Journal

For ten days in London and Paris, give Paris one more night than London. Here's how I split the time, where my clients stay, and how to plan around the Changing of the Guard.

Most people who call me about Sicily have already picked Taormina. They saw San Domenico Palace on The White Lotus, or a friend came home talking about the Greek theater with Etna smoking behind it. For a lot of first trips, Taormina is the right call. But Sicily is a big island, and the town you pick decides how much of your week you spend in a car. So the base is the first thing I settle with anyone I'm sending there.

Nine people, eleven nights, and two quotes $150 apart. How I decide between a villa and rooms at a resort when a family travels Italy together.

Twelve to fourteen months for summer, nine to twelve for spring and fall. But a two-week Italy trip gets booked in pieces, and the pieces open at wildly different times. What to lock first, what you cannot book early, and the three deadlines people miss.

They solve the same problem — no driving, no hotel research, no logistics. Underneath that, they produce two very different trips. Here's how I sort out which format fits.

Two travelers can pay the same suite premium on two different river cruises and get very different things for it. Here's what the upgrade actually buys, and when I tell clients to skip it.

Almost every week, someone tells me they've been thinking about a river cruise. They've usually seen an ad, or a friend came back from the Danube and hasn't stopped talking about it. Then they ask me the question I always get: is it better than what I already do? That's the wrong question. River cruising and ocean cruising are two different kinds of vacations that happen to both involve a ship. Neither one is the upgrade. The right one for you depends on how you actually want

Spanish food is known for being straightforward, comforting but most importantly, fresh. The ingredients are always of premium quality, and each dish is made with love, passion, and cultural pride. Spain’s cuisine reflects a country that was both conquered and has a long history of colonization. When North African Moors arrived in Spain in 711 CE, they shook things up on the culinary scene. Alcohol was banned for well over 345 years, meaning wine production halted.However,

You can expect fresh ingredients and loads of flavors whenever you indulge in some of the Greek foods found throughout the country. Their healthy traditional recipes will leave you wanting more, and fortunately, there are a ton of excellent restaurants, eateries, and cafes all over the city. To help you figure out what Greek dish you're going to order next, here are 12 of the best Greek foods to experience in your lifetime. Greek Meze Greek meze is a blend of bite-sized foods

Thanks to a 2014 New York Times article declaring Naxos, Greece not to be missed, travel heavyweights have been including it year after year on their roundups of must-see destinations within the Cyclades. Unlike its neighbors Santorini and Mykonos, Naxos remains relatively unfazed by the North American hype – despite the fact that the picturesque island continues to surface on Greek island round-ups. Its low-key ambiance and quiet pace provide visitors with an authentic Greek

With a large variety of trains available to explore the world, the choices may seem overwhelming. Although some people choose to focus solely on the destination, the train can play an essential role in the journey. No matter if you are looking for something vintage or something a little more modern, keep reading to discover some of the top luxury trains located around the world. The Belmond Andean ExplorerLocated in the beautiful country of Peru, The Belmond Andean Explorer i

Best for: Young at heart, foodies, party crowd, fitness fans Not for: Those looking for quiet relaxation, traditional cruisers, families Quick Summary: Virgin Voyages provides a fun, upscale adults only experience that is a game changer in cruising. If you like the traditional cruise experience you will probably not like Virgin Voyages. This brand will appeal to those who dislike the traditional cruise experience. They live by their mission to make an epic sea change for a

The history is in the making at these Northern Ireland landmarks. The drinks have long flowed freely in Northern Ireland, home to some of the oldest distilleries anywhere and, pandemic times aside, to a robust pub culture. Bottles of native spirits bear hundreds of years’ worth of heritage on their labels. Many bars in and around Belfast aren’t much younger. Until recently, however, primarily locals appreciated this history, but the region’s status as a Game of Thrones set ha

Paris is sweet on the eye, sweet on the romance, and sweet on the palate. It is a sugar lovers' dream, and the only problem you'll have when it comes to the delectable French desserts is which one to choose. To help you navigate that yummy last course, we've broken down the top 10 must-try desserts for your visit to France. And if you have to eat more than one a day to get through them? Well, c'est la vie! 10 Sweet Treats to Eat While Visiting Paris The Tartes Aux Fruits –

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and is in the Mediterranean Sea between the Sea of Crete and the Libyan Sea, south of the Peloponnese. Crete is approximately 160 miles long and 37 miles wide. If there was a beauty contest for Greek islands, Crete would surely be among the favorites. Indeed, some say there is no place on earth like Crete. Crete is well known for its seas and beaches but it has a very contrasting landscape. The island goes from fertile coastal plain

Most commonly thought of in Europe, on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro and even Po rivers, River Cruising is also extending itself to Russia, China, Vietnam & Cambodia and – yes...even the United States (although US River Cruising is a whole different animal). Many of the voyages are “themed”, for special interests such as “wine immersion”, “Tulip Time”, “Jewish Heritage”, a popular “beer tasting cruise” along the Rhine, and the ever-popular “Christmas Markets” cruises during

Italy is, by far, the most popular European Country requested by my clients....in fact, over 46 million tourists visit this amazing country every year. They come from all over the world, for many different reasons, and many will return again and again for that magic that only Italy can deliver. Italians are very kind, outgoing, family-centric and extremely patient (unless they are driving!). The Italians realize how blessed they are to be the safe keepers of some of history’s

1. Visit O Chateau for the absolute BEST wine experience! They offer so many options...ranging from a single glass of wine to a Champagne Cruise on the Seine to a full day small-group tour to the Champagne region of France! www.o-chateau.com/paris-wine-tasting 2. Stop in to the L’Orangerie museum to get “up close and personal” with Monet’s incredible Water Lilies. This small museum is easy to get in and out of, usually with no crowds, and is a fantastic way to see some of t