There are two kinds of people. There are the kinds that like nothing more than to receive a big block of chocolate for their birthday and there are the kinds that like receive one of those boxes that have many flavors of candy. If you are in the sampler chocolate camp and think that variety is the spice of life, you probably will enjoy this 7-night Southern Europe cruise by Costa Cruises.

This is a fast moving cruise that will fill your tourist tummy with some delightful samples of Italy, Tunisia, Spain ... [read more]

There is something indescribable about Italy that sucks you in and makes you one of her own. There is the beautiful countryside, of course, with its quaint towns, rolling hills and relaxed way of life. There are the cities, as well, with their hustle and bustle. There is the Riviera with its stunning cliffs that overhang deep blue waters. There are also the mountains. The Alps and the Dolemites redefine the reaches of land.

Some or all of these components of Italy will likely leave you enchanted, but ... [read more]

Portugal is frequently an overlooked European destination. It should not be. A country of beauty and charm, Portugal is an excellent place to visit. And what better way to visit a country that was once renowned for its ocean explorers than to visit it on a cruise ship?

I’ll admit that Holland America’s 10-day cruise to Lisbon from Ft. Lauderdale might seem dull to some people. When you look at the itinerary all you see is day after day of “At Sea”. If sailing on the high ocean is not your ... [read more]

We’re diving head first into the travel season when it becomes expensive to travel to Europe. Everyone and their mother’s mother want to visit the Old Continent during the summer season and that means that the airlines can bend you over their knees and spank you until all of the money falls out of your pockets.

There is hope, however, if you are able to travel between now and the start of the summer crunch (late May). This is kind of the in between period where prices creep up but aren’t quite ... [read more]

If you do a Google search for Rome the first thing that comes up is a television series on HBO by that very name. How did a show that has only been around for a couple of years beat out a city that has been inhabited since around the 8th Century BC? The whole thing about Rome not being built in a day doesn’t apply to the Internet apparently. A couple of years is equal to a day when you are talking about development over centuries.

The deal for today has ... [read more]

If you were in London this very second check out all the cool things you could be doing. If you are in London this very second, what the hell are you doing reading this blog? Go out and enjoy life already. You live in one of the coolest places on this planet. Go be cool.

For the rest of you, if you want to be cool too and hang out with all the cool kids in London, now is the time of year to get your cool on. ... [read more]

There might be lovelier places in spring than Paris but I can’t think of many. After the winter gloom departs and the flowers remember that they are supposed to be colorful, Paris comes alive in a way that doesn’t exist the rest of the year. Indeed, springtime is the time for Parisians to enjoy Paris. The tourists aren’t out in big numbers and the city’s many charms are on full display.

Many a person has fallen in love in Paris in the spring and many a couple have rekindled the flames ... [read more]

In our never-ending search to find unusual cruise itineraries we’ve come across this one. It is a 16-day voyage aboard Costa Cruise Lines‘ Costa Magica. Unlike those other boring old cruises that simply go from Florida to the Bahamas, this one is not content to just end there. No, this is a cruise for the adventurer. It is a cruise for people who like to spend time at sea. It is a cruise for the ocean-tested souls amongst us. It is a cruise to Copenhagen, Denmark ... [read more]

Greece is a very proud and patriotic country, as well it should be. Greek history is long and storied. It is little wonder that the country’s modern national anthem has no less than 158 verses. It might take you a full millennium just to sing them all.

Fortunately you will not be asked to sing it on Royal Caribbean’s 7-night cruise of the Greek Isles. You might be persuaded to do some karaoke, but that is par for the course on a cruise. This is a cruise that ... [read more]

Traveling to Europe in the summer is a bit akin to being a cow in a cattle drive. The herds of masses obligingly travel from one old church to another with the occasional stop at a famous landmark for a picture or two. Not that there is anything wrong with this. Europe is a wonderful continent with no shortages of beautiful sights, but to go there in the summer months is to know the true meaning of an overpopulated world.

One way around this is to travel during the off-season. ... [read more]

Some people are Francophiles and others are Anglophiles. What about people who are lovers of lovers? Are we philephiles?

Word musings aside, if you are an Anglophile or simply have a desire to visit the British Isles I have found the perfect cruise for you. Celebrity Cruises have sunk a lot of money into renovating the Century and they want to show it off in style. They are offering a nine-day cruise of the British Isles.

You might be thinking that the British Isles are small and that it would ... [read more]

It happens every year at this time. It starts out with me watching a cycling race from Europe. I watch the riders going through historic cities, climbing spectacular mountains and pedaling through quaint towns that look like they are straight off of a postcard. I start caring less and less for the race and more and more for the scenery. The next thing you know I am booking a flight to Europe. I need to kill my television.

This week’s race is from Paris to Nice, France. ... [read more]

I’ve always been a bit curious about the name of Norway’s capital. Oslo rolls off the tongue. It is short, sweet and simple. In other words, it is not like Burkina Faso’s capital. It is no Ouagadougou (try saying that ten times or at least correctly once).

According to Wikipedia, the name Oslo is the subject of much debate. There are some that believe it comes from the name of a large farm during the time of settlement. There are others that say it refers to the ... [read more]

I’ll admit to being a little more than skeptical before I went to Florence, Italy. Everyone I have ever talked to who has been there has said that it is a special city. A place that is loved by so many, I thought, must be teeming with tourists and therefore a city that I won’t enjoy in the least. I was wrong.

I wasn’t wrong about the tourist part. There are more fanny packs per capita in Florence than there are anywhere else in the world. Every third vehicle ... [read more]

The spring season is usually an excellent time to travel to Europe and this year it is proving to be no exception. In addition to not having to deal with the summer crowds that can make even the nicest place not so nice, traveling in the spring offers travelers and opportunity to save money on flights and accommodations.

Case in point is a deal being offered by British Airways for flights before May 27, 2007. If you book one of their reasonably priced flights to London and other destinations around the ... [read more]

Here is an adventure for you. BootsnAll has designed an awesome 12-day summer trip to Turkey. Limited to just 12 people, this adventure tour has it all: horseback riding, rafting, trekking, cycling, and a 4-day cruise on an old world sailboat in the Mediterranean Sea, complete with swimming, snorkeling and seafood.

Beginning and ending in the one-of-a-kind city of Istanbul, the tour features a stop at the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site which has 1000-year-old cave churches decorated with frescoes. If you have never been ... [read more]

As Europe continues to come closer and closer together through the evolution of the European Union it is becoming more and more obvious that there are many unique cultures on the continent. The borders might be blurred but the traditions and the history is not. Holland is different than Germany and Germany is different than Poland and on and on.

These differences are one of the great things about traveling through Europe. There is certainly a European way of life on the continent but that way of life changes from country ... [read more]

Going on a cruise alone is about as fun as watching paint dry. You need someone else to come along to help make fun of the other passengers, to be your partner for the funky chicken dance contest and to oooh and ahhh when there is a spectacular sunset. You need someone to tell you not to hit the buffet line for the third time at dinner and someone who you can share the sights with while you are having the vacation of a lifetime.

Yes, a cruise partner is in order ... [read more]

If all the trees that have been felled in order for people to write about the beauty of Paris were still around I am convinced that we wouldn’t have global climate change. I am also convinced that people would still know about the beauty of Paris. All you have to do is go there once and you will discover her charms for yourself.

Deciding what to see and what to do while you are in the City of Lights can be a challenge. Even with the best guidebooks and an understanding ... [read more]

Much like Las Vegas and other popular destinations around the world, you should never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever pay full price for a flight to London unless you have to go at the last minute and you can expense account it to your company. If that is the case, invite me along as your “business client”. I promise to keep you entertained during the flight over the Atlantic.

Prices on flights to London fluctuate throughout the year, but if you are a smart traveler, and I know for a ... [read more]

If you are looking for a small, intimate cruise through the Mediterranean you probably aren’t the target audience for Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, Carnival Freedom. Billed as a “mega” ship, the Freedom could comfortably fit the population of a small country 2,974 passengers in total. It features 1,487 cabins, a crew of 1,150 and weighs in at a cool 110,000 tons. Small it is not.

The ship makes its maiden voyage in 2007 so you have an opportunity to experience its girth before people start leaving their ... [read more]

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has had to contend with the crowds during one of the city’s festivals to learn that Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the United Kingdom each year. Only London receives more funny speaking guests from around the world carrying maps like they are lost and snapping pictures left and right each year.

There is a reason why Edinburgh is so popular with tourists: the place rocks. It combines old world charm with modern hipness in a way that few other cities ... [read more]

Water has played a huge role in the Netherlands for centuries. A country that is below sea level in parts, the densely populated nation is in a perpetual battle to make land out of water and to keep water out of land. Dikes, canals and clever engineering have contributed to a unique Dutch way of life that is an absolute treasure for a visitor to experience.

Uniworld Grand River Cruises offers a 7-night Dutch Dreams cruise aboard the River Ambassador that is perfect for those who want to experience Holland from ... [read more]

There is something about Europe that just feels different. The minute you step off a cross-Atlantic air trip and step foot on the continent you feel like you are in another part of the world. At the same time, Europe is also familiar. It has its lovely towns, bustling cities and historic cultures, but none of this leaves you feel like you are visiting Mars. Europe is both different and familiar.

Europe is also wonderful, especially if you can take the time to explore some of its southern areas. Celebrity Cruises has ... [read more]

On the surface you would be hard pressed to find similarities between Miami, Florida and London, England. One is modern sleek, the other is old Europe sheik. One is filled with sunny day after sunny day, the other sees more than enough of its gloomy gray days. One is located on the ocean, the other is located on a river. One is a city of cars, the other is a city of double deck buses and the tube.

On the surface Miami and London might not share a ... [read more]

It is the Swedish language that contributed the word “smorgasbord” to our lexicon, which is only fitting for this 10-night Scandinavia and Russia cruise aboard Princess Cruises’ Star Princess. The itinerary includes a veritable smorgasbord of sights and it will do its part to satiate your travel hungers. For a 10-night cruise this one offers up a variety of treats.

The voyage begins in the charming Danish capital, Copenhagen, a city steeped in maritime tradition and a place that is as lovely as you will find anywhere in the world. ... [read more]

Venice is dripping with romance. Even with the summer crowds and high prices, your heart won’t be able to avoid going pitter and patter while you are exploring one of the finest cities in Italy.

If the romance of Venice isn’t enough to rekindle old flames or ignite new ones, how about combing a trip there with a cruise of the Mediterranean? Royal Caribbean International offers up an excellent seven-day voyage aboard the Splendour of the Seas. Starting and ending in Venice, the ship takes you to some of the ... [read more]

There was a time when thousands of people each day would take to the high seas to leave Europe for the hope and promise of the United States. Theirs was a dangerous passage filled with uncertainty and fear. You can recreate their voyage, in reverse and without the uncertainty and fear, on a 16-day cruise aboard Holland America’s Westerdam. The Trans-Atlantic trip departs from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and stops in the Bahamas and on Grand Turk Island before spending 6 full days and nights on the open sea.

Sitting on ... [read more]

People often ask me what I think is the best place to take a cruise in the world. This is, of course, a difficult question to answer because there are so many great cruise spots. I certainly think that a cruise to Alaska should be on everyone’s list. I also think that a trip through the Panama Canal is a must-see. But if I only had one place I could visit on a cruise I would have to say it would be the fjords of Norway.

There are probably more poetic ways ... [read more]

• Athens & Greek Isles, Greece
• Athens & Mykonos, Greece
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Dublin, Ireland
• Edinburgh, Scotland
• Highlands and Islands, Scotland
• Istanbul, Turkey
• London, England
• Paris, France
• Prague, Czech Republic

The capital of Greece, cradle of democracy, birthplace of Western Civilization – Athens is a vibrant city where old and new co-exist. The majestic Parthenon rises above the city, its ancient glory still visible in the timeworn stone, and the National Archaeological Museum holds countless treasures from Athens’ Golden Age.

Athens is a bustling metropolis that always has something going on. It’s a city entrenched in the past but surrounded by the future. Late spring and early fall will find nice weather, ample accommodation and relatively clear beaches. With a good tourism ... [read more]

The capital of Greece, cradle of democracy, birthplace of Western Civilization – Athens is a vibrant city where old and new co-exist. The majestic Parthenon rises above the city, its ancient glory still visible in the timeworn stone, and the National Archaeological Museum holds countless treasures from Athens’ Golden Age.

Athens is a bustling metropolis that always has something going on. It’s a city entrenched in the past but surrounded by the future. Late spring and early fall will find nice weather, ample accommodation and relatively clear beaches. With a good tourism infastructure ... [read more]

Ah, Copenhagen (or København, to try the local language), a city of beauty, of culture – a vacation destination that might not be first in your mind, but only at first. Located on the east coast of Denmark, on the island of Sjælland, historic Copenhagen has become an important European transportation centre. The city sits at the threshold between Scandinavia (you can now drive from Sweden to Denmark on the Øresund Bridge) and the European Continent, and is the gateway to the Baltic region.

The city is actually ... [read more]

Dublin, capital of Ireland. Epicenter of the Celtic Tiger economy and Ireland’s growing economy, the old city still has all the hospitality of the Irish heart. Nestled on the north and south sides of the River Liffey as it winds its way to the Irish Sea, Dublin is an amazing vacation destination all its own, as well as the gateway to the Emerald Isle.

Dublin is an extremely “walkable” city, and the impressive architecture and the river make for a pleasant walk. You can reach virtually any tourist destination on-foot, from the shops of Grafton Street on the south to the ... [read more]

Edinburgh, Scotland. A city of ages, an epicenter of art and culture. Nestled on the coast of the Firth of Forth, near the North Sea in Scotland’s Lothian region, the Athens of the North beckons year round as tourists and travelers step out for festivals, theatre, music and art, and step back inside for the warmth of the pub, a pint, a good Scotch whisky.

Edinburgh’s urban and cosmopolitan brain are balanced by the passion and hospitality of the Scottish heart. The Old and New Towns mix time. In the Georgian ... [read more]

This is one of the last wildernesses in Europe – through the soaring beauty of Glencoe to the idyllic charm of the isles, and from the crashing waves of the northern coastline to the silence of the windswept moors. The Scottish Highlands have so much to offer…spectacular mountains, tumbling rivers and mirror-like lochs are bounded by crystal-clear seas scattered with magical islands. A startling variety of wildlife makes its home in the glens and sea-lochs where an unbroken thread of human history reaches back into the mists of time.

While you’re there, see if ... [read more]

Once known as the famous Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul is now a sprawling mega-city embracing two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia, the other to Europe. In the city’s heart, the Bosphorus Strait, course the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. The historical part of the city, Sultanahmet, contains the historical treasures of the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya. As you tour the walled area, famous for holding off invaders for centuries, explore and get lost down the twisting alleyways, imagining ... [read more]

London, England. As Samuel Johnson famously said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” But for tired men and women, and their families, a London vacation brings you to an exciting city of rejuvenation (despite that infamous English weather). London is a center of everything the world over, from attractions to restaurants to shopping to culture. It is L.A., New York, Paris – only with a British accent.

Visit Buckingham Palace, and try to make those red-coated, fuzzy-hatted guards blink. Ride the millennium attraction, the London ... [read more]

Bonjour! Ah, Paris, France. Home of the finest of the finer things in life, a city where a good meal and good wine are as important as air to breathe. Nestled in the Loire Valley, the City of Light – and Love – on the banks of the Seine is the perfect destination for any interest and budget or time-frame, from a long weekend to a typical week-long vacation. This is the golden child of Europe.

The huge, daunting city of Paris has been a major crossroads for cultures and travelers ... [read more]

Prague, the capital of both the Czech Republic and Bohemia, sits astride the Vltava River about 30km above its junction with the Labe River. Prague’s prime attraction is its physical face. The city center is an open air museum of 900 years’ of architecture – Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, 19th-century revivals of all of them, and Art Nouveau – amazingly undisturbed by the 20th century. This historical core of the city – Hradcany (the Castle District) and Mala Strana (the Small Quarter) west of the river, Stare Mesto (the Old Town) and Vaclavske ... [read more]

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