Tag: trip planning
Florence Cooking Lessons and a Recipe
Florence Cooking Lessons was contributed by reader Art Moldavia from San Diego. If Florence is on your bucket list, you’ll also want to read his earlier trip report: “Authentic Florence – Places to Eat.” In 1979, Sharon Oddson and her artist husband, Giuliano “Il Garga” Gargani, opened the fine Italian restaurant Trattoria Garga on Via […]
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. […]
Giverny – Monet’s Garden Travel Tips
Giverny – I’d dreamed about seeing this garden for at least a decade. Actually, maybe longer. I think I was still in high school when I wrote a term paper on the French Impressionist artist Claude Monet. In the process, I fell in love with his garden at Giverny, France. And now I was in […]
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 […]
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, […]
Your Favorite Hotels in Paris and Beyond
Hotels in Paris. Hotels outside of Paris. Hotels all around the world. Last October I asked “what is your favorite hotel anywhere in the world” and 473 readers replied by leaving a comment on this post The result is a wonderful, annotated list of places to stay around the globe from Antigua to Zanzibar. If I […]
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 […]
Best India Travel Planner
Only a great India travel planner could have organized the walk in the foothills of the Himalayas that my husband and I did last year. I mean, think about it: the logistics of getting to the starting point, plus dealing with vagaries in the weather and the effects of altitude. Only the best India travel […]
Best Vietnam Travel Company
I love hearing from travelers who have enjoyed the services of the Travel Experts I endorse on this site. Here’s a testimonial from Charles E. Flam of Montreal. “You asked whether I would write a testimonial about Vietnam Alive and my experience with them. It is a pleasure to do so. “I have dealt with Vietnam […]
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 […]
Chicago – 12 Insider Travel Tips
Who says you can’t go home again? I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and went back to visit family just recently. What I found was a beautiful city with flowers blooming along litter-free sidewalks – in stark contrast to the “Windy City” I remember. I was happy to re-visit my favorite landmarks – the […]
New Zealand North Island Trip Report
This “New Zealand North Island” Trip Report was written by Maya & Mark from San Diego, California. They asked for my help with trip planning last spring when they were headed to New Zealand for the first time. I was happy to oblige, since this is an area I know quite well. They traveled during the […]
