Vacations Around the World

Embrace the Festive Magic of a River Cruise Through Europe’s Christmas Markets

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The Christmas Market in the old town of Goslar is famous for being one of the most beautiful ones in Germany. Photo via https://flic.kr/p/2dRtMvc

Colorful rows of glittering fairy lights surrounding charming cobblestone streets and small wooden figurines ready to come home in your suitcase – it’s the “Christmas Market” season in Europe.

Throughout Europe, cities and small towns alike put on their holiday finest during this time of year, as they light up the season with all kinds of Christmas markets offering hand-carved toys and ornaments, delicious food, and a festive spirit that can only be found in the Old World.

So what’s the best way to enjoy the enchanting Christmas Market season?

Consider a river cruise, where you’ll literally sail right into the heart of each town’s market festivities. Let’s look at 3 holiday itineraries that are perfect for exploring some of the best Christmas markets in Europe: Read more

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Discover the Allure of River Cruising: Choosing the Perfect Destination for Your Adventure

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Looking like a picture postcard, sailing down the Danube River is a wonderful way to experience beautiful Austria.

Are you ready to embark on a journey filled with charm, history, and breathtaking vistas?

River cruises offer a unique way to explore the world, allowing you to soak in the essence of captivating destinations while cruising along serene waterways. If you’re new to river cruising and wondering where to begin, you’re in luck – that’s what we are going to chat about today!

Let’s explore some of the most popular and enchanting river cruise destinations and see if one of them sounds perfect for you. Read more

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Unlocking Hidden Travel Gems: The Experts Behind Guided Tours

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When your amazing tour guide not only tells you WHY you should watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon, but also shares where to watch, AND gives you tips for perfect viewing – the result is a true memory of a lifetime!

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that we are big fans of guided tours – especially for those bucket list destinations that we’ve always dreamed of. Having now experienced 3 very different – and amazing – tours, we are even more convinced that the stress-free nature of guided touring is a fabulous way to spend time exploring new places!

When people ask me about guided touring, one question that often comes up is “What are the guides like? Are they really knowledgeable?”

So, let’s chat about that a bit today. Read more

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Adventures Abroad: Florence and Enchanting Tuscany

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Concluding the trip report from our wonderful visit to Italy, this final chapter is all about what may have been the most enchanting part of our trip – Florence and Tuscany – where we spent several wonderful days before making our way back to Rome at the end of our tour. (If you’ve missed the two previous chapters, you can read about our time in Rome here, and our experiences in Venice here.) Read more

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Adventures Abroad: On Our Way to Venice, the Floating City

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Beautiful Burano – one of the most colorful places I’ve ever visited!

Continuing on our Globus tour of Italy’s Great Cities, after leaving Rome, we headed north towards Venice. As it’s a long drive though, we made a few stops along the way. First was an overnight stay in Umbria at Posta Donini, a 17th century villa in the town of San Martino in Campo. This lovely villa has been completely renovated into a luxurious resort and spa – with a wonderful restaurant to go with it. I confess that, while looking forward to Venice and the rest of our tour, it was definitely tempting to want to stay here longer! Read more

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