Sunday, December 25, 2016

Must See: Croatia

Croatia is at the top of my personal travel bucket list.

Why?

It has the perfect mix of culture, history, amazing food and the Mediterranean Sea.


You can choose a sailing itinerary along the beautiful coast or head inland to explore more of the history. Croatia hosts some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. 

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Spotlight on Avalon Waterways

River cruises are an incredible way to see the small towns and villages of Europe. You have a lot of choices when it comes to which cruise line.

The value of using a travel agent like me is that I can match you to the river cruise that will be the best fit for you.

Today's spotlight is on Avalon Waterways. What really sets Avalon apart from the other cruise lines is their cabins. Avalon has 12 suite ships sailing the European rivers.

Their entry level suite is 172 square feet compared to Viking's 135 square feet.

The Panorama Suite has wall to wall, floor to ceiling 11 foot window with a 7 foot opening. 80% of their cabins are suites so the ship feels less crowded.  The beds face the window instead of the wall. The cabins do not have a balcony so you have more space in your cabin. This is a great perk if you are sailing on one of the great fall or Christmas markets itineraries.



Additional Inclusions

·        Bicycles to take out – complimentary

·        Panorama Bistro Dining is an alternative dining option that will be available. Beer and wine available at lunch, but it is not free-flowing.  You have to know it's available and ask for it.

Top 5 itineraries

·        Romantic Rhine – Amsterdam to Zurich 7 days, great to combine with another land program

·        Magnificent Europe – 14 days Amsterdam to Budapest Rhine to Main to Danube

·        Burgundy and Provence – 2 nights in Paris and end in Cote d’Azur

·        Legendary Danube – 3 nights in Prague an then end in Budapest.

·        Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches – Paris with a day trip to the Normandy landing beaches and alternative excursions

New for 2017 – Active Discovery on the Danube

·        Theme cruise – Active Discovery on the Danube

o   Bike, Hike, Canoe, Cook, Learn Your Way Through Europe

o   Wine experiences and cooking class

o   Classic/Engaged/ Active excursions

o   From Lintz to Budapest

o   Fly into Munich and add 2 days in Salzburg

o   Or Fly into Prague and add 2 nights

Avalon also has great South America, Galapagos, and Asia itineraries. If you and 10 other couples want to experience river cruising, Avalon has great offers if you book in advance.

Click here to email me for more information on river cruising or click here to schedule a free 20 minute chat.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Did You Know you can rent a canal boat in Europe?


Have you ever been on It's a Small World at Disney World?  If you haven't, imagine a boat moving about 5 miles per hour. That's how you could see Europe!

Le Boat rents canal boats to people like you. You don’t need any boating experience for many of the routes. You “dock” by merely tying your boat to a stake in the ground. 





Can you imagine?

You and your travel companions meander down European rivers stopping where something looks interesting or parking your boat for the night.


Does this vacation intrigue you? Email me or set up a time to chat to see if it is a good fit for your next vacation.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Tours that don't suck


One misconception I think that’s out there about international travel is that you have two choices:
A. Join a group tour on a motor coach with 45 other people where you do everything together.

B.  You have to figure it all out on your own.

Today’s tour companies offer many options in between.  
Some considerations as you choose a group tour  include:
  • How large of a group do you want be in?
  • What type of accommodations do you want? 5 star hotels? Local home stays? A yacht?
  • How do you want to travel between cities? Local bus? Fly? Train?
  • What are your interests? Art? History? Wine? Food?


One of the benefits of using a travel agent is that I help you sort through the options to find the best fit based on your answers.  

Two of my favorite options are the small group tours and the local guide option.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Webinar: How to Travel Together and Stay Friends




I have a free workbook available for everyone
who watches this webinar.
If you'd like a copy, click here and submit your email address.

If you have any questions or would like my help planning your next group vacation,