Hello my friends! In today’s video chat series, we are going to journey to the Caribbean and introduce you to a great opportunity to visit two islands that are literally two miles away from each other – yet offer two entirely different flavors. The islands? Saint Kitts and Nevis.
 
And joining me today to make the introduction is my fabulous colleague Greg Phillip - the CEO and Founder of Nevis Sun Tours Inc. - a destination management company based in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Greg’s enthusiasm, energy and infectious smile while talking to us about what these destinations offer is sure to have you texting me to ask when you can visit them in person.
 
Ready for takeoff? Well then buckle up because here we go!
 
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About the Islands: Saint Kitts and Nevis are located just south of Puerto Rico, adjacent to Antigua, Barbuda and the Guadalupe Islands and north of Dominica - which means they are situated right in the heart of the Caribbean. Together Saint Kitts and Nevis are actually one country - a dual-island nation situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Nevis is the smaller of the two at only 36 square miles but according to Greg - the great thing about it is that once you're there - it doesn't feel as small as it actually is. Both islands offer you great beaches as well as beautiful panoramic views of the cloud shrouded mountains from pretty much anywhere you are.
 
Getting There: From the US mainland you fly directly into Saint Kitts - which as you probably have already surmised is the larger island of the duo. If you are staying in Nevis – the transfer from the Saint Kitts is seamless as you will be picked up at the airport via taxi and then proceed to get taken on one of the most wonderful introductory drives you can get in a destination that is new to you. The taxi takes you to the pier where you will board another taxi – this time a water taxi – over to Nevis. Now if you are concerned about being on boat – don’t be! The distance between the two islands is just two simple miles and it is only going to take around six minutes to get from one island to the other. And of course, being in the water is a great opportunity to see these gorgeous islands from another vantage point. The best part is that all of this is pre-arranged for you by myself and Greg as I build your itinerary - meaning you don't have to worry about planning all of these moving pieces because we take care of you from beginning to end so all you have to do is just relax and enjoy!
 
Accommodations: There are a number of different resorts, homes and villas that are available for you to choose from as far as accommodations. Some are on the beach, some are in the mountains but pretty much all of the properties you will find in Saint Kitts and Nevis really provide an opportunity for some incredibly unique stays - as they are not like anything you've ever seen anywhere else in the world. And – being that they all have a different flavor of their own you have an opportunity to – as Greg put it - pick the one that really and truly tickles your fancy.
 
If you have booked with me before you know that even though there are branded properties available – I tend to steer you toward the non-branded properties – meaning a lot of my itineraries focus on the small, boutique properties that exude the local atmosphere. That doesn’t mean that if you want a branded property I can’t help - I absolutely can coordinate that for you, just keep in mind that I really want you to have that full cultural immersion experience so I'm going to offer you something with more of a local flair, that has a boutique feeling and is not cookie cutter - because with me and Book Here, Give Here it's all about the curated travel experience.
 
All-Inclusive Packages (Sort Of):  So, let me start off by reiterating what Greg did - in Saint Kitts and Nevis there are no all-inclusive hotels. However – what Nevis Sun Tours has done is through their partnerships they’ve created all-inclusive stays on the island regardless of fact that there are no all-inclusive hotels. What they have come up with is really something that is a great innovation because what they essentially present is an opportunity for you to come to an island and not simply be confined to a single hotel property as you normally are in an all-inclusive resort. So, with Greg’s help I have an opportunity to have a package created just for your specific requests.
 
For instance – should you want to participate in some tours while you are there, we can set them up and include them in the price.  This means you are paying for only for the things that you decide that you want to experience. These packages also include your transportation and you get the chance to decide if you would like a car rental so that you can drive yourself around or if you prefer to take taxis. The same goes for dining – and Greg related a story about how creative they can be with these packages. Apparently in the past they had a group who decided that they preferred to eat specifically at one restaurant every evening for dinner – which was no problem for Greg and his team. They worked specifically with the restaurant to ensure that every evening there was a different menu so that it did not feel like they were dining in the same restaurant night after night.
 
Sightseeing and Activities: For those of you guys who like a little bit more activity there are all kinds of things you can do such as bike tours or walking tours. There is also a lot of history on the islands and the day trips Nevis Sun Tours offer are a perfect way to learn all about it. You can do a day trip in Nevis and a day trip in Saint Kitts – no matter which island you choose to stay on.
Greg also pointed out the one of the great things is that the islands cater to families with children. Which of course with more of you homeschooling the kiddos, you really have an opportunity here to make travel a learning classroom - and it is something that the kids will never forget. They will take with them as they grow older plus it helps to build that love of travel and adventure in them. Bonus – Nevis Sun Tours offers a day trip specifically geared towards families. It's fashioned in such a way that the family gets to spend time together and they get to do things that everybody is actually interested in doing – making for a very meaningful experience together.
 
Fun Fact: Alexander Hamilton - who thanks to a little Broadway show you may have heard of - is quite the popular fellow now was born on the island of Nevis. And because of that there are a lot of historical things related to him that even the children will find interesting and hence they created an Alexander Hamilton Island tour. The tour takes you to places that would have been here only when he was born back in the 1700s - so essentially, you're following in his footsteps. For instance, they can visit his birthplace, they can visit the place where he would have gone to school if he were able to go to school on Nevis and more. It’s really a great chance to have a fun vacation with your children.
 
For my athletes - you want to do a cross channel swim, a triathlon or run a marathon - Nevis has all of these things. And as Greg pointed out none of these events are events where they take themselves too seriously.  For example, the cross-channel swim – which is that two mile stretch between Saint Kitts and Nevis - may sound difficult and challenging, but he promises it's something that's absolutely fine and safe to do provided you can swim of course. There are different categories you can participate in – like one for those people who are serious and want to race and one for people who simply want to do it for fun. The organizers will let you do it in snorkel gear or with floaties or whatever else you come up with and they kayak along while everyone is in the water for safety and to provide assistance should you need it.
 
For my water babies and sun worshippers there are plenty of beaches. In fact, when I asked Greg how many beaches there are between the two islands he laughed and said they don't count them. The reason is because honestly the beaches are everybody’s - there is not a single private beach between the two islands. Which means if you are out and about, just driving along and you see a beach you like – you are welcome to go to it.
 
And finally - don’t forget the famous Nevis Mango and Food Festival which is an entire weekend dedicated to that tasty little fruit - the mango - and the creative and oh so tasty cuisine made with it.
 
Side Note: Greg advised that really - no matter what time of year you visit - there's a chance that there's some significant activity happening at that you can actually join in.
 
Gastronomy: My favorite part of any trip is trying new cuisine and of course I posed one of the questions I always ask during my video chats – what is the national dish of Saint Kitts and Nevis? Greg advised that it is saltfish -in particular - saltfish with dumplings and noted that even though it's something that you can get everyday there - it is unique to them and not something you are going to easily find - if at all – back home. One great way to experience cultural immersion via food is on the Village Food Tour. As Greg explained you actually go into a village where you have the opportunity to walk through it and talk with locals who share some very intimate, specific things about the village, the trees, the plants and so much more. Now, there are three food stops on the tour and these stops are all at local eateries - not posh restaurants. As a matter of fact, these are the places that the locals frequent making them one - off the beaten path and two – say it with me - cultural immersion through food! And as opposed to mainstream restaurants where yes - you are interacting with the staff who are locals – here’s your chance to see the locals not at work – but at the places they go when they want to get something to eat and hang out with friends - so you're interacting with people who you wouldn’t have had a chance to interact with otherwise.
 
Saint Kitts or Nevis? Naturally, I asked Greg that if he had to pick between Saint Kitts and Nevis which island does he prefer and he did not hesitate in naming Nevis the winner. Why?  Because it's smaller and thus more intimate. Physically it's about half the size of Saint Kitts and 1/3 of the population. There are around 12,000 or so people that inhabit the island and the fact that they have such a small population on Nevis means that the island has a different personality than Saint Kitts. It's not crowded – in fact, Greg said you are going to go to places and wonder where in the world everybody else is!  You’re going to find yourself on a beach and it's the like the best beach you have ever been on and you are going to have it to yourself. In the meantime, somebody else is on another beach wondering where everyone is because it’s like the best beach ever. Sounds like the ultimate in social distancing to me!
 
Saint Kitts on the other hand is more hustle and bustle because there's more people and there's more activity there – making it a different type of atmosphere entirely. Per Greg it is so much more outgoing than Nevis with lots of opportunities to party and hit the bars and such. Not that there aren’t bars on Nevis – they just aren’t as hopping as Saint Kitts. There is also all different sort of activities that you can do on Saint Kitts that you won't find on Nevis such as ziplining and all the other activities that you will find in most of the Caribbean destinations.
The best part according to Greg? You are experiencing these two vastly different, distinct environments without the hassle of having to go to the airport, taking out your passport and flying for hours - because it's one country and once you are there you just get in a water taxi go.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information:
 
Saint Kitts: As of this writing all international travelers must submit a COVID-19 negative test result from an approved lab taken within 72 hours of travel, along with required embarkation form and all other supporting documentation. A form is required regardless of age. Forms must be submitted no later than 24 hours prior to travel.
 
Nevis: As of this writing travelers must complete the Travel Authorization Form on the national website and upload an official COVID-19 negative test result from an approved lab taken 72 hours prior to travel and bring a copy of the negative COVID-19 test for their trip, undergo a health screening at the airport which includes a temperature check and a health questionnaire and download the SKN COVID-19 contact tracing mobile app to be used for the first 14 days of travel or less.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Saint Kitts is click here and for and Nevis click here.
 
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If you're looking for both a relaxing and a unique experience that you're truly going to remember the rest of your life - Greg promises you won’t be disappointed with Saint Kitts and Nevis - as they are small and are going to present you with things you probably haven't considered before on a vacation.  As for me - I am thinking you want to get ahead of the game - especially if you want to be able to have a private villa or home – so now is the time to reach out to me to start planning your visit!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Saint Kitts and Nevis, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

Howdy! Today we are heading back to Lake Tahoe. You may remember that we previously chatted about the Reno side of Tahoe, however this time we are going to the South Lake Tahoe side.
 
For this side of Tahoe, I had the pleasure of welcoming Tony Lyle – the Vice President of Tourism Development of Tahoe South, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority who filled us in on all of the wonderful things to see and do in the city of South Lake Tahoe – so named due to the fact that it is indeed located in the southern part of Lake Tahoe.
 
Since Tahoe is a great road trip destination – let’s gas up the car, fasten our virtual seat belts and head to this stunning domestic destination.
 
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Tell Me About Lake Tahoe.  Think of Lake Tahoe as the base. As Tony so creatively put it - think of it like a basin or a cereal bowl and the rim of the cereal bowl are the peaks of the mountains. The land, the beach and the water fits in between the mountains. The mountain behind South Lake Tahoe is Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort where you can actually take a gondola from the downtown village up to. There is a strip of land that runs all around the lake and because this land is long and thin the town is only about five miles long and about half a mile wide. And - the downtown is not in the middle - it's at one with the California/Nevada state line running right through the middle of it. In fact, you wouldn't even know it was there unless you looked up and saw the signs that say Welcome to California and Welcome to Nevada.  Which by the way is a very popular photo op! Actually, the entire area is filled with photo ops thanks to the unique landscape and surrounding beauty. Picture that you are sitting on the beach with the mountains behind you - often snowcapped. How cool is that?
 
How About A Multi-Destination Trip? Thanks to where South Lake Tahoe sits there are numerous options to make this a multi-destination adventure. We can add in stops in Napa Valley or San Francisco or perhaps you want to hit a little bit of Yosemite. Flexibility is easy here as you can fly into Reno International Airport which is just 55 miles outside of South Lake Tahoe or any of the bay area airports - San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose - then create an itinerary that includes a little bit more north like upstate California or even northern Nevada.
 
What Kind Of Accommodations Can I Find Here? On the Nevada side there are four full-service casino resort hotels for those of you who want that kind of experience. Sitting on the lake – right on the beach you will find Edgewood Tahoe – which is only a couple of years old and is a five-star, 154 room property. And you guys, if you think about it 154 rooms is really not that big of a resort. It is actually a medium sized resort which gives you an opportunity to have that social distancing room around the property and on the beach and lake. When you go across to the California side there are two Marriott properties in Heavenly Village as well as a variety of hotels in town. As Tony pointed out – it is a great day trip to Lake Tahoe but there's nothing like waking up in the morning, opening up your curtains and you're at a beachfront property looking straight out over the lake. Then in the evening you can enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset. I’m sold!
 
And of course, there is camping – via tent or RV or even glamping – all of which are fabulous ways to social distance. And there are camp sites located all over the place, all around the lake. Tony also noted that they get a lot of people who will camp but then they will come and stay the last night or the last couple of nights in a hotel because they want to clean up and go and eat in a restaurant instead of roughing it the entire time.
 
What Kind Of Activities Can I Find Here? There are quite a bit of different activities available in South Lake Tahoe. For instance, you can go bike riding and there are lots of places that you can rent bikes so you don't have to bring them and of course I can set that up ahead of time. There are bike trails that are flat that the go to all of the popular places everyone wants to see – like the nature trails, the lake and the waterfalls.  But there's also a huge network of mountain bike trails that range from easy to intermediate to advanced - so you’ve got everything from just trail riding all the way to extreme mountain biking and everything in between.
 
There are plenty of hiking trails too and Tony said that this is something he does with his wife and kids and that it’s easy to get onto to the trail from the downtown area. Basically, you’re in the middle of it all downtown which means easy access to the outdoors - so in minutes you're out on trails with stunning views. And thanks to the gondola in the downtown area, you don't need a car once you are in South Lake Tahoe. It’s very pedestrian friendly as you can walk everywhere from all of the downtown hotels on both the California and Nevada sides including to the gondola. The gondola by the way runs almost year-round – in winter for skiing and in summer for sightseeing.
 
If you are one of my golfers, you are in luck because there are golf courses everywhere in this area! And that includes an 18-hole world class golf course at the Edgewood Tahoe. Then there is Eagle Falls which are at the head of Emerald Bay and they are quite easy to get to per Tony. You can drive, you can take a cruise boat, you can rent a speedboat, you can kayak, or you can walk. So whatever level you are you can still experience the same thing – whether via hardcore adventure or soft adventure.
 
And we cannot forget the famous Lake Tahoe sandy beaches where you can build a sandcastle if you would like. The sand is a bit grainier than the sand at the ocean – not quite as powdery – but it’s all natural. Along the lake you’ll find several marinas where you can rent anything that you would use on water.  How about a power boat that you can pilot? Per Tony it's not difficult to handle and you can go to the supermarket beforehand and stock up on food and drinks for your boat trip. Another option are the super fun jet skis which are also easy to drive. However, if you don't want a motor you can rent a kayak or another type of non-motorized boat or even a paddle board. There are also all sorts of water sports going on in Emerald Bay along with one island - Fannette Island across from Vikingsholm - a Scandinavian style castle.
Then there is the color of the water in Lake Tahoe. It is like a giant mirror and it reflects the sky. It’s also 99.9% pure and you can see to the you can see to the bottom.
 
And don’t forget come winter there is plenty of skiing and other winter sports available which we will discuss shortly.
 
Wellness Opportunities? I am sure by now you have already realized that South Lake Tahoe is also the epitome of wellness travel thanks to all the different opportunities we covered whether it be soft adventure, higher-level activity or even full-on adventure travel. And it is off the beaten track and away from the crowds. You are actually in the Sierra Nevada mountains at around 6200 feet so there's little humidity, it doesn't get too hot and there are no bugs – sounds ideal! And you know just being at one with nature – from the smell of the pine trees to the sounds of a trickling stream, a waterfall or maybe some wildlife - you really do become one with nature and at one with Lake Tahoe. It's very unique, beautiful place and what I consider mind, body and spirit rejuvenation at is best.
 
What Else Will I Find Here? Well, there is Emerald Bay which is the most visited place in the area. Here you can take a cruise on the MS Dixie paddle boat. The paddle wheeler goes from the east side of Laker Zephyr Cove all the way across to Emerald Bay and features three decks with the top one being open. The middle deck features a bar and there is also a restaurant on board.  You can opt for a daytime sightseeing cruise where you can buy lunch and drinks or in the evening you can do a dinner dance cruise with plated dinners and entertainment that is timed so that you are in the middle of the lake when the sun sets.
 
And yes - eventually events will be coming back to South Lake Tahoe although there is no date yet and they are not sure what they will look like. But in summers past, they have held a summer concert series in their outdoor amphitheater that seats 6000 people making it up close and personal. Plus, they get world class names like Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Elton John and Pitbull to name a few.
 
Then there are the casinos which we know some people love and some people don't – but that’s the beauty - you can take it or leave it. They are a great amenity and a huge draw for bachelor and bachelorette parties - because you've got 24/7 action going on in the casinos with dancing in nightclubs plus all the bars and restaurants. Then on the flip side there is Lake Tahoe to relax and enjoy during the day.
And in winter you can find a whopping 15 ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area - with Squaw Valley being one of the most popular. There are different sizes for different levels of expertise and as Tony pointed out - remember the cereal bowl - three of the 15 are inside the rim so when you're skiing you get the fantastic views of the lake. And those three on the South Shore include Heavenly – which is the largest ski resort on the West coast of the US, Kirkwood – which is a little bit more hardcore and Sierra – which has more kind of a beginner/family feel to it – but all three are fabulous.
 
When Should I Go? It is a year-round destination - although a lot of people think of Tahoe as strictly a ski destination. But according to Tony they are actually busier in the summer than they are in the winter - especially in July and August when you get people escaping the heat of the cities and towns they live in. But the year is broken up as such: July and August are considered peak season, September and October - which are typically Indian summer weather and not as many people - so great rates are available, the winter of course which is November, December, January, February, March and then in April the ski season ends. It really changes quickly from winter into summer and once May hits you get great rates once more – June too – until you hit peak season again. The fall and spring season are short but extremely popular – especially for destination weddings and honeymoons. A large part of business are people who want to have their wedding on the beach at Lake Tahoe and there are numerous sites around the lake where you've got picture perfect backdrops for those weddings and subsequent pictures.
 
And if you are looking to go during ski season Tony suggests mid-week as a good time – where you will find better rates and it is not as crowded. He also noted that the storms that come up the Pacific go quite quickly up over the Sierra mountains where they then proceed to dump all the snow and move away quickly. So, the storms are short but bring a lot of snow unlike other destinations within the North America where they can linger for days - so you get maximum slope time without the bad weather. Bonus - you don't have to go out and buy or invest in ski equipment or even clothing as you can rent everything right there. And if you are not a fan of skiing you've got snowmobiles as another option which are great because you can double up and keep it cost effective. Plus, you have a guide to show you the ropes.
 
In addition, a lot of families that want to get out there and remain active while also social distancing but don't ski and don't snowmobile - they just bring the kids up sledding or just to take a walk or play in the snow. Also in winter there is a family-owned business called Borges that’s been there for many years and they will take you on horse drawn sleigh rides through the fields as well as on the beaches. Note: In the summer Borges offers horse drawn carriage rides – that depart from the Welcome to California sign downtown and take you for a ride around the streets downtown.  Both are just a nice, relaxing thing to do for half an hour or an hour as you can just sit back and relax and be chauffeured around on the snow or on the road. It really is a great family destination no matter what you choose to do – and no matter what season.
How Long Should I Stay? Per Tony, in the winter people come to ski and they tend to stay maybe a little bit longer than they would other times of the year – like six or seven nights - because they're there for the specific purpose of skiing and although they might ski different resorts each day – more often than not the majority of the days would be at Heavenly because that's their base. FYI - Heavenly and South Lake Tahoe are one and the same.
 
In the summer it depends on if they are road tripping or they're just going to hang out here and do what they call basecamp itineraries. This is where they would use South Lake Tahoe as a base camp and then tour around to places that are within driving distance such as Carson City, Virginia City, Hot Springs and the wineries in the foothills in El Dorado County – just to name a few.  That being said the absolute minimum would be three nights and that gives you two whole days but then you're going to regret it and wish you had stayed longer. So optimum would be four or five nights to get the full feel of it and actually get the benefit of a vacation and relax a little bit rather than rush things.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing both the Nevada and California side of Tahoe South are open to travelers with COVID precautions in place. Masks are required in both states. Since Tahoe South spans both California and Nevada it is important for visitors to be aware of the different restrictions and requirements between the two states and counties.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements Lake Tahoe Nevada click here and Lake Tahoe California click here.
 
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That wraps up our South Lake Tahoe overview and I am going to end it with one of their current taglines that I already told Tony I was going to steal - “South Lake Tahoe - Keep a six-foot distance at 6000 feet!” With wide open spaces and plenty of social distancing room - let’s talk Tahoe!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Lake Tahoe, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

When your tagline is The Most Beautiful Place on Earth you better be able to back it up. And boy – Sedona not only backs it up – it takes it to a new level!
 
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Susan Boehnstedt from the Visit Sedona Tourism Board who gave us a fantastic introduction to stunning Sedona. The best part about this destination is that it is domestic – meaning no passport is needed – and it is within a couple hours flight from most destinations within the US.
 
If you are looking for a new city to explore, I am certain that this overview will have you heading to Arizona sooner rather than later!
 
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Where Exactly In Arizona Is It? Sedona is pretty much centrally located within the state of Arizona. It is just two hours north of Phoenix by car. If you fly into Flagstaff, you are just about a 45-minute drive away. And then for those that might be coming to the area from Las Vegas it’s around a four hour but very scenic drive. So basically, it is quite easy to get to from three major southwestern US airports. Its also a great drive destination from neighboring states like California, Nevada and Texas.
 
Sedona itself is kind of spread out and consists of four main areas. They are West Sedona, Uptown Sedona and Gallery Row, the Village of Oak Creek and Oak Creek Canyon – all of which are really comprise the greater Sedona area. Sedona has just over ten thousand residents year-round, but they serve over four million visitors a year!
 
Tell Me About The Climate. One of the things that I personally love about Sedona is that it truly is a year-round destination, and every season is has its unique feel and flair. They do get snow in the winter – not much – but snow none the less – that would remind you of powdered sugar when it stays on the Red Rocks – although it normally doesn’t stick. But these mild winters really give you an opportunity to experience that cooler, crisper air. You can start out in the morning with the jacket and maybe gloves depending on how thin your blood is and by noon you're in a long sleeve t-shirt. Then come evening, it cools down but never fear as most of the properties and many of the restaurants have those amazing outdoor fire pits or heat lamps to keep you warm.
 
So yes, they certainly have four seasons, and one bonus is that the summertime is not as hot as Phoenix. Per Susan it is usually about ten to 15 degrees cooler than the Phoenix Area in Sedona. Typical higher summer temperatures are in the 90’s but it is not unusual that the mornings are cooler so that you can get out early, get your hiking and biking in and then you sit back during the hotter parts of the day and have a nice glass of wine on the patio at your resort.


Mother Nature Sure Has Blessed Sedona. Oh yes – it certainly has the most breathtaking landscapes you will ever see! And oh, those sunrises and sunsets! Thanks to the fact that there is no light pollution, seeing the stars when you are there is bound to be a brand-new experience for you. Especially if you're coming from a bigger city where there are a lot of lights – hence light pollution – as well as regular pollution. If you are not used to seeing the stars, it's kind of shocking to go out at night and look up because you kind of forget that they exist, and boy are they ever stunning! For those of you guys who are coming from cities like New York City or even here in Austin or in Atlanta here's an opportunity where you can actually see Mother Nature and what she has to offer. And Susan advised that they work with several companies that actually will take small groups or families out at night so that you can experience this in a really unique and special way. Then they have monsoon season which runs from mid-June through the end of September. When the rains come in, they are so beautiful to watch. They arrive in big puffy clouds and there’s often lightning as well. Then they end with dramatic rainbows that are magical.
 
What Kind Of Activities Can I Expect?  Sedona has all kinds of outdoor activities including those for true adventurers as well as soft adventures and plenty of wellness opportunities. There are activities for all ages and all physical abilities making it a place that everybody can genuinely enjoy.
 
For example – there are off roading and ATV adventure options as well as a couple different Jeep tour companies in the area. Or you can opt to do some touring via horseback or even on a trolley car for a less bumpy ride. In addition, there are amazing opportunities via air such as helicopter tours and hot air ballooning. The hot air balloons are not available all year round but pretty much the majority of it. And those helicopters also have tours to the Grand Canyon giving you that birds eye view that is just incredible.
 
Sedona also has a whole trail system giving you the opportunity to hike and / or bike the area to get up close and personal and be one with nature.  And renting a bike is extremely easy to do in Sedona – all you have to do is ask me to include it and when I build your itinerary, we make it happen!
 
There are two amazing state parks and one of them has something that I think everybody should do – a natural water slide! It is called – appropriately enough – Slide Rock State Park and thanks to the way the water comes in, it smooths the rocks making them like a slide. It is a super fun place to go and have a picnic or you can ride too or hike there as well. In addition to being family friendly there are places that are a little bit more flat and not as rugged so that people that might have mobility issues can still enjoy the park. Red Rock State Park is also awesome and to me I liken it to a Japanese feel thanks to the horsetail that resembles thin bamboo and the red rock that gives you that zen feeling.  
 
Tell Me About These Vortex Spots. Sedona has a lot of different vortex sites - there's a very holistic, spiritual and wellness aspect to Sedona that has been there for years and has only been developed more and more by some of the companies that are in Sedona. A lot of international and domestic travelers come to experience these vortexes. Four of the most well-known ones include Cathedral Rock, Airport Mesa, Boynton Canyon and Bell Rock. For those of you who aren’t familiar - a vortex area is a place where you kind of slow down and really listen to what's going on internally, connect one on one with your environment, the atmosphere and earth. It’s a very zen, calming, peaceful experience. They are also known for their healing properties and many people who have health issues report healing that came as a result of spending time in these vortex sites. Not to mention that they are all stunning and all unique! If you prefer, we can book you a guide to help you through this and show you what you can experience.
 
Speaking of Wellness…So you're always surrounded by red rocks wherever you are in Sedona and to most – including me – that is a natural wellness opportunity like no other. Of course, there are plenty of other wellness experiences to be had there and they include the calming spas, meditation and yoga programs and so much more. Mother earth will help us heal in the vortexes we talked about above and of course there's also that spiritual piece of life and as we know, wellness is mind, body and spirit. Sedona is one of those destinations that really gives you an opportunity to get to all of those different levels and get down to that core of what is inside of us and how we can do better and be well. There are also a lot of medical spas here that we can talk about if you are interested in having that conversation.
 
Sedona As A Home Base. So not only can you make a whole vacation out of Sedona, but you can also make it your hub – or home base – and do day trips from there. The average stay in Sedona is three and a half to four nights which is great because you can explore Sedona and then just do day trips to some or all of the surrounding areas such as Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Camp Verde – with the furthest point out of all these about four hours away. Many of these spots are famous and well known in the Arizona area but there are some that may not be so well known such as Jerome and Camp Verde. These are smaller communities along the Verde River that have amazing attractions and a little bit of a different climate then Sedona – not much – but because it’s along the River it's a different altitude and a different slightly all within a 30-minute drive. And if you like wine that means you don't have to go very far to get some because Arizona has an amazing wine country there. The Verde Valley River that comes through this area has the same kind of soil and texture and the clays and the dirt are very similar to what you might find in southern France. People don’t associate Arizona with winemaking but there are some pretty amazing wines. You can even kayak to some of these places and do wine day trips or have a driver take you. There are also wine tasting rooms within Sedona proper that you can visit.
 
Now Jerome is a funky little town with its own unique personality that also happens to be a ghost town. It is lots of fun and a great place to spend a day. Besides the ghosts they also have many awesome jewelry shops that you can frequent and since it is kind of built on a hill you get some really unique views from this city.
 
Right next to Jerome is the Verde Canyon Railroad which has a train that runs year-round. The entire trip takes about four hours. Throughout the year they will also run themed train rides. For instance, during harvest season they'll do a special wine train or they'll do a chocolate train or during Oktoberfest they’ll do a beer tour. Either way – theme or not – it is a really relaxing and fun four-hour round-trip adventure!
 
What Are My Accommodation Options? There are tons of lodging options so whatever kind of accommodation you're looking for you’re definitely going to find it in Sedona! Among those options are some incredibly unique resorts in West Sedona. Uptown there are a couple different properties that are actually located on the Creek which are stunning. And through out there are both smaller, boutique properties as well as larger resort properties. Sedona is a great destination for meetings, events, weddings, family reunions – you name it – and they have properties to fit every need and budget.
 
And Food Options? With over 50 restaurants you are certainly going to find one that suits your pallet and your budget. One of the things that I love though is that they have some celebrity chefs and probably one of the most famous in Sedona right now is Chef Lisa Dahl. Her newest luxury venue –Mariposa – which means the butterfly – features fabulous sunset views. She also has a couple different pizza shops as well as a lovely Italian venue in the Village of Oak Creek. Her food is quite popular – think very organic and natural - and she's been written up in all kinds of magazines as well as featured on cooking shows. In addition to Chef Dahl there are many other organic and healthy food options and choices – many that are tied into the spas that are so popular in Sedona. How great is it that you can book a spa room, have that full spa experience and also enjoy cuisine that's detoxifying and healthy – making it a full complement to your overall wellbeing.
 
Can I Get My Shopping On? Oh boy can you ever! They not only have the name brand stores but they also have a lot of local, amazingly talented artists that have shops. The artwork and the craftsmanship in Sedona is really unique and the pieces are one of a kind. Here you can have a piece of jewelry made with local stones such as turquoise or perhaps some handcrafted fabric goods or even beaded work. There are over 20 galleries and over 80 shops for you to choose from. You can even take classes like art or pottery in some of the studios and workshops. So, if you would like to add some art and culture and this is something that you'd like to do we can easily add this to your itinerary as we plan it. What a great opportunity for cultural immersion to get to know another American through art!
 
What Types of Travelers Would Be A Good Fit? As we already alluded to Sedona is a great destination to do if you are looking for a spot for a girlfriend or guys trips or a bachelor or bachelorette trip. It is also a perfect spot for multi-generational family get togethers as well as corporate offsites and retreats. And for those of you who are homeschooling it is the perfect opportunity for travel as a living classroom. You can incorporate those art classes we told you about as well as history class because you've got so many well preserved Native American heritage sites to explore such as Tuzigoot National Monument as well as Montezuma Castle National Monument. You can literally cover a number of different classes in real life so there is no need to worry about the digital learning piece of things because you're living it and sometimes nature is the best classroom.
 
Safety, Sustainability and Such. So, in 2019 Sedona created the sustainable tourism plan that is not just about a healthy economy but also the resident’s quality of life as well as the visitor experience in the environment. And of course, your Travel Guru totally loves this since it's a very similar mission to Book Here, Give Here which is all about socially responsible travel.
 
And as per Susan they are profoundly serious about it - not only for the four million guests that come to visit them during the year but also in keeping Sedona pristine for their community of just ten thousand. They are very protective of their beautiful environment and want to keep it keep it that way for the residents. However, they also want those tourists that are coming to visit to capture that same mindset and embrace the values that they are trying to maintain and be sustainable for the long term. And honestly you will see that all throughout the city when you're there.
 
Sedona also asks that you take the Sedona Cares Pledge when you are there as it is all about making sure that Sedona stays safe and sustainable. And personally, I like the part that says, “I'll make my own memories but not my own trails.”  And as Susan said – with the 400 miles of trails that they have you're never going to be running into anyone, but they also want you to stay on those trails so that they can keep the trails well preserved and safe for everyone who enjoys them – but also being respectful of the environment that you're in.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing there are no travel restrictions or COVID-19 test requirements for individuals visiting Arizona. However, face coverings are required for everyone in all public places and they ask you adhere to all of their safety and health guidelines that can be found listed here.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Sedona click here.
 
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And that my friends is your Sedona summary. If you went only to see the scenery it would still be worth it but as you can see there is so much else to do there as well. As Susan said come visit them because you won't be disappointed, and it won't be your only trip – that we both promise!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Sedona, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

It’s very appropriate – that since I find myself missing Germany and everything about it – as I spent a lot of time there when I studied in Switzerland and have not been back in a year and a half - that today’s guest is here to talk everything and anything Deutsch! And I could not be happier as it really gave me a chance to take a virtual trip down memory lane.
 
Today’s guest is Carolin Belcher the West Coast Sales Manager of the German National Tourist Office. Carolin was born and raised in Germany and now resides in the US – but loves talking about her home country! And there is so very much to explore here - Germany has sixteen federal states - that it was a fabulous opportunity to have her do just that – picking some of the country’s highlights to – well – highlight!


Tray tables stowed? Seats in upright positions? Great – make sure that seat belt is fastened too because we are off to Germany!
 
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Getting There and Getting Around: Getting to Germany from the US is easy. For instance – from my neck of the woods Lufthansa has direct flights from Austin. And for my East Coast peeps – there are direct flights from most of the major city’s airports. And may I say I do recommend flying business class as it gives you the opportunity to lay down and totally relax during your flight!
 
Once you are there it is easy peasy to get around in Germany as all of the major cities are connected by train – a high speed train to be exact – called Intercity Express – or ICE for short.
And there is a train route from Berlin to Munich that comes in at under four hours! This is so cool because you can connect to two major cities - that couldn’t be more different or diverse than each other I may add - in just a few hours! The train transportation is awesome in Germany – all announcements are in English too so that’s always a plus. And Carolin pointed out that she always says “we Germans are OCD” – so the trains are very clean and very safe. And as I pleased to find out they have Wi-Fi!
 
This is also a very drivable country – unlike a lot of other European countries. It is a very safe place to drive on the highways or through the towns. And there are over 1300 car rental stations offering both automatic and stick shift vehicles so don’t be afraid to drive there - it is so much fun! And speaking of driving – for you car fanatics there is the Autobahn which everyone wants to experience once in their life – so why not rent a Porsche or BMW or Mercedes and drive it! Did you know that almost everywhere on the Autobahn there is no speed limit? And that you need to be very aware that they only pass on the left side – not the right side?  Don’t worry we will take car of car insurance prior to your trip!
There are also plenty of of opportunities for travel by boat. There are many different companies that offer boat transportation and there are even private residents who offer boat rides! One of the best to do is the hop on / hop off boat on the Rhine River which affords you the opportunity to get off – visit a city – then get back on and continue to the next place you want to see. And Carolin noted that seeing Germany from the water is a great way to take it in. If you are worried about sea sickness - I can attest that the water there is very calm – it’s not like ocean cruising. It is actually very smooth and the views are beautiful.
 
Destinations: Below is a great look at that different flavors that abound in the cities throughout Germany and a great opportunity to start planning which you would like to visit based on your personal interests.
 
Berlin: Carolin describes Berlin as hip and fast moving - but not in a stressful way. She explained that it is constantly changing and each time she visits there is always something new to see.  Here you can see a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Berlin's Museum Island.  You will also have the opportunity to see the government district as well as where the Berlin Wall stood – such a powerful piece of history. It is also a culinary mecca and not to worry if you are vegan or vegetarian as they have many such restaurants and even a vegan street festival. The culinary tours here are abundant and can be done as a walking tour or on bikes. The best part? It is the locals that give the tours so they are basically guiding you through their home city and letting you taste food you wouldn’t have found on your own! As per Carolin you could be there for four full days and you still won’t have seen everything there is to see.
 
Dresden: Dresden has a very classical and medieval feel to it and is a cultural mecca well known across Europe. It is filled with historic sites dating back to World War II and many musical opportunities including the famous Semperoper Opera House.
 
Hamburg: Located in northern Germany, Hamburg is surrounded by water and actually has more bridges than all of Italy! And if you are a Beatles fan – this is a must see as this is where they got their start – where everything began them. Hamburg is also a magical city during the Christmas season, and you will find great Christmas markets throughout. And – being surrounded by water - the fish is a must eat while you are there. And a great place to explore? The fish market – which is only open on Sunday morning and very early so it doesn’t interfere with church.
 
Frankfurt: As Carolin observed Frankfurt is like Germany’s Manhattan. There’s a lot going on – including museums and the banking quarter. It’s got a metropolitan side with a towering skyline, but it also has areas that have a classical feel. And the gastronomy is very different here than in other parts of the country with things like Frankfurt’s famous green sauce and although they drink beer like the rest of the country – they love their Apfelwein as well – which is similar to apple cider. Bonus - it sits directly in the middle of Germany so it’s a good starting point with everything just a couple of hours away.
Cologne and Dusseldorf: On a personal note - Carolin has family in both these areas so she spends a lot of time in both of them and they are actually her two favorite cities. She describes Cologne as the most welcoming city ever – with so many great people that it’s hard to leave there without at least one new friend! It is also home to Cologne Cathedral – a true masterpiece that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Dusseldorf you’ll enjoy Rhine River cruises, fabulous architecture, great shopping and culinary experiences that will delight. They are both tremendously amazing cities with a lot of green so you able to do a lot of walking and picnicking in parks.
 
Stuttgart:  Stuttgart is located in the in area of the Black Forest – which is personally one of my favorite parts of the country – where my heart lives. Here you can partake in cooking classes and learn to make maultaschen which are giant raviolis or the infamous Black Forest cake. During the holidays you will find Christmas markets in the castles which are amazing to shop in. And - you are surrounded by wine country when you are in Stuttgart so can get out of the city and into nature where you can participate in wine tastings and tour vineyards.
 
Munich: When I lived in Switzerland, I made the trip to Munich often and I just loved this city – there wasn’t anything I couldn’t find there! There is an amazing farmers market there - Viktualienmarkt - filled with stands that are all family owned. It is a great place to socialize and taste local cheese and olives and drink fine wine and beer! Munich also houses the Olympic Stadium where you can go up to the roof and zipline from one side of the stadium to the other! And for the less adventurous type there are the English Gardens. Here you can sit, eat pretzels, drink some beer and people watch! (My favorite!)  You can also spot people on the river - surfing! This is also great starting point before you travel to Bavaria where you can have one off the beaten path experience after the other.
 
Sightseeing and Activities: Oh gosh – so many great things to see and do in this country. First off – they have marvelous landscapes which means lots of hiking to be had thanks to the mountainous terrain. And of course, those mountains come with great scenery and a healthy way to social distance. For those of you that aren’t about walking up hill – the northern part of Germany has plenty of flat areas where you can take leisurely strolls. And speaking of mountains - there is also the opportunity to do some skiing – not only within Germany but also in other nearby countries and I can hook you up with a pass that will let you ski at several different spots.
 
And then there is the culture! Now you may be surprised to hear that Germany is actually a rather small country - about as big as the state of California – but they are home to over six thousand museums! One of the best ones to visit – especially if you have German descendants is the German Emigration Center museum in Bremerhaven. This is where people left from in Germany when going to the US. Even if they were from other parts of Europe, they traveled to this port to leave to go to the US. The museum also works with Ancestry. com so you have the opportunity to not only find your ancestors information there but also when, how and why they left. What a super interesting museum! And might I add is definitely now on my list to visit the next trip to Germany!
 
There are also many theaters and operas in the country. And the opera houses have so much history – World War II history - as so many were bombed or burned down and then rebuilt. So even if you are not interested in music or attending the opera, they are mind blowingly gorgeous and absolutely worth visiting for the history and architecture alone.
 
Another thing you will find a lot of in Germany are casinos! Which was a surprise to me. And they are not your Las Vegas Style casinos where you can go in flip flops – these are quite formal, suit and tie venues and are extremely beautiful. 
 
And – something I have done in the past and is a fun and unique experience is taking a Porcelain class. They have great porcelain in Germany – especially the Meissen Porcelain by Dresden.
 
Another unique thing you can do in Germany? Zeppelin Rides! Yup – they still have Zeppelins, and you can even book a shipyard tour through the Zeppelin hangar!  Then afterwards you can take a breathtaking flight over Lake Constance – which is shared by Germany, Austria and Switzerland – allowing you to view all three countries from high above.
 
Castles and Palaces: Germany lays claim to some of the most magnificent castles you have ever seen – about twenty thousand to be exact. Below are highlights of a few of the most magnificent ones.
 
Neuschwanstein Castle: This absolutely gorgeous castle sits on a hill – which you can get to by carriage ride or shuttle - from which there are fabulous views. And there is an inn just a short drive from the castle that you can stay at that is home to a Michelin starred restaurant – making for a great cultural and culinary experience!
 
Heidelberg Castle: This stunning castle is filled with much history and is a great one to explore – and it has that ambience that makes you feel like you are in a fairytale! And the city is beautiful in itself and is filled with a lot of college students – including a lot of American students. And due to the fact that it is more budget friendly than some of the other cities.
 
Wartburg Castle: Carolin recounted that this was one of the first castles she saw as child – when it was a still separated East and West Germany. She recalls how big and beautiful this medieval German fort situated on the top of the mountain was - hovering over equally beautiful views. Wartburg Castle – another UNESCO World Heritage Site is over a thousand years old and very well preserved. It is very impressive and highly recommended – especially for people interested in traveling on the Path of Luther.
 
Stuttgart’s Castle of Solitude: Looking at this castle – which sits on a huge parcel of land – it’s amazing to think that it was just a hunting palace and summer residence! But - that it was! While you are here there are a number of wellness opportunities nearby – such as Baden Baden – known for its thermal baths. In fact, there are many hot springs within Germany to enjoy – although some are clothing optional so choose wisely!
 
Castle of Eltz: This 850-year-old castle is remarkably still owned by same family - the Eltz family – whom original lived there in the 12th century.  As per Carolin it is totally Instagram-worthy and it is on her list to see as she has yet to visit.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing travel the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Germany.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements click here.
 
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Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of Germany and I am fairly sure you now realize why I am missing it so much! Until I can get there again – I am visiting #discovergermanyfromhome and invite you to do the same!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Germany, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

Truffles and Wine and Olive Oil – oh my! Sorry – channeling my inner Dorothy there! But truffles, wine and olive oil are the topic of today’s travel adventure in my Dream Now, Travel Later segment.
 
Now as you are probably well aware of by now, I am a huge culinary freak and I even attended culinary school! Needless to say, I was extremely excited to welcome Alex Opacic from Taste Istria as our guest speaker to share his passion for this perfect gourmet trifecta with us! Not only that but we also got to explore three different areas of the world including Croatia and Slovenia as well as some of Northern Italy because Istria is a triangular peninsula that actually lies within these three countries!
 
So, grab a glass of vino and sit back and relax and enjoy this journey into the world of truffles, wine and olive oil – and more!
 
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Company Background: Taste Istria has been dedicated to wine and culinary tourism since 2007 offering what they refer to as the perfect trifecta of truffles, wine and olive oil. Alex noted that there are other products as well in their tourism offerings, but these are the three he is focusing on during this chat. Now Istria – which as I said in the into is a triangular peninsula that is part of Croatia, Slovenia and Italy – is just a two-hour drive eastward from Venice and before you get to the Croatian part you have to pass through Slovenia which is a relatively short coast. Clear as mud? Basically, Alex surmised that when he leaves home to go shopping for some delicacies - he travels through two countries – even though the trip there is only 25 miles!
 
And while visiting Istria it as a fabulous trip in itself it’s also a great extension to an Italian holiday thanks to their proximity. From Rome or Tuscany, it only takes three to four hours by high-speed train to get to Venice and then another hour to get to Trieste which is the furthest city you can get two in Italy via train. From there you are only about 45 minutes by car to get to anywhere in Western Slovenia or to the part of Istria that resides in Croatia!
 
And for our guests coming from the bigger cities in Italy that were so crowded - once they cross the border, they’ll be pleasantly surprised! This off the beaten path destination with no crowds and plenty of elbow room is great for social distancing!  Between its small population and a six-lane highway network created for tourist arrivals by car - even if by chance everyone was out on the highway at one time - it still wouldn’t be that crowded.  And you’ll find the attractions, restaurants and wineries will always have reservations available. And my favorite part - Alex assured us you won’t arrive at a winery and find it’s overcrowded - you pretty much have the winery to yourself! Now that’s a no-brainer!
 
About Those Truffles… Truffles are generally known as coming from Piedmont, Italy. They are also occasionally found in Tuscany.  Alex also noted that in Serbia they just found some, so it is on its way to becoming a great truffle destination, but it is still in the very early stages.
 
Piedmont is actually famous for the white truffle, but Istria has them as well. There’s a story here! Istria did not actually become known for white truffles until about two decades ago because prior to that all of the truffles in Istria were smuggled and sold as Italian ones! According to Alex about two decades ago is when they started operating their own truffle businesses with some government subsidies. But what really gained them popularity was when – in 1999 – one of their employees found the largest white truffle in the world! Yup – the people from the Guinness Book of World Records came and measured and it certainly was – and still is – the largest truffle ever found. There were offers from all over the world to purchase it, but they decided to pool all of their money together and buy the truffle themselves – then proceeded to make an omelet with 1999 eggs – with all the profits going to local children’s charities and children’s hospitals. Alex also let us know that there is a Michelin-starred restaurant featured in his tours where the cooking classes take place where you can actually view this strange brain looking cast of that very truffle!
 
Now in addition to the white there are also black truffles. They are the same ones that are also found in Provence, France which are called black diamond or the black Périgord. In addition to that black diamond truffle, they also have two other black truffles - a winter black truffle and a summer black truffle - meaning you can have truffles no matter what time of you visit. What is interesting here is there are actually laws for black truffles that are pretty stringent.  You must serve them fresh. You cannot freeze them and then serve them unless you get a special permit! However, this does not apply to the white ones which only grow four months out of the year - between mid-August and late December depending on the weather.
 
And The Olive Oil…Alex proudly informed us that each year 10,000 samples of high-end olive oil are gathered from all over the world and judged by a panel of Italian jurors. And this year - for the fourth consecutive year - Istria topped everyone - even Tuscany - as the top region for olive oil. In addition, 90 out of the top 500 olive oils in the Flos Olei Guide were from Istria - with the majority from the Croatian part, some of them come from the Slovenian part and the others were from the eastern part of Italy. Needless to say, Alex is pretty proud of all this!
 
He also educated us on a part of the olive oil culture that many people don’t understand - that olive oil - just like wine - can be mono varietal or single varietal like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Cabernet Franc wine for instance. And different types of olives can give you different types of products - some are sweet, some are pungent, some are tastier in a different way. Generally, one producer can make twelve different types of olive oils from the different olives they grow on different trees.
 
And Now The Wine!  So even though it sounds like an oxymoron the wine industry in Istria is referred to as internal exports. There exists here a perfect blend between many different types of wine and the winemakers are privileged in that they don’t have to compete in the world market - thanks to tourism and not having to worry about wine exporting and all those hassles. Instead, they sell their wine local. In fact, they sell 90% of their wine locally to wine bars, wine shops and restaurants. This gives them more time to dedicate themselves to personally welcoming their guests. Years ago, the decision was made that they wouldn’t be able to compete with the low prices other winemakers can offer. So, they went with the concept of offering a high-end product. And although it took some time, they now are considered and recognized as a place where you will pay slightly more for your wine - and this goes olive oil as well – but you will get a high-end product that is fabulous - and worth it!
 
Other Products:  As I stated earlier – the area is home to other products. And even though this presentation isn’t focusing on them - Alex still shared what some of them are.  For instance – across border - but still in in Istria - there are 1200 salt pans where salt flour is still collected by hand to this day. And quality wise it can be compared to the salts that come from France. Also, across the border there is wild asparagus to be found.
 
In Italy, the city of Trieste is the unofficial capital of coffee in the country. Not just because illy Coffee is based there but basically every single Italian varietal coffee is from there except for Lavazza. Here they offer coffee tours that include coffee tastings or experiences where you can learn how to make your own cappuccino and more.
 
There’s seafood too! And Alex also informed us that his region in Istria is famous for arguably some of the best Mediterranean Sea bass as well and sole, gold bass and scampi.
 
Going further south in Croatia to Dubrovnik - which is super famous thanks to the fact Game of Thrones was filmed there - they’re equally famous for their lobsters and oysters too!
 
And surprise - Croatia is one of the largest exporters of tuna fish! This is because of the fact that the Adriatic Sea is a bay of the Mediterranean Sea and the water is relatively shallow meaning the tuna is already salty or - it’s basically already seasoned! 
 
Sightseeing and Activities and Tours:
 
Tour Overview / Culture: The Taste Istria tours have been designed so that you aren’t spending too much time traveling in the vehicle. As Alex said - they want you to be out and about enjoying all there is to see and do. So, while they concentrate on the main aspect of the tour - truffles or wines or olive oils - they also include cultural aspects.  For instance, the tour may include a visit to the regional capital city of Istria - Pula - where you will see one of the seven best preserved Roman coliseums in the world. Or possibly you might take in one of the ten designated UNESCO World sites thorough the country. No matter what the tour – culture is always a part of it.
 
Truffle Extravaganza: One of the most important truffle festivals in Piedmont starts in mid-September and last until mid-November and it’s really an incredible experience. The tours they operate in September and October are held on Truffle Extravaganza days – which are on the weekends. On these tours you will have your own private truffle guide, participate in truffle hunting then afterwards you will either attend a cooking class or enjoy a multi course lunch or dinner with a wine pairing and /or olive oil pairings as well. The best part is that since a lot of people attend the festivals the price of a truffle-based meal is really inexpensive – or as Alex likened it to – “like the cost of having a burger at some joint in New York!”  This is also because you’re really at the very source of the truffles - so there are no intermediaries or expensive transportation costs involved.
 
Olive Oil Experiences: Alex related to us that the largest meal they ever hosted was a twelve-course meal paired with twelve different olive oils and twelve different wines!  And - get this - it lasted somewhere from seven to eight hours! 
 
With every Taste Istria tour, you will visit some olive oil farms and they tend to bring guests to those that have exports to the US. The reason for this - as Alex explained - is because generally the majority of all oils in the world are forged. Not that they are lying to you, but they are able to sell different types of oil and market them as extra virgin olive oil because the regulations are relaxed.  There is a huge difference between regular olive oil and high-quality olive oil and though both of them are marketed as extra-virgin olive oil only the high-quality ones give you all the benefits that’s is known and used for. Thus, they will always take you to the olive oil farms where you will learn how to properly taste olive oil and once you learn that it’s a game changer.
 
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for each location these tours are offer in - please check with each country’s official website.
 
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So, wow! What an opportunity we have here to combine a lot of these areas with additional countries on a 12-to-14-day trip. We can curate you an itinerary so that you can experience not only this gourmet trifecta – but also the culture, the gastronomy and the wellness opportunities that abound in these areas for a great recharging of your batteries!
 
For more details on things to see and do, where to stay in Istria, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
 
Namaste!
 
 
 
 

We’re keeping it domestic on this Travel Tuesday and this time we’re going straight to the top - the capital city of the United States of America - Washington DC.
 
Joining me today dish on all things DC is my colleague Lindsay Hill, the Senior Manager for Tourism Sales at Destination DC. Now I’m well aware that when most of us who aren’t familiar with this destination picture it, our minds eye is filled with monuments, museums and politics. Which of course can all be found here.  But there’s so much more to our capital city and it is mine and Lindsay’s goal to educate you on just how much more.
 
In fact, Lindsay was very vocal about the fact that the one thing she wants you all to take away from our chat is that Washington DC is a vibrant city with many facets. Of course, there is the Washington politics side – but there's so much more than just the National Mall strip - there is also an entire city to explore with many great neighborhoods that she is going to walk us through on a virtual tour today.
 
So, let’s do some armchair traveling to the District of Columbia to uncover all that it has to offer.

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How Can I Get There? Super easy! There are three airports that you can utilize – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Reagan National Airport (DCA) - which is the closest - as it is only which is 15 minutes from downtown and easily accessible via the Metro system (more on that later). And, if you're on the East Coast corridor, you can simply take Amtrak right into Union Station arriving just steps away from downtown DC.
 
And Where Exactly Is It? I now a lot of you are quite familiar with Washington DC but if you're not on the east coast - to give you an idea - it’s about four hours from New York City and just two and a half hours from Philadelphia. It is nestled between Virginia and Maryland meaning you can use DC as your base then take side trips to the Shenandoah Mountains - and the wineries! -  or head to the fabulous beach towns in Maryland.  What a great mix of opportunities – think about what an awesome multi-city tour this would make!
 
Demographics? DC – which is a lovely diamond shape - is home to 700,000 people mainly between the ages of 25 and 45 making this for a young and vibrant town with plenty of nightlife. There are also a lot of families that live in DC and that means there are also plenty of activities to explore with the kiddos.
How Am I Going To Get Around Once I’m There? One thing Lindsay was quite adamant about was that you do not need a car in DC. In fact, she came right out and said do NOT bring a car to DC. For those of you guys who are in metropolitan cities like New York the subway is something we all cherish, and you will be thrilled to discover that DC has a subway system too – the Washington Metro - that also includes buses. The Metro system is fabulous because it is not confined to the city limits as it travels to the outskirts as well giving you the ability to even link up with the Light Rail in parts of Maryland or Virginia. That being said one piece I will definitely add to your DC itinerary is a SmarTrip card to pay for all of your Metrorail and Metrobus rides. One great thing about this SmarTrip card is that it can be used on all of the city buses including the DC Circulator which is similar to a shuttle bus system and costs just a one dollar per ride. And I am a huge advocate of taking buses when you can as it is a great opportunity to get sightseeing in - whether you are passing along popular sites or sitting at a traffic light – I feel it just gives you a view that you wouldn’t get otherwise.
 
In addition to the Metro and the buses DC is a very walkable city that has been voted the number one most walkable city in the entire country many times over. It is also a very bikeable city and its flat so no hills to worry about! DC has trails everywhere due to the fact they are mostly constructed of national parks – making it a very green city. Fun Fact:  You can rent a bike and bike all the way to George Washington’s Mount Vernon and then take the boat back for a relaxing view from the water for a great day excursion. And the beautiful thing about that is you can take the bike from one area to another and not have to worry about bringing it back to where you started.
 
And finally, there is the Potomac River Water Taxi that is relatively new – just over two years old as of this writing. It connects the new District Wharf area (more on this later) to Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria and the National Harbor.
 
Tell Me About The National Mall Area. Undoubtedly the most popular area of DC, the National Mall area is walkable as it is just a little over 2 miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol with all of the monuments, the White House and a slew of Smithsonian’s – or what Lindsay refers to as Smithsonian Row – all there in the middle before you reach the capital making for a fabulous way to spend the day. And if you are not big on walking there are other
ways to tour the monuments and memorials such as a hop on hop off bus tours. In fact, there are all kinds of tours you can take, including National Mall tours done by professional comedians – I kid you not. (See what I did there?) Lindsay shared that her absolute favorite is the guided night tour because seeing the monuments all lit up at night is just gorgeous – so much so that she suggests even if you do the tour during the day to get all your pictures up close – still go back at night and seeing everything illuminated is a completely different experience and will take your breath away.
 
As for the Smithsonian Institution – which most of you are quite familiar with – but did you know that the Smithsonian is not just one building?  Nope – it is 16 buildings interspersed around Washington DC with most of them on the National Mall. And even the DC Zoo – featuring those oh so adorable giant pandas - is a part of the Smithsonian – with its actual name being the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Best part? Every one of the Smithsonian museums and the zoo are free of charge.  So, for those of you who are on a budget and want to do something fun that also counts as a travel as a living classroom that free admission factor lets you get your children up close and personal to learn firsthand rather than just reading it in a textbook. And as Lindsay so poetically put it - they actually stand in the footprints of history at many of these locations. Just incredible opportunities here you guys!
 
As you walk along you will come across the International Spy Museum which is in the L'Enfant Plaza near the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Now, the International Spy Museum has been with the DC family for over ten years but last spring they opened their new location which is twice the size of the old venue. So even if you've been there before you have to go back as it's completely brand new with new exhibits. And if you are not familiar with it, the International Spy Museum is a super interactive experience where you get to put on the persona of a spy and take on little missions and at the end, they tell you if you would have been a good spy or not. And if you have a group we can arrange for workshops on forensics and other areas of interest.
 
Two other museums that just opened in 2020 are the National Children's Museum - that focuses highly on STEM - so all of your science, technology, engineering and mathematics related stuff- and Planet Word which is really about bringing words and language to life and reminding you of the power of words. Per Lindsay she is quite excited about this one and said that if you like crossword puzzles and libraries and things along that line you are going to love this place!
 
What If I Get Hungry? Or Thirsty? DC has you covered with a great food scene that includes OVER 2200 restaurants! Bonus - you've got Michelin starred restaurants included in those 2200 too. Lindsay also pointed out that DC has close to 200 embassies in its backyard which is unique to any city in the entire world. And with so many embassies they have a ton of global influence added to their culinary scene. That also means they don't have one thing that's considered DC cuisine because they have so many flavors coming at them. As for those Michelin starred restaurants – DC is only the fifth city in the United States to be honored with the Michelin Guide which of course they are oh so proud of as they are of Jose Andres who is their hometown chef who's doing some really wonderful things within the communities.
 
Some of the more popular places to grab a bite include Ben’s Chili Bowl (and a half smoke) - which is the only restaurant that survived the riots after MLK's assassination, District Donuts and of course Georgetown Cupcakes that many know from the TV show DC Cupcakes.
If happy hour is your jam you will not be disappointed in DC!  There are a lot of rooftop experiences – both for rooftop dining and bars - which is a great place to try a Gin Rickey which is DC's cocktail, and you grab some Ethiopian food. Why Ethiopian food?  Because outside of Africa, Washington DC has the largest population of Ethiopians.
 
And of course – we all know I am huge into cultural immersion through gastronomy so I would love to make an entire itinerary of culinary exploration for my foodies out there as there is so much to see from the Wharf Fish Market to Union Market to Speakeasy visits to neighborhood food tours and more!
 
Anything There In The Way Of Arts? There are over 30 theaters in DC with the Kennedy Center as the mainstay for opera, ballet and their Broadway circuit. But they also have so much more in terms of homegrown theater productions as well thanks to a huge community behind those efforts.  Besides theater there's a ton of art in DC including the hidden art within like the Library of Congress and mural art everywhere that was commissioned to highlight leaders of the city.
 
Sports? Truly you are going to find something for everyone here in the way of sports. You’ve got baseball, football, soccer, basketball, hockey - I mean there's literally pretty much every major sporting event imaginable here. And Lindsay proudly pointed out that in the past couple of years they have had a lot of championship wins with the Nationals, Capitals and even their women's basketball team the Mystics bringing home the trophy.
 
What Kind Of Activities Can I Participate In? So besides professional sports, DC is quite an active city, meaning there is a ton of outdoor activities to be had. Which is great news - especially now - as everyone wants to make spend a lot of time outdoors and engage in some social distancing. The city has a plethora of wellness opportunities – and remember – wellness isn’t just a spa treatment – it includes many other activities including soft adventures! In DC you are going to find plenty of soft adventures - and hard adventures if that is what you are looking for. From kayaking on the Potomac River to bike tours to paddle boats on the Tidal Basin and even yoga on the National Mall! Then there is Rock Creek Park – part of the National Park Service – which is twice the size of Central Park in New York City. Here there are trails and there's actually a horseback riding center in there so you can even ride horses in Washington DC!
 
DC is host to many different events and festivals but arguably its most famous is the Cherry Blossom Festival. I personally have seen the cherry blossom trees at different points – when it was early in the start of the season and when they were in full bloom and it's just absolutely stunning. There are over 200 cherry trees around the Tidal Basin and Lindsay assures us not to worry about timing it right because even if for some reason the timing isn’t perfect there are three weeks of activities during the festival. You will still have the parade, the fireworks show, the kite festival and more - and you will still have a great time even if they're not in full bloom at that point.
You Mentioned Great Neighborhoods? Why yes, I did. And I can make you an itinerary for each one where you can spend one day exploring all they have to offer.
 

• Georgetown: So, what’s really interesting is that when the city was first created Georgetown was not part of DC, instead it was its own separate city. Due to this it does definitely have a different vibe as well as a very old feel. It features cobblestone streets and quaint old stone houses and is one of Lindsay’s favorite places to walk around. For my movie buffs – in particular fans of The Exorcist you can visit what is known as The Exorcist Steps which is a staircase that was featured in a pivotal scene in the movie. You can also tour historic Dumbarton Oaks Estates and Gardens, shop on M Street, kayak, paddleboard or canoe on the Potomac River and then in the evening have dinner along the waterfront and take in a show at the Kennedy Center.

 

• Southwest DC and the Capitol Riverfront: Heading a little bit more into the southwest area where you're going to find amazing foods and the new District Wharf or The Wharf neighborhood we alluded to earlier. This is the newest addition to DC and it’s definitely great for a date night walk down the Potomac River.  There are also three live entertainment stages here with one - The Anthem that's right on the water - being able to house 6000 people. Here you are close to the ballpark and the soccer stadium, and it is a good launching point for kayaking, paddle boarding or canoeing. You can take in the Museum of the Bible or Artechouse – which is an innovative art space for immersive and interactive art exhibitions. Evening activities include the District Winery for local wine tasting, Bluejacket Brewery for local beer tasting or perhaps a dinner cruise. Top Secret Fun Fact: It’s Lindsay’s favorite neighborhood - but don't tell anybody she said that!

 

• Capitol Hill: Featuring the US Capital Building, Library of Congress and the Supreme Court – this is a history, law, political lovers dream neighborhood!  And Lindsay reminds us that the Library of Congress – which is across the street from the US Capital Building is a hidden treasure of art so if you’re an art buff it’s a must see. Bonus – they are connected by a tunnel so that's a super fun way to go back and forth! In the backyard of Capitol Hill, you have a sort of a foodie treasure trove as well as artisan crafts at the Eastern Market which has been in existence for decades and decades. It is a great place to wander through especially on the weekends, browsing the stalls and shopping for trinkets or original artwork. If you are there on the weekend the one thing you must do is get yourself some of the famous buckwheat blueberry pancakes from the market! And once again – being a walking city you can walk around and see all the fun town houses that were built during the civil war – and walk off those pancakes! Other sites not to miss here are the US Botanic Garden and Barracks Row – where you can view the evening parade at the US Marine Barracks on Friday evenings in the summer.

 

• 14th Street and the U Street Corridor: Featuring another flavorful feel this area has become sort of the nightlife area of DC. A lot of locals live in this neighborhood but it's also really rich in history due to the fact that U Street was once known as the historic Black Broadway and during segregation this was where all of the black leaders all lived. Howard University is located here, Ben’s Chili Bowl - which we mentioned earlier - and Little Ethiopia can be found here too as well as a lot of street murals - which are a big part of touring this neighborhood. But the biggest thing is that this was one of the birth places of Jazz – did you know Duke Wellington was born in Washington DC and he played here? And that’s not all from the music scene! Go-Go music – a mix of funk and Latin American percussion – was created here and is now the official music of DC.  You can walk through Meridian Hill Park while you are here - which has the largest cascading fountain in North and then take in live music at U Street Music Hall, 9:30 Club or the historic Howard Theater.

 
We Know You Like Your Off The Beaten Path Options Loulu. I sure do and I asked Lindsay to highlight some for us today so that we have a list of things not everybody knows about to take in during our DC trip.  First there’s H Street that's definitely a part of DC that you want to see. It’s like raw DC – and is filled with nightlife, restaurants and festivals amidst a communal atmosphere. Then you have the Congressional Cemetery which is a really beautiful – and cool place to visit. Fun Fact: John Philip Sousa is buried there. There is the Saint John Paul II National Shrine featuring mosaics by Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik - so even if you're not religious my art enthusiasts would really love it.  Or you can visit President Lincolns Cottage – a historic site and museum. And finally, there are the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens where every summer when the lotuses and water lilies bloom, they have a Lotus and Water Lily Festival.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing, the travel requirements for anyone traveling into Washington, DC from a jurisdiction with more than ten COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people are as such:
 

• Get a test within 72 hours of traveling, and if the test is positive, don’t travel.
• If you are a close contact of a confirmed positive case, don’t travel.
• If you are a visitor to DC for more than three days, get tested within 3-5 days of arrival.
• Adhere to the mandatory mask policy, exceptions include vigorous exercise or while actively eating or drinking.

 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Washington DC click here.
 
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Whether you travel for the history, the gastronomy, the culture, the wellness, the activities or the off the beaten path adventures – Washington DC offers them all – right here in our own backyard – no passport needed. I'd love to be able to start building an itinerary for you and your travel companions that includes what’s important to you – so let’s get that conversation started!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Washington DC, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!
 
 

There are so many amazing places to visit on this wonderful planet of ours that sometimes we forget the beautiful destinations that are literally in our own backyards. Domestic travel is quite possibly all we may be able to do until the borders start opening which means there’s no better time than now to set out to explore this amazing country of ours.
 
By now you may have may have guessed that this week’s video guest will be chatting with me about a US city.  And you would be correct!  And that guest is my colleague Nicole Krekeler the Tourism Sales Manager for Experience Scottsdale (Arizona) who is relaying to us all of the marvelous sights, sounds and tastes there are to discover in Scottsdale - as well as  some hidden gems that I didn’t even know about!
 
Grab your cowboy hat, pull on your boots, take a seat on your horse and trot along with us on this Scottsdale adventure!
 
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Location, Landscape and Climate:  Nicole first let us in on the fact that she’s an Arizona native - which is rare - from what she’s heard.  And she advised that Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon State and cheekily added that “we own the entire Grand Canyon no matter what Las Vegas and Nevada say!”
 
Scottsdale itself is centrally located in the state and although it’s a suburb of Phoenix, it truly is its own standalone destination. Plus being right in center of state it’s a great place to hub and spoke out to Sedona, the Grand Canyon or south to Tucson or Tombstone. The city is long and skinny - measuring 32 miles north to south and 7 miles east to west. It’s also within close proximity to the airport as at the southernmost point it’s just 15 minutes from Sky Harbor - Phoenix’s international airport.
 
That, and coupled with the fact that there are 320 days of sunshine statewide plus no humidity – it’s a dry heat - which trust me - makes a big difference  - means it’s a pretty safe bet you won’t get rained out! The average minimum temperature is actually 55 degrees – so it’s not 100 degrees all years round! Thanks to being located in the Sonoran Desert there is a temperature difference.
 
Popular Areas:  One must see is Old Town Scottsdale. Filled with culture and life like it was back in the old west – they still have some original streets, the original post office and the First Bank of Arizona. That old bank is now a cool little (little is right – it only holds about 43 people) gem known as the Rusty Spur – a bar that opened after the bank closed down during the Great Depression and still stands there today filled with all its cowboy culture! They even still have the bank’s original vault which is used to store alcohol now instead of money. They also feature live music every day - plus every Saturday at 3:00 PM Gary and his horse ride in, strum a song, then back on outta there!  You will also find numerous privately owned boutique shops as well as great chef driven restaurants in Old Town. It really is a great place to walk around, do some exploring and maybe buy a Mexican blanket or some stunning turquoise jewelry. Other areas of interest to explore - Tombstone a town that is just as if you are walking into the old west and recreating it – and it’s not a film set up – it truly is an actual town and also what they refer to as the Waterfront – which is Scottsdale’s canal system – featuring great shops, restaurants and scenery including palm trees, public art sculptures and fountains.
 
Sightseeing and Activities: Most of you probably associate Scottsdale with the desert but did you know that an entire one third of the city is a protected Sonoran Desert preserve? Meaning...there are outdoor activities galore! With over 30,000 acres of protected land - there’s over 200 miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock-climbing trails and more!
 
There is also an abundance of Hot Air Balloon rides thanks to the temperate weather and low wind - which also allows Scottsdale to brag that they have the most flyable days in the US! Due to the heat in the summer only sunrise tours are offered - but from October through April you can take a sunset tour as well. What a great way to see the desert - by floating over! Especially if you aren’t into hiking and mountain biking. Bonus - you get a champagne toast at end!
 
Golf. Lots and lots of golf! In the Phoenix metropolitan area there are about 200 golf courses - and Scottsdale is home to 51 of them. (Side Note: This number represents both Scottsdale and Paradise Valley – a small town and suburb of Scottsdale). One really cool fact about these golf courses – to keep them green they use all reclaimed water and utilizing a very complex system it allows them to maintain green golf course without using up natural resources.
 
There are some really fun ways to explore that desert terrain – such as Jeep or Hummer Tours or renting a self-drive UTV’s that allow you to see - and learn about -  the flora and fauna and the eco system up close and persona. Fun Fact – there is more plant life in the Sonoran Desert than in the Amazon thanks to all of the different species of plants.
 
Also home to Tonto National Forest where opportunities for kayaking, rafting and paddle boarding are plentiful and there are tour companies that will do these activities with you if you don’t want to give it a go alone. This area is actually quite green and in addition to manmade lakes you’ll also find the Salt and Verde Rivers – where you will see wild horses galloping around on any given day!
 
Arts and Culture:  Culture is a huge part of who Arizona is as a state as well as is Scottsdale as a destination. Scottsdale actually butts up to one of the to one of the larger reservations in the state - the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian community. The state as a whole has 25 tribes residing there which is the most of any state in the country and they boast of great partnerships with festivals to honor those tribes being held often.
 
Art is actually a huge component in Scottsdale and a very interesting fact that Nicole let us in on is that 3% of any large corporate build’s total investment has to go back to community in public art. Thanks to this mandate -  you’ll see numerous sculptures and interesting interactive art features throughout the entire city! In addition there are approximately 150 art galleries and art dealers in Scottsdale and just over 70 of them are located in Old Town which has an Arts district with a couple of walkable streets where every Thursday night they do an art walk allowing you to go in to the galleries and partake in cheese and wine while talking with the owners and possibly the artists themselves. You’ll also find a lot of handmade goods for sale by local artists and Native American communities sold throughout the town.
 
Then there is Taliesin West which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year! The story behind this is that Frank Lloyd Wright came out to Arizona to the desert for inspiration in the late 1920’s and built it as his home and a winter school for his apprentices. It is still an architectural school to this day! He also kind of founded the artist community that he stumbled upon in the 1930’s that is still a running artist community and compound today. A lot of the artist’s work with the local Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalow, creating all their artwork in the rooms and doing interactive art classes such as watercolors that are all free for the guests who stay there.
 
Scottsdale is also home to six world class museums – two of them being Smithsonian affiliated museums. The first is the Spirit of the West Museum - a beautiful museum that focuses on the cowboy and Indian culture of the seventeen most western states and how we all got out west. And the second is the Musical Instrument Museum which came about ten years ago thanks to the CEO of Target who had looked all over for a great location to open this fantastic, interactive museum and settled on Scottsdale. Per Nicole it is one place she ALWAYS takes her guest to when they visit, and it is awfully hard to pull them out of there! They have a lot of interactive exhibits, offer behind the scenes tours and are home to a bone flute from around 200 AD that’s quite fascinating!
 
Gastronomy: If you are in search of a gastronomic adventure there are about 800 restaurants in Scottsdale proper - more per capita than Manhattan! Now obviously there’s a difference in population but still! What a lot of people don’t realize is that there is a heck of a lot of food grown in Arizona and that they have chefs move there from New York  and Chicago to embrace the local flavors and all the great things grown there to  make a name for themselves. In fact, Nicole related that they are immensely proud of their local chefs and that last year Chef Charlene Badman was the James Beard award winner for the south and southwest! And for more social distancing opportunities there are lots of great patios to eat on! Food tours are available too for you foodies out there.
 
And there’s not just great food to be found here – Arizona is home to 70 vineyards – mainly located down south in Wilcox and up north in Cottonwood and Sedona. Yup – they can grow grapes in the desert – thanks to all that sunshine and great weather and reclaimed water! In Scottsdale you’ll find six of the larger Arizona vineyards/wineries have wine tasting rooms for you to try out those desert wines. There is also a company that does a walking wine tour and  another one that does the tours on golf carts – telling you all about the history of wine making while you sip on wine! What a great idea for a bachelorette party (Nicole says they do host many of them thanks to this)!
 
Wellness: Wellness is also a huge component of travel to Scottsdale. Many of the resorts offer spas onsite and there are also a lot of stand-alone day spas bringing the total to more than 50 day, resort and health spas for you to choose from. There is definitely something very cleansing about the desert which is why you’ll see a lot of wellness groups hiking in the desert as well. The CIVANA Luxury Wellness Spa Retreat is a new property at the furthest northern point of Scottsdale offering all sorts of different styles of yoga classes as well as barre classes and more – and most of the classes are included in their experience fee (think resort fee)! How great would Scottsdale be for a corporate wellness offsite? Or for you wellness coaches - a perfect place to organize and lead your own retreat!
 
Accommodations: Home to more than 70 hotels and resorts with the beauty of that being that  they are not skyscrapers – they are very well spread out (meaning social distancing friendly!) and of course are following all CDC guidelines and requirements to ensure their guests’ safety.
They also have smaller boutique properties with some being just eight room hideaways where if you so choose you can buy out the entire hotel to self-quarantine with your bubble! The Hermosa Inn which has 45 rooms was getting bought out for weddings prior to covid. Nicole advised us that this is one of her favorites and that it used to be an artist’s home  - painter Lon Megargee back in the 1930s and when it was purchased by new owners they turned it into a bed and breakfast and it’s remained just that since the 1940’s. Domestic destination wedding anyone?
 
Types of Travelers: Great for families - especially those with younger children as it is a great living classroom experience - between the culture, history, and science of nature – as well as couples, honeymooners, babymooners, girls getaways, guy trips – ummm – it’s just great for everyone lets face it!
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing there are no travel restrictions or COVID-19 test requirements for individuals visiting Arizona.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements click here.
 
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Scottsdale – as you can see - or as Experience Scottsdale and Nicole refer to it - hot, dry and wild - is much more than just the desert! And it is a destination that was well known for many years as a golf and spa destination, but it is so much more! It is also a luxury destination, an adventure destination, an arts and culture destination, a gastronomic destination … you get the idea! And Nicole also made certain to mention that is a very hospitable city to visit as well. For my Texans - Arizona is not far drive! And my East coasters - you can do a direct flight or if you aren’t ready to fly yet – what a great cross-country drive destination trip!
 
For more details on things to see and do, where to stay in Scottsdale, it’s price and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

In today’s video chat we are going to travel to a destination that I personally cannot wait to learn all about - as I have not yet had the opportunity to visit this beautiful country. And what beautiful country might that be? It is the largest country in the world - Russia!
 
Elena Ulko, owner of Ulko Tours - the destination management company for both Russia and Scandinavia - excitedly accepted my invitation to sit down and chat all about her homeland recently.  And – I am willing to bet that most of you are going to be as surprised as I was to get a glimpse into what a lot of us envision to be a mysterious, somewhat dark and oh so serious land and its people. (Spoiler alert – that is so not the case!) And you will see right off the bat that Elena is very aware of the misconceptions about her beloved Russia and could not wait to show us why we have it all wrong.
 
Now let’s clear our minds of any pre-conceived notions and read all about the secrets and treasures that you will find there that Elena promises will entice you to visit and make you fall in love with her country.
 
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Ulko Tours: Elena and Ulko Tours in general are great to work with because they let you decide what you want to see. Elena said their customers usually inquire as to what they should see while visiting but she prefers to give you a list of the everything there is to see and let you decide for yourself what it is on that list that interests you - that speaks to your heart. Whether you want to view the ornate residences or if you’re a museum fanatic or long to visit its churches and cathedrals – or all of these things – they will be more than happy to accommodate you.  And of course – I will be curating your personalized experience with her assistance – so you can be assured you are in good hands!
 
Geography, Currency, Climate and More: Russia is home to 146 million people and occupies 6.6 million square miles or one-eighth of the worlds surface making it twice the size of the US. And it’s not only massive – but it is remarkably diverse as well. And how crazy is this – there are ten different time zones in Russia. So, if for instance you flew from Moscow across the country to the other side and landed in Kamchatka it would be a nine-hour time change!
 
Like I stated above – Elena mentioned that having lived in the US at one time she realized that most people don’t know much about Russia and that most of what they know they get from tv and movies which as she feels - portrays them as mobsters, very gloomy and perhaps a bit crazy. When in fact visitors are usually shocked when they arrive in Moscow and it’s not like they pictured it.  Russians are really very friendly and enjoy meeting new people. Elena attributes a lot of the unfriendly perception to the Soviet times when life was so difficult for them and they just had to concentrate on their work and their everyday life in order to survive – which didn’t leave much space for happiness. But now life is getting better and they have the opportunity to travel and they love to welcome travelers to Russia in return.
 
The currency used throughout the country is the ruble which just so happened to be quite colorful currency. The exchange rate as of this writing - though it changes all the time, and we will need to check it for you prior to your trip - is 70 rubles to $1.00.
 
Getting There: There are direct flights available from numerous major cities in the US including New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago to name a few. And of course – if you know me – you know I do recommend flying business class as the trip is lengthy and this way you can lay down and be rested and ready to start your adventure when you arrive! Most visitors will fly into Saint Petersburg or Moscow - as they are the two cities where people usually start their adventure when they come over to visit. But there are also flights into other cities in Russia if you so desire.
 
It’s important to note that Americans do need to have a Russian visa to visit – along with a valid passport. And you want to make sure your passport is valid for the length of your visa. Elena related that 90 days prior to your trip is the earliest you can apply and though the questionnaire may look daunting it is in fact not difficult – just extensive. In addition to a visa, you will also need a letter of support to get the visa - which Elana said they can quickly and easily get for you. This letter serves as a confirmation that you are traveling with a certain company and that company is acting as a sponsor for the visa.
 
Length of Stay: In terms of how many days you should give yourself when creating an itinerary, it’s going to depend - of course - on what you want to experience. If you really want to do the whole country, Elena and I certainly suggest at least 15 days plus. This way you are not going to just be jumping from one destination to another but actually being able to do a lot of cultural immersion in each destination as well. Elana actually outlined some sample itineraries and the number of days for each:
 

• Two to five days for St. Petersburg, Novgorod and Moscow
• Five to ten days for a river cruise, Sochi, Murmansk, Karelia and Kazan
• Ten to 15 plus days for Trans-Siberian, Altai, Baikal and Kamchatka

 
Elena had a fabulous point – if you are going to fly all the way from the US to Russia it really makes sense to plan a little longer to be able to see as much as possible – because in reality for most of us it is a once in a lifetime trip. (Although Elena noted they do get people who come back over and over because they fall in love with the country.)
 
Getting Around: Being able to get around is key and there all different modes of transportation available. There are private vehicles, a public transit system, taxis, river and canal boat rentals, helicopters and hydrofoils. Ulko Tours will use more than one mode of transportation on their tours combining those that make the most sense. And of course, if you want to splurge a bit on a helicopter, they will happily do that.
 
Also on this list are trains. The Sapsan Train is the rail service which connects St. Petersburg to Moscow and Elena mentioned this because she knows that a lot of people think it is much easier to travel by plane when city hopping throughout Russia. And there’s no disagreement there – for instance it is just a one-hour flight between these two cities as opposed to a three-and-a-half-hour train ride. BUT – there is all the time – and hassle - spent prior to wheels up that adds on even more time. You must travel to the airport and be sure to arrive well in advance and go through the often-lengthy security checkpoint which ends up adding a few hours to that one-hour flight time. Now – picture this. You arrive at the train station which is right in the center of the city of Moscow, there is no hassle getting to the station and upon arrival you will board the train, sit down and settle in for the journey. And should you choose business class you get a meal and drinks as well ultimately ending up in the center of St. Petersburg easily, effortless and extremely comfortably. I am convinced!
 
And of course, we cannot forget about the Trans-Siberian Railway! The beautiful thing about starting out in St. Petersburg or in Moscow is that you actually can create an itinerary that includes the Trans-Siberian and if you chose to do the full route it is an amazing two-week adventure.
 
Destinations: Based on its size to see all of Russia you really need a lot of time so today we're going to talk about the major destinations that you should not miss when you come.
 

• Moscow: People usually start with Moscow, Russia’s business and industrial center as well as the capital and largest city in the country. It takes up 970 square miles and is home to 11.5 million people. Moscow is a mixture of both history and modern life entwined and typically is the number one destination for everybody that goes there. And as stated earlier - when they go to Moscow, they are often shocked that it’s so different from what they had imagined.

 
Here everything is extreme - large buildings, wide streets, expensive cars, couture shops never-ending traffic jams and big money.  And yes, there is plenty to see, do and experience here - including gastronomy, sightseeing, art and culture, wellness and even medical opportunities - so for those of you guys who are maybe looking to travel for a medical procedure this could be an option. Hotel accommodations range from three to five stars and the recommended stay here is three to four days.
 
In the heart of Moscow, you’ll find the Kremlin which is the oldest fortress in the city. Featured inside are churches - or cathedrals. Part of the Kremlin is open for visitors so you can actually go in inside and explore all the centuries old churches – the history here is amazing and Elena guarantees you will come away in awe.
 
Another famous place you will find in Moscow is Red Square which is home to St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Tower of Kremlin and the Kremlin Clock all of which are symbols of Moscow that you will often see featured in all brochures.
 
And attention all my shoppers - Moscow is a great place for shopping! At Manezhnaya Square - which is located on the other side of the Kremlin – you will not only enjoy walking through the park and taking in the beautiful fountains – but they also have a shopping mall underground! This actually reminds me a little bit of Montreal and their underground city and is a great opportunity if you visit in the winter to shop in the warmth of the underground as opposed to outside shopping centers!
 
Elena shared that a huge chunk of the visitors coming to Russian request to do a Soviet Moscow tour and no wonder why! It is famous for its 1950s architecture that was created during the time of Joseph Stalin and is quite impressive – in fact, everything back then was impressive - even the subway stations! So much so that people request tours of them (which she noted is unlike most places with subway systems – for instance New York City) but in St. Petersburg and Moscow the subway tour is an extremely popular tour! The Moscow Metro or subway is a stunning triumph of Soviet architecture.
 
You can also have the theater experience in Moscow and Elena shared that a lot of people request seeing ballet at the Bolshoi Theater - in fact, she joked – unless it’s something that puts you to sleep - it is on almost on everyone’s list.
 
If you want to hobnob with the local’s head to Gorki Park as it is one of the places local residents spend their free time thanks to its plentiful outdoor space. And make sure you sample the local ice cream while you are there as it is one of their specialties!
 
Another must do is to partake in a Moscow River Cruise one evening. You can choose one with or without dinner – either way it is a marvelous opportunity to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset as it illuminates the city.
 
Ok so there are tons of Soviet artifacts that can be found throughout the city but for my history buffs here is something you are NOT going to want to miss! There is a Soviet secret bunker that you can actually visit – in fact - it is the only one open to the public. As you know - during the Cold War both in the US and in Russia everybody was convinced that something horrible was going to go down – and mainly that fear was of a nuclear war – leading to the beginning of the nuclear shelter craze. How cool is it that you get to descend deep down into one such shelter and explore this underground corridor! Even cooler is that you can actually even have a meal while you are there thanks to the canteen built for the young government employees that is open to visitors.
 

• Outside of Moscow: Once you venture to the outskirts of the city you will get to check out the suburbs for some of that off the beaten path flavor and a look at history. Kolomenskoye – which used to be a suburb of Moscow – is a former royal estate and is well-known because it is where Peter the Great – the founder of St. Petersburg - spent his childhood and subsequently grew up. Featuring a very colorful palace which Peter’s father Alexey built it is a wonderful peak into 17th century Russian life. And speaking of palaces – another fabulous palace to visit is Tsaritsyno which was built as the residence for Empress Catherine II.  This palace features a picturesque area with unique greenhouses, gardens, fountains and a lovely park to enjoy.

 

• Saint Petersburg: St. Petersburg – the cultural capital of Russia and the most popular destination in the country – is rich with history, famous museums, churches and breathtaking architecture. I love the way Elena described it – “It is incredibly beautiful and the city itself is like an open-air museum. It's royal Russia in all its beauty and glory.”  Here you will find sightseeing, gastronomy, art and culture, wellness and medical opportunities.  Hotel accommodations range from three to five stars and the recommended stay here is five days.

 
The Hermitage is a splendid imperial palace with stunning interiors located on the Neva River that was once the house of a Russian royal family. It contains the world's largest collection of art with pieces by da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens and others and in fact is really all about the art!
 
Another popular attraction is Peterhoff Park and Palace located just a one-hour drive from the city on the shores of the Baltic Sea. What was once the summer palace of the tsars actually consists of several palaces on the grounds that can be visited, jaw dropping fountains and is an overall amazing place to wander around in.
 
Catherine's Palace was another summer residence for Russian tsars - a royal countryside resort named after Peter the great's wife.
 
As for which churches and cathedrals you may want to visit, they include Spilled Blood Church – which is richly decorated with mosaics inside and out, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral – which is one of the largest churches in the world has an observation spot in it’s done that offers great views, Saint Nicholas Cathedral and Kazan Cathedral just to name a few!
 
Canal Rides on the Neva River are – according to Elena - one of the greatest experiences in the city and her absolute favorite thing to do there thanks to the great opportunity it gives you to view this amazing city from the water!
 
Russia's best – and oldest - ballet school - Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet and its number one theater - Mariinsky Theatre - are located in St. Petersburg - and just as seeing the ballet is on almost everyone’s list who visits Moscow it is also on the lists of those who visit St. Petersburg. You can catch ballet performances year-round in one of ten different theaters and the infamous Swan Lake is performed daily during the summer for everybody to attend. And for my ballerinas out there - we can arrange for you to do a ballet master class – which wow – what a unique experience!  And if by chance ballet is not your thing – there are fabulous Russian folk shows - folk and dance and Cossack shows – which are filled with culture and wonderful to see live.
 
And for some hands-on experiences in the city, you can tour the House of Faberge facility – which is one of the largest jewelry factories in the world – where they will introduce you to the entire process of how they are produced, casted, decorated and certified. And you can also make your own Faberge pendant. If you prefer dolls over jewelry you can take part in a Matryoshka Doll class. This is a great activity for the end of a long day of touring as you meet in a café where you can sit down with a pastry and a cup of coffee, where an artist will join you and tell you all about the history of doll making. Afterwards you get to decorate the dolls with the design of your choosing – be it a traditional Russian design or even as a Minion!
 
Now, one of the things that your Travel Guru likes about St. Petersburg is that it's also a very quick way to get to some of the Scandinavian countries - so should you wish to do a combination trip we can make that happen quite easily. For instance – you can start in St. Petersburg and then hop over into Finland. And Elena took it one step further by letting us in on this great tidbit - for those who don't want to go through the trouble of getting a Russian visa there is a way around it! If you go to Finland first and then travel from Finland to Russia, you can do so for three days or 72 hours! So, granted it will be a quick trip, but you will get to experience some of St. Petersburg! You simply hop a ferry from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, get a hotel, tour for three days and then take the ferry to return to Finland and all with no visa needed!
 

• Novgorod: Novgorod is a quaint little old town – one of the oldest in the country - that is approximately two hours via car from St. Petersburg. Typically done as a day trip here you will find yourself surrounded by ancient history and religion.  It is home to the Novgorod Kremlin - an ancient fortress located on the high bank of the mighty Volkhov River that you can the tour – and also houses a cathedral as well - where you will learn the history of old Russia. The recommended stay is one day but should you choose to stay overnight the accommodations are three- and four-star hotels.

 
From here you can travel to Vitoslavlitsy which is a wooden architecture museum as well also a small village about a ten-minute drive outside of Novgorod. It features small wooden houses - preserved and moved from all over Russia – set up in one place and assembled into a small town. Here you will be exposed to the different types of architecture from different periods and as you walk into the houses you will get an idea of how they lived in different eras – from livestock to arts and crafts.
 

• Karelia: This beautiful area is situated to the north of St. Petersburg in the Lake District of Russia. Framed by pine tree forests and hills and grand clearwater lakes the area is beautiful in the summer, but it also offers some great winter activities suitable for all types of travelers. Here you can camp or hike or even participate in a husky ride. And husky rides are not just a winter activity – you can go on one in the summertime on wheel cars instead of sleds. The hotels you will find here will typically be three-to-four-star properties and the recommended stay is three days. The landscape of Karelia resembles Scandinavia, and it is postcard picture perfect in any season.

 
Now Karelia is not a town - it is an entire district. Elena shared that this is one of her favorite destinations to head to when it’s time to recharge and be one with nature. She absolutely fell in love with it and shares the beauty of it with everybody that visits her. Between the pine tree forests, the clean air that you breathe and the amazing sunsets - it's really an awesome opportunity to connect with nature and feel the rejuvenation of your mind, body and spirit. Here are some cool activities – pun intended - to take part in while you are there.
 

• Husky Rides: Husky rides are an easy and exciting activity for all ages, and you will find that the husky dogs are very friendly! Ride durations vary with the shortest being 15 to 30 minutes long – just enough to get a taste of what it is like - and with the longest taking two to three days which allows you to feel like a real polar explorer! Fun Fact: Elena told us that she took one with her kids and it was a pretty intensive one! It took them three days and they covered nearly 90 miles. It was freezing cold - around 10 degrees Fahrenheit but so much fun and highly recommended! This one I may have to think about for a while…

 

• Hovercrafts: Hovercrafts are extremely popular in this region as the large lakes stay frozen for the better part of the year and to get from one island to another island this is the way to go – as they can traverse over frozen lakes – and they are a lot of fun too!
  
  
• Ice Fishing: Another popular activity is winter – or ice fishing – as Russia has numerous lakes that are full of hungry fish! Per Elena it is a very popular sport for Russians and according to her husband it’s a great wellness activity as it is very calming and the perfect opportunity to daydream and really clear your mind as you wait for that fish to bite!

 
Other Ways to Experience Russia: Should you decide that you want to see Russia via boat or train there are some fabulous options to do both!
 

• Russian River Cruises: Cruises between Moscow and St. Petersburg are great way to see the country as they combine large city tours with visits to small rural towns – giving you the chance to take in stunning scenery and the great Russian lakes and rivers. Most cruises take from eight to 12 days depending on what you want to do and where you want to go.  It is definitely the way to go if you want to partake in numerous experiences without having to pack and unpack more than once. And the best part is that you will visit two major destinations – St. Petersburg and Moscow – and everything in between! It is a great way to get exposure to both modern life and the historical past with panoramic views along the way.  

 

• Trans-Siberian Railway:  Guess what – the Trans-Siberian Railway is the world’s longest train ride! Route #1 can take you across the whole country from Moscow to Vladivostok in the Far East – and Route #2 turns South at Lake Baikal, continues through Mongolia and all the way to China!  Looking for an amazing journey through off the beaten path destinations? Look no further! This is what an off the beaten path dream trip consists of!

 
Now of course there are different types of train accommodations ranging in price all the way up to $16,000. And that super expensive train is the luxury train my friends. That means when you board the train it is similar to boarding a cruise ship. You unpack once and then as the train stops during the day, you hop off and spend the day in that city sightseeing. Later you return back to your train for some dinner and shut eye – and as you sleep - the train travels on to the next stop.
 
Yes – there is a cheaper train which is for you adventurous backpacker types as it’s the regularly scheduled train which means you get to travel with locals and get to know more about them. This unique experience provides you with the chance to travel in 3rd class and according to Elena a lot of her clients choose to do this as they are super curious about life in Russia and want to hear it straight from regular Russian citizens. Now these trains do travel nonstop so if you want to stop and explore a destination you have to leave the train and then get another ticket on the following train to catch up – making it a true backpack-like experience perfect for my adventurers!
 
Below are some more destinations that you would have the opportunity to explore should you choose to travel via the Trans-Siberian railway.
 

• Ekaterinburg: This large, modern city is located in the southern part of the Ural region and is the fourth largest city of Russia. Its name was derived from the name Catherine. Unfortunately, it is place of violent history as Tsar Nicholas II and his family were murdered here in July 1918.

 

• Novosibirsk: Known as the capital of Siberia, Novosibirsk is the third largest city in the country and the industrial and educational center of the area. If you are one of my lovers of ecotourism this is a great choice for you and there is plenty of wildlife to be seen as well.

 

• State of Irkutsk: This large city nearest to Lake Baikal is an important Trans-Siberian stop. Here you will have the opportunity to see many things that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. With over 350 years of history you’ll find old churches, wooden houses and large lion statues which is something - though once popular throughout St. Petersburg and Moscow - pretty much disappeared after 1998 or 2000. So right now, to find the one it's really a challenge. This is also the center of the political exile so when you read that someone was sent to Siberia – Irkutsk is where they ended up.

 

• Ulan / Ude: This small town on the eastern bank of Lake Baikal is the main Buddhist center of the country. Famous for its 25-foot-tall sculpture of Lenin’s head on the main square as well as the Ivolginsky Dastan Buddhist temple which is the most popular place to visit there.

 

• Vladivostok: Vladivostok is a large port and transport hub at Russians Far East. Although it is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway - it isn't where Russia ends – as there is more to the east of Vladivostok. Here you will have the opportunity to experience different types of seafood at local restaurants, visit numerous war memorials and even connect to some Japanese sea cruises.

 
Health and Wellness: I found this part of my conversation with Elena remarkably interesting – enlightening if you will! Did you know Russia has become a great destination for medical and wellness tourism? Yup - since 2016 the number of international patients has almost doubled! Dubbed health care resorts you can choose from a one day stay to a week – or more!
 
And their offerings are plentiful and include detox and destress programs, weight loss programs, plastic surgery, genetics, general therapy, cosmetology and aesthetics. Heck you can even get massages here! So, my thought is if you want to actually add a number of days onto your vacation - whether you're having some type of surgery or what have you – we can coordinate the wellness part of your journey with the sightseeing part. There are some people who go to Russia to have an entire medical checkup then like to spend a week there resting, recharging and recovering. And Elena tells us – from firsthand knowledge mind you – that the food you will be served here is restaurant quality and that you really don’t feel like you are at a hospital - more like you're at a spa but are receiving full medical assistance and attention.
 
Oh, and the cost? Well as she put it – imagine getting several procedures, every for a week in the US? Yeah – we all know that cost would be astronomical to say the least. However - here it’s less than $3000 thousand US dollars - for all that plus full board and all done at a lovely   center! I may not leave – just saying!
 
Gastronomy: Oh gosh the opportunities for gastronomy experiences are abundant in Russia! You can participate in professional cooking classes, you can take part in family dining experiences, you can visit private farms and taste authentic farm to table meals, you can sample art cuisine at gastro bars and gastropubs, you can take food tours, you can visit food markets and you can go bar hopping and experience the nightlife! Whew – told you the opportunities are abundant! And you know I 100% feel that the best way to experience cultural immersion is through food! Elena also let us in on the fact that she herself offers those family experiences and loves being able to personally meet some of her clients and participating in an intercultural exchange over a great meal.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Russia.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Russia click here.
 
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So yeah – we have obviously covered quite a lot about Russia in just a short time. And since this was just a high-level overview, I would love to hear from you guys which ones you would like to be covered more in depth or what other ones that were not covered would you like to learn about. This way I can invite Elena back to share even more with us! Hopefully, this took the “mystery” out of Russia for you as it certainly did for me! It is an amazing country full of adventure, history, wellness, gastronomy and more. And talk about a living classroom! What a fabulous place to take your children to get an up close and personal history lesson that they are never going to forget!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Russia, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

Let’s reel our travels back into the good old USA and chat about one amazing destination that houses several distinct regions filled with history, outdoor activities, gambling and so much more – the Reno / Lake Tahoe area.
 
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Jamie Lokan the Tourism Sales Manager from Reno Tahoe in one of my Travel Tuesday video segments. Jamie brought with her a love and passion for this area that was infectious – so infectious that I by the end I was seriously contemplating hopping in the car and doing a road trip there myself!
 
If you are not familiar with the area – or even if you are – I think you are going to enjoy this virtual visit out west as much as I did. Let’s get started – shall we?
 
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Getting There: The beautiful thing about Reno is that it's super easy to get to thanks to all of the airlines that service the area with direct flights – including for my peeps in both Texas and New York City! You can also make it a road trip from anywhere in the US and I would love to help you plan things to see and do along the way. Or we can always make it a multi-destination vacation and include California – as San Francisco and Napa Valley are only about a three and a half to four-hour drive and its only five hours to Yosemite National Park. Bonus -
Jamie said the drive to Yosemite is probably one of the most beautiful drives you can experience as it's on a scenic highway that takes you right up through Nevada. You may also consider adding Salt Lake City as a stop as it is just seven and a half hours away on the wide-open Highway 80. And if you aren’t into road tripping – how about the train? The Zephyr Line   goes from Chicago all the way out to San Francisco with stops in Salt Lake City and Reno. So, in reality the options are plentiful as you can make it a fly, drive, rail or just a fly and drive or simply all rail! You decide.
 
Accommodations: With over 15,000 rooms just in Reno - that's not including Tahoe – there are plenty of properties to choose from - everything from the well-known brands in both arears to four diamond and four-star casino hotels in Reno. Most hotels feature multiple restaurants at multiple price points with the major resorts also having spas, pools, health clubs and shopping - as well as complimentary round-trip airport shuttles and free self and valet parking.
 
Destinations: There are a couple of different regions that make up the Reno / Tahoe destination – each with its own distinct flavor.

• Downtown Reno and Riverwalk District: Here you are going to find a little bit of everything – including most of the casino resorts, shops and boutiques, art galleries and restaurants and bars along Truckee River.  Unlike Vegas the strip here is only five blocks which makes it easily walkable and you can get from the casino area down to the river rather quickly.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities: And speaking of the Truckee River – that’s the river that goes right through the downtown region which comes from Tahoe and is incredibly clean and beautiful – so be sure to grab a tube and take a ride on it. Not feeling that adventurous? We can also book you a guided river tour via tube if you would like some knowledgeable company.

 
 And if you prefer to stay on dry land - about a mile and half from the river you will find a really nice bike path that goes for about ten miles – which of course not everyone is going to do. But you can easily peddle up to the Hub Coffee Roasters shop for a cup of java and while you are there check out one of Jamie’s favorites – Dorinda’s Chocolate – which by the way is all homemade and features homemade ice cream sandwiches too. Yum! I’m in!
 
There are some great museums to be found in Reno too - including the Automobile Museum which boasts over 215 cars – none older than 1970. For my bowlers – Reno is home to the National Bowling Stadium and you probably already know this if you are a fan of the sport – but they also host a couple of really large tournaments every year.
 
Do I have any rock climbers out there? Well even if you aren’t you can still try out the rock-climbing wall outside of Whitney Peak which is a non-gaming, nonsmoking hotel. The wall is 150 feet high above the street and features panoramic views of Reno and in the surrounding area. So cool!

• Gastronomy: Home to over 1200 restaurants that you can easily eat alfresco here making that oh so important social distancing easily achievable.  Plus, most of the restaurants are locally owned so you are the getting true, authentic flavors of the region.

 

• Midtown District: Here you are going to find craft breweries, locally sourced restaurants, museums, nightlife, locally owned boutique shops and tattoo parlors.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities: For you guys who love craft breweries and having a great nightlife scene you'll find it all here! Jamie shared that during the recession this area really grew. Once an older section of town, local restauranteurs, brewery masters and distillery owners started opening up bars and restaurants here and it really took off. It’s become the new place to go and is super fun. There is only one casino here – housed in an Irish dive bar – come on – who doesn’t love an Irish pub?? For my shoppers – all of the shops are boutique style, so you are sure to find some unique treasures. Reno has also become a hot spot for art so you will come across different murals that have popped up both here and downtown - thanks to Burning Man. And again – you can do this on your own or I can hook you up with a guided tour of the fabulous art pieces.

 

• Lake Tahoe Region: The entire Reno / Tahoe region is about an hour and a half. Lake Tahoe itself is 72 miles around, 23 miles long and 12 miles from side to side – with half of the lake residing in Nevada and the other half in California. Included in this area is Virginia City, Carson City and Lake Tahoe.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities:  So Jamie let us in on a little western history. Just 35 minutes from Reno you will find Virginia City – which is a cool, fun town to visit. If you ever watched Ponderosa as a kid this is the Virginia City that they would go to. In reality it wasn't a farmer’s town though - it was a mining town. At one point in time there were 20,000 people that lived in this community that still features its original wooden boardwalks. And it was an extremely wealthy city as one mine here put out 64 million dollars in silver and gold – which would be billions of dollars today. Miners here were paid double or triple what other miners were getting paid in different cities so needless to say people really wanted to move here and work. The city was so financially well off that at one point in time there was a Tiffany store in Virginia City. This was due to the fact that the miner’s wives were impatient and didn’t want to wait for their Tiffany lamps and their Tiffany jewelry to show up - so Tiffany opened a store there.

 
One must see here is the Bucket of Blood Saloon which is very famous in the region and was so named thanks to all the fighting between the miners – every night when they cleaned up – or mopped up – it would be bloody water. Yuck!  
 
There are quite a few different tours you can take here – including several train tours – there are 600 miles of train routes - that range from 25 minutes to an hour and a half. Jamie shared that one of her favorite things to do is the tour via a tram car pulled by a tractor. At just six dollars it takes you around town and gives you the history of all of the different buildings. It runs about 20 minutes and is very interesting as well as educational. There are also mine tours you can take and plenty of museums to see including The Way it Was Museum – which is also one of Jamie’s favorites. Here you can see what the mines were like above and below and how they crossed each other in different levels.
 
Hot air balloon rides are another great thing to do here. Most of them go out of Tahoe verses down in the valley. They also offer them in Carson City – from the airport - which happens to be the state capital and about 30 minutes from Reno. Carson City has some great museums too – including the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the Nevada State Museum.
 
The Truckee River also has some rapids so for my adventures there is the Truckee River Whitewater Park. And for my golfers you will find over 40 golf courses in the 90-minute drive around the area. And come winter there is even more to do! It’s home to the largest concentration of ski resorts in North America – including Heavenly Resort and Squaw Valley Ski Resort and there’s cross country skiing at Royal Gorge. Fun Fact: Something that's fun to do - which not a lot of places can brag about - but that California and Nevada can - in the springtime you can ski and golf. And Jamie said she has done it – skied in the morning then golfed in the afternoon.
 
And of course – at the lake itself – there are many different types of water activities to partake in. There are many different paddle boat cruises to choose from – both during the day and in the evening - with dinner cruises as well – it just depends on how long you want to go for. The MS Dixie on the Nevada side has some that travel through Emerald Bay which is one of the most iconic photo areas in the Tahoe. Parasailing is also available – as is taking a guided fishing trip. Another fun thing in Lake Tahoe is viewing all of the Old Woody’s – or old wooden boats – even though you can't rent them as they're privately owned - but they are beautiful to see. But you can rent a powerboat for the day and when you get hungry – or thirsty – just pull up to a restaurant – they all have docks - and order it to go or dine outside! And the clarity of the water is absolutely amazing – it really is Caribbean like – though not quite as warm since it is snow fed! At it’s deepest it is about 1600 feet deep.
 
A visit to the Thunderbird Lodge is also amazing as they do really interesting tours that tell you how Lake Tahoe was settled. You can do this via foot, or you can do a kayak tour that will take you there to visit as well. They also do guided hiking and guided biking tours and there is plenty of mountain biking and road cycling as well as snowmobiling in the winter.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the state of Nevada has strong systems in place to help protect Nevadans and visitors but continue to urge all those who have tested positive and not yet recovered or who are exhibiting symptoms to avoid travel to the state at this time.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements Reno / Tahoe click here.
 
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So, wow – this is one destination that my active vacationers and my nature lovers need to get on their bucket list asap! And one of the best things about Lake Tahoe that Jamie mentioned – near the end of our chat - is how well it's been preserved thanks to an abundance of rules and regulations. For instance – when it comes to building at the lake - to keep it clean you aren't allowed to build in April because the spring runoff is happening, and they don't want all of that dirt to go into the lake. Now – let’s get you booked to see this crystal-clear water for yourself!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Reno / Tahoe, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

You may have heard of it, but can you pronounce it? Juliana Leveroni, Director of Communications at Experience Kissimmee Florida said they always say that it doesn’t matter how you pronounce it – just come and experience their destination! And for the record - here in the US we tend to pronounce it Kiss-em-ee but our friends in the UK and some other European countries pronounce it Kiss-a-me.
 
I had the pleasure of having Juliana join me to talk about this domestic destination that often gets overshadowed by its neighbor Orlando and it’s oh so popular theme parks – but that has many wonderful things to see and do that you probably didn’t know about. I know I sure didn’t – but now that I do I know that it certainly makes for a great add on to when you are in the area!
 
So, set down the ears and wand for a moment and take a peek into what this other Central Orlando area has to offer.
 
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So, You Said It’s Neighbor Is Orlando? Correct – and a lot of people don't know that it's only 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport and just ten minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort. And while the theme parks are usually the main reason people come to Central Florida, the area has so much more to offer in addition to them – especially now that people are looking for more outdoor adventures, stay-cations and vacation homes. Vacation homes – by the way – are the main attraction here and as per Juliana and Kissimmee is referred to as “The Vacation Home Capital of the World!”
 
And this makes it the perfect place to take a work-cation as well as to take that remote learning on the road – because when the work and school day are over there are plenty of opportunities for evening activities. Especially for those of you that may live in a smaller apartment or in a crowded city – what a great way to get a change of scenery – and lots of elbow room. With over 50,000 vacation homes from two bedrooms apartments to a 15-bedroom mansion with a lazy river, arcade and game room – you can do a multi-generation or combined family work-cation and at the end of the day you have your private pool in your backyard to hang out around or plenty of outdoor activities to partake in and spend quality family time together! And for the kids it’s a great travel as a living classroom experience – as you will see below.
 
Tell Me About That Travel As A Living Classroom Concept. Central Florida has its own ecotourism due to its own culture of swamps and the fact that it is home to the headwaters of the Everglades. Thanks to that there are thousands of species of birds – they are a one of the top destinations in the US for bird watching - plus all kinds of wildlife including gators and turtles. So, the kids – and the adults can learn about the Everglades and the wildlife that surround it. A living science class – which translates into the best way to learn!
 
There is a cultural side as well, to bring in the history and social studies lessons. The Osceola Welcome Center is also a museum that includes the Osceola County Historical Society Museum's local history exhibits. Per Juliana it’s a wonderful place with a lot of resources for you to learn about how Kissimmee and the Osceola County area became this amazing cultural mix thanks to the different people that settled here and the industries that took over the destination. In addition - right behind the welcome center there’s what is called Pioneer Village that you can visit. Here you will see houses that are from the beginning of the 1800s that show you how people used to live. The village also includes a general store, a school and a church and is a great way to experience a typical village in Kissimmee in the beginning of the 1800s - before it became this huge touristic place.
 
What’s There To Eat? Glad you asked! Head to downtown Kissimmee and you’ll find over 30 locally owned restaurants. In fact - it has the distinction of having the most privately owned restaurants on one street in the United States! Thanks to Central Florida’s great mix of nationalities, you’re going to find everything from ice cream shops to Hispanic flavors to bakeries to Jamaican fare. What a fabulous opportunity for cultural immersion through food! Plus, since you’re supporting local businesses it’s sustainable travel as well.
 
On Broadway you can enjoy a piece of pizza or burgers and wings at Three Sisters Speakeasy. Off 192 before you arrive in Margaritaville you have Sunset Walk - where you can shop and dine.  Food options include Cuban at Estefan Kitchen from Gloria Estefan and her family, iconic burgers at Ford’s Garage and candy shops and ice cream parlors to satisfy your sweet tooth.
 
Another option is Disney Springs which is just 15 minutes from downtown Kissimmee. With restaurants from award winning chefs like Japanese cuisine from Chef Masaharu Morimoto at Morimoto Asia and comfort food such as fried chicken and southern mac and cheese at Chef Art Smith's Homecomin' Kitchen.
 
Finally, you have downtown Celebration which a lot of people don't know about. Celebration is a town that was originally developed by Walt Disney company and is now owned by an independent builder.  It looks like a movie set city and was inspired by the real housewife type of suburban houses. It reminds you of a postcard and is quite beautiful. The oldest restaurant in Central Florida is located here – Columbia Restaurant – along with amazing flavors from different regions of Cuban and Hispanic food.
 
So Where Can I Find Off The Beaten Path Things To See And Do? So obviously the destination lends itself to be off the beaten path because you’re already removed from the theme parks and International Drive in Orlando.  But to take it a step further not a lot of people know that when you’re in the middle of 192 (192 is the main avenue that goes from west to east in Kissimmee) in the midst of souvenir shops and hotels and then you make a quick left right across from the Welcome Center and you will come across The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek. At The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek you can rent a kayak or paddle boards or if you prefer to stay on dry land you can simply walk the trail along Shingle Creek.
 
Another fun thing to do right outside of Kissimmee is Wild Florida. This is a place where you can go and do a safari in your own car – which is perfect for social distancing! No lines or crowds here – you drive through the safari from the comfort and safety of your own vehicle. You also have the option to rent an air boat here which is an amazing experience.  It’s so much fun and it goes quite fast, but you also learn about nature thanks to an amazing guide who’ll explain about wildlife conservation and the geography of the region as well.
 
Any Wellness Ops Here? So, Juliana shared - and I love this, “In Kissimmee you can find the perfect balance between being overwhelmed and underwhelmed – you’re just whelmed.” In other words, there’s a balance to be had here – you can choose the thrill and the chill of your own activities.
 
For example, you can start the morning in a beautiful and breathtaking sunrise hot air balloon adventure at 5:00am.  In the quiet calm of the morning as you lift off, you’ll see the sun rising as well as the entire destination from above from the theme parks to the swamps in the Everglades.
 
Or you can keep your feet on the ground and head to the Cat Cafe for a coffee. Here you can hang out, read a book or just listen to classical music amongst the kitties. (It’s also an adoption center!) Or if wine is more your speed – there’s a winery called Formosa Gardens where you can go and taste the local wine from local fruits.
 
However – if you are up for adventure and an adrenaline rush you can always zip line on tree tracks or you can go to Gatorland and zip line over the gators! And of course, there are plenty of waterparks as well as those infamous theme parks.
 
You decide the pace of your activities - it’s your vacation and it’s full of options.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing there are no travel restrictions or COVID-19 test requirements for individuals visiting Florida.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements Kissimmee click here.
 
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So, you guys – bet you didn’t know that just 15 minutes from Disney a whole other world of fun and excitement awaits! Now that you do know – let’s get the conversation started and get you down to sunny Central Florida this year!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Kissimmee, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!
 
 

So, you want to do a Caribbean vacation, but you don’t want to deal with getting a passport, adding an international plan to your cell phone, exchanging currency or the lines and hassles of customs and immigration. Do you forgo that Caribbean experience? Heck no! You travel to Puerto Rico!
 
Puerto Rico is the best of both worlds for Americans – it’s US Territory (and has been for the past 120 years) that also happens to be a Caribbean island! So, all of those deal breakers I listed above are not applicable to this destination!
 
I recently invited Francisco Blanch the Director of Leisure Sales of Discover Puerto Rico back to share more about Puerto Rico with us (you may remember we talked to him at the height of COVID-19 as well) and he was all too happy to share his passion for it once again!
 
So – pack your bags and your dancing shoes (you’ll see why later) - but leave your passport at home because you don’t need it here! You’re coming with me to a place that will mirror an experience of an international destination – but is actually a US territory and close to home. Let’s get started!
 
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Getting There: Puerto Rico has what Francisco calls a privileged location in the Caribbean - meaning thanks to where it lies it is an average three and a half to four-hour flight depending on where you are coming from. And bonus - New York and most of the east coast have access to direct flights but don’t worry my Texas friends – it’s just one easy connection for us! There is also plenty of lift to get you there with a wide choice of airlines available for you to choose from. Once you arrive at the San Juan International Airport, you’ll find a modern facility that isn’t too big making it easy to navigate!
 
Transportation and Getting Around: Puerto Rico measures 100 miles long and just 35 miles wide so everything is within reach in a matter of just a two to three hour driving distance. And drive it you can – and should! First – all you need is your US driver’s license to rent a car then all the rest is the same as driving in your hometown – as it is a US Territory. Same signs, rules, road rage (ha – kidding!) – but you get the idea. Second – they have invested a lot of money into the entire island since Hurricane Maria hit three years ago causing extensive damage -   and  therefore the island is in top shape and – per Francisco - has one of the most amazing and modern network of roads you will ever drive on. His words? “The roads are impeccable”! (Now that sounds even better than driving on some of the roads in the continental US!)


What’s New: Speaking of Hurricane Maria – here are some stats Francisco shared with us regarding recovery efforts which he credits to being a US territory. They actually already had a great infrastructure of roads so that helped hasten their recovery. The other infrastructure improvements were thanks to over 20 billion in government funds that were spent on response and recovery efforts. IN addition:

• FEMA granted 100 million dollars to restore the power grid
• 413 million dollars was allocated to roadways, bridges and ports
• The FCC allocated 950 million dollars to communications infrastructure
• Hotels have invested millions of dollars in renovations and improvements

 
Language, Climate and More: First – Puerto Rico is the most advanced and up to date island in the Caribbean according to Francisco. As for language - both English and Spanish are widely spoken across the island. And the climate? It is tropical but thanks to the El Yunque Rainforest in the east and the Central Mountains region -  Puerto Rico is a unique climate - temperatures stay at a range between 70- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit making it always feel like spring or summer.
 
Francisco told us he refers to Puerto Rico as a Continental Island – so - is it an island or is it continental? It’s both. Of course, it’s an Island but its offerings are very continental. It is not just all not just nature and recreation. it’s great for families too with plenty of museums including interactive ones for kids.
 
Breaking It Down Into Categories: This is certainly one of those “there’s something for everyone” destinations – and then some - just see below!

• Nature and Outdoor Activities: So very much to do here outside – making it another great place to social distance! Thanks to more than 300 miles of coastline Puerto Rico has more than 300 beaches with the result being that every single water sport you like to partake in is there for you – including scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing and surfing. And then there is the golfing. More than 20 golf courses throughout the islands means no matter where you choose to stay there is guaranteed to be a golf course either on property or very close by!

 

• Luxury: Take your pick! There are spas at most of the major resorts. There are private services that both Francisco and I can arrange for you – from private transfers, a full-time driver, a helicopter tour, a catamaran cruise or you can even rent a yacht. Like to shop? Puerto Rico is home to two fabulous malls – the Mall of San Juan which is the most luxurious mall in Caribbean and the Mall of the Americas which is largest mall in Caribbean. Here you can shop for all the most well-known and top name brands and find stores for all types of budgets.
  
  
• Romance: You can have a destination wedding here quite easily as getting married in Puerto Rico means all the same US rules and laws apply. And if you bring your paperwork it’s even easier!  To assist in planning - all hotels have wedding coordinators on site and there are great venues in the hotels or even out in nature if you prefer. Puerto Rico is also a big honeymoon destination and fun fact – there are numerous honeymoon songs written about Puerto Rico according to Francisco. The island is also very LGBTQ friendly – in fact, Francisco referred to it as “the capital for the LGBTQ community.”

 
Destinations: Just like the categories I broke it down into, so too can we break down each destination.

• San Juan is the capital in the metro area and Old San Juan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with cobblestone streets and many memorable historic places making it quite authentic. It really has so much to offer and is so well kept. And the network of military architecture is amazing! It took 250 years to build their military network – from San Felipe del Morro to San Cristobal – and it was used right up through the mid-1940’s thanks to World War II. You will also find La Fortaleza here – which is the longest serving governor mansion in the Americas as well as the San Juan Bautista Cathedral which has the honor not only of being the second cathedral built in the Americans but also where the remains of Juan Ponce de Leon lie. (The first governor of Puerto Rico as well as the explorer who famously searched for the Fountain of Youth in Florida.) Fun Fact: Old San Juan is celebrating its 500-year anniversary next year as it was founded in 1521! So here is your fair warning if you want to take part in what is sure to be a fabulous celebration – the time to start planning is NOW! It will sell out. Trust me.

 
Also close by is the infamous Bacardi Rum Distillery which you can reach via a ferry that leaves from old San Juan and travels across Old San Juan Bay to the distillery. Here you can tour the factory and sample some of their wares. There are other distilleries to tour across Puerto Rico as well and another fun fact - 70% of all of the rum consumed in the US is produced in Puerto Rico. I’ll drink to that!

• Condado, Miramar and Isla Verde: These are three great neighborhoods outside of the San Juan metro area that offer so many different flavors! For my cruisers if you dock in Old San Juan you most visit one of these three towns as well.

 

• Condado is a very upscale and hip area. It has a lot of great restaurants and is great for families. I loved, loved, loved the great street food here – especially the scrumptious the Gaucho Burger!

 

• Miramar - a gorgeous spot - lies across the Condado Lagoon where you can go kayaking in if you like. It is actually full of things to do including shopping and many family activities as well.

 

• Isla Verde is the closest area to airport, but it certainly doesn’t feel like an airport location! It is an absolutely gorgeous beach and one of the most beautiful urban beaches in the Caribbean. Here you can also find the historical Fairmont El San Juan Hotel that features an amazing lobby bar.

 

• New Distrito District: This new site is a five-acre all-in-one hospitality and entertainment district that’s located between Condado and Old San Juan. It features hotels, zip lines, movie theaters, restaurants and bars as well as live performances - all in a convenient location that promises to be tons of fun!

 

• East Region of Puerto Rico: If you are into eco-tourism this is an eco-tourism haven as well as home to amazing adventures! The El Yunque Rainforest can be found here and is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service! It’s beauty must be seen to be believed and among its many treasures are waterfalls, trails, a unique species of parrot and the tiniest orchid - you need to use a magnifying glass to see it - that lives underneath leaves!

 

• Southern Region: This region is home to Ponce which is the second largest city in Puerto Rico. There is a lot of architecture and history to be found here including Parque de Bombas - a historic former fire station. It is a newer city - developed in the 19th century

when the French were running away from Haiti and the Spanish crown let anyone who was Catholic and wanted to invest stay.  And along with them came their culture and architecture and most importantly - their coffee! In fact, there are many coffee haciendas around where you have the opportunity take a tour and to taste the delicious coffee. Side Note: Francisco suggests you definitely rent a car and drive the beautiful highway that crosses over the Central Mountains to get here -  as the view coming over the mountains into the region is of the Caribbean Sea and is awe inspiring.

• West Region: Known as the Surfing Capital of Puerto Rico this area is much more relaxed and not so city like. It is definitely more beach like – with incredible beaches including Maria’s Beach – and a surfer vibe. You can also find excellent street food here along with some of most beautiful sunsets you will ever see! And I highly suggest a great inn on the beach in Rincon - featuring amazing views and local flavor!

 

• Central Mountains: The Central Mountains is THE place for great adventures – specifically the Toro Verde Adventure Park which is similar to parks in the Continental US - but completely focused on nature. The two biggest zip lines in the world can be found here - the Beast and the Monster and they are just totally exhilarating – it’s like you’re actually flying! The park also has hanging bridges and mountain trekking for more adventure or you can just sit in a restaurant and relax. There are coffee haciendas to be found here too – just imagine seeing them picking and harvesting and drying and roasting the coffee beans before your eyes! The end result is great organic, fresh coffee – some of the best coffee on the island! And if you choose you can stay at one of the haciendas for a night or two.

 

• North Region: This region has a different flavor and is definitely for explorers! You’ll find a lot of caves – actually a network of caves and underground rivers housing engravings and petroglyphs to be discovered. This is also where you will find Cueva Ventana or the Window Cave - which opens up high in the mountain and overlooks the scenic valley. On the North Region some parts of the coast have rocky formations that make natural pools – such as Mar Chiquita – which is a natural pool beach. They also have beautiful long beaches lined with coconut trees. And in Arecibo you can visit the magnificent Arecibo Observatory and radio telescope – it’s the largest radio telescope in the western hemisphere and has been featured in many movies.

 
Culture: For a small island Puerto Rico has a wide array of culture to offer its visitors. And you all know what that means – say it with me – travel as a living classroom!
 
From music to festivals to celebrations - 400 years of Spanish culture that lived there and developed traditions that are continued in present day. For instance - every town has their own patron saint and they each also have a festival honoring that saint. Did I mention there are a lot of festivals? And then there is the dancing – from the salsa to the bomba to the plena – which is African rooted – all of these dances along with the music and sounds make it an incredibly fun experience. Now do you see why I said to pack your dancing shoes? Whatever you do - don’t forget your dancing shoes!
 
Then there is it’s Pre-Columbian Culture. Being that Puerto Rico was so fertile and rich in resources the Taíno people – an indigenous tribe - chose to settle here. The Taíno Indians were actually still there when Columbus arrived. Not only can you find artifacts and engravings from them – but you can also find a lot of things that pre-date them – thus there are plenty of archeological sites and museums that are worth visiting to learn more about pre-Taíno and the Taíno native Puerto Ricans.
 
Gastronomy: There are more than 4000 restaurants in Puerto Rico so it’s safe to say you won’t go hungry! In fact - you’ll find all kinds of delicacies - and they want you to. That’s why you won’t find All-Inclusive properties here – they want you to get out and explore what they have to offer.
 
In fact - Culinary Adventures are plentiful here! There are even special roads – such as the
Pork Highway – where you will find one after another pork specialty restaurant lined up and people sampling each of them along the way! And just tasting all of the flavorful, marvelous foods is an adventure in itself – from churros to surullitos to empanadillas to arepas to alcapurrias and pionones there is a huge variety, and it is all so very delicious! Oh, and I can’t forget the pasteles which are made with a dough that is created from plantains then wrapped in banana leaves and filled with all kinds of meats and spices – yummy! And one more – mofongo. Mofongo is a staple in Puerto Rico and has become a major delicacy as now they’ll mix it with seafood or chicken or pork – your choice – making it right at your table and seasoning it however you want! If you haven’t had mofongo you are missing you!
 
The fertility of the island has paved the way for the farm to table concept to take root in Puerto Rico. So much so that as per Francisco - eating organic is a way of life – it’s there, it’s what they expect and they know nothing else. Some of the history of the food available includes the Taíno people bringing the Yuca Root which is a staple for many dishes to this day. In addition, when the Spaniards arrived they brought crops they gathered from other areas the visited including plantains, bananas and banana leaves - all of which play a strong part in the combinations of what existed before mixed with what the Spaniards brought.
 
Puerto Rico also boasts of its many celebrity chefs. As Francisco explained many of their chefs left the island and travelled to Europe and the US where they worked in fantastic restaurants – many of them Michelin-starred restaurants. When they returned to Puerto Rico, they would open up their own restaurants – taking the original food that is there and giving it their own signature taste – resulting in an abundance of new varieties and recreations of original dishes.
 
Accommodations: Puerto Rico offers all of the hotel brands you are accustomed to, but they also have Paradores. Paradores are small bed and breakfasts or small inns – think mom and pop type hotels. I always recommend that you stay at one of these properties in order to have a complete cultural immersion and experience the amazing local culture. Francisco also gave us the background on Paradores. The concept was brought to Puerto Rico by a tourism company about fifty years ago and the rule is they must be family run and those families must be Puerto Rican families as the idea was to develop the island AND allow the locals to deliver their hospitality to visitors. 
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing travel the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Puerto Rico.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements Puerto Rico click here.
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In case you thought it might be – I have to point out now that Puerto Rico is NOT just a pre or post cruise destination. It is so, so much more and if I am being honest, I recommend one and a half to two weeks to drive around this amazing island and see all of its nooks and crannies.
 
For more details on things to see and do, where to stay in Puerto Rico, it’s price and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

I know when a lot of you think of Panama the first – and quite possibly only thing that comes to mind – is that engineering marvel the Panama Canal. But I am here to tell you today that although that is definitely a highlight in the country – it is actually one of numerous highlights!
 
In keeping with my travel off the beaten path theme due to the awareness that this is going to be a preferred way for a lot of you to travel – I have invited Aiden Mullen from NAMU Travel Group to share all of the secrets of this somewhat lesser-known vacation destination. Aiden is my eyes and ears on the ground for me in Panama and although he hails from Ireland, he has been in Central America for nearly a decade.
 
Below you will come to realize that Panama – which is the southernmost country in Central America - certainly has much more to offer and explore than just it’s famous canal – although of course you want to experience that too! So, sit back - maybe throw on Van Halen’s popular Panama tune from the 1980’s - and read on to learn more about this country truly blessed by nature.
 
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Getting There: Good news – you can easily get to Panama City - which is where you will fly into - from the New York area as well as from the Atlanta area and even from Texas where there are direct flights out of Dallas or Houston. And for my local Austin peeps it would be a quick and simple connection through Houston, Dallas or Mexico City.
 
Destinations: The only major city in Panama to visit is Panama City however there are plenty of other destinations around the country for you to check out.
 

• Panama City: When people think about Panama City, they think of - well first – the Panama Canal – but also a metropolitan city filled with restaurants, nightlife, skyscrapers - sort of akin to Miami – and yes you can find all that there - but there’s also another side to it - Casco Viejo.

 
Casco Viejo is the old town of Panama City. It is a quaint little colonial city featuring incredible boutique properties and an up-and-coming food scene thanks to their amazing chefs who have been all over the globe and then returned back home to open up restaurants to showcase the cooking skills they gained.
 
And of course – the Panama Canal - which runs right through the middle of the city and connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean - is an amazing piece of engineering as well as being beyond historical - especially on this side of the world. If you haven’t done a European river cruise and have never gone through locks - this is certainly an opportunity for you to experience what it is like to sail through a set of locks. The lock mechanism is pretty similar to what you would experience on a European River Cruise - but it is just a whole different experience. And Aiden was quick to note that the canal is not just about the experience - but also about what it has given to the city. Because of the Americans coming down to take over the building of the canal at one point – you will find quite a bit of American influence in the city as we left a lot of our culture behind. So much so that they use US dollars in Panama – so no need to exchange currency here! And not only American influence can be felt here – they are actually a multicultural city because of the French influence that was here before the American’s arrived.
 
While in Panama City there is also the opportunity for some beach time as the Pacific Ocean is only about twenty to thirty minutes outside of the city. Although Aiden did note that Panama is definitely more well known for its Caribbean side beaches.
 

• Islands: First there is Bocas del Toro which is located in the northwest part of the country and on the Caribbean side of the island - which is home to pristine blue water and white sand beaches. That being said most people will head here for the beach part of their journey. It is here you will find those amazing bungalows set over the water. So, think about this - it’s sort of like going to the French Polynesia but without the price tag and without the awfully long flight!

 
Another popular spot is the San Blas Islands which are also in the north but little bit more east. This is an archipelago composed of hundreds of islands and a lot of people will rent their own catamaran or sailboat - complete with their own captain - and sail around these beautiful islands. Ummm…count me in!
 
Sightseeing and Activities:
 

• Indigenous Tribes: Because Panama is home to a number of different tribes there is plenty of opportunity for cultural immersion. For instance – a lot of visitors will fly into Panama City and stay there a few days then head out into the rainforest where you can find indigenous tribes and learn just how they live. The Emberá tribe - which is probably the most popular one - are located down near the Darien Gap and also in the Portabella region or the Colon region. They are incredibly proud people and happily welcome in visitors to let them see what day to day life, their culture and their food is like. It really turns out to be a life changing cultural experience - especially for families with children – when the kids see how little the children of the tribe have and how they live – but are still so very happy.

 

• Darien Gap: Ahh the Darien Gap - another work of art that nature has given us! The Darien Gap borders Panama and Columbia. And this is no regular border – this is miles and miles long of pristine, raw, rugged rainforest. It’s an incredible piece of rainforest and it’s probably more raw and rugged than anything else in the entire region according to Aiden and only the most adventurous will venture into Darien Gap to hike.

 

• Adventures: Panama offers both soft and hard adventure – the latter being the likes of hiking in the rain forest. That would also include white water rafting in the region of Boquete where coffee farms are located as there are a lot of strong running rivers which make for some pretty incredible rafting! And of course – where there is a jungle there is zip lining! Possibly a bit more on the soft side of things is one of Aiden’s favorite activities - kayaking thru jungle mangroves. And for those of you that want a real low key adventurous experience – the bird watching is fabulous in Panama as they are home to hundreds of species.

 
Gastronomy: Aiden joked that Panama in general certainly has a little bit of an identity crisis when it comes to their cuisine as there are a variety of dishes to be found from a lot of different locales. Of course, they have traditional Central American foods such as patacones, tostones and pico de gallo.
 
And as I mentioned above – they are also home to some incredible international food especially in Casco Viejo (Panama City’s old town) thanks to the young men who have gone all over the world, studied with Michelin-starred chefs and the like, then returned back and opened fabulous boutique style restaurants in small little townhouses.
 
There is also the Panama City Fish Market where you can pick out your favorite fish right there and the chefs upstairs will cook it up for you just how you like it! And I also asked about fishing charters – and Aiden confirmed that if you go out on a charter and catch some fish just bring it back to the chefs and they will prepare it for you. In fact, he said the chefs can’t wait to see what you come bac with!
 
And we cannot forget the coffee! Aiden informed us that it’s always a competition when it if comes to my favorite beverage - because Columbia says that they have the best coffee - and Guatemala says no we have the best coffee - and now Panama says you’re both wrong - we have the best coffee! Panama’s most famous coffee is referred to as black gold – and it comes from the the geisha plant in the Boquete region in the highlands. And it is a fact that it actually fetches the most dollar per kilo anywhere on planet and is usually sold in Japan. Now that’s a claim to fame! The reason for the high price? The lack of beans - as each plant only grows a few beans. And per Aiden it is delicious but it’s definitely for a different pallet as it differs from the coffee we in the US might be used to.
 
Accommodations: Panama is home to world class lodges like Isla Palenque Resort in Boca Chica. This beautiful lodge has the distinction of being one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World and is located in the Gulf of Chiriqui off the coast of the Pacific. Boca Chica is easily accessible as it has an airport nearby that is only a one hour from flight from Panama City and then it is only a 20- or 30-minute boat ride to the island where the resort sits. Here you will find just eight beachfront casitas and one estate villa with six standalone rooms. The beachfront villa estate is tucked away and is sold as a whole for groups of two to 14 people. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? How great would it be to hold a multi-generational family reunion here!
 
Another fabulous property is the El Otro Lado Private Retreat in the Portobello area - which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located about an hour and a half by car from Panama City and then a quick 20- or 30-minute boat ride, after which you are in the middle of the rainforest in a boutique luxury lodge! Now that’s social distancing!
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Panama.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Panama click here.
 
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And there you have it my friends – your nickel tour of the beautiful country of Panama. One thing I think we can all take away from this is that Panama is great for the mind, body and spirit and is made for social distancing! And, since Panama is very small like the other countries in Central America that makes it very accessible for an eight, nine or ten-day trip to see it all.  Also, thanks to its location it would be easy to combine with other countries that are close – such as Costa Rica – to make it a multi destination trip. As Aiden said even if you choose to just do Panama City it is still a very fulfilling trip in a short amount of time.
 
For more details on things to see and do in Panama, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!
 
 
 
 
 

Norway may not have been on your radar as a must visit destination before you started reading this overview – but I bet it will be by the time you are done!
 
I recently had the pleasure of having my favorite colleague from Norway join me for a video chat and that colleague would be Mats Fredriksen from Lost in Norway – which is a destination management company / tour operator based in Norway. Mats presented us with a fabulous look at what Norway has to offer as far as culture, gastronomy, adventure and so much more.
 
But don’t take my word for it – read on to see just why this small country made such a huge impact on me! On your marks, get set, go!
 
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Company Background: Mats first made it clear that Lost in Norway doesn’t focus on the entire country – but rather six destinations where you can explore mostly everything that’s considered a highlight – or something you would want to experience - in the country. But that doesn’t mean they won’t create itineraries for you elsewhere – it’s just that their main focus is on the six we are going to explore below.
 
Country Background: As Max referred to it – it’s a magic little kingdom that is a hidden gem in Northern Europe. And he pointed out that a lot of Americans love Norway due to the fact that a lot of Norwegians left to become Americans in the past and thus there is are deep connections between the two countries. Fun Fact: He had twenty-five families looking to reunite with their Norwegian roots just last summer alone! The country itself is very small – just five million residents – but it is an exceptionally long country – with the second longest coastline in the world – only beaten by Canada. As for its topography – the roads in Norway were built by Germany during World War II and hence they didn’t have time to blast through the mountains and fjords - so you’ll find many of them zig zagging through the mountains making for some interesting drives!
 
Destinations: As I previously stated, Lost in Norway focuses on six major destinations within the country where they offer their experiences. Let’s check them out!
 
Oslo: Mats advised that the best way to travel to Norway is to fly into Oslo – as it is a major hub and easily accessible to the rest of the country by train, bus or flight. It has the distinction of being the only major city in the country and has a population of about 700,000 residing within the city and 1.5 million residing in the Oslo region.

• Arts and History: There is a lot of art in the city as well as Viking history – but of course Viking history can be found throughout Norway. Some key places to visit include the Viking Ship Museum – housing Viking era burial ships as well as Vigeland Park which features works of arts from Gustav Vigeland. Gustav was a famous Norwegian sculpturer and this is an amazing venue in which to view his sculptures as there are over 200 on display there. Not far from Vigeland park – a little farther north - is Holmenkollen - a ski recreation area since the late 19th century that houses a famous ski jumping hill - the Holmenkollbakken – that has been hosting competitions since 1892.

 

• Hidden Gems/Gastronomy:  Mats pointed out that there are numerous fabulous hidden restaurants and that some parts of Oslo even remind him of New York City due to this very fact. His favorite thing to do there is a food walking tour as the local guides take you to places that have a lot of heart and soul and you get a taste of authentic Norwegian cuisine. One popular Norwegian food? Brown cheese – which is made out of goat milk and is very sweet, so it is often served on toasted bread with strawberry jam. And – since it is so popular you will find it in every hotel in Norway! And you know my thoughts on gastronomy - it is the easiest way to have cultural immersion!

 

• Accommodations: Amerikalinjen is a new property that opened in Oslo. The name means American Line and it was named this because of its past. It was originally the headquarters that took Norwegians by boat to America and opened in 1919.  Last year when it turned 100 years old it was re-opened as a hotel. Fun Fact: All of the rooms have a small story about a Norwegian that went to the United States to become a citizen! This boutique hotel is quite amazing and its location next to the train station makes the rest of Norway very accessible

 
Bergin: There are three ways to get to Bergin from Oslo. You can travel by car – which is about a six to eight hour ride depending on how many stops you make,  you can fly – which is about a forty minute flight or you can take the train – which Mats assured us it the best way to go!

• History: Bergin is special to Norway as this is where its story starts. The story goes that a long, long time ago there was a Viking - Harald - who happened to be in love with a princess. Now, he was a ruler of a small kingdom and she refused to marry him until he become the king of all of Norway. So that is what he set out to do. And he decided he wouldn’t cut or groom his hair until he connected all of Norway into on region – under his reign. And since it took him ten years to accomplish this he became known as Harald with the Messy Hair! Side Note: Once he accomplished this feat and got the princess, he finally cut his hair and then became known as Harald Fairhair.

 

• is the historic harbor district that is the site of the last remaining 62 wooden houses of Bergen and it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by the Hanseatic League in the 1300’s right after the black plague and the city was run by them for over 400 years. Fun Fact:  The dialect in Bergen is different than the rest of Norway because of these founders. They have a unique “R” – more like the German “R”.  Now, thanks to those houses being made of wood, Bryggen has been damaged by a number of fires through the centuries and has been rebuilt after every fire - in fact, there were 37 major city fires there. Needless to say, eventually they decided to start using brick to build their structures and a lot of the architecture you see there is from the 1800’s. Now how’s that for a great travel as a living classroom experience?!

 

• Popular Areas: Bergen is known as the City Between the Seven Mountains and the residents are immensely proud of those mountains. One popular mountain - Mount Floyen – has a funicular railway called the Fløibanen that will take you to the top. It goes up about every ten minutes and the trip takes about seven minutes. Once you arrive the view is amazing up there! Another mountain - Mount Ulriken - is the tallest of the mountains and sits beside Mount Floyen. To get to its top there is an aerial tramway – or a cable car - that can take you.

 
Stavanger:  Stavanger is known as The Oil City due to the fact that a lot of the oil workers live here. To get to Stavanger you can take the train from Oslo (in fact the only train to here is out of Oslo), you can drive, you can take a flight or you can take a boat ride from Bergen. Stavanger is home to many different soft adventures.

• Sightseeing and Activities: Graffiti is big here. So much so that they host a graffiti festival every year and invite graffiti artists from all over the world to repaint the city. This was started about ten years ago as a response to the graffiti popping up all over - instead of punishing the graffiti artists they made it an organized event to showcase their talents. There is also a guided to tour available that takes you through the graffiti sites and tells you about the artists who created them.

 
The town also contains a historical section called Old Town. Here you will find numerous wooden buildings from the turn of the 18th century with most of them being small, white cottages. The area also has many galleries and arts and crafts shops.
 
You can spot The Swords of Stavanger on the coastline – which is a monument composed of three gigantic bronze swords that are in homage to a Viking battle of the past.
 
Pulpit Rock is extremely popular tourist attraction. Preikestolen (which means pulpit rock) is actually very steep cliff with a very flat top. One nice thing about Pulpit Rock is that you can take guided tours to the top that will take you off the beaten path, so it’s not so crowded on the way up. And here is a great time to point out that Norway is very conscious of over tourism and implemented tours like these to get a handle on it. Fun Fact: Pulpit Rock was featured in a scene from the last Mission Impossible movie.
 
The Fjords: I’m quite sure you heard of the term fjord before – maybe you aren’t sure exactly what a fjord it? No worries! According to dictionary.com a fjord is “a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley.” You’re welcome! In Norway there are numerous fjords – all breathtakingly beautiful – each with their own history.
 
The most popular ones are Sognefjord Fjord and Hardanger Fjord, and both are close to Bergen which is why Bergen is referred to as the Gateway to Fjords. Mats told us he is actually from a small village in Sognefjord and that those magnificent views meant nothing to him growing up. That all changed once he started working in travel and began to appreciate them in different way. He also is in awe of the history of it all – the fact that glaciers formed these fjords as they were retracting, and the result was this gorgeous landscape.

• Wellness, Nature and History: In Sognefjord you find that there are many small fjord arms. One of those is Naeroyfjord (accessible by train from Oslo to Flam which is close to it) which is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most beautiful and wildest arm of the Sognefjord – and is in the running for the most beautiful fjord in the world!

 
Via Ferrata is a steel cable that runs along the mountainside that enables you to climb it as they did in the old days. However – if you are not up for that kind of adventure there is a cable car that goes to top. Your reward is a restaurant that is 1000 meters above sea level (0.62 miles) with incredible views The views are an amazing part of the wellness that resides in Norway as they are a spiritual experience that really bring you back to being one with nature.
 
History: Also, in Sognefjord you can visit Urnes Stave Church a 600-year-old wooden structure. Side Note: According to Wikipedia a stave church is “A medieval wooden Christian church building once common in north-western Europe.”
 
Alesund: Alesund is known as The Adventure Capital – soft adventures that is! It is also a great place to recharge your batteries and make a spiritual connection to nature – offering a host of meditational  views  - which used to be inaccessible - but thanks to cable cars it is easier for those who don’t hike to reach them and thus to take advantage of them.

• Sightseeing and Activities: Opportunities to canoe and kayak abound here! There are several tours within the city and also several tours that take you outside the city. One of those outside the city takes you to a place called Strand – which is one of Mats favorite places. Here this is a tour operator called Bonseye that has a llama farm. In the summer they will take you by boat through the wonderous fjord and then up to the farm where you get a delicious meal, and you get to meet all of the animals. And we cannot forget Runde Island – boasting the largest population of those adorable Puffins each year!

 
Tromso: So because Norway is so long it actually has two high seasons – one in the northern part of the country and one in the southern part of the country.  Turns out that Tromso is good for both seasons! Why? Well in the winter from September to March it is a great opportunity to spot the northern lights – with the end of January to March being the best time thanks to not much rain or snow. And in the summer? The chance to experience the midnight sun – which means no darkness as the sun does not set - which runs from mid-May through to mid-July.  
 
Sightseeing and Activities: This is also the most professional destination in Norway according to Mats as everything is interconnected. There are lots of activities that are created around northern lights viewing such as snowshoe hiking under the northern lights, eating dinner at a reindeer camp and catching a glimpse of the norther lights,  evening dog sledding with the northern lights or – my favorite  - renting a small cabin about two hours south that features a  glass roof so you can lay in bed and watch the northern lights!
 
You can go whale watching in Tromso too! It is seasonal and the highest chance of seeing them is from November 1st through to the end of January.
 
And all my dog lovers out there - you must visit Tromso’s wilderness center to see and pet 300 adorable huskies!
 
Accommodations: The hotels tend to be smaller hotels in small villages and can be likened to a 3- or 4-star property – however Norway does not use star ratings. Mats was quick to point out – proudly – that the level of service is always 5-star in any of the accommodations he uses.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing travel the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Norway.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements click here.
 
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Thoughts? I know you just added it to your list! Wink, wink. Besides the awe-inspiring views the mountains and fjords offer Norway is very accessible. It’s super easy to get around the country via train or ferry making it a country that you can see in just one trip there. And remember – Mats is my on the ground contact and together we can curate the perfect itinerary for your Norwegian adventure!

For more details on things to see and do in Norway, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!
 
​

The following overview is actually a combination of two separate video chats that I conducted to highlight one of my very favorite places on this earth – actually two of my very favorite places on this earth – Greece and Cyprus.
 
One of those chats was with Maria Athanasopoulou, ​founder of Respond OnDemand and Chrissa Krassa, ​ founder of Top Tourism – whom I met through the World Food Travel Organization. This one touches on the more classical, traditional, historical and cultural side of Greece as well as Cyprus. The other was with my colleague Mina Agnos, Founder and President of Travelive which touches more on the modern – or as I like to say the more Instagramable - side of Greece.
 
This really is more of a high-level introduction to Greece as we cover a number of different islands - but certainly not all of the islands or we'd be here for hours! Think of it as all of the pieces I tend to see people looking for when they're considering Greece as their next destination to explore.
 
Here I have taken both conversations and pulled out the most pertinent information and categorized it - so that you can get the best possible overview of both sides of this magnificent slice of heaven on earth. And so, to Greece – and Cyprus – we go!
 
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 Greece
 
Why Greece?  For the history, for the culture, for the classical side, for the spiritual side, for the wellness, for the gastronomy, for the beaches, for the beautiful views. There are just so many different ways to experience this amazing destination! Plus, Greece has such an amazing way of living that we all want to emanate, as it is great for the mind, body, spirit and soul.
 
When Should I Visit? Greece is a 365-day destination which means you can visit Greece year-round. They are most famous for their islands which are mostly seasonal but there are other things throughout the year that you can experience - including skiing. It truly is a destination that you can visit any time of the year.
 
How Do I Get There? Typically, a Greek adventure will start by flying into the Athens airport which is about a nine-hour flight from the east coast. I have done it from New York - and Delta as well as some other airlines - offer direct flights. As always, I do recommend premium economy seats at the very lowest because on a longer flight such as this you are going to want that extra space. And if you can splurge then by all means go for that business class seat so that you can lay down!
 
I Hear There Are New Travel Trends. Mina advised that since the pandemic came along, they have seen a shift - which she feels is most likely happening across the board. The trend is towards ways of travel that are more sustainable, safer and offer the opportunity to social distance. And she assures us that Greece has put a lot of protocols in place around the country to ensure all of this. People are not only focusing on different off the radar islands but also alternate, more private ways to travel. For instance, private yacht charters are super popular for those looking to see the islands without being on a cruise ship with thousands of other travelers. People are also booking private transfers - so instead of traveling via commercial flights and ferries that are scheduled - Mina said they're seeing more along the lines of the private helicopters, private speedboats and private transfers to get people to and from destinations so that they're not having to take the scheduled transportation.
 
As for accommodations they are also seeing more private villa stays as well as staycation's where people work from home in villas or all-suite hotels. And finally, there is a shift to more authentic experiences – such as private cooking classes. And really all of this is a great way to travel with your crew or your bubble – so that you are all together - but separate from the masses.
 
And there’s definitely been a shift in terms of how much traffic there is as they don't have the same crowds that they did – for instance cruises have not returned - and it makes these destinations available to be experienced in ways which they have not been able to in decades. So, it’s a huge opportunity for people who really want to come in and see Greece and get more of that authentic feel and miss some of the over tourism that we've seen in the past few years.
 
OK – Tell Me All About The Destinations I Should Try To Include In My Itinerary!
 
Cyclades: The Cyclades – located southeast of the mainland in the Aegean Sea - are no doubt the most popular of the island groups with Mykonos and Santorini the top of the requests that Mina sees coming from the US. Mina also explained that they find no matter where people want to go in Greece when they hear from them Santorini is always on that list. In addition, there are a lot of repeat travelers now coming back to Greece. It used to be that it was just a once in a lifetime trip to Athens, Mykonos or Santorini but that's not the case anymore and its really great to see there's so much interest in coming back and experiencing a lot of these other less popular spots around the country.

• Mykonos
  • Classical: Just a short ferry ride from Athens and you’re in Mykonos - a famous Greek island that Maria and Chrissa suggest visiting at the end of September as opposed to when most people go which in the heart of the summer - July or August (which also happens to be when all of the big parties happen on the island). This way, she explained, most of the crowds are gone and it is much easier to be a tourist. Mykonos is known for its great beaches and great restaurants as well as for being a gay friendly destination - although nowadays many families and singles also flock there. Fun Fact: Its nickname is the Island of Winds because it is very windy almost all year round.

 

• Modern: When we talked with Mina it was during the cruise ship hiatus due to the pandemic and she noted that due to the absence of the cruise ships there are a lot less people on the island now, but you still have that vibrant night life. And yes, Mykonos is certainly known for the party that it is, and the beach clubs are open. She feels however that this limited capacity will probably continue well into 2021 - but it’s still definitely a happening place with people still flocking there, the yachts still docking and that amazing jet set vibe it's famous for still there - it’s just with fewer people and less traffic.

 

• Santorini
  • Modern: I was in Santorini and I loved it - it's very romantic with beautiful views and fabulous wines but - it's really not a beach destination which is what I wanted to point out here.  Many people don’t realize the Mediterranean is rocky - plus Santorini is also a volcanic island so while you do have beaches it's the black and the red sand which is typically not something that you're expecting when you're thinking of Greek island beaches. Plus - Santorini presents you with an opportunity to ride a donkey. And when you are in Santorini you don’t want to miss the Santorini caldera which is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses. The sunset there is worth every penny you spent to visit Greece and it's definitely a bucket list item.

 

• Milos
  • Modern: When I have clients looking for those untouched beaches, I mention Milos as it is great choice for pristine beaches and per Mina it's amazing for sailing as well. Also, something to be aware of is that a lot of different points on the islands are not accessible by land, so you will definitely want to have at least a day where you either charter a private boat or do a small group catamaran cruise. This way you can really get around and see some of these places that are untouched with unique landscapes thanks to the fact that it is another volcanic island. Mina noted that Milos was starting to gain more momentum last year as one of the more off the radar islands and it continues to do so. It is certainly a place where it's quite untouched as it doesn't have a developed tourism industry where you're going to have those big chain hotels. Everything is boutique and just really catering to those people who are coming to experience the island.

 

• Naxos
  • Modern: Then you have Naxos which is the largest island in the Cyclades. As a result, you have a lot of people who live and work there all year so it’s not as transient as places like Mykonos, Santorini and Paros. Due to that fact, it is a place that still maintains a really rich local culture so it's a great place for cooking classes, for exploring and seeing how people live. One of the great things about Naxos is that because of its size it has enough agriculture production so they don't need to import a lot - as everything can be accessed on the island. So, expect lots of wonderful cheeses, fruits and vegetables.

 

• Paros
  • Classical: Maria and Chrissa adore this island and feel it is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece –and have been there many times. It is filled with beautiful beaches excellent local gastronomy and very friendly locals. Paros historically was known for its fine white marble which gave rise to the term Parion to describe marble or china of similar quality. Today you can find abandoned marble quarries and mines on the island, but Paros is primarily known as a popular tourist spot.

 

• Modern: We talked about places where you can stay for a number of months and this is really an ideal island for that. It was just named the top island by several magazines and it's a great place because it's very central in the Cyclades meaning you can easily do day trips to a lot of different islands. You have a lot of infrastructure here and there's everything that you need to live plus it has great accommodations for extended stay in terms of either hotels or villas. It’s a self-sufficient island and Mina advised that if you want to take cooking lessons this is the place to do it in a private home!

 
Athens: The capital and largest city of Greece - it was once a powerful civilization and empire that was at the heart of ancient Greece.

• Classical: Home to the famous citadel – The Acropolis as well as the history and the culture of Greece itself – it is all gathered here. The word acropolis is from the Greek words akron which means highest point and polis which means city – and so named because it is indeed the highest spot in the city. Maria proudly gushed that every time she goes to Athens, she visits The Acropolis – it is that special and very respected. The Acropolis is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and is perhaps what most people think of first when they think of Greece as it is an extremely popular tourist attraction. It houses the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance -with the most famous being the Parthenon.

 

• Modern: You definitely want to stay downtown and enjoy the old-world tourist sites but then you need to take about a 30- or 40-minute ride and enjoy other parts of Athens like the Athenian Riviera. As per Mina the Athenian Riviera is a part of Greece – particularly a part of Athens - that a lot of people are not really familiar with especially coming from the US. Athens really has been kind of a dropping off point where you might stay a day or two see The Acropolis and leave. However, tourism is picking up there now and they are seeing a certain type of a clientele which hadn't necessarily known that the Athenian Riviera was an area that existed. So now so there's certainly been a lot more interest in spending time there and as a result they are seeing are longer stays now when it comes to being in Athens.

 
Thessaloniki: Also Known as Salonika it is a port city on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea.

• Classical: This is the beautiful co-capital city of Greece - and the capital of the original Macedonia – which is known for the White Tower of the Thessaloniki. The White Tower is both a monument and museum that is located on the waterfront of the city. The present tower replaced an old 12th century Byzantine fortification that the Ottoman Empire constructed to fortify the city's harbor sometime after Thessaloniki was overtaken in 1430. The tower became a notorious prison and scene of mass executions during the period of Ottoman rule. After Greece gained control of the city in 1912 the tower was remodeled and its exterior whitewashed and adopted as the symbol of the city. And you guys I have to say that what I really love about this part of Greece – and pretty much all of Greece - is this is true living history. The Ottoman Empire is something that we learn about in school and here it is – waiting for us to take it all in and live it - in person.  And we can’t forget to add that it is also a city with great food and a unique gastronomical identity and what Maria considers to be the most delicious food in all Greece.  And this beautiful city is located on the Aegean Sea so it's a city that you can walk by the sea in and is a favorite spot of hers as well.  She added that Greeks love the sea and they love to walk by the sea and she thinks that within the next few years Thessaloniki will be one of the main destinations for people from abroad because it is a multicultural city with many things for visitors to explore.

 
Dodecanese Island Chain: This is a group of over 150 Greek islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean - off the coast of Turkey that belong to the wider Southern Sporades island group.

• Kalymnos Island
  • Classical: This heaven on earth is known worldwide as a destination for people who love rock climbing and is located between the islands of Kos and Leros. It is also known as the “Sponge-divers' Island” in addition to being popular for rock climbing. It features more than 3000 climbing routes set in the limestone rock of the island and the climate allows climbing all year round. Maria made the observation that a lot of people think Greece is only sea and sun, but it’s got so much more, and Kalymnos is an example of this.

 

• Rhodes
  • Modern: There are a lot of medieval treasures in Greece for such a small country but that’s because there's so many influences from different places through history. The Sporades Islands are located on the bottom of Greece near Turkey. and the most famous of the islands is Rhodes. Rhodes is also the largest of the Dodecanese islands. As for that medieval culture - you have a medieval village in Rhodes which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a great place to combine with Turkey so we can have you do some parts of Greece – for instance start in Athens work your way into Rhodes and then into Turkey into Istanbul - the old Constantinople.

 
Crete: Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica.

• Classical: This popular destination for people from the US - it is an extremely popular holiday destination - is a big hit with Maria and Chrissa as well and they think it just may have the best gastronomy in Greece and every time they visit, they tend to eat a lot and really enjoy the food – and the wine. And let me tell you - I was in Crete and it was beautiful and I was never hungry! Its four biggest cities are Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Chania and Rethymno and some of the spots that you don't miss when you visit a Crete are the archaeological sites of the Minoan civilization, the Venetian old city and port of Chania, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, the gorge of Samaria, and the gorgeous Palm Beach of Vai - which is the largest natural palm forest in Europe. And let’s not forget Knossos which is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site in Crete. Per Maria, Knossos was the heart of mainland civilization and a very famous ancient Greek civilization. If you want to know its entire story – its entire history - it’s not enough only to go to Knossos – you must also visit the archaeological museum that is one of the largest archaeological museums in the world. By combining the area of Knossos and the museum and you will have a complete picture of Minoan civilization. As she so poetically put - Knossos is not just a monument – it is a whole era – it’s our story - you feel that you go back in time when you are there.  And once again may I point out here that we're really living history and one of the things I focus on with you guys all the time in terms of writing your itineraries is making sure that you have these things included because it's not just the textbook anymore – you can stand in it – and take it all in. That being said – the ladies insist it is a minimum of 15 days to see all that Crete has to offer – yes, a minimum. 

 

• Modern: So, one of the things I absolutely must point out – again - is that when guys plan to go to Crete - don't plan on just two or three days. You need to plan enough days so that you have enough time to eat your way through it because the amount of food that you're going to find here is amazing. And the best part is that everything is farm to table or sea to table fresh. Crete is a whole flavor in itself. And Mina agrees. She noted that since it is the largest island in Greece it’s a huge destination in itself so it's not uncommon - or not a bad idea - to spend an extended amount of time there. You can do ten days on the island and easily eat your way through, see the wineries and a host of the many other things that you can do on Crete. It's one of the islands where you truly have everything – besides the food and the wine you've got hiking, biking – lots of different trails – you’ve got the channel to port and there's plenty of family fun and all sorts of outdoor activities. Here you have everything from the sea to the mountains and it’s a place where you will pretty much find every single variation of Greece in one place. Definitely a great island to use as a home base - especially if you want to do some day trips and it speaks to you if you want to be active or if you want to be laid back and chill.

 
Chalkidiki: A wide peninsula in Northern Greece, it features great beaches and is part of the Region of Central Macedonia.

• Classical: This gorgeous area is about one hour from Thessaloniki by car. Among its towns are Polygyros, which is located in the center of the Chalkidiki peninsula. Chalkidiki is a popular summer tourist destination – a coastal village - that is very famous for summer holidays and offers accommodations of all forms. Maria noted it is extremely popular with the residents of Thessaloniki due to its proximity to it and many have their holiday homes there. In these beautiful Mediterranean waters you will find more locals with not as many tourists as other beaches in Greece.

 
Chios Island: This is the fifth largest of the Greek islands and is situated in the northern Aegean Sea.

• Classical:  Maria described this as a unique product and one of her favorite islands in Greece. It is known for its exports of mastic gum and its nickname is "The Mastic Island." There are a lot of villages here that produce this product which is used for the gastronomy as well as for some medicines. Chios tourist attractions include its medieval villages and the 11th-century monastery of Nea Moni - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gastronomy is unique - authentic gastronomy with ancient roots - and per Maria - Chrissa and her went from village to village tasting the local recipes on a fantastic gastronomy tour that they will never forget.

 
Ionian Islands: This island group can be found on the west side of Greece between the Greek mainland and Italy. Due to their location they're not easily connected with some of the Cyclades destinations, so you don't necessarily want to do something with Mykonos and Santorini and then go to the Ionian Islands - because you're going to have to connect in Athens and you’ll spend a lot of time traveling. That being said they are definitely gaining popularity with Americans and is a wonderful place to sail. It tends to be very flat but it's very lush and you have a lot of greenery making it a stunning landscape. With so many of the Greek islands being very dry here you have the green mixed in with the blues so it's something for Greeks that’s quite different. As for accommodations you've got everything from the very simple to the very high end here. Porto Zante Villas and Spa is an ideal place if you are looking for something very upscale and want your own villa with your own pool AND your own private piece of the beach. It’s somewhere you can go and have that exclusive experience with your family.

• Corfu Island
  • Classical: I love this island and I think it is one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands. Corfu has its own unique identity and very tasty local gastronomy. You will also find a lot of beaches, a lot of monuments and much history as it’s an ancient area. It also has a long history of hospitality to foreigners, residents and visitors. The northeast coast of the island has been developed by a few British holiday companies with large holiday villas that make for great accommodations.

 

• Kefalonia Island
  • Classical:  Kefalonia was used as the shooting location of the Hollywood movie Captain Corelli's Mandolin and is a popular spot for filming tv shows as a lot of producers choose this island as an attractive background for their stories. Once again, this island features great beaches. Most people think that only the islands of the Aegean Sea have beautiful beaches, but the Ionian islands are home to equally great beaches. A lot of people prefer Corfu and Kefalonia and both are famous abroad – along with Zakynthos - which is a popular spot for UK residents. All of the islands in the Ionian Sea have distinguished local gastronomy and Maria noted that the cuisine in Greece varies throughout each destination so everywhere you go you will find different, tasty dishes.
• Lefkada
  • Classical: Lefkada – and its’s capital - the town of Lefkada- share the same name and can be reached by flying into the Aktion National Airport as it is just a 25-minute ride from there. It can also be reached via road so there is no need to take a boat to reach this island thanks to a large bridge that connects the island with the mainland. Many prefer driving there so that they don't have to spend money on a boat. And once again there are beautiful beaches and great gastronomy!

 
Epirus: A historical region in southeastern Europe, now shared between Greece and Albania and laying between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea.

• Zagorochoria
  • Classical: So, we mentioned before that a lot of people think Greece is only sea and sun and beaches and summer – but it’s so much more. Zagorochoria is an example of that as it is a cluster of 46 villages located throughout the mountains. There are plenty of accommodations to choose from as well as activities and sports including trekking to diving. They too have a unique gastronomy with very tasty dishes, as well as being an area of great history and impressive ancient monuments. If you love mountains - this is something out of the box to do in Greece - spending a couple of days hiding away from everyone and taking in nature.

 

• Ioannina
  • Classical: The largest city in Epirus is Ioannina City and it also happens to be its capital. Home to a great archaeological site – that contains the ancient theater of Dodona which is a fabulous opportunity to see an ancient theater in Greece. And do to the fact that Greece was under Ottoman rule for 400 years you will find many Ottoman monuments. A must see here is the Ioannina Castle a beautiful castle on the rocky peninsula of Lake Pamvotida. Lake Pamvotida the largest lake in Epirus and here you can take a boat to a small island in the middle of the lake for a tour of it. And while you are there be sure to try their unique small plates – called Mezes. Mezes is a variety of food – all small portions but a lot of quality - and per Maria it is quite common in Greece and Cyprus to start your meals with these small plates along with wine or ouzo.

 

• Sivota
  • Classical: This seaside village is known for its accommodations including villas and lovely hotels situated near the great beaches. It is actually referred to the “Riviera of the Ionian Sea” and is a fabulous destination for those you love sailing and of course great gastronomy too.

 
Peloponnese: Peloponnese is Maria’s homeland, so naturally she was quite excited to speak about it. It is a peninsula located in southern Greece. And per Mani Peloponnese truly has everything - you've got the history, the culture and wellness galore. There are just many different villages and ways to experience around here but you'll also have that that ancient Greece feeling making it a totally enriching and experiences. So, you have all of the different variations of ancient Greek culture of in one spot plus you're really close to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ancient Olympia’s not far away and ancient Mycenae is usually visited on the way plus you're in the area of Sparta so there's so many things that you can do.

• Vathia, Mani
  • Classical: Vathia is a village on the Mani Peninsula and is characterized by its stone tower houses on a hill in the countryside. These stone houses were built during the 18th and 19th centuries and being here makes you feel like you are going back in time.  It is a place with great history and has become an extremely popular tourist attraction in the spring and summer thanks to an abundance of wildflowers that cover the nearby hills that make for incredibly scenic views. There are also great beaches here like on the Mediterranean side.

 

• Messenia
  • Classical: This beautiful area - located in the southwestern part of the Peloponnisos region consists of three peninsulas and therefor offers a lot of great beaches. Its capital is Kalamata.

 

• Mystras
  • Modern: Wellness continues to be a big travel trend and people who were interested in doing spas are now flocking to new retreats such as Euphoria Retreat in Mystras that brings a completely different level of a holistic spa experience to Greece. This incredible spa resort is unlike anything they’ve had before. The concept is that you have all of these transformational experiences making it a place where your body gets to recharge. You’ve got treatments from ancient medicines, you can participate in tours to learn how to pick the local herbs and how they're used in healing, you can do Spartan warrior training here - which is doing lot of body weight exercises and training the same way the Spartan soldiers did. (If you're interested in getting fit what a cool way to do it!) You will also find a lot of thermal spas, incredible food, wine regions, olive oil production and you can visit beekeeping farms - so there's a lot of different ways that you can experience how food is made and where it comes from. And you will see that it is in ways that are truly healthy and untouched while also taking care of your mind and body.

 

• Arcadia
  • Modern: This is one of Mina’s favorites and while it is very difficult to get to - the experience that you're going to have of just being able to look out into nature, star gazing - you can literally just put your blanket out anywhere. It’s a Blue Zone meaning that it is referred to as an island where people forget to die. My great grandmother died literally five years ago at the age of 102 and the way that they that she lived up until the day she died was amazing. There were always people around, so there's a lot of movement back and forth and you see that everybody tends to stay extremely healthy. They really they take care of themselves. They visit the spa and eat very well. It’s place that is absolutely beautiful and untouched. Perfect for people who do want to get off the radar and see something unique – she highly recommends it!

 
 
Saronic Islands: The Saronic Islands aren’t far from Athens making them ideal day trips. They're quite easy to connect to thanks to the ferries - with it being about 30 minutes to an hour to get to Aegina and an hour and a half to Hydra. Then you have Spetses that is very close by as well. In reality these are ideal for those with less time who want something that's a little bit different. They are not as well-known but they're very accessible from Athens making it easy to visit either as day trips or as shorter stays for weekends or even island hopping via boat. I love to do island hopping and something for you guys to consider is to charter your own yacht. And I know that sounds really expensive, but it can actually be worked in within your budget thanks to our travel financial planning. Think about it – just you and your travel companions and a crew to yourselves - not a whole cruise full of people. Mina also mentioned chartering a catamaran as another, cost effective option as well.

• Spetses
  • Modern: One of the southernmost islands in the Saronic chain, it tends to go really well with Hydra, with Aegina and also with the Peloponnese as we can connect all of these very easily by sea.  This is an island that's known for its spices - in fact, it's known as The Spice Island. So, you are greeted by amazing aromas and great foods making it a really nice place to just get away and experience all the good things in life. Plus, it’s an island that's not very well known by most people so here’s an opportunity for you guys to do some traveling off the beaten path. It’s an amazing island and when you tell everyone at home all about it they are going to be envious that this was your Greece experience!

 

• Aegina Island
  • Modern: You’ve definitely got the wellness buzz here – thanks to a variety of spas.

 

• Hydra
  • Modern: Hydra is pretty amazing with one notable difference – here there are no cars – instead, donkeys are your main mode of transport! What an exciting opportunity - something that is authentically local.  And guess what – that is how you're going to get to your hotel - they'll put your luggage onto the donkeys, and you'll walk – or ride - with them to get to where you need to go. It would probably be best to be a good hiker here because you'll probably do a lot of walking on this island, but it is it's definitely something that's quite unique and a beautiful experience.

 
Life As A Living Classroom Must Be Amazing Here! Greece is a living classroom and for those of you who are doing home schooling this is a great trip to take the kids on. Athens is written all over our textbooks - everything in Greece and civilization as we know it - and a lot of things that we do today are based off things that born in Greece. So why not take your kids and immerse them in all of this because it’s guaranteed the essays that they write will be with them forever. There is no better way to learn than by firsthand experience. You will be giving your kids something that will differentiate them for the rest of their life. In Greece you will really be able to make a lot of those lessons come alive and it's wonderful to see it happen to your children!
 
Tell Me About That Greek Gastronomy. You guys know that I always add that cultural immersion through gastronomy element to your trip. I honestly believe that breaking bread with someone, sharing a meal or learning how to cook with somebody that's local is the best way to be in touch and find your way in their culture.  One thing I love about Greece is the fact that there are no GMO's in their food. And what a difference that makes! It is so fresh and so much better than the food that we get here in the states and the flavors are amazing – not to mention natural and authentic. Pretty much nothing that you're going to find anywhere else in the world - it's mouthwatering. And it consists of everything from their world-famous feta cheese - to a lot of products from ancient years including their unique bread, honey, olive oil and seafood – and boy do they know how to cook seafood!
 
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The Island of Cyprus
 
Cyprus is one of my most favorite countries that I had the marvelous opportunity to explore just a few years ago. And to tell you the honest truth when I was there, I felt like I belonged there and that someday I am going to live there – I just don’t know it yet! Maria said that Greeks think the same about Cyprus as they do Greece – as they share the same language, the same history and the same religion - so for Greeks they are one nation - and every time she is in Cyprus, she feels like she is home.
 
Lefkosia (Nicosia City)
 
With its distinction as the only divided capital in the world, Lefkosia and the surrounding area combines the heartbeat of the islands commercial and business center with an interesting past. It also has rural areas where escape is possible in beautiful green environments.
The capital itself is steeped in history and culture with a charming old city surrounded by massive Venetian walls and the island's largest concentration of museums, art galleries and religious and historical monuments that all tell stories of the island through the ages.
 
 
Paphos
 
I loved Paphos! For me was an area where I felt like the world was at a standstill. I was able to enjoy some beach time and to enjoy really great food - it was super relaxing. Comprised of both old and new towns, rural villages and picturesque resorts - the region is home to some of the most stunning areas of natural beauty on the island as well as many archaeological sites that are historically invaluable, with the neighborhood of Katos Paphos declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 
Limassol (Lemesos)
 
Lemesos is the Greek word for beautiful city and here you will find the legends of kings and kingdoms and the origins of the island’s wine making industry characterize the region. Known as the Region of Wine, celebrations and ancient realms, Lemesos is comprised of its main city - which sits between two important archaeological sites - the ancient city-kingdom of Amathus to the east and the ancient city-kingdom of Kourion to the west - along with rural areas and charming mountainous villages, where old traditions and crafts are still practiced.  I was here as well and it was absolutely awesome. I remember going into the different villages with our guide and we were wine tasting and doing the olive oil tasting and it was just amazing. We even saw some areas that that were still being excavated.
 
Troodos
 
Another beautiful region – this one is mountainous. With pine-scented air that feels more invigorating the higher you climb, the Troodos mountain range is the island’s green heart, that is immersed in endless forests, valleys and orchards. Comprised of many different, traditional villages, every twist and turn of the mountain roads leads to something different. The chain of winemaking communities has practiced their art for centuries, while others are famous for their intricate handmade folk-art - from lace and silverwork to pottery and basket weaving. There are agricultural villages known for their different fruits and waterfalls and springs that offer a cooling drink to both humans and wildlife.
 
Ammochostos (Famagusta)
 
Sparkling, crystal waters and powdery, golden sands are one of the defining features of this region as well as scenic landscapes featuring quaint windmills and its mineral-rich earth growing some of the island’s tastiest, fresh produce. Comprised of the main holiday resorts of Agia Napa and Paralimni-Protaras, the once-tiny villages have seen their popularity and boundaries expand into bustling resorts that continue to attract visitors in droves. 
 
Larnaka
When I was in Cyprus this was pretty much my home base. It is an ancient district where east meets west and hundreds of years of contrasting civilizations, architecture and culture have left their mark on an authentic and diverse region. Both Christianity and Islam have important religious sites in Larnaka. Popular sights are the Medieval Castle, the palm tree-lined promenade of Finikoudes, and Larnaka Salt Lake, which fills with vibrant pink flamingos during the winter months.
 
Beaches in Cyprus: There are many more than just the two we talked about below – but we wanted to include an overview of some of the more popular ones.

• Pissouri Beach

 
Located 30km west of Lemesos - Pissouri Bay is the tourist resort of the village of Pissouri. The coast has seen its popularity soar thanks to its stunning, natural beauty and the resort facilities now found in the area. The beach has fine, golden sands, multicolored small pebbles, and its clean waters are relatively calm.

• Vathia Gonia Beach

 
The beach of Vathia Gonia is a beautiful coastal stretch that is located east of the more crowded Nissi Bay. As a sandy beach with a natural rocky bay, it is covered in fine, golden sands and its crystal-clear water is relatively calm as there is a complete lack of headwinds at the beach. This is the birthplace of Aphrodite which is called Petra tou Romiou - translated to “a Greek stone.”  Aphrodite’s mythical birthplace is an interesting geological formation of huge rocks along one of the most beautiful coastlines on the island, located on the southwest coast of Paphos. According to the legend, the Ancient Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty - Aphrodite - was born of the sea foam here. Legend tells that she rose from the waves and was escorted on a shell to this particular beach.
 
And How Is the Gastronomy in Cyprus? The ritual of sharing good, fresh local cuisine is an important part of the island’s culture and is intrinsically linked with every social event, from family gatherings and special occasions to religious festivals with each being marked with its own distinct delicacies and recipes. From hearty meat dishes and specialty cheeses to unique desserts of carob and grape, the Cypriot cuisine is an exotic blend of Greek and Middle Eastern cultures, sprinkled with remnants of ancient civilizations. And it is no secret that the Mediterranean diet is considered to be of the healthiest, thanks an abundance of heart-healthy olive oil, lean meat, local herbs and freshly grown fruits and vegetables. Add to this the favorable climate that gives the produce its intense flavor - and a celebration around every corner - you will find a big gastronomic adventure awaits on this tiny island!  And as per Maria don’t forget to get some Halloumi while you are there – it is a famous Cyprian white cheese that you don’t want to miss!
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Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Greece and Cyprus.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 in Greece click here and in Cyprus click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements Greece click here and in Cyprus click here.
 
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Oh gosh – there you have it - Greece and Cyprus – literally in a nutshell! There is so much more we can talk about but since time is limited, I think this give you a darn good idea what they are all about! Now, let’s get you to this amazing destination to experience it firsthand!

For more details on things to see and do in Greece and Cyprus, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

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Ahhh Mexico! One of my favorite destinations in the entire world! And so close and easily accessible from the United States. I even have an apartment in Cancun because it is only a two-hour flight from where I am in Texas!
 
Now, most of you are probably familiar with Cancun, Cabo, Cozumel, Puerta Vallarta and a few other of the more popular beach destinations – which are all fabulous. However – there is a lot more to discover in this diverse country than just those gorgeous beaches including a lot of cultural and historical richness.
 
That being said – I asked Kitzia Morales Torres from the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals (IADWP) to talk to us about all those other somewhat unknown and / or off the beaten path areas as not just destination wedding possibilities but also as vacation destinations for anyone interested in seeing more of Mexico. Kitzia is 100% Mexican and her love and pride of her country is truly infectious!
 
Below is an overview of the areas Kitzia and I spoke about during our chat. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the options Mexico offers if you have always thought of it as only a beach destination. Read on and you will see what I mean!
 
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Why Visit Mexico: As I noted in the opening paragraph – Mexico is a very convenient destination to get to with most of the major US cities offering plenty of direct flights.
The landscapes themselves vary from white sand beaches with turquoise blue water to jungles to mountains to deserts and valleys. Here you’ll find archeological sites, historical cities and magical towns. Mexico is a very colorful country – they just love their colors there! And it is reflected in the way they dress, eat, in their art and the way the decorate houses and churches – you’ll find color everywhere! But according to Kitzia - one of the country’s biggest assets is their people - who grow up with a strong sense of hospitality, close family ties and pleasing each other – and this all shows in the way they warmly welcome visitors to their beloved country.
 
Beach Destinations: There are fabulous beaches on both coasts of the country – each offering their own unique treasures and flavors.
 

• Cancun: Probably the most famous of all of the Mexican beaches, Cancun resides in the southern part of the country on the eastern side and is known for its crystal blue waters and the hotel zone where most hotels can be found. And – there are many other beach destinations in the vicinity – in fact - should you chose to fly into Cancun you can make it a multi-destination or combination beach trip - including Tulum, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel.

 

• Riviera Maya: This area is south of Cancun and home to the town of Playa del Carmen and is pretty much a paradise with its white sand beaches, natural parks and archaeological sites.

 

• Tulum: Tulum is more of a bohemian city with beautiful views. You will not find all inclusives here as in many of the other beach destinations, but it is filled with amazing places including an adult tree house resort which is an experience to die for.

 

• Isla Mujeres: This is is a newer area featuring some pretty amazing accommodations and an opportunity to swim with the dolphins!

 

• Cozumel: Featuring the second largest coral reef system in the world it’s no wonder that Cozumel is the ideal place to practice driving!

 

• Las Cabo: Up north on the western side of the country in Baja is another well-known beach destination - Las Cabo. This already amazing destination is really blooming now – with lots of new hotels popping up.

 

• Mazatlán: Here you will find amazing gastronomy, fabulous music and an overall very happy atmosphere.

 

• Puerto Vallarta: Moving down the west coast you’ll find Puerto Vallarta which is a culturally rich area and also a popular destination for same sex couples. This is another area where you can do a beach combo and include Riviera Nayarit in your itinerary along with Puerto Vallarta.

 

• Acapulco: This chic beach destination has marvelous restaurants and breathtaking views. In fact - Kitzia says you will not find a more beautiful sunset than those over Acapulco Bay!  As with Cancun and Puerto Vallarta – Acapulco can become a multi – destination trip by combining it with Ixtapa.

 
Colonial Cities: More than just beaches – Mexico is home to beautiful cities and towns as well.
 

• San Miguel de Allende – San Miquel de Allende is located in the state of Guanajuato and filled with beauty and cultural influences from nearby from Guanajuato and Zacatecas – two other colonial destinations that have a lot to offer.  At one time a very rich area due to the silver and gold when it was a Spanish colony - you are surrounded by history and culture when you are here – especially in its buildings.

 

• Oaxaca and San Cristobal de las Casas: As per Kitzia – these two are definitely worth visiting and should be on your agenda thanks to wonderful food and the culture they have to offer.

 

• Yucatan Peninsula: Getting to and exploring the Yucatan peninsula is quite easy. For instance, you can fly into Cancun and drive the three hours to its capital – Merida - by car. The drive is on a very safe highway with much to discover along the way. You’ll see a variety of colonial towns and important archaeological sites like Chichen Itza. In fact - there are over fifty archeological sites in the Yucatan Peninsula thanks to the Mayan people in the small towns throughout the peninsula who preserve the Mayan culture well. You will even be delighted to see a pink water beach that gets its pink hue from too much salt in the water!  You’ll also spot beautifully crafted mansions and other buildings – many turned into hotels or museums but still there and still beautiful. And fun fact – for centuries, the Yucatan Peninsula was isolated from the rest of Mexico and thus they actually forged better relationships with New Orleans, Florida, Cuba and Europe than the relationship they had with Mexico and get a lot of their influences from them.

 

• Merida – This is actually where Kitzia resides – not far from Progreso Port where the cruise ships dock. I personally love this area as it has a Parisian feel, a French flavor if you will - with a Mexican touch. Here you will also find the magnificent colonial mansions I mentioned above - thanks to its rich background.

 

• Izamal: In Izamal you will be delighted to see that all of the buildings are painted yellow and thus it is also known as the Yellow City.  When I walked through Izamal I felt an amazing connection – it was like I was being told this great story of how it occurred. It is also known as the City of Three Cultures – including European, Native American and Mexican. Izamal is also one of the most important archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  
  
• Chichen Itza: Chichen Itza is probably the most well-known of all the archeological sites on the peninsula thanks to its inclusion as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World – as well as being named a UNESCO archaeological site. Kitzia made a very interesting observation about how she views Chichen Itza in contrast to Uxmal (another Mayan ruin about ninety miles west from Chichen Itza) - calling Chichen Itza more masculine and warrior-like as opposed to Uxmal which is more feminine as it almost looks like they embroidered the stone they build with.

 

• Bacalar:  It may take five hours to get to Bacalar from Cancun but there are so many things to see along the way it’s so very worth it! You can rent a car and drive it yourself or hire a driver to take you. There are numerous off the beaten path opportunities here and I love it because it allows for the whole mind, body, spirit experience which many of us need after the cabin fever that we’ve been experiencing in 2020. Bacalar is a great place to rest and be inspired by nature as it’s not very touristy and offers small luxury hotels as opposed to large resorts and all-inclusive properties. In fact, the Seven Colors Lagoon is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Here you can kayak, boat or surf to explore the lagoon and once you are back on land there’s a beautiful forest and archaeological sites to explore as well. And - on a side note - Bacalar actually borders Belize so you can combine the two for one amazing vacation!

 
Hidden Gems: A fact that I found quite interesting is that on the Yucatan Peninsula there are no rivers above ground - only underground rivers as they all flow under the soil. And because of that cenotes exist – which are absolutely beautiful places to go swimming! There are over six thousand of them – each unique in its looks and formations and most are easy to get to - although some can be more of an adventure to access! Even one of the Costco’s there has its own cenote! Between Kitzia and I we will make certain to help you discover and enjoy them as they are a unique experience and since they are not very crowded, they are a great way to social distance!
 
Haciendas are another must see and can be found through the peninsula. Yucatan was very rich in the 18th and 19th centuries and there are still a lot of the haciendas built back then in existence and some are even transformed into five-star hotels with amazing spas and views. Outside of these haciendas and around the small towns they reside in you will find authentic craft shops. And one thing about these that I found out while visiting is that many are working haciendas – and are very similar to the dude ranch experiences we have in the US.
 
There are many Natural Reserves throughout Mexico that are wonderful places to visit. The Rio Lagartos and Celestun mangroves are both home of hundreds of different kinds of beautiful birds and of course those majestic pink flamingos! They are truly a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers alike. Oh, and at night there is the watching of the crocodiles! There really is a lot to do and see in both town and once again they are easily accessible as Celestun is just one hour from Merida and Rio Lagartos is on the way from Cancun to Merida.
 
Gastronomy: Mexico has a truly diverse gastronomy filled with plenty of exquisite food and drink and their delicious cuisine varies by region, based on the ingredients grown in each area. Now – granted you may eat Mexican food in the US BUT the true authentic experience must be done in Mexico. While most of us think of Mexican food as simply spicy – in reality - the flavors aren’t just spicy as you will find they have a diverse gastronomy throughout the country. This is due to the fact that right now there is a lot of interest in rediscovering and giving attention to the local flavors they grow. And thanks to these home-grown ingredients it is quite easy to eat healthy yet flavorful food. Gastronomy in Mexico is influenced by Spaniards and as well as Native Americans. The main ingredient or element of most dishes is corn, however they have a lot of other vegetables and spices that came from Asia and Spain.
 
Mexico is also known for its beer and spirits. It is the home to tequila and now mezcal as well. Mezcal has become very fashionable and is similar to tequila as it is made of agave also - but it is stronger, and the flavor is smoky. Kitzia let us in on the fact that she is in love with this spirit and that it’s great to mix with pineapple or lemon. Tequila comes from the central region of Jalisco and there is actually a town named Tequila where you can find out everything you want to know about tequila and more! Mezcal comes from Oaxaca in the southern part of Mexico – which is a very rich region culturally. In fact, visiting one or both of these cities t would be a great off the beaten path kind of adventure that we could arrange – including a distillery tour and gastronomic experiences!
 
And don’t forget its vino! The primary wine region in Mexico is Ensenada in the Baja California area. Here you will find great fresh seafood as well as the delicious wine – but be aware that the wine in Mexico is produced in small quantities and pretty much stays there in that region.
 
Type of Traveler: Mexico has a lot of accessibility in both its airports and attractions making it possible to travel with family members of all ages. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are - or if you have a condition that needs special attention - as it is also very accessible to the handicapped as well. Of course – Mexico is not only for families – it’s great for girls’ trips, guys trips, solo travelers, couples and more!
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing visitors arriving at Mexican airports may be subject to health screenings including temperature checks. A negative COVID-19 test is NOT required, and US citizens are NOT required to quarantine.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Mexico click here.
 
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As Kitzia noted in her presentation – between Mexico’s fascinating history, vibrant art scene and stunning architecture it’s so much more than just a beach destination as so many surmise. And you can keep going back – either to the Cancun area or other areas of the country and have new and different experiences each time – without breaking the bank as Mexico is a great value for your dollar!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Mexico, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

*NOTE: Starting April 1st all international visitors over age 15 to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum, will have to pay a new tourism tax of 224 pesos.  ​

Back to the Caribbean we go! To the island that made one man and his reggae tunes famous worldwide, jerk a tasty word instead of a not so nice one and all-inclusive resorts the way to stay and play in the islands.
 
By now I am sure you have guessed that I am talking about Jamaica and I am thrilled that my colleague Tamara Christie, Business Development Manager in the Southeast for Visit Jamaica agreed to come chat with me about this beautiful pearl of the Caribbean. Completely surrounded by the Caribbean Sea making for a fabulous destination in terms of location – here every day is a beach day thanks to the abundance of beautiful beaches.
 
Ready for a glimpse into why they say it is the heartbeat of the world? Shore – pun intended – you are! Let’s talk about Jamaica Mon!
 
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Getting There: Getting there is super easy from the US or Canada thanks to an abundance of nonstop flights - and even if you are behind the gateway - it's so easy to connect smoothly. And the airlift available comes from numerous airlines including American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest and more. And – keep in mind that even if you are not near a gateway city that doesn’t mean I cannot get you a non-stop flight. I work with certain vendors who give me the opportunity to book direct flights via charters from many different departure cities.
 
VIP? Why Yes! Jamaica is home to two international airports – Montego Bay and Kingston and one of the things that I love about arriving in Jamaica the best is Club Mobay and Club Kingston. The idea behind these clubs is that when you arrive at the airport you are treated like a VIP.  Imagine that moments after stepping off the plane you come across your escort holding a sign with your name on it for that personalized meet and greet service. From there, they fast track you through immigrations and customs – meaning once you are met with the sign, they take you straight through both without having to wait in what can sometime be incredibly long lines – especially if several planes arrive at the same time. Once you are done with arrivals, they have a premium bar on the inside of their private lounge that they will escort you to. And it makes no difference the nature of your travel - they cater to everyone whether you are there on business, getting married, traveling with family or a corporate group, are an unaccompanied minor or a senior citizen - they have a personalized service for you. Bonus – they do this for departures as well! And both myself and Tamara agree - once you experience it you wonder how is it that you used to fly without this service, and you’ll insist on booking it every time you travel. And trust me – I always offer this to my clients – in fact, I don’t recommend booking Jamaica without it because it saves you from spending so much time in the airport and will expedite your arrival to your final destination – the resort. 
 
Destinations: The three most popular – or should I say well-known – destinations are Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril. But there are others that you definitely need to consider when we create your itinerary. Read on for an overview of each.
 

• Montego Bay: Home of the Sangster International Airport - Montego Bay resorts and hotels are anywhere from just a ten to a 30-minute drive from there. Montego Bay provides visitors with easy access to shopping, activities and restaurants and is a complete resort area great for romantic rendezvous, family holidays, golf trips and more.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities: Well, there are those spectacular beaches – meaning you will find every different water activity imaginable here. There are also five championship golf courses in the area - so for my peeps who love to go golf Montego Bay is an excellent option to consider. Many of the resorts are located right next door to the golf courses which often overlook the Caribbean Sea making for spectacular scenery while you hit the links. They also host several championship golf tournaments throughout the year if you prefer being a spectator.

 
Did you know that you can ride seahorses? Not the seahorse that is a fish – but rather actual horses who absolutely love the water! Tamara shared that she has done this tour and said that you once they're getting close to the beach you feel that pep in their step because they know they're going to get to swim making it absolutely joyous for both you and the horses.
 
How about a leisurely float down the river on a bamboo raft? Per Tamara – do this and all of your troubles will melt away as you just lay there and relax and let someone else take you on a ride. You can even opt to do a nice spa experience while you are on the raft. Be prepared for a history lesson along the way too as you're going through areas that have much history behind it them and most of the rafter guides have been around for many years and can't wait to tell you all about the area that you’re rafting through. It really is quite a lovely experience.
 
For a totally unique wellness experience there is something called Stush in the Bush.  Fun Fact: In Jamaica Stush means posh. This is one of those experiences where you truly feel like you are on an island far away from the real world. It is a holistic, health and wellness experience right down to the organic farm to table food. This is a must do for those of you who are into wellness as it’s something that's unique to the island and that you won’t find in any other place.
 
Where there are rainforests there is zip lining! Jamaica is so green and lush and zip lining gives you the chance to view it from up high as you glide over rivers and streams. Here too your guides can't wait to relate to you the history of the area and teach you about all of the flora and fauna that you see around you - making it both fun and educational.
 
Speaking of educational the Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour is a great history lesson in itself. Falmouth – 18 miles east of Montego Bay – is one of the oldest and best-preserved towns in Jamaica and was one of the first places in the Western Hemisphere to have electricity and running water - so it certainly dates back in time. It is filled with historical facts and building that have been there for many, many years as well. The tour is very professionally executed, and you really come away with a lot from it. Fun Fact: When Prince Harry visited Jamaica, he took this tour.
 
For my shoppers - you will find many craft markets in this area - most filled with handmade items made with the mahogany wood or redwood that can found on the island.  One of the awesome things about this is that when you purchase these crafts, you're actually helping locals who are entrepreneurs and small business owners like me - using their art to sustain themselves.  What a great opportunity to give back and make your trip one of sustainable travel. And the best part is that you are getting unique one-of-a-kind piece of art plus you're bringing back a piece of Jamaica with you.
 

• Negril: Located on the north coast, Negril is the western most tip of the island and is a majestic and breathtaking area that definitely makes you feel like you are in paradise. Featuring picturesque cliffs, a seven mile stretch of beautiful beaches and amazing sunsets, it's a sun worshippers’ sanctuary that’s family friendly and ideal all types of getaways.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities: West End Negril is the cliff side of Negril and is an attraction in and of itself thanks to the beautiful layout of the landscape. This side does not have beaches but who needs beaches when have such spectacular views? You can still access the Caribbean Sea thanks to ladders that allow you to enter for a refreshing dip. And remember the waters are so calm in Jamaica. It’s not an overwhelming ocean like the Pacific Ocean – which is one of the things many things I love about Jamaica – the calmness and beauty of the waters that surround it.

 
Then there is the infamous Rick’s Cafe that is situated right on the water and is known for its front row seats to spectacular sunsets that are jaw dropping. As the sun starts to go down it’s simply amazing how everyone stops what they are doing and focuses on that orange glow over the blue water as the reggae band starts to play a serenade to the sun.  And don’t forget the locals who put on cliff diving shows for their visiting guests and are often accompanied by some daredevil tourists too!
 
Another thing I really enjoyed here was the catamaran cruise which is the epitome of what a party boat should look like with dancing and eating and drinking and watching the sunset from the water – such a great experience! Just being on a catamaran sailing in the Caribbean Sea is the icing on the cake to a Jamaican beach vacation.
 
Negril has some great national parks where you can participate in safaris via boat that give you a great history of the area. What a lot of people are unaware of is that Negril has the wetlands as a backdrop, and this gives you the opportunity to see part of those wetlands that are very vital the maintenance of the beaches and the whole environment there.
 
And it’s also home to another type of park - Kool Runnings Adventure Park – a water park that sits right in the front of the beautiful scenery of the wetlands. With water slides, a lazy river and even paint ball - it’s fun for the whole family.
 
While the cliff side doesn’t have beaches never fear because there’s plenty of white sand elsewhere in Negril – seven miles to be exact hence the name Seven Mile Beach. And if you’re looking for something more private there’s the cove of Bloody Bay as well as several other coves scattered throughout. You’ll find plenty of activities near the water too. For instance, just as in Montego Bay you can take the horses for a swim in Negril as well because the horses here totally enjoy the water and love to swim too! There’s also an opportunity to Swim with the Dolphins in Lucea which is an area in between Montego Bay and Negril meaning you don't have to drive all the way out Ocho Rios to enjoy these marvelous mammals. And don’t miss out on Island Lux Beach Park which is a lovely beach area featuring restaurants and ice cream shops and more. It a private beach so there is an admission charge but it's well worth it!
 
Negril is great for nightlife too whether it’s visiting Margaritaville for dinner and drinks or strolling along the Caribbean Sea listening to the live reggae bands that perform nightly on the beaches.
 

• Ocho Rios: Moving more easterly into what Jamaicans refer to as their Garden Parish - Ocho Rios is located in the St. Ann area on the northeastern coast of the island. With over 30 attractions in a five-mile radius – not to mention all the beaches - Ocho Rios is a great area for couples as well as for families.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities: One of Jamaica’s best-known attractions can be found in Ocho Rios and that’s Dunn’s River Falls. Dunn’s River Falls is a cascading waterfall which you can climb with the help of a guide for a one-of-a-kind adventure of a lifetime. Gushing out into the Caribbean Sea you will encounter a beautiful beach there as well.

 
You can find bamboo rafting in Ocho Rios too on the White River. Or you can grab a tube and float down the White River in that as well. Be sure to stop at the rope swing for a jump into the river and some good old fashion fun!
 
For adventure of the drier kind head to Mystic Mountain Park and try out the Sky Explorer which takes you up 700 feet above sea level for magnificent views of the Mystic Mountain tropical treetops and the nearby Dunn’s River Falls. Or you can hop on a Jamaica Bobsled on rails that plunges 3280 feet of twists and turns down the mountain overlooking the town of Ocho Rios and the blue hues of the Caribbean Sea. Or take a flight through the forest canopy via zip line for glimpses of the beautiful flora and fauna that's growing wild. The choice is yours!
 

• Kingston: This is the capital city of Jamaica - located on the southern coast of the island and home to the island’s other airport - the Norman Manley International Airport where a lot of people fly into for business reasons. Tamara referred to Kingston as the heartbeat of their little island as it is where their government is located as well as a lot of their corporate offices. Here you will also find plenty of art and culture giving it a quite different vibe and feel than Montego Bay. This is an area I feel that everyone should explore especially now that there is a new highway connecting Kington to Ocho Rios which makes for a shorter transfer time and thus easier access. It is especially great for reggae lovers and culture seekers as well as foodies thanks to its international cuisine.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities: This vibrant city has a host of hopping nightclubs, fabulous restaurants, lots of art galleries and historical areas making it much more metropolitan than the other areas. However, it is home to the Blue Mountains – which offer a beautiful backdrop and provide you with the opportunity to go on a hiking or bicycling tour.

 
One of the things that I love is that Jamaica has tons of festivals and Kingston you will find the Reggae Carnival as reggae was born here and Bob Marley recorded his music here. And speaking of Bob Marley, you can visit the Bob Marley Museum here in Kingston – which gives you a great history of his rise to fame. You can also opt to take the Trench Town Tour which is actually a birthplace of reggae tour that gives you the history of Jamaica’s music and the role Trench Town played in the start of reggae. On this tour you will also get a chance to see where Bob Marley lived when his reggae first took off and he became a success.
 
Jamaica has amazing coffee – which has a different taste than what you are probably use to, but it is quite smooth and is very popular so be sure and visit a coffee plantation while in Kingston for a tour, a cup of java and a real farm to table meal.
 
Another area of Kingston not to miss is Port Royal – which has a great history to it and was the inspiration for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with Captain Henry Morgan. For those of you who are not familiar - Henry Morgan was a pirate and plunderer who called Port Royal his home during the time when it was filled with – well – pirates and plunderers.
 

• South Coast: Home to white sand beaches as well as black sand beaches, rum estates and eco adventures - South Coast is one of the areas of Jamaica that you don’t hear about much as far as a vacation spot – but has so much to offer.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities: I personally love this area for it’s awesome Jamaican rum and especially the spicy rum fruit cake which is one of my favorites to enjoy. You can sample this fabulous rum at the Appleton Estates when you participate in the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience Tour. On this tour you’ll learn all about the process of making the rum and how it is still stored the old fashion way in rum barrels – along with a great history of the estate and area.

 
Similar to Dunn’s River Falls - in South Coast the Y.S. Falls are the big attraction. They are a bit different in that these waterfalls are in a garden setting whereas Dunn’s River Falls is on the beach. Here you can take a guided tour of the entire area which includes lunch and plenty of background on the falls.
 
The Black River Safari which is the on the longest navigable rivers on the island – is an amazing adventure that gets you up close and personal to the friendly Jamaican crocodiles – but Tamara warned - don’t try feeding them – leave that to the guide! Fun Fact: It’s called the Black River because of the peat sediment at the bottom of it. It's really crystal-clear water but the peat ignites when it gets really hot and makes it look black.
 
A trip to South Coast would not be complete without visiting The Pelican Bar which is a quirky and very charming bar that sits out on a sand barge in the Caribbean Sea. You need to access it via boat and once there you will see it has a very rustic feel to it, so you definitely get that Jamaica and island experience here.
 

• Port Antonio: Known as the Gateway to the Blue Mountains, one of the things that I love about Port Antonio is that while it's on the northeastern coast it’s very secluded and is really for those travelers who want to have a true off the beaten path adventure. This is a place for total relaxation with plenty of great food and beautiful beaches and I really just sum it up as a great escape. Fun Fact: Tourism began actually for Jamaica on this side of the island in Port Antonio and a lot of the James Bond movies were filmed in this area as well.

 

• Sightseeing and Activities:  From rafting on the Rio Grande to hiking through the beautiful flora and fauna or taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon - even though it is secluded there is still plenty to do! And Tamara noted that it is the only area on the island that you will get enough surf to do some surfing – fantastic surfing at that. Bamboo river rafting here takes place on the Rio Grande River - one of Jamaica’s longest rivers - and you have the option to stop for lunch or a swim along the way. And of course, it's great for wellness as there is plenty of ways to relax and unwind including yoga on the beach.

 

• Goldeneye: Goldeneye is actually a resort that overlooks the Caribbean Sea in the village of Oracabessa Bay on Jamaica's north coast. It is owned by Chris Blackwell who was the manager for Bob Marley as well as the founder of Island Records. Originally the spot where Ian Fleming built a villa for himself – it is now is a collection of private villas, huts and cottages. All of Fleming’s James Bond novels were written while he was in Jamaica and you can visit the exact room where those novels were written at Goldeneye.

 
Accommodations: There are no shortage of accommodations throughout the island and you guys have plenty of fantastic choices of hotels and resorts - as well as opportunities to indulge in your own private villa, bed and breakfast or even a home. So really depending on where you want to be on the island, we have the opportunity to get you just about anything. For instance - in Port Antonio there are no all-inclusives - but it has my favorite - small, unique boutique accommodations. It's very private so for those of you who are looking for major social distancing and connecting with nature you're going to find a lot of that right here. And because this area also has smaller properties if you are looking to do a buyout for a retreat or a small destination wedding this is a great area to do so. And in Kingston as well, you aren’t going to find any all-inclusive resorts - but rather more of the brands like a Marriott or a Hilton and those types of hotels - as it is a big business and corporate traveler destination.
Gastronomy: You know it’s going to be good when you are on an island surrounded by the Caribbean Sea – right? Absolutely. You are going to get to eat the fresh catch of the day everyday thanks to the fishermen that go out and bring back that fresh fish – no frozen fish here!
 
And Tamara advises to be prepared to sample some food that you might not necessarily be used to – because it is all great food and they have got some great chefs. For instance, you must try their national dish - akee and salt fish - or even the akee and cod fish. She promises you won't be disappointed and instead you will be happily surprised.  
 
In Negril and South Coast, you are going to find plenty of restaurants where you can get some authentic Jamaican meals so be sure to try out the Jamaican jerk and Jamaican beef patties. Per Tamara they jerk chicken, lobster, fish, sweet potatoes – pretty much everything. Fun Fact: Port Antonio is where jerk first became popular – and is home to the annual jerk festival. In Ocho Rios my foodies will have the chance to do farm to table spice tours as well as an opportunity to take Jamaican cooking classes in the Yaaman Adventure Park.
 
Culinary events abound here as well! Among the most popular are:
 

• March: Blue Mountain Coffee Festival in Kingston
• Easter: Trelawny Yam Festival
• April: Westmoreland Curry Festival
• July: Portland Jerk Festival in Port Antonio
• August: Ocho Rios Seafood Festival
• October: Jamaica Food and Drink Festival in Kingston

 
Destination Weddings: As you all know I am here and oh so happy to help plan any type of romance travel - whether it's a destination wedding or a vow renewal or a surprise engagement. And this island has amazing opportunities for all of these events thanks to the jaw-dropping views. Bonus - it's also extremely easy to get married here making for a simple process that means you can start enjoying married life quickly and happily with no stress - and its legal in the US!
 
Festivals: Jamaica is passionate about partying, enjoying life and being happy and I think that especially now we should take a little bit of their culture and remind ourselves that we need just loosen up and just enjoy or as Tamara said - just be irie! There are a lot of different festivals that happen in Jamaica throughout the year and here's a just a few of them:
 

• January: Music Festival's Rebel Salute in Saint Ann
• The Week after Easter: Jamaica Carnival in Kingston
• July: Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay
• August: Dream Weekend in Negril
• Various Times: Ocho Rios Frenchman Parties

 
Sporting Events: For my sports enthusiasts and especially my runners there are plenty of opportunities to catch major events or even to participate in a marathon or triathlon including:

• March: Kingston City Run
• March and April: Boys and Girls Athletic Championships in Kingston
• April: Jakes Off-Road Triathlon in South Coast
• May: MoBay City Run
• November: Jersey Mike's Basketball Classic in Montego Bay
• December: Negril Reggae Marathon

 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Jamaica.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Jamaica click here.
 
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So, mon – what do you think? Jamaica certainly is a fun-loving destination and when you are there - trust me - you definitely feel the vibe! And as you can see there is much to explore in Jamaica – and I am more than happy to help you narrow down what is important to you to experience while you are there and help you curate a trip to remember. Let’s get that conversation started and get you to Jamaica this year mon!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Jamaica, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Top of the mornin’ to ya! Sorry – I just couldn’t resist! I adore an Irish brogue but if you listened to this native New Yorker try one out on my Travel Tuesday video chat with a representative from Ireland – you know that this is one accent I definitely need to work on!
 
Anywho – for this chat I welcomed my eyes and ears on the ground - straight from Ireland - Cairin O'Connor from Ireland Less Traveled and a National Tour Guide as well! Cairin grew up in Dublin and studied at 400-year-old Trinity College Dublin. She then travelled the country extensively for 15 years marketing those yummy Irish cheeses before eventually setting up her business – Ireland Less Traveled. After organizing tours for a number of years, two years ago she trained to become a licensed tour guide and also studied genealogy. And all of this makes Cairin a wonderful partner to help me curate your Ireland adventure.
 
Now, let’s take a peek at what that adventure could include, shall we?
 
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Background and History: Cead Mile Failte means A Hundred Thousand Welcomes and Cairin promised you would be assured of that when you visit this friendly country! Ireland is actually an island off the Atlantic Ocean and a small one at that. It is not much more than 30 miles long, about 200 miles wide and that makes it 36,000 square miles – which for perspective is similar in size to the state of Indiana.  Their population is 6.5 million people and 1.5 million of those reside in the northern part of the island. There are a total of 32 counties throughout Ireland with six of them also situated in the northern part of the island.
 
Cairin cautioned that many people think you can see Ireland in four or five days but since a lot of the great scenery and the “must see” places to visit are along the west coast this is not very likely. Why? Traveling the coast is primarily on one to two lane roads and highways so for that reason you will need more time than most think.
 
Ireland’s history dates back 10,000 years with Waterford claiming the title of its oldest city. It was founded in 910 AD when Vikings invaded and is home to that famous Waterford crystal we all bring out for special occasions.
 
One interesting fact that Cairin pointed out was that the population in Ireland was eight million at one time. But during the famine over one million residents left and went to seek work in the United States (and Canada). The result? There are now over 40 million Irish Americans and many who come back to see where their relatives came from.  It is a great place to visit if you are into genealogy – and if you let Cairin and I know exactly where they came from in Ireland, we can get you there and it’s guaranteed you’ll feel a connection with the area. Thanks to the fact it’s a small country we can certainly fit this into any itinerary. She did note that the records aren’t that great before 1850 but still there is enough there and you’d be surprised how much you can find out!
 
As for some cities you may be familiar with – there’s Dublin – which is the capital of Ireland, Belfast – which is the second largest city in the country, Cork, Galway and Limerick. And Cairin was also sure to note that their Gaelic language – which is their own Irish language that everyone is taught in school - has shaped who they are including their history, culture, writers, music, food and drink. All of that - combined with being an island nation - makes them very proud of Ireland and its uniqueness.
 
Getting Around: Driving the world’s longest defined coastal touring route – the 1600-mile Wild Atlantic Way is the best way to see and visit some of Ireland’s most dramatic sites - from wild beaches and jagged cliffs to lively cities and colorful towns. The route traces Ireland’s rugged West Coast from Cork in the south to Donegal in the north. Along the way you will find there are numerous beautiful pitstops to make.
 
Start your adventure in the south and cross the foot bridge at Mizen Head in County Cork for views of Fastnet Rock and its spectacular lighthouse – which was the last site of Ireland for emigrants sailing to America.
 
Moving up the coast - Star Wars fans may recognize Skellig Michael which recently appeared as Luke Skywalker‘s hideaway. It’s also home to a unique colony of puffins!
 
You’ll then head to the Dingle Peninsula for traditional Irish music and “the craic” – otherwise known as good old-fashioned Irish fun! Loop Head is a perfect spot to get out for a stroll with a great hiking trail between its tip and the village of Kilkee. Continuing on you’ll come across the dramatic Cliffs of Moher rising 214 meters from the sea and take in this incredible view.
 
Next - for the feeling of being at the edge of the world and the traditional way of life catch a ferry or fly to the isolated Aran Islands.
 
Once back on the mainland make a stop in lively Galway for sea-fresh oysters and a warm Irish welcome! Make sure to stop in the pretty town of Westport in County Mayo on your way to the peak of Benbulben - which was immortalized in the poetry of W.B Yeats.  
 
You will ultimately reach your journeys end at Malin Head - famous for its history and folklore. It is the country’s northern most point and one of the final landmarks on the Wild Atlantic Way.


As you can see - Ireland’s coastline is packed with breathtaking landscapes, cultural hotspots and of course classic Irish charm so it’s always worth taking the scenic route!
 
Destinations aka Counties: Ok now that we laid out some of the highlights to check out – lets take a look at the counties individually!

• County Cork: Cork is Ireland’s largest county and shares its name with one of its cities that lies within the county.

• Cork is known as the Gourmet Capital of the Island for a number of reasons. There is an abundance of good land in Cork and thus there are a lot of farms producing good food. Then you have the seas with the numerous fishing ports providing fresh catch daily. Between the two of them you get plenty of farm to table and sea to table options. And for my vegans, vegetarians and gluten free peeps – they have you covered too!  

 
Aside from the plentiful food options Cork is also home to the two hundred plus year old Jameson Distillery which is located in the eastern part of the town and an extremely popular place to visit. Gee – I wonder why?

• The town of Kinsale – also located in the county is not only a historic port and fishing town – but it too is a gourmet town like Cork. It features plenty of restaurants of all types- including a Michelin-starred one – and galleries along its windy cobble stone streets. Kinsale is also home to the Gourmet Food Festival every October. Count me in!

• County Kerry Three Peninsulas: County Kerry is probably the best-known county for tourism, and it is a quite suitable destination for families. They offer up a variety of different types of accommodations - from 5-star properties – to glamping - to bed and breakfasts.

• The Beara Peninsula borders with Cork and is absolutely the road less travelled! It contains beautiful scenery but it’s not a very popular area with the tourists – which in this day and age is welcome!

• The Ring of Kerry is another one of the peninsulas. Visitors like to say they that they “completed the Ring of Kerry” as it is a full day, eight-hour trip that includes stopping at some of its many attractions. Cairin shared with us one of her favorites - the sheep dog demonstration.  She described it as a quite simple activity but when you see a farmer and his sheep dog working with the sheep it’s a very special experience. And of course, it is quite educational for children and teens – making it a great living classroom experience.

• The Lakes of Killarney are a very famous scenic attraction located in Killarney National Park that offer a great place to kayak and fish.

• Skellig Michael is a towering sea craig featuring little huts which date back to the 8th and 9th century. They were once homes to monks who lived there until they were plundered. However, Skellig Michael saw its popularity soar in the past ten years - once two of the Star Wars movies were filmed there! Needless to say, South Kerry area has become a pilgrimage for Star Wars fans all over the globe.

• County Clare and County Limerick

• County Clare is home to Shannon which is home to the Shannon Airport. This airport is a great alternative option to fly into instead of Dublin for my clients coming from the east coast – specifically New York and Boston. Flying into Shannon means you land right in the tourist area, so you don’t have to travel down to it – which saves about half a day of travel. Bonus - it’s a small airport – so no big crowds!

• Shannon is very close to the city of Limerick – which lies in County Limerick – and in Limerick you will find the Cliffs of Moher which are pretty much on everyone’s list to see! What makes them so unique is that these cliffs stretch for they eight miles long – unlike all of Ireland’s other cliffs. This is a great opportunity for Cairin and I to hook you up with a private guide to help you navigate the cliffs – especially if the weather isn’t cooperating.

• The Burren - a glacier karst region – is an incredibly unique area as there is nowhere else like it in rest of the country. Here we have more travel as a living classroom material – what a great geography lesson! And -The Burren Yoga Retreat is a great wellness opportunity close to Cliffs of Moher that looks out over Atlantic Ocean.

• Adare is home to Adare Manor – a dream come true for all my Gastronome’s out there! Featuring 104 rooms and 50 – yes 50 chefs – and bonus - one of their restaurants got a Michelin star! The Adare Manor is owned by philanthropist J.P. McManus and is an exquisite place to stay. Among its amenities are – well the food of course! – a lovely spa for that wellness aspect and a golf course where the Rider Cup will be held in 2025.

• County Galway and County Mayo

• Galway is a very lively city most probably due to the fact that it is a university town full of young people. It is also home to a Latin Quarter featuring fabulous music and small local restaurants.

• The 5-star luxury Ashford Castle – located in Cong - is one of the most sought-after properties to stay in. It was built in the 11th century in the style of a French chateau and has 80 rooms. There are plenty of activities right on the estate to partake in - including falconry, horseback riding and sailing. Cairin gushed that it really is a wonderful treat to stay there and there is also a lot to do locally   as well – one of her favorites being an Oyster Farm on the ocean where you  can meet the maker!

• County Sligo and County Donegal: Cairin noted that there would be less people visiting these two counties than one would find  in Kerry and Clare but they are no less beautiful – they just happed to be “on the road less traveled.”

• In Donegal you will find the stunning Lough Eske Castle Wellness Retreat. From here you can visit the beautiful scenery of Donegal – which is at the end of the Wild Atlantic Way and at the top of Ireland. Here you will also find sandy beaches and golf courses.

 
Other Destinations:

• Belfast and Northern Ireland: So, a little history for you – the English ruled Ireland for 400 years and when there were troubles, they retreated and Ireland was left with six counties and the English retained Northern Ireland. The end. It is important to note though – that as far as tourism is concerned – they are all one. That and there has been no trouble there for over twenty years. Fun Fact: Northern Ireland uses the British pound, but the rest of Ireland uses the Euro - although Northern Ireland will accept the Euro too.

• Belfast City is very do-able from Dublin as it is only two hours via train so you can make a day trip out of it. There is plenty to do and see in there. For instance, you will find Giants Causeway – a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site – along the coast here as well as Carrick-a-Rede Bridge – which is a rope bridge and is not far from Giant’s Causeway. And we cannot forget that this area is also home to the beech trees that were used as a filming location on Game of Thrones. The Titanic Museum is located in Belfast City and is considered a world leading tourist attraction and a “must see.”  And we haven’t forgotten our foodies - Belfast is good for you too! They have a fabulous market there and lots of Michelin-starred restaurants as well as other amazing places to indulge.

• Irelands Ancient East: This is what the counties close to Dublin and south of Dublin are referred to as.

• County Wicklow is known as The Garden of Ireland. Here there resides a magnificent estate – well-known for its beautiful gardens itself. It is the Powerscourt Estate which is owned by the Slazenger family who are known for manufacturing tennis rackets and golf clubs. They still manage the estate, and in addition to the gardens there is also a whiskey distillery on property that you can visit.

• Glendalough is monastic city dating back to 80 and 90 BC – oh the history lesson there! Fun Fact: Michelle Obama and her daughters visited there during their years in the White House.

• Dublin is a walking city and Cairin would be happy to do a two- or three-hour walking tour of it for you. The city is a Viking city, but they are proud of their Georgian Squares!  There are five Georgian Squares still in existence that are very well preserved all with brightly colored doors that even the ones left in England do not have. In the 18th century the squares were homes for professional people. They would have their consulting rooms (if they were say a doctor or lawyer) on the main level of the house and then lived on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Oh and of course they had a home in the country too!  

• Another popular tourist spot - Guinness Storehouse where Guinness is brewed. Back in the day Guinness employed 10,000 people in Dublin. Not only that but they were what you and I would consider marvelous employers as they also provided housing for their employees! Still in operation today – they now employee approximately 1500 people and no – they do not provide housing.

• Dubliners are immensely proud of author and Dublin-born James Joyce who wrote Ulysses - which relays the story of a single day in the life of Leopold Bloom – that being June 16th, 1904. That day is now called Bloom’s Day and people dress up in the costumes from that era and visit the sites around town in honor of it. There is also a new museum of literature in Dublin with a large portion of it being dedicated to James Joyce and his books

• Ha’penny Bridge is a bridge in Dublin over River Liffey which divides the city in half. The name came from the fact that at one time the fee to cross the bridge to get from the northside to the southside was a half penny.

• And finally, Dublin is also home to a 200-year-old library at Trinity College where the Book of Kells is housed.

 
Cairin’s Favorite Places: Cairin didn’t want to leave our chat until she let us in on some of her favorite places to see and we are so incredibly grateful to her for doing so!

• Ross Castle is a castle located on the Lakes of Killarney. It has been restored to its former glory and you can join a tour there where you can learn a lot about the castle and its history. It’s a very authentic experience.

• So apparently 5000 years ago they valued the dead more than the living based on the grand structure that is the Newgrange Burial Chamber. This huge burial chamber – which holds twenty people – umm bodies – tells another story too.  There are images of it during its excavation with 97 big stones all around it. This shows us they were archaeologists and scientists and engineers back then as they somehow managed to bring all those materials up the coast to build this magnificent structure. Another cool thing they figured out how to do? There is a light box over the entrance and on the longest and the shortest day of year the sun shines right back into the rear of the tomb. Yup – they figured out all of that 5000 years ago – talk about being ahead of your time!

 
Accommodations: Ireland is home to a lot of boutique hotels which are owned by local hosts who are willing to be your guide and tell you their secrets.  And they are genuinely interested in meeting and talking to you too.
 
Miscellaneous: So Cairin was also kind enough to give us some time frames to keep your travel to Ireland in perspective. If you want to see both the North and the South regions of Ireland as well as the entire Wild Atlantic Way and Dublin – you need at least ten days. If you are ok with only seeing some of the Wild Atlantic Way and want to see Dublin too – you can do that in about seven or eight days. Side Note: If you want to leave Dublin entirely out, you can substitute something else in its place – perhaps a boat trip to Skellig Michael or the Aaron Islands.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing travel the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Ireland.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 in Ireland click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Ireland click here.
 
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And that me lasses and lassies completes our tour of Ireland. And remember – with Cairin as my contact together we can curate an itinerary based on what YOU want to see and make it an amazing trip that you will never forget. And Cairin reminded us that they have a fabulous tourism board in Ireland that is gearing up for 2021 travel so contact me to get your itinerary started today!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Ireland, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!
 
 
 
 

Brazil. Home to Rio de Janeiro and its flamboyant Carnival, the Amazon (the rainforest not the online giant) and the infamous Christ the Redeemer statue.  Just those three sights alone would make it a memorable trip – but there’s definitely more to Brazil than just these highlights!
 
I recently had the pleasure of welcoming Fernanda Freitas from Personal Brasil Incoming Destination Management Company on one of my Wanderlust Wednesday video chats. We chatted about all the wonderfulness that is Brazil including its culture, gastronomy and natural resources.
 
Grab your dancing shoes or your hiking boots, put your seat in the upright position, fasten your seat belt and away we go!
 
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Getting There: Getting to Brazil is not difficult by any means and there are actually three major airports you can fly into - Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Iguassu Falls (Foz do Iguacu). And coming from the US there are plenty of direct flights to the fist two (Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro). Bonus – Americans do not need visas – just your passport will suffice!
 
Statistics: Brazil is a country found in South America and is actually the largest country in both South America and Latin America measuring at 3.2 million square miles. Its population is around 209.5 million people and its’s capital is Brasilia.
 
Accommodations: Brazil offers the opportunity to experience both all-inclusive hotels as well as those that only offer breakfast. For instance  - in Rio De Janeiro – the hotels normally just include breakfast as there is so much to explore there and they realize you will most likely be gone the majority of the day and will eat out – exploring all the local flavors. However, should you find yourself at the hotel at lunch or dinner time most of them do have a restaurant on site that you can frequent. The cities outside of Rio de Janeiro that are located in the beach areas is where you are going to find those handy all-inclusives. Fernanda also told us about a luxury accommodation in the middle of the Amazon jungle - Anavilhanas Lodge - which offers fabulous views of the jungle and the river. In fact, she noted that there are several nice properties in the middle of the Amazon – offering pools, spas, yoga and more!
 
Popular Destinations:
 

• Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro has a reputation as a party city and indeed it is. But there is nature here too! Here you will see Corcovado (which means "hunchback" in Portuguese) a mountain in the central part of the city which on its summit looms the magnificent Christ the Redeemer statue. Another popular spot in Rio de Janeiro is Sugarloaf Mountain which sits at the mouth of the Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. It is named due to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. The cable cars which take you over to Sugarloaf Mountain are a fun way to get there and offer fabulous views. And for some sports history - Rio is also home to one of the world's great stadiums - Maracana Stadium – which celebrated its 70th birthday in June of 2020. Fun Fact: Carioca is the term used to refer to Rio de Janeiro locals. Cariocas are a warm, fun and friendly people.

 

• Iguazu Falls aka Iguassu Falls: Located within the Iguazu National Park – which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site are these stunning semicircular waterfalls which together make up the largest waterfall in the world. This area is also known as the Three Frontiers Border as it is where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet.

 

• Amazon Rainforest: The easiest way to access the Amazon is to take a flight into the city of Manaus which is situated in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. There are direct flights from Rio de Janeiro (a four-hour flight) and Sao Paulo (a five-hour flight) and Brasilia (a three-hour flight). This area has two seasons. The Flood Season which is from March through August and the Dry Season which is from September through February. The only difference between the two seasons is the amount of water. Which means that during flood season all tours are done by boat and in dry season all tours are walking tours through the jungle. Given these two unique ways to experience it one might consider making the trip twice! Fernanda definitely suggests staying three nights to explore the wonder of it all.

 

• Buzios: This small fishing village is just a two-hour car ride from Rio de Janeiro and Fernanda suggested it as a great last stop after you travel to the Amazon and are returning to fly back out of Rio de Janeiro. Here you will find small hotels – boutique and Paradores (family owned inns). It is a charming town featuring lots of shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. And since it is a beach area what a great way to relax – on the beach – before you finish your trip and head back home!

 
Sightseeing and Activities: You have culture – you have sun and beaches - 4,650 miles worth of coastline! There’s gastronomy – each region has its own special dish. And there’s wellness thanks to nature and spas.
 

• Rio De Janeiro:

 

• Cooking Classes: This is a fabulous opportunity for an off the beaten path gastronomy experience. You will let the tour guide / chef know what you enjoy eating prior to the tour and they will choose a dish for you to prepare.  They will pick up you up at your hotel  and take you to the local market where you can get fruits and vegetables in addition to the ingredients for the meal you are going to prepare. Your Brazilian chef will teach you how to prepare it and when it is completed you will sit down and eat the meal. This can be done as a private tour or with a group and some examples of dishes you may prepare include feijoada, farofa, moqueca or brigaceiro.

 

• Biking Tours: The biking tours are guided tours that typically last for about an hour. You will bike around the city as well as by the beach where you will have a chance to stop and taste some coconut water.

 

• Samba Classes: These dancing lessons can also be done in a group setting or private – but Fernanda thinks it’s best done in a group of people as it is more fun that way. The first part of this experience is when you actually will learn the moves to dance the Samba. The second part of the experience can be one of three thigs. You can go out on the town later in the evening where you can practice the steps in a nightclub with the locals, or you can visit a Samba School (Saturday ONLY) where they practice for Carnival all year round – and practice what you learned right along with them, or you can visit the City of Samba, don a costume and parade around with locals! They’ll also teach you how to prepare a caipirinha which is Brazil’s national drink. Now that is what I call a full cultural immersion - food and dance!

 

• Iguazu Falls aka Iguassu Falls:

 

• The Bird Park: In this outdoor park the birds fly free allowing you to watch, touch and feed them. Get up close and personal with parrots, toucans and more. This is a great opportunity for travel as a living classroom – especially for those kiddos who are being home schooled – you can really impress them here!

 

• Macuco Safari Boat: If you go to Iguassu Falls you have to go on the Macuco Safari Boat! This boat ride through the rapids will take you so close to the falls that you are guaranteed to end up soaking wet. Great for our thrill seekers!

 

• Amazon Jungle:

 

• Swim with Pink Dolphins: These beautiful gentle animals love when humans join them and trust me, they are not afraid of you – they will eat a fish right out of your hands!
  
  
• Taste the Local Gastronomy:  The Amazon produces foods that no other place in the world has. In fact all of these come from the Amazon: Guarana – which is a fruit whose seeds are used to brew a drink;  Acai – a reddish purple berry; tapioca - a starch extracted from the storage roots of the cassava plant and cupuacu – a chocolaty, nutrient-dense fruit that is very similar to the cacao fruit.

 

• The Meeting of Waters: This is the meeting between the dark Rio Negro with the sandy colored upper Amazon River. The two rivers – one brown and one black meet each other but the colors do not mix. Such an awe-inspiring site to see!

 

• Caimans: In the evenings in the Amazon you can spot go out with a guide and spot Caimans which are a South American alligator. Yikes!

 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing travel the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Brazil.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements Brazil click here.
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And that concludes our Brazilian journey! I sure hope you found plenty of reasons to add it to your list of must-see destinations. If so - let’s start planning your 2021 adventure to Brazil now!

For more details on things to see and do in Brazil, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

Iceland. Conjures up images of well - ice. And with ice you pretty much think freezing cold weather, blizzards, whipping winds…you get the idea. But what if I told you that is really not what Iceland is all about? And that in winter you can actually experience warmer temperatures in Iceland than in New York City?
 
It’s true! And there’s probably a lot of other interesting facts about Iceland that you didn’t know – but you will after reading this overview! I recently hosted Ryan Connolly of Hidden Iceland on my weekly video chat session - who shared some fabulous insight into Iceland’s misconceptions, treasures and more. Ryan is one of my favorite people – we actually met at a Family Travel Association event – and share the same passion for doing things off the beaten path.
 
Read on to discover just what you’re missing if you don’t include Iceland on your list of must-see destinations!

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Company Background: So, Ryan is actually one of the founders and owners of Hidden Iceland – which is a small company that keeps their adventures and personalized and focused on customer experience. They create your itinerary based on what you want and then add in hidden spots - giving you more of the off the beaten path of Iceland experience – as that is what they specialize in after all! Think glacier hikes and volcanic rocks and traversing all around the island in summer and the northern lights and ices caves come wintertime. Their tours are typically either small – a maximum of twelve people in a spacious vehicles and Ryan feels – as I do – that we are going to see a lot more family and private trips as people venture back out.
 
And it is also very important to note that the guides that Ryan and his team work with are local experts - the best guides to have - as they are either glaciologists, volcanologists or geologists!
 
Destination (Climate and Landscape): So, I touched on the misconceptions surrounding Iceland in the intro – like that it’s always freezing cold and a destination that is only for the adventurous types. The reality is that Iceland is a tiny island in middle of Atlantic Ocean that enjoys unseasonably warm weather year-round! Yup – and this is all thanks to the gulf stream coming up from Gulf of Mexico that spins around the island all year long. The result – it is possible that in the middle of winter they may be averaging temperatures at 35 or 40 degrees Fahrenheit while the Northeastern US states are at a bone chilling ten degrees! But yes - snow and cold winter weather happens – but its not necessarily as cold as everyone seems to think it is.

Another reason it’s not so cold? Well Iceland is known as The Land of Fire and Ice thanks to an abundance of moving glaciers and 132 named volcanoes – some active. Due to this it can be quite mountainous and rocky and that actually stops bad weather from coming in sometimes. The reality of Iceland – as Ryan put it – is that’s it’s warm and cold at the same time!
 
Sightseeing and Activities: There is just so very much to see and do in Iceland – I actually suggest six or seven nights to get to experience it all and get a glimpse of those famous northern lights. And really – any time spent out of Reykjavik (Iceland’s capital and largest city) is pretty much off the beaten path!
 
Being so close to the Artic Circle your chances of seeing northern lights is exceptionally good.  Ryan said that some of the most incredible he has seen were in the last few days of August and that you may even see them in mid-September. Typically, December through March are popular times to view them, but Ryan has also had sightings the first week of April. So – just when is the best time to see this stunning phenomenon?  Per Ryan – it is NOT dependent on the time of the year. What you are looking for is darkness and good weather – as seeing them is also weather dependent. And they say that they hunt for the northern lights because that is pretty much what they are doing – as you have to get as far away from any unnatural light as they can to find clear skies and then you spend quite a bit of time searching those skies for them. Which by the way – is a great way to social distance!
 
Now these volcanoes on the island – that heat of theirs is deep underground is warm enough to heat water. And when it does it either creates hot springs all over the country – think the popular Blue Lagoon - or sometimes it get so hot that it boils the water and makes it explode - thus creating erupting geysers – like Strokkur (the biggest geyser in Iceland). Now these
hot springs are a fabulous wellness experience as immersing yourself in one is great to rejuvenate you and your circulatory system! In the age of social distancing this is another great option to do so – as Ryan and his team will take you to less popular and thus less crowded hot springs than the Blue Lagoon.
 
Want to know what’s really, really off the beaten path? Hiking a glacier! And yes – you will have the opportunity to do just that. And you don’t even have to pack any special equipment as Ryan and his team will provide you with the correct spikes needed for the bottom of your shoes. They will also provide harnesses if you are using ropes which generally aren’t used unless requested – as they try to make this adventure as easy as possible for first timers. As Ryan said - they don’t make it difficult or challenging as they assume you’ve never been on the ice before and just want you to experience these giant beasts before they disappear.  Yes – these glaciers are moving and melting and that is what makes this experience so unique – because every time you step onto the ice it is a place no one has ever stepped on before! (Ryan’s take – he loves guiding these tours because its new to him each time too!)  As for the movement – they move one to two feet every couple of days and are simultaneously melting down by a few inches every day. Of course, I asked if you can actually feel this movement for nervous nelly’s such as myself – but Ryan assured me that since glaciers cover 10 to 11% of the entire island there is a very small chance of feeling a shift (but it happens and when it does its cool!).
 
Another unique experience? Ice caves! So, you can walk on top of glaciers all year round but from November onwards the temperature gets cold enough that the shapes created by the glaciers freeze in time and stop moving until March – making it safe enough for you to go into the glacier. Yes - you can actually go underneath the ice and venture into these awe-inspiring  ice caves! And, since the melting in summer will cause all of these ice caves to disappear – you will have new ones each winter – meaning once again you are stepping into something no one else ever has. So cool! Literally! And speaking of cool – I asked Ryan just how cold these ice caves get and guess what? The average temperature in an ice cave is 32 degrees. So, you won’t be colder inside the cave and if the weather is windy or otherwise bad outside it is actually warmer to be inside of it! And this is where they usually stop the tour to eat lunch or a snack due to just that fact.
 
Animals and Wildlife: Animals and wildlife can be difficult one to plan a tour around. In the winter, the only animals you are 100% guaranteed to see is the Icelandic horse. The rest of the animals that are reared in farms – sheep and cows - are indoors due to the snow.
 
To see the actual wildlife, you are going to have to do some hiking! To see reindeer for instance, you have to travel to the southeast for a day and a half to get to their breeding ground and it must be done in winter as once summer arrives it is too hot for them and they run into the mountains. To see Artic foxes, you would have to take a boat ride over to an island where they reside to catch a glimpse of them running around. And everyone’s favorites – the Atlantic Puffins – to see them in the wild you would most likely have to climb to the top of a cliff and look down to see them wondering about.
 
Now another way to see those adorable little Atlantic Puffins (Listen up Jamie from The Wandering Puffin – this is for you!) is to head to the Westman islands -a volcanic island that erupted in 1973 – but you can only go there in the summer. Here you will find the Sea Life Trust – which has two parts – the Puffin Rescue Center and the Beluga Whale Sanctuary.  Now you may catch a glimpse of them in their natural habitat if you walk along the cliff edges. But you will definitely see them in the rescue center! And you will actually see baby puffins (awwwww) or puffling’s as they are called - that got stuck on the  island before they flew off into Atlantic to spend the rest of year and thus are brought here to be rehabilitated then released back into the wild.
 
And if you head to the Beluga Whale Sanctuary, they currently have two beluga whales that were brought there sick and will be released into the wild once they are better.
 
Puffins, whales and a walk around a volcanic island! Now this is what you call travel as a living classroom! What an amazing way for children to learn about wildlife preservation efforts in other countries!
 
Gastronomy: In Iceland they use the heat produced underground by the volcanoes to heat green houses. This allows them to grow things they wouldn’t be able to normally – such as tomatoes, bananas and peppers. And as of 2017 – they were able to grow coffee and cocoa beans – so we may see Icelandic coffee and chocolate in the future! Sign me up!
 
Being an island, naturally they have their fair share of seafood. The types of seafood you see most often in restaurants are lobster and mussels, as well as a hybrid fish called Artic char that is a mix between salmon and trout (which Ryan says is the best fish he’s ever had in his entire life!). As a rule, Iceland doesn’t believe in importing fish - or other foods - from outside – so you are always getting served local, fresh food whether it is sea to table or farm to table.
 
Accommodations: Most of my clients like boutique hotels and Ryan said that they do tend to pick hotels that are boutique. With a caveat or two. It may be a 4-star hotel that is also a horse farm or a 3-star guest house in the middle of nowhere and there are lambs running all around and you can see northern lights! They tend to pick the places they like to go to – which are unique properties with unique styles – involving wildlife, farm and rural settings.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing Iceland is open to passengers inside the Schengen Area but all arriving passengers must choose between a 14-day quarantine or a double testing procedure with a quarantine for 4-5 days. The double border-screening procedure requires all passengers arriving in Iceland to undergo two PCR-tests: one upon arrival and another 4-5 days later to minimize the risk of a false negative causing infection to spread in the community. During this period, all arriving passengers must stay in quarantine in case of a possible infection. Passengers are charged ISK 9.000 for a single test at pre-registration but ISK 11.000 if paid on arrival. The second test is free of charge. This process was designed to prioritize safety, but also to work for visitors and Icelanders, based on Chief Epidemiologist’s medical and scientific guidance.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Iceland click here.
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Ready to pack your bags for the Land of Fire and Ice? If so – be rest assured that Ryan and his team are my eyes and ears on the ground and are able to vet a lot of the things that I haven’t seen or experienced – yet. As my local contacts I am in full coordination with them while we curate your trip and while you are there!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Iceland, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!
 
 
 
 

Today we are traveling to an amazing country where we will discover wellness opportunities, off the beaten path locations, gastronomy and more. And speaking of gastronomy, I guarantee you will not actually go hungry – although the name of this destination happens to be – Hungary!
 
I had the absolute pleasure of having one of my fabulous contacts and colleagues – Zsuzsanna Sarmon the Regional Head of Business Development, North America at WOW Hungary on my video chat series to chat with us about everything and anything we need to see and do when we visit her marvelous country. Zsuzsanna is my on the ground eyes and ears go to who assists me in curating the most incredible itineraries for my clients.
 
Let’s hit the ground running and whet our appetites for Hungary!
 
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Transportation - Getting There and While There. There's so much accessibility into the country itself including plenty of non-stop flights from the East Coast and easy connections throughout the US. Once you're there you've got an amazing rail system to help you get around or if you prefer you can hire a driver – or heck – even drive yourself! One of the cool things about Hungary is that there's so many countries that connect to it – and it can boast of something quite rare in Europe – there are three capital cities within a three-hour driving radius - Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest – so in reality you can cover three different countries by car!
 
Budapest - the Spice of Europe! At one time Budapest was actually three separate cities – Bud, Pest and Old Buda. At the end of the 19th century, they came together as one and was then named the capital city of Hungary. Zsuzsanna shared that what she really loves about Budapest is that it's walkable despite the fact that it is really spread out. She went on to explain that if you just pick one part of the city to explore for a day then you can easily walk around. To give us an idea of what is in store for us here she broke it down into The Five Brand Pillars of Budapest and they are as such:

• The Amazing Architecture: To start with there is the stunning Gresham Palace which is now The Four Seasons Hotel and is the most amazing art nouveau masterpiece Zsuzsanna has ever seen. It sits just at the foot of the Danube River overlooking the Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge in a spectacular neighborhood.
  
  Moving on to the Jewish District you’ll find the Dohány Street Synagogue which is actually the largest synagogue in Europe. It has a unique architectural style and is a must see while in the city.
  
  Next is The Hungarian Parliament Building - which is the third largest parliament in Europe and features lots of gold elements, beautiful arches and a dazzling dome. Tours of the Parliament are available and highly recommended.
  
  Now onto what Zsuzsanna described as the best Instagram spot in the city – Fisherman’s Bastion. Here you can just sit underneath the arch with the Danube, Parliament and the whole city behind you making for a great photo op! On a side note, I was on the Danube when I took an AmaWaterways Cruise and loved spending time on it. The Danube really is amazing and it's just a completely different vantage point of the city. I absolutely suggest partaking in a sunset river cruise while you are here - if you are not coming in by cruise. Just you and your companion, the sunset and a glass of champagne in your hand floating down the magical Danube – quite the experience!

 

• Exciting and Diverse Gastronomy: Hey I said it before, and I will say it again - just because the country's name is Hungary doesn't mean that you're going to go hungry while you are there. There is so much food here and it's mouthwatering! I like how Zsuzsanna noted that the food there is much bigger - in other words they are not known or famous for light fare. The best part about it though is that it is all local so it's farm to table or sea to table and there are no GMO’s so it’s absolutely clean.
  
  ​Budapest can also brag about its Michelin star restaurants – there are six in Budapest which just so happens to be the largest amount of Michelin starred restaurants in Central Europe within a city! In addition to the Michelin star restaurants really any place you go you will find great dishes. Now most of us – when we think of Hungarian food probably think of goulash. But they do have a lot of fabulous food other than that goulash – including great fish dishes. Zsuzsanna also mentioned that they tend to use a lot of cottage cheese in their cooking - which is more like the Italian type of cottage cheese or ricotta as opposed to the cottage cheese we think of here in the US. They use it for dumplings and for pasta and for strudel too – just to name a few of the many different ways it is incorporated into their dishes.

 

• Thriving Cultural Life: Lots going on here! There is the Hungarian State Opera House, the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and tons of live events and festivals in the city. Actually, the whole country is full of music festivals with the biggest one being the   Sziget Festival. Sziget means island and is thus named because it is actually held on a northern island of Budapest. The festival happens the second week of August each year and runs for a week. It features close to 200 bands from all over the world and has brought in big names in the past such as Lady Gaga, Prince and George Michael to name drop a few! They have people coming to these festivals from all over the world but it’s not only music festivals. They host a Formula One event at the Hungarian Grand Prix along with other great sporting events. Indeed, they have no problem catering to large events and on another side note it is a very safe city. As a solo woman traveling alone in Budapest, I never felt scared and Zsuzsanna said she too walks downtown after a night out and uses the public transport and never has any worries.

 

• Lively and Authentic Character: In terms of the residents in Budapest I felt that everyone I met while I was visiting had the most wonderful lively personalities and were so friendly. I just loved the people there - they were just amazing. In terms of transportation there is the Budapest Castle Hill Funicular which is a cable car that takes you from the foot of the Chain Bridge to Buda Castle that just screams charming.
  
  Zsuzsanna noted that she feels the character comes from the mixture of the historic city along with the modern, youthful character that it has nowadays which also resulted in loads of renovations throughout the city.
  
  ​One of the things the locals love the most are all the Ruin Bars. Zsuzsanna said she would describe them as something that looks like grandma's living room – they have that really retro feeling. They reside in the ruins of old buildings – that were not restored after the World War and from the outside look like someone’s home. But inside they are filled with colorful, bold decorations and furniture. The great thing about them is that they are not only used by the young generation. When you go into one of these bars – there are hundreds of them – you feel comfortable even whether you are 21 or 51.  It’s a place where everybody can have fun!

 

• Historical Spas: One of the things that Budapest – and Hungary overall – are known for are their amazing spas and hot springs. And how wonderfully they place into the wellness piece of the puzzle that I always include when I am curating your trip. After all – thermal water is all about helping us to get that timeless ageless beauty and we are all searching for that fountain of youth and I think we found it right here in Hungary!
  
  As far as this Hungarian bath culture, Hungary is actually the fifth largest thermal water reserve in the world. Throughout the whole country you find more than a thousand thermal springs and because of this they have pretty much every kind of thermal water that exists within the world. The thermal baths are actually public baths that each have different water temperatures. They are large and are mainly used as a place where locals go after work, when they’re tired and want to relax and hang out with their friends.  Zsuzsanna shared that the one thing that she loves about them is that many of the spas have outside pools which can be utilize in the winter because the water is so hot. So, for her the best experience is actually going from late fall to early spring when the weather isn’t that warm.
  
  

Climate Change, Christmas Markets and … Sustainability! Just so you guys know that while the temperature does change in Hungary – it is still a year-round destination. So, depending on the time of year you go just dress appropriately and you can really enjoy it all year round. In fact – one perfect time to go is around the holidays as they have some great Christmas markets to frequent. And Zsuzsanna noted that one of the things that she loves about the Budapest Christmas markets is that you can only buy handmade Hungarian products at them – giving the Hungarian manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their products. And for us – this is an opportunity to practice sustainable travel – which is what Book Here, Give Here is all about - socially responsible, sustainable travel.
 
Let’s Go Off the Beaten Path! I asked Zsuzsanna to let us in on some spots that are not as well known to tourists – some secret but fascinating areas within Budapest and she did not disappoint. In fact, she let us in on three of them and added that even the locals may not be aware of their appeal.

• Tomb of Gul Baba: Recently renovated and a perfect spot for a romantic rendezvous as its surrounded by beautiful gardens this landmark honors Gul Baba – an Ottoman era poet and philosopher who died shortly after the Turkish conquest of Buda. Looking out from his statue here you have a panoramic view that stretches all the way to the Danube. It can be easily accessed by a walkway on the Buda side of the Margaret Bridge it and is a great spot that is in the city but away from the crowds.

 

• Philosophers’ Garden: Zsuzsanna remarked that this is her favorite place in the city. And suggests a run, jog or walk – to start your day with a cultural workout experience offered by the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest called Buda Before Breakfast. Starting from the hotel the staff members will take you on a run from the hotel across the Chain Bridge, to the Philosophers’ Garden where you will ascend quite a number of stairs to reach it. She assures us the beautiful views of the entire city from the gardens are totally worth it as is the peaceful atmosphere that includes sculptures of Jesus Christ, Buddha and Gandhi designed help us all have a better understanding of each other. She also added that she will sometimes see locals walking their dogs here - but that it’s perfect place as well to do your morning yoga as you won't be actually disturbed by anyone.

 

• Citadella: The Citadella is actually a fortification located on top of Gellert Hill that was constructed in 1854. Fun fact: Citadella is the Hungarian word for Citadel, a kind of fortress. You can walk to the Citadella from the Philosophers’ Garden on a route that is typically not utilized by tourists as they usually arrive via bus or private transfer and are not walking to it. It can also be accessed by walking up the stairs found right off of the Liberty Bridge. Your reward for climbing to the top – from this sprawling fortress you will have the most incredible panoramic views of Budapest.
  
  

Budapest Isn't the Only City in Hungary… Many American tourists arrive in Hungary via river cruises which means that they have just one or two days to see the main sights of Budapest and not enough time to go outside of the city. For those who have at least a five day stay here they can visit what is referred to as Grand Budapest. Grand Budapest is actually the surrounding towns in the grander Budapest area that are really close – like a 30-40 minutes’ drive – and they offer you very different atmospheres.

• Szentendre: Going to north from Budapest you will arrive in Szentendre – which is the first village outside Budapest on the Danube. It is a quaint, charming, artistic village thanks to the fact that many artists moved out here from Budapest a very long time ago. They ended up founding this community as a place where they could create in a quieter atmosphere. Nowadays it's full of small, charming streets to walk through that feature lots of nice gallery's and great restaurants. Szentendre is also a great place to buy authentic souvenirs. What I really like about this is that it really lends itself to social distancing and we're in that time when people are looking for less crowds so here’s a great opportunity where you can have that experience. And Zsuzsanna added that if you are a really active tourist you can bike out from Budapest to Szentendre on a very scenic route.

 

• Visegrad: The next town after Szentendre is Visegrad which was the capital city of Hungary for ages. Here you will find the Visegrad Castle that offers a great history lesson on Hungary’s kings and queens as well as beautiful views of the Danube Bend. For our more active travelers – you can take a spin on the Visegrad bobsleds or fly high on a zip line – both are fun for all ages! And since this once was the capital you have plenty of opportunity for that living classroom experience.

 

• Esztergom: The next town – Esztergom – is the third one on the Danube and is home to the largest basilica in Hungary. As you may or may not know Hungary is dominantly a Christian Roman Catholic country and many of their kings have been coronated in this basilica. Within the basilica you can learn all about them and view a large collection of artifacts as well. Esztergom is a really cute town to just to walk around in too and the city often offers a treasure hunt that can be downloaded from their web page that allows you to search for treasures while you are exploring.

 

• Godollo: During our chat Zsuzsanna shared that she had just returned from Godollo which is about a 45-minute drive outside of Budapest. Its claim to fame is that here you will find the largest baroque castle in Hungary – The Royal Palace of Godollo or Grassalkovich Castle. It’s stunning simply because of its size but there is an interesting story about the palace too. Sisi – or Queen Elisabeth of Austria – spent more days here in this palace than in her own. The number of days were once counted, and it came out to seven and a half years altogether. So, yeah – she spent a lot of time here and the Hungarians loved her. The reason she loved to be here was because Vienna more royal and stuffier and there she had to behave. However, when she was here, she felt freer and could basically do anything she wanted. Fun Fact: You can actually “meet” Sisi when you tour the palace – as it is she who will take you on the tour and let you in on all the details of her life in the palace as well as the rumors making for a very fun and interesting tour!

 

• Etyek: A little further south off the river you will find Etyek. What many people are unaware of is that Hungary has six big wine regions as well as 22 smaller wine regions. The closest one to Budapest is the Godollo wine region but if you have more time, Zsuzsanna really recommends Etyek. This small-town features amazing streets filled family-owned wine cellars. You can easily spend a half a day here tasting wines, enjoying a wonderful lunch or dinner and walking through the vineyards. And since Budapest is the second most popular movie shooting destination for Hollywood movies after London - you can visit a movie studio here as well – Korda Studios. Lots of movies have been filmed here with the latest one starring Will Smith who even had his movie premiere here in Budapest. So, for my movie buffs here's a place where you can go you have wine and movies – what more do you need!

 
North, South, East or West?

• East Hungary: Going farther out to East Hungary – about a three-hour drive from Budapest or you can always opt to travel via the train or bus – there are definitely great opportunities for off the beaten path adventures where you can easily socially distance. As Zsuzsanna noted two million people live in Budapest out of the country’s population of less than ten million, so the countryside is never crowded. Not only that but it is filled with calming nature, great castles, fabulous fortresses and lots of history.

 

• Holloko: Holloko – the first stop – is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the fact that it is pretty much living proof the country’s traditions. Here you will be exposed to how the Hungarian people in the countryside lived in the past. You can see the architecture. You can see the jobs they had. And you can see how their fashion and how they dressed. And not only will you see the folk clothes of Hungarians you will also witness the dancing that went with those fabulous outfits – especially at Easter when they have big festivals.

 

• Eger: This is a town of great Ottoman heritage and has loads of stories about how Eger actually fought against the Ottoman Empire and won the siege against the Turks. In fact, the Ottoman era minaret tower still stands there to this day. The architecture is amazing here and one of those 22 wine regions I mentioned before is here in this area. And according to Zsuzsanna you must try their amazing red wine here which is called Bull’s Blood – interestingly enough.
  
  
• Szalajka Valley and Lillafured: There are plenty of activities to do in the countryside – especially in these two areas. Zsuzsanna joked that their highest mountain is here – which is still obviously a hill – but it’s the highest peak of Hungary. Containing lots of forests with great hiking possibilities here nature and waterfalls abound making these areas around the Eger region perfect for wellness and some soft adventure.  

 

• Tokaji: Here in the Tokaji wine region you’ll find numerous like castles with different stories about the noble man who had once owned them. For those who are interested in castles this is a great place to come to see the different types of architecture, a different era and hear all of the tales that go along with them. As for the Tokaji wine region – it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And if you know of any Hungarian wines it is most likely the Tokaj wine. This fabulous wine can be found in many of the Michelin star restaurants all over the world for the small fee of $300 or $400! In this wine region there are six grape types that you will not find anywhere else in the world making it a quite unique natural sweet wine. Fun Fact: In this region you can only grow white grapes.

 

• West Hungary: Getting to West Hungary from Budapest is about an hour and a half car ride or once again – you have the train or bus option. Here you are going to experience something a little different – a little bit of a new flavor to add to Hungary.

 

• Balaton: The Lake Balaton area is the ultimate vacation place for Hungarians as it is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. On the northern shore you have amazing views of the whole lake and the hill tops. There are plenty of marvelous wines and great gastronomy here and Zsuzsanna pointed out that after Budapest the Lake Balaton area is really the country’s gastronomic hotspot. The restaurants here are small but quite famous throughout Hungary and it’s not uncommon for those who live in Budapest to head out there for lunch or dinner on a summer day.
  
  ​The lake offers plenty of possibilities for active vacationers such as swimming and sailing and if you are really into it there is a 120-mile-long cycling route around the lake that you can bike! Plenty of culture here too – for example, the Tihany Abbey overlooking Lake Balaton is a 1000-year-old monastery. In fact – it is the oldest working monastery in Hungary with the monks who reside there actually giving you the tours of the abbey while relating its history. Fun Fact: They have a lavender field so many of the products that they make are from that garden – sustainability at its best!  You also have Festetics Palace - still in Lake Balaton. However, because the lake is so big at its closest point to Budapest it is one and a half hours away - but at the point where the palace sits – which is the most western part of the lake – it is a two and a half to three-hour drive from Budapest.

• South Hungary: Going south, now we are talking about a three-hour drive by car with train or bus still options. This is referred to as the Mediterranean region and it's the closest region to Croatia and Slovenia.

 

• Pec: Per Zsuzsanna it seems like they have more sunny days in this area and perhaps this is why they have amazing red wine in this charming town. Pecs is an amazing place, and it was even a cultural capital of Europe a few years back. A tremendous number of improvements were made here too. For example, you can find a UNESCO World Heritage Site of early Christian mausoleums here like the Christian tombs that you would find in the Vatican City. Fun Fact: Those are the ONLY two places in the world where you can find this kind of relics.

 

• Villany Wine Region: This region is filled with more big hills for some great hiking and then when you are ready for a break you can go wine tasting! Zsuzsanna’s favorite wine destination in Hungary is here – Palkonya – a small town of only around 600 residents. The best part? Every single family has their own vineyard and wine cellar and make their own wines. They sell them in their wine cellars, but they also do different kind of festivals, wine showings and tastings to. They also have truffle hunting in this area where you can find great truffles thanks to their proximity to Croatia and the perfect climate for them.

 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Hungary.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Hungary click here.
 
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What do you think? About ready to put it on your vacation list? It really is a colorful country that caters to all different types of vacationing - active, cultural, gastronomical, historical (nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites!), travel as a living classroom, wellness, wine tasting – gosh – I think it's time for me to go back!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Hungary, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

Ever heard of the Guadeloupe Islands? If you haven’t – you are not alone as these fascinating islands are pretty much undiscovered and one of the best kept secrets of the Caribbean! And you know how I love my off the beaten path destinations – making this relatively unknown slice of heaven a perfect place to visit in the age of social distancing.
 
Michel Kozminski - the Trade Production Assistant for the Tourism Board of the Guadeloupe Islands – recently joined my video chat series and presented us with a marvelous overview of this archipelago of five islands in the French Caribbean – giving us a glimpse at the beauty that awaits for any traveler who chooses this destination for their vacation spot. And believe me – you will want to choose it after you read this!
 
Pull up a lounge chair, apply your sunscreen and sit back and relax while I tell you all about it!
 
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Getting There: Guadeloupe is a French territory located in the southern Caribbean between Antigua and Dominica which means for my East Coast folks its quite easy to get to. There are a host of direct flights available including JetBlue - three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) - from New York’s JFK which is a three and a half to four-hour flight time. And it’s an 8:00 AM flight making it easy to connect to if you are coming from Boston, Burlington or LAX. One note – this schedule is seasonal and only runs in the winter from November through to the end of April. There are also two weekly direct Air France flights from Miami on Tuesday and Saturday and American Airlines has one out of Miami as well a direct flight on Saturday – with both airlines running this schedule year-round. The flight times from MIA come in at a little over three hours. And another plus? As of this writing JetBlue’s tickets started at $159 one way – so very affordable flights!
 
Language and Currency and More: As I noted in the intro - the Guadeloupe Islands are actually an archipelago of five islands. There are two main islands – Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre - connected by a bridge and they just so happen to be shaped like a butterfly - which is why Guadeloupe is nicknamed the Butterfly Archipelago! Marie Galante, Les Saintes and La Desirade make up the remaining three islands. Oh - and of course they have an international airport where you will arrive – and it is located in middle of the two main islands.
 
Guadeloupe is on Eastern Standard Time and as I mentioned it is a French Territory so it is part of France and the European Union – so you will need your passport to travel here. The official language is French, but English is widely spoken as well. And Euro is the currency used on the island – with banks and ATM’s widely available throughout.
They have an E.U. Standards infrastructure which in a nutshell means that medical services and equipment are extensive throughout the archipelago, tap water is safe to drink everywhere and no vaccinations required.  They also boast an excellent and well-maintained road network.
 
Transportation: Guadeloupe is considered a premiere island-hopping destination with an excellent inter-island connection system via ferry. The three islands surround Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are located within a mere 20 to 45-minute boat ride and ferries run every day, several times a day. You can take an early morning ferry over to the island of your choice, spend the day and return on a late afternoon ferry. As for the two main islands – it is very easy to rent a car there and you can actually drive across them both in about two hours  - so you can do a one day rental if you like.
 
The Islands of Guadeloupe: As Marco relayed – the islands are a slice of France in the Caribbean and the Guadalupe archipelago is like a box of chocolates where there is always something new to discover. And - as you will see - each island certainly has a different flavor. And since they are so close together it is quite easy to experience each and every one while you are visiting.

• Grande-Terre: Grande-Terre houses the airport which is located in Pointe-à-Pitre – the oldest city in Guadeloupe. Here you will find a lot of history as well as museums. And the architecture is quite interesting – it is similar as to what you would find in New Orleans. Here you can also go to the market and buy a host of fares – such as creole spices, rum and fruits – and of course – souvenirs! The three towns on the southern coast of Grande-Terre - Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, and Saint-Francois are the main towns where you will find most of population.  Most of the hotels are also located there along the beautiful white sand beaches.

 

• Basse-Terre:  While Grande-Terre is kind of flat you will find Basse-Terre to be a vastly different terrain. It is a rainforest therefore it is lush and it has mountains as well as a volcano that you can climb - as it’s very accessible. It also contains a lot of hiking trails, the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve, a fantastic botanical garden and amazing waterfalls. Bonus - you can learn how to make coffee and organic chocolate bars here too!  

 

• Marie Galante: This island is nicknamed Pancake Island because of its shape. It is much more remote than the two main islands. Here you will find many sugarcane fields and also two famous rum distilleries where you can partake in rum tastings (yes please!). As Michel described – it’s like stepping back in time when you are on this island. There are only three towns and not a not a lot of inhabitants. However, you will spot old school ox carts and the farmers with their straw hats meandering about.  One very enticing part? It’s laid back and relaxed AND you can have a whole beach to yourself - just white sand and turquoise water and you!  How’s that for some amazing social distancing?

 

• Le Saintes: This is Michel’s favorite island and - it’s actually a little archipelago itself - composed of five tiny islands! When you arrive here you will dock in one of the most beautiful bays in the world. From there you will venture into a little fishing village founded by fishermen from Brittany and Normandy. Here you will find a lot of amazing restaurants and – no surprise here - amazing seafood as well. It is a hilly archipelago and on one of the hills sits Fort Napoleon which not only contains a lot of history as it was built by Napoleon to fight the British – but from it you can see the entire archipelago. What a view!

 

• La Desirade: This is a protected bin of land that was a leper colony for 300 years. There is only one town and needless to say not a lot of people live here. As Michel noted there are probably more iguanas than people! Since there is just one road it is a fun place to rent a moped, explore the island and ultimately find a beach all to yourself!

 
Sightseeing and Activities: As Michel exclaimed – this is the ultimate French Caribbean experience with countless activities for everyone - a cool mix of French art de vivre and Caribbean simplicity where you are guaranteed to have a good time!
 
The destination screams wellness and soft adventure. There are a lot of green activity thanks to the rainforest! And there are activities for the more adventurous too – such as zip lining, mountain biking, canyoning and a few adventure parks.
 
This archipelago is preserved - with an impressive 77% of its territories classified as natural reserves. And here you can find over 250 unspoiled beaches, over 50 waterfalls and 256 miles of way marked hiking trails. These breathtaking untouched beaches mean there are a lot of blue activities – as Michel said – it’s an aquatic dream!
 
They have a very strong cultural heritage with over 80 historical monuments across the five islands including the Memorial ACTe Museum – which is the largest memorial in the world dedicated to the slave trade.
 
You can also find the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve here – which is their rain forest and home to the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve for diving (they do offer certification classes fyi) and snorkeling. Here you can also go sailing, surfing, kite surfing, deep-sea fishing and more all-in crystal-clear water.
 
Michel also let us in on a little secret by the rainforest in Basse-Terre in a little town called Gourbeyre. It is called Les Bassins Bleus and is a 30-minute hike through the lush tropical flora of the rainforest with picnic areas along the way. The reward? At the end you will come across a series of heaven like blue natural pools to cool off in. What a perfect adventure!
 
There is always something going on too – as they play host to great music festivals all year round. There’s the Saint George’s International Music Festival featuring classical music and opera and takes place in March. (Side Note: Saint George is considered the black Mozart and he hails from Guadeloupe.) In June you can find blues and reggae music at the Terre de blues Festival and if you like electronic music there is the All Day In Festival every July. The Karukera One Love Festival has plenty of Caribbean music and is held in August and come November there’s the Hot Jazz Festival for you jazz fans. And of course, the entire month of February you can celebrate Carnival!
 
Accommodations: Guadeloupe offers many different types of accommodations and features everything from 3 to 5-star to eco-properties.

• Five (5) Star Properties:
  • Just one! The stunning La Toubana Hotel and Spa which is located in Sainte-Anne about 25 minutes from the airport. It is perched on top of a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and its own private beach. Room types include suites and bungalows - and three high-end luxury villas - each with an infinity pool and butler service! Count me in!  
    
    
• Four (4) Star Properties:
  • Club Med is an all-inclusive property and is located on one of the most beautiful beaches on the archipelago. They just completed a total renovation so it’s pretty much brand new as they re-opened in December. They also feature an adult only section.  
    
    
  • The La Creole Beach Hotel and Spa is a very chic on property on the beach situated among tropical surroundings and hosting two amazing restaurants – including the popular La Route des Epices. They are also known for their very lively bar which always has something going. Many locals frequent it, so you have an opportunity to mingle at such events as Jazz night or Caribbean night!
    
    
  • Le Relais Du Moulin - located in Sainte Ann and way more private than the other properties – this resort was built around an 18th century windmill. Surrounded by bungalows – which are the only room types available - they also have a spa and a private swimming pool. This chic hotel is great for couples.

 

• Three (3) Star Properties:
  • The Langley Resort Fort Royal is located in Basse-Terre so it is near the rainforest. It sits on a gold sand beach which is a cool, warm color sand. This one is great for families as it is an all-inclusive and offers plenty of activities.  
  • Fleur D’Epee Hotel on Grande-Terre is another all-inclusive property. Here you will find a stunning white sand beach as well as a copious buffet! Another great option.

 

• Ecolodges:
  • Ecolodges are incredibly unique and the Tendacayou Ecolodge and Spa is absolutely magical. They are actually tree houses situated in the rainforest and in the mountains - and oh those views! They also have a fabulous spa featuring treatments done with their natural spring water. If you don’t stay here, make it a point to go to spa or their restaurant as this is a must see. This one is great for my wellness peeps.  
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Gastronomy: This premiere Caribbean dining destination offers many different flavors. You will find that many chefs move to Guadeloupe from Paris to open their own restaurants with the food being mix of classic French cuisine with the creole spices and fresh seafood intertwined added in. A refined super awesome combination of French savoir faire and Caribbean flavors if you will. PS - They are also home to some great wines and rums!
 
In the News: So, Guadeloupe is becoming popular – better get there before everyone finds out about it! For instance…it was on the New York Times 52 Places To Go List in 2016, on the Best of the World list in National Geographic in 2017 and has been featured on several travel shows. More recently it became the filming location of the comedy crime show Death in Paradise a popular show you can watch on Netflix!
 
Safety: The Guadalupe islands are very safe. They are a French department and they benefit from the French regulations in terms of infrastructure’s health etc.
 
Types of Travelers: It’s for everyone – families, friends, couples, seniors, athletes, foodies, eco tourists, cultural tourists and Francophiles!
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Guadeloupe.
 
Note: Guadeloupe has enacted post COVID-19 sanitary measures that all hotels and excursion companies will enforce. These are strict rules and regulations of the French health agency which include employees wearing masks and gloves, reinforcing cleaning at each contact point, as well as applying social distancing. In addition to these sanitary measures hotels will add more flexibility with their cancellation policy in order to facilitate business.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for the Guadeloupe Islands click here.
 
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So, what do you think? I told you that you’d want to go! It really is a hidden gem – so great for social distancing! For more details on things to see and do in the Guadeloupe Islands, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

Welcome! Today we are heading across the Atlantic Ocean to visit Georgia and unearth all there is to see and do in this delightful destination. What? You don’t have to cross the ocean to get to Georgia? It’s on the east coast? Ohhhh. Wait a minute. You must be thinking of the wrong Georgia! I am not talking about the land of peaches, peanuts and pecans here in the US. I am talking about the transcontinental country of Georgia!
 
Situated at the crossroads between Western Asia and Eastern Europe – this Georgia is a hidden gem just waiting to be explored. And luckily Lauma Trika, Management and Marketing Director from Georgia Travel RSP accepted my invitation to a recent Wanderlust Wednesday to show us just how shiny this gem is.
 
So – let’s get on our virtual plane and take off for the other Georgia! 
 
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Location and Language: So yes - this Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region that sits at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. It is bordered to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia and to the east by Azerbaijan. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi with a population of around one and a half million people. Georgia has its own language and one of the things that distinguishes Georgia from others is that it is spoken only by the four million people who reside in the country. Plus - it has its unique alphabet as well!
 
Getting There: There are three main airports including one in Tbilisi - which is located in the middle of the country, one in Batumi – which is a seaside resort - and the other in Kutaisi. Getting there from the US is typically on Turkish Airlines. Bonus – no visa nor vaccines are needed – just you and your passport.
 
Currency: Georgia has its own currency - the Georgian Lari and as of this writing it was coming out to be around three lari would equal one US dollar. Lauma advised that although credit cards are accepted in the major cities you want to carry little bit of cash with you while traveling across the country most of the guest houses and restaurants in smaller towns won't accept credit cards.
 
When to Visit: There are 11 regions in Georgia and for such a small country the climate here is quite diverse and thus every season has its charm. Winters are snowy everywhere except in the capital of Tbilisi, spring is sunny and mild with a few rainy weeks in April, summers tend to be hot especially in Tbilisi and autumn is similar to spring but a bit colder. You should also be prepared because even in the summertime temperatures vary - for instance - in the mountains it tends to be colder and at the seaside it's more humid. Fun Fact: If you visit in November, you can tour the big plantations and can participate in the tangerine harvest. Bonus – you can take as much as you want and Lauma shared they have guests who come every year for those tangerines and always take at least a box home.
 
Destinations: Georgia is divided into several different destinations and together they make it a country that you can visit any season as in summer there is the beach, in fall there is the harvesting of the grapes and in the winter there are the ski and mountain resorts.

• Sea Resorts: The sea resort of Adjara - located in the southwestern part of the country on the coast of the Black Sea - is home to picturesque beaches including Batumi, Kvariati, Sarpi, Gonio, Tsikhisdziri, Mtsvane Kontskhi (the Green Cape) and Kobuleti. There are also black sand beaches in Georgia – including Shekvetili and Ureki.

 

• Batumi: This city is considered the second or subtropical summer capital of Georgia – and is referred to as the Black Sea Pearl.  It is also the administrative center of the autonomous Adjara region. This is a fast-developing area at the moment, as skyscrapers are popping up on the skyline – but there is still an old town district featuring renovated 19th century buildings. Here you can enjoy the sea and you can also enjoy the mountains - as they are only a one-hour drive from the city. A popular family experience here is visiting Batumi Dolphinarium.

 

• Ski Resorts: Georgia is also home to several different ski resorts so if you are a skier there is sure to be one to appeal to your style.

 

• Gudauri: This is the most popular in the mix and is an international resort for everyone that well known around the world because it's one of the oldest. Not only that but it is the highest ski resort in Georgia at 3,276 meters – or 10,748 feet and boasts the highest ski slope and ski lift in the country. And it is filled with all kinds of things for my adventurers - including heli-skiing, freeriding and paragliding. Per Lauma it may not be as developed as Europe’s ski resorts but it's genuinely nice ski resort and the price is right!

 

• Bakuriani: This ski resort is more local and kid friendly and is great for families.

 

• Mestia: Lauma described Mestia as a faraway freeride paradise.

 

• Goderdzi: Offering primitive powder for the intermediate freeriders - this one is very remote and a little bit wild!

 

• Health and Wellness Resorts: Health and wellness in Georgia is a little bit more on the medical side than most destinations – but that doesn’t mean there are not opportunities for recharging your batteries in nature and so forth.  But because some of you actually do travel for this type of wellness, I asked Lauma to be sure and give us an overview of exactly what is available.  First - prices are very friendly which is typically the big draw when we go out of the US for treatments. In addition, there are many different health resorts and each of them treats different types of ailments, illnesses and diseases. Your best bet is to get diagnosed prior to arrival but of course you can do that here as well.  One of the nice things about the medical resorts is that they're located in different regions of the country and they just so happen to be beautiful areas.  Meaning when you opt to go here for treatment – you also have the chance to do some sightseeing and tours as well. Lauma highlighted three of the resorts to give us an idea of what they are all about.

 

• Sairme:
  • Specifics or Specialties of the Resort: Forest air and mineral waters
  • What is Treated at the Resort: Diseases of the osteo-articular system, diseases of the nervous system, diabetes mellitus, dermatology, diseases of urogenital system, kidney disease and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

 

• Akhtala: The resort is partially renovated.
  • Specifics or Specialties of the Resort: Therapeutic mud
  • What is Treated at the Resort: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, muscles and tendons, diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems, gynecological diseases and skin diseases.

 

• Tskaltubo: A balneological resort well known since 1892 and one of the oldest.
  • Specifics or Specialties of the Resort: Mineral Water
  • What is Treated at the Resort: Central and peripheral nervous systems diseases and musculoskeletal disorders, gynecological diseases, Cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, urological diseases and skin diseases.

 
One thing Lauma said to be aware of is that the medical resorts must be purchased as packages starting at a minimum of seven days. The beautiful part for those of you who are interested in visiting these therapeutic options to deal with medical issues in a more natural way is that we can a combine your treatment along with exploring a new land. For my health coaches, fitness instructors and yogis – how cool would it be to take a group here where you can really use mother earth to heal and promote wellness?
 
Side Note: Lauma also mentioned that phage therapy is now being practiced in Georgia – which is an effective treatment solution for patients who have bacterial infections that do not respond to the antibiotics.

• Wine Region: A trip to the biggest wine making region - sunny Kakhet, Racha - is a great way to learn about the winemaking traditions, discover the adorable “City of Love” Sighnagi and its picturesque monasteries and museums, enjoy amazing views of Alazani Valley and of course - drink some wine! Fun Fact: In Sighnagi you can get married really fast with no preparations needed - just take your passports and your mate and you can get married in the same day! Georgia is one of the world's oldest winemaking countries whose key wine grapes are the red grape variety saperavi and the white grape rkatsiteli. The country is also strongly associated with the continuation of ancient winemaking techniques including the use of clay vessels called qvevri for fermentation and storage – where – similar to ancient amphorae they are buried in the ground outside or set into the cellar floor for temperature consistency. The best time to explore the wine region of Kakhet is starting from September until the middle of October as it is rtveli time which in Georgian means harvest. This is grape picking time and is a joyous tradition and features celebrations that been going on for thousands of years. In fact, Lauma likened it to our Thanksgiving as it is the time of year Georgians go home to their parents’ house and the family comes together to harvest the grapes. And Lauma said they love when people join them as they feel guests are gifts from God and they treat you that way when you are with them. Soooo if you wanted to experience if for yourself, we can make that happen with a local family – cultural immersion centered around wine – who’s in???  

 

• Mountain Regions: There are five major mountain regions for you to explore in this mountainous country.

 

• Mountain Adjara: Adjara is an important tourism destination and includes Georgia’s second largest city of Batumi as its capital. The journey from here to the nearest mountain will take about one hour. Since it is so close to Batumi it is not as well preserved as the others as they already have seen a lot of tourist traffic – but Lauma assures us they are still worth seeing while in Batumi.

 

• Kazbegi - Kazbegi National Park is located on the northern slopes of the mighty Caucasus range and it is a protected area at 5,033 meters or 16,512 feet above sea level. Kazbegi is the third highest mountain in Georgia and is surrounded by myths and religious traditions. Thanks to its easy accessibility it is also the most popular mountain destination in this region and is quite popular in the summer for hiking, rafting, paragliding, jeep tours and other activities – as well as the skiing we discussed earlier in winter. This one is situated closest to Tbilisi.

 

• Tusheti: This remote mountainous region is only open in the summertime typically from the end of the May to October - as once the snow falls the road is closed. Once the snows melt however, the amazing 45 miles of unpaved, curvy road 9000 feet high Abano Pass is available again. There is only one way to enter and that is from Kakhetian Village’s Zemo Alvani and it's recommended to use 4X4 - as an average car will get stuck - as well as the services of a professional driver – due to the fact that it is one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Tusheti is a paradise for hiking, trekking, bird watching and horseback riding. You will also spot the shepherds with their sheep here and there are opportunities to stay at local guest houses to get that complete cultural immersion that I love so much.  Per Lauma it is one of the most beautiful places in Georgia and not to be missed.

 

• Khevsureti: This is a neighbor region of Tusheti that is also as remote as it is beautiful with lots of interesting things to explore – plus the road is not so dangerous!  Khevsureti is home to some fantastic defensive architecture and spectacular scenery of steep forested valleys and blooming mountain pastures.  Fun Fact: Men in the remote area were still wearing chainmail well into the 20th century. Today few villages have permanent inhabitants as there's no road access from about December to May when the Datvisjvari Pass is closed. 

 

• Svaneti: This historic region is extremely popular thanks to the medical villages with their tower houses. Located in the northwestern part of the country it is inhabited by the Svans - an ethnic subgroup of Georgians. It is about a six- or seven-hour drive from Tbilisi and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Per Lauma it is their pearl and is quite beautiful and therefore quite a popular destination for hiking the glaciers and lakes and skiing in the winter - as we briefly mentioned above. The good part about the skiing here is that the ski resorts though nice – are not very developed and therefore not as crowded – and yes – that means social distancing friendly.

 

• Canyons and Waterfalls: These are truly the secret treasures of Western Georgia and would be closer to the Tbilisi airport.

 

• Martvili Canyon: Amazing waterfalls and the opportunity to take a boat ride through the beautiful waters beneath them.

 

• Kincha Waterfall:  This one has the honor of being the tallest one in Georgia, is absolutely beautiful and free. And for my romantic guys who want to pop the question – what a fabulous setting this would be!

 

• Okatse Canyon: Picture this - walking in Okatse Canyon is like walk above the trees per Lauma!

 

• Caves and Cave Cities: All three of the caves are located in one region and each is unique in its own right. The difference between them is the length of the walking required to get through them as one is a longer walk than the other - or you can opt to take a boat ride through them if you prefer.

 

• Sataplia and Prometheus Caves: These caves are millions of years old and filled with stalactites and stalagmites and underground rivers. Sataplia is also home to dinosaur footprints which makes it a great living classroom for the kids!

 

• Vardzia - The cave complex of Vardzia is the Georgian jewel of medieval architecture is the largest cave in the country with more than 600 caves and rooms making it like a city inside.

 

• Cave Cities: These include Uplistsikhe – which is a UNESCO World Heritage Center - and David Gareja - which is a complex of two monasteries built into a cave.

 
Types of Travelers:  Oh gosh – all types – from families to companies to destination weddings – and more!

• Adventure Tourism: Georgia is a playground for adventure so for all of you guys who are into everything adventure you're definitely going to find it here! And I am super excited to be able to offer you these adventures in this truly hidden gem – including rafting, hiking, paragliding, bike tours, hunting, jeep tours, endure tours, horseback riding tours and more. The sky’s the limit and we definitely can keep you guys well fit during your trip!

 

• MICE Tourism: Georgia Travel RSP can arrange everything you need including transfers, accommodations, team building excursions, entertainment and cultural programs, conference halls, experience exchanges and seminars. So, for my corporate clients looking for a location for team bonding – especially after many teams have been apart and working from home – there is plenty of space and opportunity here.

 

• Wedding Ceremonies in Georgia:  Georgia Travel RSP would love to help me help you plan your destination wedding in this picturesque paradise that boasts a number of fabulous backdrops for you to choose from. And they offer a full range of services from arranging the wedding ceremonies in any place you desire to providing you with all the trimmings - including bouquets, wedding cakes, Georgian national wedding dresses, and a chokha for the groom – which is a woolen coat with a high neck that is part of the traditional male dress here. They can even organize dance lessons of the national Georgian wedding dances and provide you with a wedding photographer and videographer. And for your guests they will find the perfect accommodations and organize group or individual excursions. And remember - getting married here is amazingly easy – all you need are your passports!

 
Gastronomy: The gastronomy is diverse so if you are a foodie who loves trying lots of different cuisines then Georgia won't disappoint! And - even though it tends to be heavy on the meat and pastry there's also a large variety of vegetarian dishes as well. And for those of you who do have dietary restrictions there are many opportunities to work with you and ensure you will be able to enjoy their amazing food. They offer gastronomic tours as well that typically include some food masterclasses so you can learn even more about the local delicacies. You will find some of the most popular dishes below:

• Khinkali: Georgian dumplings.

 

• Mtsvadi: Georgian barbecue.

 

• Sulguni: Georgian cheese -can be smoked or fresh.

 

• Khachapuri: Classic Georgian bread with a texture that varies from region to region.

 

• Pkhali: What Lauma described as Georgian tapas – a cold vegetarian appetizer featuring herbs, vinegar and vegetables.

 
Georgian National Dances and Music: We cannot talk about Georgia without talking about the Georgian folk dances. Each region has their own dances that weave both history and art. One of the most popular is the Acharuli dance – which is a bright cheerful dance that originates from the region of Adjara and features a playful flirtation between men and women.
 
Miscellaneous: Below are a few things Lauma wanted to make sure we are aware of prior to visiting this fascinating land.

• Travel within the County: Here you are on Georgian time – which means traveling between the different regions can often take longer than it seems, so you need to take into account that the distances from one region to the other are quite far and be prepared for longer drives. But Lauma assures us that they put in stops along the way for eating and such!

 

• The Church Culture: Lauma also made it a point to note that you do need to be prepared that there are numerous churches that are included within the tours as Georgia is a religious country that follows the Orthodox Christianity. That being said – you certainly don’t have to frequent them on the stops – as most are in gorgeous spots with amazing views that you can take in from the outside.

 

• Those Local Pups: The local dogs will follow you anywhere you go so be prepared to have a furry friend eagerly leading the way as they love accompanying guests. But nothing to fear – they are friendly like the Georgians themselves – and they have all their vaccinations so are of no danger to visitors.

 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Georgia.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Georgia click here.
 
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I am so excited that we had an opportunity to have Lauma here to showcase Georgia because again it's not a destination that is on everyone’s radar and it really should be! So, all my nature and adventure lovers, let’s have this conversation for travel in 2021! What a great remote, off the beaten path experience when we need it most!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Georgia, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste
​

If you are like most people, when you think of France you think of the Eiffel Tower or the  Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe or the Notre Dame Cathedral (that as of this writing is currently being restored / rebuilt following a devastating fire in 2019). And all of those are certainly well-known, popular tourist attractions – in Paris. However, France is so much more than Paris. Don’t get me wrong – I adore Paris. There is nothing I love better than to sit in Café du Monde by the Arc de Triomphe and people watch while sipping on coffee.
 
But when you venture out of the cities in France, you find vast countrysides, beaches, vineyards, and history – a lot of history. I recently had the pleasure to speak with Fanny Cadudal of France Private Travels who just so happens to my main contact and my go to person when a client wants to experience a true cultural immersion in France. (Side note: A big positive is that outside of Paris you can do the whole social distancing thing very easily because there’s a lot of countryside!)
 
With Fanny we will touch on several different regions - there are twelve total – to highlight the vast differences between each and the different experiences you can have in them. As you read on you will get a good sense of the flavor of each destination where we – along with Fanny’s assistance - can arrange private tours. You will also get an overview of some of the most important parts of each area that are not to be missed. So, pour a cup of coffee – or a glass of wine - and fasten your seat belt for our virtual tour through some of France’s most beautiful locations.
 
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Destinations: As stated above, France is traditionally divided into twelve different regions which all vary historically as well as gastronomically. Today we are looking at four of those regions which include Paris and Normandy, Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Dordogne Valley and Provence and French Rivera.
 

• Paris: Fanny first spoke of what she called My Secret Paris which is an opportunity to meet with a local Parisians, talk with them about their private lives and get a glimpse into their apartments. There is one in particular whom Fanny recommends – Jaqueline Cano - who is a historian who has opened her apartment to visitors to share some of France’s history. Here you will have the opportunity to visit her fabulously decorated apartment – that is filled with furnishings and paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Even the kitchen is like that of an 18th century home as it is actually a fireplace or an open oven if you will - not like the ovens we use in our homes today. She will take you on a trip back in time – relating stories of how people lived in those centuries - how they set or dressed the table and what a huge part of life eating dinner around those tables was. Gastronomy in France is particularly important, and a huge part of their traditions and this particular experience is a great way to become a student of life through cultural immersion.

 
Another way to re-visit history in Paris is through their many cafes. Most of the cafes in Paris have a history to them and offer an opportunity for you to go in and speak with a writer who is there to present that history to you. Cafes were and still are a space where the French come and have great conversations on politics, gourmet food and life in general. They are places to have meetings, exchange experiences, laugh, eat and drink and thus the decor and ambiance are very important to the French and are lovely sites to behold.
 

• Normandy: There are many different experiences you can have in this region and it is suggested that you add in all of them for a fabulous introduction to it. Of course, Normandy holds a lot of history for World War II buffs and offers an amazing opportunity to learn about that history. What a fabulous experience for children - who study world history in school – to experience this specific period of the war firsthand and to actually step on the beach where history happened!

 
One such story of hearing about history that Fanny told us while visiting the Normandy beach, was about a man she met who has a castle nearby. He relayed the emotional, true story of how the castle came to be his – and it goes back to the war. His father used to assist with the war efforts and at one point the castle was taken over by the Germans. However – when the American’s came to save the French, they took over that castle and housed their army there. Eventually it became his father’s castle once again   and the story is a testimony about what happened between our countries back then. Fanny also stated that you can arrange to have lunch in the castle with this gentleman and hear more on the history of the war. What a great way to spend an afternoon in Normandy!
 
Normandy also has fantastic landscapes and great gastronomic experiences for you to discover as well. Think oyster farms - thanks to its location near the ocean - as well cheeses – lot of great, different tasting cheeses! One of the great cheeses of France is Camembert and in Normandy you can visit a farm, see how it is made and get to taste the different flavors of Camembert. According to Fanny they can taste different depending on how the farmer made it. And you can enjoy it hot or at room temperature – while sipping white wine or cider – what an amazing gastronomical story to tell!
 

• Loire Valley: The Loire Valley is known for its world class wines, enchanting landscapes and awe-inspiring castles - such as Chambord Castle and Chenonceau Castle - among a host of others where many aristocrats summered in. Loire Valley is actually known as the “Garden of France” and in fact each year the Chaumont-sur-Loire castle hosts a garden festival featuring different species of flowers and trees of the region - offering an opportunity to slow down and take in nature – now that’s wellness!

 
Although Loire Valley has less farmers than Bordeaux or Burgundy - it’s very rich on the different kind of wines that they can produce there. And you will have the opportunity to visit the private vineyards as the owners open their land to you to taste and explain their wines.  
 

• Bordeaux: Bordeaux is home to a lot of amazing wines and is very famous for its red wines in particular. And due to the sun in the region as well as the irrigation of the land it makes for great tannic wines as well. There are many different appellations in Bordeaux and thus they produce wines of many different tastes and aromas.  This is because the flavor of the wine not only depends on how it’s made, but also on the land where it grows and the different grapes that are produced on that land.

 
In addition to visiting the countryside around Bordeaux and can also venture to Arcachon which is a nearby seaside resort – thus giving you an extension of your trip from the Bordeaux wine experience to a beach experience! And what a wonderful beach experience it is for the family as here you can walk up the Dune of Pilat – the largest sand dune in Europe - and take in fantastic views of the bay!
 

• Dordogne Valley: Dordogne Valley is referred to as the Valley of One Thousand Castles and exposes you to the Medieval lifestyle - as well as more delicious food and wine – and chocolate! It is a beautiful region and some of the oldest land in France dating back to the middle ages. In fact, walking around the authentic middle age village you feel like you actually are in the medieval ages! As Fanny said you can actually feel the past when you walk through the village. You will see local markets along the streets, each day with different products they have grown. It makes you feel like you are living in another time and it is a very emotional experience. (Although inside the homes you will find all the modern conveniences.) This is a wonderful outside adventure that is truly an off the beaten path experience as it is a place where you will not find many tourists and you will have authentic local experiences.

 
One of the things Dordogne Valley is famous for is truffles. Truffles can be found in wintertime – from October through January or February - and this is the best time to actually take a truffle tour. The tour can be taken in summer, but you will find the taste is not the same – as it is a stronger taste in the winter.  Truffles are one of the best delicacies to test in the region and can be eaten in a plethora of ways! For instance – oils are made out of truffles and used to cook and marinate meats. Or you can eat truffles with strawberries or a chocolate dessert. There are so many ways to eat them that Fanny and I suggest you experiment with them all!

• Provence and French Riviera: Provence is the picturesque countryside of the French Riviera sprawling with gorgeous lavender plants. In Provence you will notice that the way of living is slowed way down as the people there want to take their time and really appreciate life. In fact – Fanny said they even have a different way of speaking – akin to accents we have in different parts of the US – and it is almost as if they are singing when they talk. Here you will find numerous French markets as you are in the country as well as a lot of  local art and up and coming art. This is one of my most favorite areas to be in because of all the nuances and the opportunities in the French Riviera to get on a boat and sail from one port to another. Boat excursions here are a must as the coast is stunning to see from the sea.  Bonus – you can do side trips to enjoy Monaco and Monte Carlo as they are not far away!

 
Provence also has a striking village - Roussillon - that is known for its red rock and cliffs. Here you can stroll through the village or you can hike or bike through the fascinating landscape on the Ochre Trail.
 
And we cannot forget the perfumeries! My friends I have taken an amazing workshop here where I had the chance to create my own perfume and would be super happy to set you up with this experience! Making your own fragrance is like a part of you that you are taking home from France. It is such a mind, body and spirit, experience and it is so very fulfilling to create something for yourself. And – many of the perfumery’s will keep your recipe and you can order it online once you are back home!
 
Transportation: It is quite easy to get around in France because everything is connected by train – high speed trains to be exact! The Train à Grande Vitesse or high speed train is known as the TGV and believe me – I have been riding it since I was little and it is much better than the rail service you find in the US!
 
Updated COVID-19 Information:  As of this writing travel the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to France.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for France click here.
 
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So as you can see I didn’t break this overview down into separate categories such as hidden gems, history, wellness, sightseeing and gastronomy like I normally do because, quite frankly, the entire country is all this - and more - rolled into one!
 
On a personal note - I discovered my love for culinary art and hospitality in France and its actually what drove me to study in Switzerland and eventually to embark on a career in hospitality. A lot of my passions for travel and gastronomy started at a young age thanks to the travel opportunities I had, and I think it is so very important to instill these - and really any positive passion - in our children at a young age.
 
That being said - for more details on things to see and do in France, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

​Have you ever thought about adding Finland to your bucket list? I must be honest – it wasn’t really on my radar. However – and this is a big however – in the summer of 2019 I was invited to visit, and I had an absolutely amazing experience! In fact – I fell completely in love with it and truth be told - I did not expect to fall in love with it as much as I did! But it happened!
 
I recently had the pleasure of revisiting those marvelous memories and images of the county while chatting with Heli Mendi who is the head of Visit Finland North America.  Our talk focused on what to expect when you visit this beautiful country and below are some of the highlights. Speaking from experience – I must say it is everything Heli said and more – much more.
 
Fasten your seat belts because Finland here we come!
 
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Background: So Heli immediately brought up a great point. Most Americans are aware of Scandinavian countries and they assume Finland is a part of them. But Finland is actually NOT part of the Scandinavian countries - which consist of Sweden, Norway and Denmark geographically - although they do share a lot culturally with the Scandinavian countries.
  
Truth be told they consider themselves a Nordic country. They have a totally different language, they no longer have royalty - unlike the other Scandinavia countries - and are a republic and a parliamentary democracy. (Note: Although Sweden, Norway and Denmark have royalty they are still a parliamentary democracy as well.)
 
Destinations: In land space Finland is the eighth largest country in Europe – however there are only 5.4 million people residing there and most of the population is located in southern part of the country in the Helsinki Region. 
 
Finland is divided into four regions – Helsinki Region, Coast and Archipelago Area, Lakeland and Lapland.

• Helsinki Region:  Helsinki is the capital of Finland and as I stated above – most of the population – 1 million out of the total 5.4 million people– reside in this area.

 

• Coast and Archipelago Area: Finland has one of the largest archipelago areas in the world – in other words they have a lot of islands! There are about 70,000 islands but no one knows for sure the exact number because there are so many small islands off their coastline it’s impossible to count. This is news to a lot of people! In fact – a number of the islands are very private, and your Travel Guru can arrange for you to have your own island for the day if you so choose!

 

• Lakeland Region: The Lakeland Region is on the eastern side of Finland and is also known as the Heart of Finland. Now, Finland is not only home to a lot of islands – but it’s home to a lot of lakes as well – 188,000 to be exact! The largest of those is Lake Saimaa at 1700 square miles and it is found in the Lakeland region of the country. Lake Saimaa is home to a very special species – the Saimaa rink seal – which is the only freshwater seal in the world!

 

• Lapland: Located in north Finland, Lapland is a very unique region not only in Finland but in the northern part of the Nordic countries in general.  Often called “The Last Wilderness of Europe,” it’s home to more reindeer than people - 203,000 reindeer verses 183,000 inhabitants! In this stunning region you can also see the Northern Lights 200 nights out of the year - weather permitting. Also here? Lapland is known for its very unusual Midnight Sun – which means what you think - the sun does not go down at all in the summer leaving it shining brightly all through the night.

 
Sightseeing and Activities: Finland is country of a lot of contrasts – i.e. – in the winter there is a lot of darkness due to a long period of short days and long nights. The winter in the north - it’s darkness - is a very different experience then most will ever see. Starting in September and continuing through April the nights get longer and darker and northern lights season starts.
With snow covered lands and the opportunity to see those northern lights – also known as the Aurora Borealis – it is a wonderous sight to behold.
 
For you animal lovers - you can get up close and personal with some of the reindeer population in Finland. Here you have the opportunity to visit an actual reindeer farm where you can walk with - and feed - the reindeer and learn all about this mysterious creature.  And where there are reindeer – there must be…Santa! That’s right folks - Santa Claus lives in Finland! You can find him in his hometown at the Artic Circle in the town of Rovaniemi in the Lapland Region.
 
Finland is known in general for design and architecture – getting its influences from Russia in the east as well as western European countries and Sweden (Note: Finland was actually a part of Sweden for a while who then lost them to a war and Russia took over). They are home to a lot of new modern architecture as well and one of the masterpieces is the public library Oodi in Helsinki. Per Heli it was a “birthday present from us to us” as Finland turned 100 years old in 2017. Oodi was voted the Best Public Library in the world in 2019 by Time Magazine as well as one of the 100 Best Places to Visit in the World. Finish people love to read so if you can’t find them out in nature – they are probably reading!
 
Wellness: Nature is one of Finland’s biggest secrets and is very deep rooted in the lives of the Finish. Seventy percent of Finland is covered by forest and there are many green areas and parks throughout the country - even in Helsinki. From the time they are very small children Fins are dressed appropriately and taken - or sent - outdoors to play. Subsequently, they grow up spending a lot of time in nature playing year-round. As Heli said – “no bad weather here - just bad clothing!”
 
It’s very calming to be in a forest and to listen to sound of nature and Finland has shared those sounds, putting out an entire album on Spotify called Scapes that contains the sounds of Finnish Lapland. Did you know that just being in a forest for 15 minutes calms your pulse and your body starts to rest? Translation? Being in a green environment for that small amount of time is good for the blood pressure!
 
And finally – the air and water in Finland are both clean and serene. In fact, the water is so clean you can actually drink out of the rivers!
 
Saunas: Saunas are such a huge part of Finland that they get their own category! Finland is
well known for its saunas. In fact, sauna is a Finish word. Saunas were invented for practical reasons - as a warm place to wash - around 10,000 years ago and now are widely utilized for relaxation purposes.
 
There are an estimated three million saunas in the country. So, in addition to every single house having a sauna - there is also one in every summer house at the lake or on the coast (everyone in Finland has a summer home in addition to their home). As Heli said – it is a part of their Finish DNA – she even has one in her apartment in Helsinki!
 
One popular type of sauna is called a Smokey Sauna. They are actually modeled after ancient saunas which were originally constructed as earth pits where people could build a fire for heat when they washed. Eventually they realized that they could build a cottage or hut in this space and heat the room to wash in. The very first ones had no chimneys, so they built very small windows to release the smoke when they were ready to wash up – hence the name Smokey Sauna. You can still find this type of sauna in the countryside today.
 
Public saunas are quite popular as well in the cities in Finland – where life is very different.  They are quite modern and often have bars and restaurants and even outdoor pools attached to them. Note - unlike the private saunas you do need to wear a bathing suit!
 
Another very Finish thing they do is combining a sauna with icy water in the winter. Basically, this means you would jump into the cold lake then go back to the sauna and repeat several times. Of course, they don’t stay long in the freezing water – just enough to get their blood moving. As soon as you as you are out of the cold water your circulation kicks in and your body starts to warm up and makes you feel happy. That’s your body is producing the mood balancing hormones serotonin with dopamine. Stress literally starts to melt away after just a couple minutes and it makes a great way to start the day. Try it yourself with a cold shower!
 
Gastronomy: Finland is one of the biggest coffee consumers in the world and one thing they like with their coffee is pastries – in particular cinnamon buns. The cinnamon bun is one of their local, traditional pastries and in Finland it is called korvapuusti – translation – slapped ears! You can find many cafes where you can sit, enjoy a cup of coffee and try a local cinnamon bun. According to Heli, Fins are pretty obsessed with these cinnamon rolls and call coffee and korvapuusti together pullakahvit – which literally means bun coffee.
 
Miscellaneous: Did you know…Finland was ranked as the “Happiest Country in the World” by the United Nations three times in a row?  It’s true – and that ranking was measured on how happy their citizens were which was based on life expectancy, healthiness, perception of corruption and generosity - or - how much people give to charity and help others. Not only that but there also an index called unexplained happiness that Finland ranks high on as well!
 
Language and Currency: The currency in Finland is the Euro and they have been a member of the EU for a long, long time. Most locals speak English as they all learn English in school usually starting around age seven or so. You will find to be very friendly although a bit more shy and reserved than say…your typical American. (Note: No visa required for US or Canada residents.)
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing they recommend a 10-day self-quarantine if traveling from the United States and Canada. However - if the person has a negative coronavirus test certificate that is less than 72 hours old at the time of arrival in Finland and will stay in the country for less than 72 hours, a second test and voluntary quarantine are not required.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Finland click here.
 
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So, I know we usually talk about Hidden Gems in these overviews - but in reality - Finland is actually one destination that is truly an entire hidden gem in Northern Europe!  And as always this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg as far as things to see and do and eat in this amazing destination. For more details on things to see and do, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!

​I am willing to bet you have heard of Ecuador but are more familiar with the Galapagos Islands - which are actually a part of Ecuador. And whether or not my assumption is correct I am also willing to bet that you will be pleasantly surprised to find out all there is to see and do within Ecuador before flying over to the Galapagos Islands – both of which are quite the exotic destinations.
 
In order to introduce you to them I invited Diego Escobar - one of my partners in South America - from Condor Travel - to one of my weekly video chats to share the beauty of both. And once you have discovered all of what makes them amazing destinations – Diego and I will work together to get you those experiences that you just can't find on the Internet – which is why so I love working with Diego and his team because they really do help me create these amazing memories for all of you.
 
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
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Country Background: Ecuador is a relatively small country that consists of four clear regions – The Amazon Rainforest the Andes Mountains, the Pacific Coast and the Galapagos Islands – which are located about 600 miles away from the mainland. Fun Fact: It is said that Ecuador is a summary of Latin America because you have a little bit of everything in just this one small territory.
 
Located at the equator – and named Ecuador because of the equator line that crosses the country - it truly is at the center of the earth. Diego started the chat with a great quote by explorer Alexander von Humboldt who visited Ecuador in the 18th century and had this to say: “When you travel Ecuador, from the high snowcapped mountains to the Amazon rainforest, it is like you're traveling from Argentina to Canada in terms of the variety of environments and landscapes that you can find.”  
 
And that indeed is true as here you will the Cotopaxi Volcano which is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world as well as so many dramatic landscapes. For instance, there is the Amazon rainforest - and even though Ecuador is home to just a small part of it – around 5% - it’s one of the most accessible ones. Then there are the magnificent Andes Mountains which are considered the backbone of Ecuador. And of course, the Pacific Coast with its incredible beaches and finally - the Galapagos Islands that are simply the cherry on top of it all. It truly is a natural paradise brought to you by mother earth herself. As a matter a fact – it also happens to be the most biodiverse country in the world per square kilometer – so you can expect to find many species of reptiles, birds, insects, mammals and more – giving you wilderness and wildlife in one adventure!
 
Getting There: Most visitors typically fly into Quito where there is an international airport -although there is also another international airport in Guayaquil on the Pacific Coast. If you are coming from the US - say from Miami or Atlanta it is about a four-hour flight and from Houston it is about a six-hour flight. So, it really is quite close and once you are there you have the chance to change the environment you are in quite easily – as each different region is just a 25-minute flight from each other. As Diego said - you can have breakfast in the Amazon rainforest, lunch in the Andes Mountains and dinner on the Pacific Coast!
 
One of the things that I like to do when the itinerary we are planning are the Galapagos Islands is to give you a pre- and post-night in Quito so you can so you can discover this amazing city the capital of Ecuador. (Note: the Galapagos Islands are a two-hour flight form Quito.)
 
Destinations: Read on to see what each region of the country can offer!
 
Quito: The city of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was declared as such in 1978 thanks to having one of the largest and best-preserved historical centers in all of Latin America - as well as tons of history – including museums and churches and amazing colonial art as well baroque as neoclassical style.
 
Quito is actually a very long city but it's also easy to visit and it's really well divided between the modern part and the older part.  There are great hotel options in the modern part as well as restaurants – one of the best being Terra which is fusion restaurant and that showcases all of the regions of Ecuador in their dishes. Also available here - thanks to local beer producers – is beer tasting! And something that would be my favorite to do? Chocolate tasting! Everybody loves chocolate and chocolate is a must when you visit Ecuador as they have the best cocoa bean variety - Arriba - in fact - some of the highest quality beans in the world come from here. Diego let us in on the fact that Swiss chocolate is made with Arriba beans and Ecuador is producing the best bars that you can find in the world featuring really nice mixtures such as chocolate with lemongrass.
 
The Cloud Forest: Just a two-hour drive from Quito – and a total change in environment - this is one of the most intriguing things you will ever see – and it is off the beaten path so hello social distancing! So, it’s all about the outdoors here and three days is the suggested length of stay in this area. For my bird watching peeps – this is the perfect spot for you. You can find up to 600 species of birds here to spy on and plenty of biodiversity. There are exotic bird watching excursions through the forest where you not only check out the birds - but the waterfalls as well.  Per Diego if you are an avid bird watcher you would want to visit the Cloud Forest for at least at least three days to see the amazing diversity of the birds and with a good local guide you would be able to see a good hundred or so at least. For a different point of view, you can hop on the Dragon Fly and take a ride on this super cool open cable car for amazing views of the flora and fauna. Or you can choose to pedal high above the forest canopy on a Sky Bike where you will be 196 feet above the ground checking out the different species and vegetation at your own pace.
 
As for accommodations we discussed a fer options. One is Mashpi – which is a really modern and a luxury property and El Monte Sustainable Lodge which is a more traditional eco lodge. There is also another property where you can stay in a treehouse in the jungle!
 
Otavalo: Otavalo is a small town in the Andes located two hours north of Quito. The highlight here is the culture as the residents here are indigenous people who are also called Otavalos and are very happy to share their culture with the visitors. Here you will find one of the largest indigenous markets in South America – the colorful Otavalo Market - full of textiles and handicrafts. Bonus – Condor Travel offers have an experience called May I Introduce You where they will take you directly to the workshops of the artisans who are producing the textiles and handicrafts giving you a direct experience and contact with them.
 
This area is also known for its ecological reserves and is famous for its lakes as well. There are some activities to do on the water – per Diego - it’s cold - but it’s possible to do so!  Otavalo is home to many colonial haciendas and rural casita's that are famous in Ecuador which you can visit while there to get an idea of the local way of life. And the Condor Project which is another must do which is a trek through a nice park where you will get the opportunity to check out the local birds - of which many are rescues. And for my cheese connoisseurs you can pay a visit to a cheese factory here where the cheese is made by the locals.
 
And as far as accommodations - the haciendas here have been upgraded so that we have all of the comforts that we're accustomed as well as all the amenities you would find in a city hotel - but in a more remote area near nature and the local culture. Some of the properties Condor works with in this area are Cusin, Zuleta and Piman and all offer really amazing experiences in terms of services, accommodations and activities.
 
Cotopaxi: Diego shared that this is one of his favorite places that is not far from Quito – about an hour and a half drive – it is home to Cotopaxi National Park and featuring fabulous views of the mountainous landscape. The recommended stay in this area is three to four days to enjoy all it has to offer. For my hikers they offer daily excursions here to reach the summits and also you may catch a glimpse of the local cowboys known as chagras. If you are here, you will certainly want to visit Cotopaxi Volcano and Diego assures us it's really easy to get to the mountain refuge as you can get quite close by car and then you just have to hike for one hour or so reach the snow caps making for an amazing experience. There are other things to do here such as the Illinizas Ecological Reserve where you can find waterfalls and rivers to hike by, a train ride to explore the area via rail and the opportunity to mountain bike or horseback ride around the national park.
As for lodging that Condor works with? They include properties such as San Agustin Del Callo, El Porvenir, Santa Ana and Cotopaxi Pungo - some of which are a little bit more rustic - but you also have some luxury options here as well making this a great opportunity so to feel immersed in the area. For instance, Diego tells us that the San Agustin Del Callo is a luxury hacienda built on the rings of the Incas so you can find the actual stones of the Incas in some of the walls. There really are options for everyone – including if you just want to be with your family - there are villa options to stay in and have a private experience. Another option is to do a buyout for you and your entire family because these are smaller properties with a great for social distancing.
 
Avenue of the Volcanoes: Moving south of Quito this area is amazing because when you are out on the open road you feel surrounded by the mountains and volcanos. This is why explorer Alexander von Humboldt named the area the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Diego recommends scheduling five days for this amazing journey from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park where you will head south and make stops at traditional haciendas and indigenous markets along the way. On this route you will also come across Chimborazo which is the land of the llamas – the highlands of Ecuador features lots of those oh so popular llamas and the communities near Chimborazo are famous for llamas and alpacas and most of the locals work with llamas doing textiles as well. There are also and some famous markets like the Guamote Market that you can visit on certain days. Fun Fact: Chimborazo Mountain – which is the highest mountain in Ecuador, and because of this it is often said that when you come to Ecuador you are closer to the sun. And per Diego they say that if you measure it from the center of the earth that it is the biggest mountain in the world - even bigger than the Everest.
 
A ride on the Devils Nose train is a must as it famous for being the most difficult train route in the world to build as it zig zagged up and down the mountain – meaning unfortunately several people died during the of the construction of the railway.
 
At the end of the Avenue of Volcanoes you will reach Cuenca City in the southern part of Ecuador, which is a small, charming town featuring fabulous architecture and nice, small boutique hotels. It’s also in close proximity to El Cajas National Park which is home to many lakes as well as the paramount ecosystem in the region and is a remarkably interesting place to hike. Cuenca is also famous for the Artisan Route where you will witness special techniques to make textiles, jewelry and the famous Panama hat - yup – it’s not made in Panama – it’s made in Ecuador!
 
The Amazon Rainforest: The portion of the rainforest located in Ecuador is small compared to other countries. But it's really easy to access. For instance, you can reach the Amazon via car in just about four hours leaving from Quito. And bonus – you can visit some cocoa plantations on the way along The Chocolate Trail where you will have the chance to see the process from the start until it becomes chocolate. As you journey along the Guayusa Trail you’ll learn about the local leaf they call Guayusa which contains a lot of caffeine and is made into what can be likened to an energy drink- a local energy drink that’s all natural 100% natural! They – the local indigenous communities - actually start cooking it early in the morning and you can share it with them if you so choose. Something a bit more adventurous that you can do here is rafting on the Jatun Yako River. This is considered a Level 3 River so it's really easy for families with children to do as a fun afternoon activity.
 
As for accommodations – there are several lodges along the Cacao Route that offer great opportunities for honeymoons or even as backdrops for a proposal – and Diego confirmed it is a very romantic place to do both. But don’t worry – there are great family properties available as well so we can find you whatever it is you need. 
 
Yasuni National Park: This national park is located inside the Amazon rainforest – and its the deepest part of the Amazon in Ecuador as well as one of the most biodiverse places on earth. To reach it you would take a 25-minute flight from Quito to the city of Coca in the Amazon.  Once you reach that point there are several lodges in the area so to reach them you must take a motorboat for about two hours on the Napo River - which is one of the main tributaries to the Amazon. Depending on the lodge you stay in you will then transfer to a canoe for the final leg of your trip for anywhere from one to two hours. Talk about remote! Talk about social distancing! What an amazing experience!
 
The Pacific Coast: So, one of my absolute favorites - Anthony Bourdain - visited Ecuador a couple of years ago - a small fishing village called Salango to be exact. I used to watch him all the time and I so loved watching him just explore the world through his love of food. As with me - travel to him was gastronomy related so I love that here is a restaurant we can visit where he too broke bread.  And the food on the Pacific Coast is nothing short of amazing and includes fresh fish, lobster and Ecuadorian shrimp - the biggest shrimp that you can find in the world!
 
Here you can visit both Puerto Lopez and Isla de Plata not far from Salango. In Ecuador they refer to Isla de Plata as the small Galapagos or the Galapagos Chiquita. It’s a small island near the coast where you’ll find wildlife similar to that of the Galapagos.  There’s also plenty of activities including water sports like snorkeling and great accommodations such as Hacienda La Danesa which is one of Condor’s favorites to use.  It’s also another region - so once again it's totally different. The climate is warmer and it’s a good chance to just relax - perhaps after returning from the Galápagos Islands where you can stay the night and treat yourself to a massage.
 
Some of the first settlements in Ecuador were actually are on the Pacific coast and it's a great place to discover local culture. You also have the humpback whales here as they visit from June to September - so if you visit at this time you have the chance to see the hundreds of humpback whales that are searching for warmer waters.
 
Also, on the Pacific Coast you have Guayaquil which is a quick flight from Quito. Home to some wonderful hotels such as Hotel Del Parque - featuring a level of service that we're accustomed to as well as great food. Speaking of food - the local food found in the lowlands in the Pacific Coast are some Diego’s favorite foods found in Ecuador. For example, they have ceviche which he tells us is quite different from the Peruvian or Mexican ceviche. Depending if you're in the northern part or one of the provinces they change the flavor. It’s made with lemon and local fish and it has more juice than the other ceviche and is simply delicious – and it is typically served with fried green plantain or patacones.
 
Galapagos Islands: So once again during this chat I'm so excited because Charles Darwin is one of my most favorite scientists of all time – a real mastermind - so it’s pretty cool Darwin visited this place and that it was the inspiration for his theory of evolution! Darwin saw that the finches there had different types of beaks depending on the island he visited and realized it was dependent on the type of food they had whether it be insects or fruit or cactus.
 
Its a unique place all about wildlife and I love what the islands do in terms of caring for that wildlife. And there are plenty of things to do here with one of the top activities being able to rent your own boat - or even a mini yacht - and go and get up close to the wildlife and nature.
 
There are different ways of traveling the islands. For example, you have the sea-based option which is cruising through them. This is the classic option to reach the Galapagos Islands and there are many different itineraries available - ranging from four days up to 10 days. But there are also land based options available where you can stay on one island or island hop and then go out daily on different boat excursions. The islands offer various kinds of accommodations from luxury properties to tented camps – with options for everybody.
 
Culture: Ecuador holds many cultural opportunities - there are almost 30 different ethnic groups found there - and I work with Diego and the team at Condor to ensure that you get to experience remote communities while you are there - allowing you to see how people really live as they did for many, many years – or as I say old country style.  You will have the opportunity to learn from them as you join their community and are totally immersed in their indigenous cultures. And for those of you traveling with your home-schooled children what an awesome opportunity for travel as a living classroom! We can even set up some voluntourism for you to do as a family as well.
 
Safety: Per Diego they are ready to receive visitors again as Ecuador has applied all of the protocols and are in line with the mandates that the World Travel and Tourism Council has passed down - meaning that you can have that peace of mind when you visit this bucket list destination.
 
Updated COVID-19 Information: As of this writing the CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
 
For the CDC’s most up to date information on COVID-19 click here. And for the most up to date entry requirements for Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands click here.
 
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So, what do you think? I say let’s add and Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands to your bucket list and get to work curating the perfect itinerary for you! You know I can - and love to - help you with financial travel planning too – so even if we start planning for a year or two out – it will all still be there!
 
For more details on things to see and do in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, where to stay, it’s price points and more - contact your Travel Guru! Oh, and if you need a payment plan to fund your travel adventure – we got those too!
 
Namaste!