Tag: real experiences
Bhutan: An Insider’s Guide
This guest post was contributed by Zach Collier. In 1997 during a backpacking trip in Asia, I had my first glimpse of Nepal while trekking and kayaking around the Himalayas. Like many visitors to this area of the globe, I found myself entranced with the rich history of Buddhism and the stories of the Dalai […]
Vietnam Alive
Vietnam Alive is easily the best travel company in Vietnam. They excel at planning customized trips for families, couples, individuals and small groups of friends or colleagues. Van Nguyen, founder of Vietnam Alive, works with guests to create an itinerary based on their interests, available time, and budget. He and his staff of travel specialists […]
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is the most northeastern region of Italy. It lies on the Adriatic Sea and is bordered by Austria and Slovenia. My young friend Marta Cossettini lives in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which she refers to as “Nel Dolce Nord Est” or “The Sweet Northeast.” Marta is very proud of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, especially the agriturismi – […]
We Loved the Palio in Siena, Italy
This trip report was contributed by Debbie Tucker of Del Mar, California. On Friday afternoon, August 16, 2013, my husband and I were on a private balcony above the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy, sipping Prosecco as a crowd of 32,000 filled the square. We were part of a small group of Americans who […]
JapanQuest Journeys – Bespoke Luxury
I know you’re interested in Japan and I don’t feel qualified to provide insider advice on this destination, so I asked Scott Gilman, Managing Director and Co-Founder of JapanQuest Journeys to contribute a guest post. Scott’s company is well known for specializing in customized luxury trips to Japan and providing personalized “platinum quality” service. Cheers, […]
Floribbean Cuisine Near Disney World
Anand Srinivasan contributed this guest post. I didn’t know something called “Floribbean cuisine” existed until I visited Disney World a year back. I was on a six month business trip to the United States and prior to this trip, the only “American food” I had ever tasted was at the KFCs and McDonalds back home […]
Cape Town, South Africa – Things to Do
Beautiful Cape Town is easily my favorite city in South Africa. It may be that I just feel comfortable here because the climate and the vibe are so similar to my hometown – San Diego, California - but I think relative safety and natural attributes are also factors. The best way to see this sprawling city’s sights is with […]
Florence – 6 Insider Tips
This guest post was written by Marlane Miriello, owner of Il Campo Cucina – a unique cooking school in Radicondoli – 30 minutes south of Florence. You can Win a Food and Wine Adventure in Tuscany at Il Campo Cucina if you enter the contest before midnight PST on Sunday, August 4, 2013. Visiting Florence, one of the […]
The Best Food In Paris
Yummy food in Paris: the Mazet sweet shop in the Marais District. This guest post was contributed by Jane Bertch. Soon after I moved to this incredible city in 2005, I noticed that nearly every American I met asked me where to find the best food in Paris – specifically pastries, chocolates, and cheeses. […]
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 […]
San Diego Padres, Omni Hotel & Petco Park
San Diego Padres invited us downtown – and we gladly accepted. In a city like San Diego, it’s easy to have a great travel experience without really leaving home. The first time my husband and I went to a San Diego Padres game, we discovered that – while we apparently weren’t paying attention – downtown San Diego […]
Planning a Trip to New York
There was a time when I felt overwhelmed by the Big Apple’s options. That was before I learned to rely on the advice of friends and family who live there. Now planning a trip to New York is a piece of cake. I send out emails, make a few phone calls and – voila […]
Alaska Dog Sledding
When we planned our trip to Alaska, I was told we’d be too early for dog sledding, but there were other factors to consider – such as the wedding we were attending – and I had no choice but to accept that Alaska dog sledding wouldn’t be on our agenda. Or so I thought, until […]
Driving in India with Manjeet Singh
Driving in India – We’ve been on the road in Rajasthan for over two weeks, during which I’ve patted myself on the back for the things I remembered to pack (layers of clothing and hiking poles, which made it possible to enjoy our days of walking in the foothills of the Himalayas) and kicked myself […]
