Tag: real experiences
Botswana Family Safari
Botswana was “the trip of a lifetime,” says Kathleen Hubbard-Ismail. Read her trip report and you’ll understand why. When our granddaughter was born, we began saving. We had a jar in our pantry called “the Africa jar” and for thirteen years we deposited our coins saving for our one-day safari to Africa. Finally that safari came. […]
Tuscany Cooking School Trip Report
Remember the Tuscany cooking school contest? Last year Authentic Luxury Travel offered subscribers a chance to win a week at Il Campo Cucina, a unique cooking school in tiny Radicondoli. Andrea Cafarelle was the lucky winner. Did she have a good time at the Tuscany cooking school? Read her trip report: In June last year, […]
Barcelona Walking Tours – Best Private Guide
Barcelona walking tours are Gaston Magrinat’s specialty. Born in Spain, but raised in the United States, Gaston graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Forestry. After graduation he worked as an outdoor wilderness guide for at-risk teens in the wilderness of Idaho and the mountains of North Carolina. In 1999, he […]
Bainbridge Island WA – Best Things to Do
Bainbridge Island , a 35-minute ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle, is not on the “to do” list of most visitors to the Northwest. But maybe it should be on yours. The rustic/chic community is home to affluent commuters and retirees, not unlike Del Mar, just north of San Diego, and Carmel-by-the-Sea in Northern […]
Celebrate National Holidays in Latvia
National holidays in Latvia take place throughout the year, but the best are summer events. In Riga, as in other Baltic Sea cities, there is no better experience than to join locals in enjoying their summers. Locals worship their summer with warm winds and short nights when the sun barely sets. Sun-starved residents of Baltic Sea cities – including […]
Garden Tours – Meet Locals in San Diego, Seattle++
Garden tours are a great way to get to know a destination. That thought occurred to me yesterday during my “shift” as a Plant Information Volunteer at the Secret Garden Tour of La Jolla. As I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before on this blog, La Jolla is the part of San Diego, California, where I […]
Sydney Opera House Like a Local
I’ve been in love with the Sydney Opera House since I first laid eyes on her soaring white sails perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour. That was in 1975. She was two years old and well on her way to becoming the most famous landmark in the Southern Hemisphere. Time called her “Australia’s own […]
6 Santa Barbara, California Secrets
This wonderful guest post was contributed by Lauren Bray, Managing Editor of edhat.com, Santa Barbara’s #1 website for all things local. Santa Barbara is known for its red tile roofs, relaxing beaches, fine dining, and a burgeoning wine industry. It’s the laid-back vibe and natural beauty that brings many visitors to our American Riviera. State […]
Samantha Brown, Don Wildman, Leon Logothetis & Friends
I just spent the weekend with Samantha Brown, Don Wildman, Leon Logothetis, Patricia Schultz and Jorge Meraz – and what a fun weekend it was. As the emcee on the Travel Channel Stage at The San Diego Travel and Adventure Show, my job was to introduce each of the speakers. When I wasn’t doing that, […]
5 Best Destination Travel Companies
Authentic Luxury Travel has just named the five best destination travel companies in the world. The selection was based on the companies’ insider knowledge, local connections, and expertise in creating custom itineraries focused on authentic travel experiences. These travel planners will be awarded Authentic Luxury Travel’s “World’s Best Travel Awards 2014” badges for inclusion on […]
5 Things I’ve Learned from Authentic Travel
Authentic travel – traveling in a way that makes it easy to connect with the local culture – is often life changing. When you look beyond the standard tourist sights, it’s not unusual to experience a shift in attitude and to acquire new passions. Authentic travel can also be life enhancing. Here are some of […]
How To Find Authentic Venice
This guest post was contributed by Claudia Coppola who lives in Verona, Italy. “This was Venice, the flattering and suspect beauty—this city, half fairy tale and half tourist trap, in whose insalubrious air the arts once rankly and voluptuously blossomed, where composers have been inspired to lulling tones of somniferous eroticism.” Thomas Mann (1875–1955), […]
South Africa Safari Trip Report
This South Africa safari trip report was contributed by Oliver Ainsworth, who lives in England. I had always wanted to visit South Africa, not only to imbibe its incredible culture, but to experience the thrill of seeing the country’s wildlife up-close and personal. I was therefore instantly drawn towards Kruger National Park. Located in the […]
4 Secret Spots on California Highway 1
Highway 1 winds along nearly 650 miles of the California coast, providing breathtaking ocean views and glimpses of local life in picturesque communities. The road is discontinuous and relatively slow, so most travelers switch back and forth between scenic sections of Highway 1 and “making better time” on Highway 101. Highway 1 is one of […]
