Category: Europe
YOGA, Food and Wine in Tuscany
I’ve just heard the details for the Il Campo Cucina Yoga Retreat in Tuscany, September 21-28,2013 and it sounds like the perfect dream week. If you’ve already entered to Win A Food And Wine Adventure in Tuscany, remember that you can use the prize for the yoga+cooking week, as well as others that are on the […]
Win a Food and Wine Adventure in Tuscany
Learn about Tuscany’s farm-to-table cuisine at Il Campo Cucina – a unique cooking school located in a picturesque hill town near Siena. Meet the “teachers” – local women who hold classes in their homes, on their farms, and in other historic buildings. Discover the secret to making perfect lasagna, gnocchi, tiramisu and other traditional Italian […]
Tuscan Cooking School
It was a stroke of good luck that I met Marlane Miriello and heard about her Tuscan cooking school. The Italian-American was visiting with friends in San Diego who thought I might find her story interesting. Of course, I was – not just interested, but really interested. Marlane and I are both of Italian descent, and […]
Your Private Guide to France
Manuel de Croutte would like to introduce you to the art de vivre in France, and my advice is that you should let him. As you may already know (I didn’t), the art de vivre literally means the “art of living,” but in France it’s code for French history, tradition, culture, and – most […]
Pet-Friendly Paris
Maggie Espinosa contributed this guest post. What options does pet-friendly Paris offer? That was the question as my assistant and I deplaned in The City of Light. I was sure that man’s best friend was welcome, but I needed to know the details because I’m writing a travel guide app: The Privileged Pooch in Paris. […]
Le Marche, Italy
Vera Marie Badertscher contributed this guest post. The first time I went to Italy, I wanted to see the popular cities, but I also wanted to settle in to one of the country’s lesser known places. One by one, I looked at various areas. The fact that I couldn’t find much information online about Le Marche, […]
Farmers Markets for Authentic Travelers
Farmers markets are great places to connect with the local lifestyle of a place you’re visiting. Luscious red tomatoes, carrots with frilly green tops…and what’s that spikey thing? It’s fun to see what’s grown nearby and get inside information – and maybe samples – from the vendors. Suddenly, dining out is more fun, as you order dishes […]
Can You ID This Surf Photo?
Just for fun – and a prize – can you ID this surf photo? Tell me where I took this picture and I’ll send you a pressie. You’ll need to think outside the box for this one. I see surfers every day in my hometown of La Jolla, California, but I was really taken aback […]
Visit Downton Abbey
The third season of the massively popular TV series Downton Abbey premieres in the U. S. on January 6, 2013. Finally, we’ll find out if Lady Mary and Matthew get married, and we’ll meet Lady Grantham’s mother, played by actress Shirley MacLaine. If watching the show makes you want to visit the garden and the […]
Italy – Discovering Authentic Tuscan Villages
One of the many joys of writing “Authentic Luxury Travel” is meeting people who share my love of real experiences and wandering off the beaten path. Case in point: Dear Elizabeth, I was just wondering if you could be interested in maybe suggesting some of your “followers” a trip to Italy – Tuscany, but a […]
A Villa In Sicily For the Holidays
I know you’re already thinking about the winter holidays. Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving on November 27, and many travelers around the world will observe Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year. Have you ever considered renting a villa in Sicily for the holidays? I’ve already written about vacation rentals in Maui , Tuscany and Florence – […]
Tuscany – Rome Luxury Hotel Package
The Hotel Majestic in Rome is one of my favorite places, so the press release about this Tuscany – Rome luxury hotel package caught my attention when it appeared in my email inbox. Here’s the deal: two nights at the Hotel Majestic and two nights at the Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort in […]
Saying Good-bye to Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti was a member of our family. Well, not really, but it seemed that way because my mother loved his music, and his voice was ever-present in our house. Normally a no-nonsense, hard-working homemaker, a faraway look would appear on her face when Pavarotti sang O Sole Mio, and I knew she was thinking […]
British Airways Bargain Business Class to London
British Airways is offering an all-inclusive roundtrip Club World fare for just $1952 to celebrate the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. This Diamond Jubilee airfare sale ends on Friday, May 18 – yes, that’s today. With this incredible deal, you can be a part of the royal Jubilee Celebration – and travel […]
