Category: Europe
Finland – Adventures in Lapland with Norma
Finland isn’t on my bucket list – at least not in winter. I once spent part of a summer camping above the Arctic Circle in Finland, and that was fun. But in winter, with snow? I don’t think so. On the other hand, freelance writer Marilyn Jones has wanted to visit Finland – specifically Lapland, […]
Our Gulet Charter, Sailing the Turkish Coast
Gulet (Turkish pronunciation gu’ let) is a traditional design of a two- or three-masted wooden sailing vessel from the southwestern coast of Turkey, particularly built in the coastal towns of Bodrum and Marmaris. I have to thank Wikipedia for this definition. When Malcolm Prince first wrote to me about his exciting journey along the coast […]
Authentic Tuscany in a Day with Km Zero
Authentic Tuscany…Before I read this guest post, I thought exploring Tuscany was, by definition, a multi-day event. However, I now realize I thought that because I’ve always driven around on my own and not really known where to go. In contrast, the author of this post toured Tuscany with two very connected locals. They knew […]
Amsterdam Hotels – Tips From Travel Journos
Amsterdam hotels? Really? In addition to writing about travel on this site and elsewhere, I help travelers plan their trips. Of course, I can only do this if I am well acquainted with their destination – which explains why, over the years, I’ve planned more trips to New Zealand (my home-away-from-home) than any other country. […]
Learn French, Travel With Your Tutor
Learn French while traveling with your teacher in Eastern France. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Our Parisian friend Pascale Heuzé previously shared her ideas about souvenir shopping and provided suggestions for living like a local in Paris. Now she wants to help you learn French. Read on… I’m a real French tutor living in Paris and […]
Eat Withlocals in Spain – Olé!
Withlocals….think Airbnb, but instead of authentic places to stay, Withlocals connects travelers with local chefs and authentic food experiences. A major player in the sharing economy, Withlocals was founded in the Netherlands in 2013 and expanded into Asia a year ago with the simple concept of offering an online marketplace where trusted locals can offer […]
Paris Shopping -Finding the Best “Souvenirs”
Paris shopping is a subject near and dear to the heart of Pascale Heuzé, who lives in Vincennes – a community in the eastern suburbs of the city. I first introduced you to this lovely lady when I wrote about learning vacations a while back. More recently, she wrote about Vincennes and why you might want […]
Paris On a Private Tour – S’il Vous Plait
Paris has been home to Manuel de Croutte for many years. You may remember that I introduced you to him (“Your Private Guide to France”) a while back when he started his company Exclusive & Private. Because of his family contacts and personal connections, Exclusive & Private is able to offer exclusive access to many historical […]
Vincennes – Live Like a Local in Paris
Vincennes – a community in the eastern suburbs of Paris – is home to Pascale Heuzé. I first introduced you to this lovely lady when I wrote about learning vacations a while back. Now she wants you to know about her hometown: the reasons to visit and why you might like to make Vincennes your base […]
Ancestry Travel – Fixing Your Family Tree
Ancestry travel – think of it as authentic travel on steroids. You wander off the beaten path looking for “missing” family members and, in the process, you make connections with local people and learn about your cultural DNA. It doesn’t get more authentic than that. My trip to Italy to research my roots took me […]
First Time in Europe – Journey to Connection
Last week I posted a photo of Florence on Facebook and posed the question: “What would you do if you had one day in Firenze? “I would breathe in all the history of its open air art masterpieces, ” replied Larry Kessler. “Then I would sit on a bench in the Piazza Della Signoria and ask the […]
Florence Italy – Grand Hotels and Palaces
Florence Italy is a favorite destination of reader Art Moldavia, so it isn’t surprising that this is the third Firenze guest post he has contributed to Authentic Luxury Travel. In case you missed the others, take a moment to go back and read Florence Cooking Lessons and a Recipe and Authentic Florence – Places to […]
Authentic Barcelona Hotel and Opera Tour
This trip report was contributed by my friend Mary Anne Curray. She and husband Joe are avid travelers. Mary Anne previously wrote about their 14-day Rovos Rail Journey in southern Africa. We stayed at an authentic Barcelona hotel when we were in Spain in March – Hotel 1898, on Las Ramblas. Loved it. Great location. Good […]
Authentic Barcelona Hotels – Regional, Regal
Authentic Barcelona Hotels was contributed by Barcelona Experience. If you’re headed to Spain, you’ll find this and their earlier guest post very helpful. Barcelona is a city where combining luxury and local can be difficult. In this post, we’ll explore the intersection between regional culture and regal accommodation. Many of the city’s grand luxury hotels […]
