in Naples, I will be exploring new neighborhoods, testing experiences, and digging deeper into a region I already know well—so I can better share it with you.

Why This Trip Helps My Clients

This is not just a getaway—it is hands-on research. I will be walking through the same airports, trying the same trains, checking out hotels, tours, and restaurants, and testing all the little logistics I build into my client itineraries.

It means that when you ask me about whether to stay in Sorrento or Salerno, or how to fit in a detour to Puglia, I will not just be pulling info from a guidebook—I will be speaking from recent experience.

And I will be sharing it all as I go: the wins, the surprises, the behind-the-scenes of how I plan travel that is not just pretty—it is personal, grounded, and joyful.