4/30/2018
5 Classic Cafes In RomeThis article is from See Italy Travel, who have been so kind to allow me to share their insights and expertise with you. See Italy Travel specializes in creating remarkable Italy itineraries customized specifically for your needs and wishes. Italians call Rome the Eternal City. Each street evokes echoes of Italy’s epic past – from ancient temples to Renaissance fountains. With so many antiquities on
A recent article written by a travel colleague had me thinking back to a similar experience I encountered a number of years ago. A lesson learned on how NOT to start my vacation. Thankfully it turned out OK - THAT time.
But it sure had me totally stressed out. 1/9/2018
My Take On Small Ship CruisingPhoto courtesy of Sea Dream Yacht Club There is a lot of excitement these days in the world of cruising with all the new ships recently or soon to be launched. Much of this excitement is focused on the mega ships - the ones with 4000+ passengers. I must say, they are beautiful, with all the "latest and greatest" on board, new technology, new restaurants and even a race track on the top deck of the Norwegian Bliss coming in May. Imagine that!
As an avid cruiser, I understand the lure of all these amenities. The ships have become destinations in of themselves. Perfect for a certain group of travelers. Under the radar, though, are plenty of small ship cruises. New ships and new itineraries, for those seeking a very different experience from the bigger ships. Adventure, expedition, luxury, river, sailing, yachting - as small as 12 passengers up to about 700 - lots of options to be had! Calabasas, CA - (Nov. 20, 2017) - AmaWaterways proudly announced today its partnership with Master Chef and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Joanne Weir, as the lead sponsor of her new PBS series, “Plates and Places with Joanne Weir.” Two episodes of the series, set to debut in February 2018, were filmed in Fall 2017 during AmaWaterways’ Enchanting Rhine river cruise, capturing the culinary highlights on board as well as regional specialties from the cities and towns along the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. During the cruise, which took place on board the fleet’s newest ship, AmaKristina, Weir shared her love of cooking with guests through cooking demonstrations and the addition of small touches to the tasting menu at the intimate Chef’s Table restaurant.
Travel Weekly is pleased to announce that professional travel advisor Laurie Marschall has been selected to participate in the STAR (Select Travel Advisor Recognition) Program during its annual CruiseWorld event, November 15-17, 2018. STAR participants demonstrate what it means to be a qualified professional in the travel industry and are selected based on strict qualifying criteria.
CruiseWorld brings together nearly 1,300 travel industry professionals to participate in a wide variety of specialization and certification programs, hands on workshops, networking opportunities 10/18/2017
The Butler Did It!We hire companies to clean our homes and our pools. We have people who cut our lawns, trim our trees, run our errands, wash our cars. We even take our pets to day spas. These services make our lives easier and better every day, right? So why not do the same on vacations? You deserve it. Vacations are special- a time to reconnect with yourself, spouse or partner, a time to celebrate special occasions, a time to simply unplug. Transform your vacation and pamper yourself by
having the butler do it for you! Credit, debit or cash? Clients often ask how best to pay for items when traveling internationally.
My answer really depends on where one is traveling. In most cases, I suggest using a credit card as often as possible. Credit cards subject you to the least amount of risk (banks cut off fraudulent use very quickly), and you get the most favorable exchange rates. I usually take two cards, in the event one is declined for some reason. One card is sufficient if you are traveling with someone who also has a card that can be used as your back up. Just make sure the cards have a large enough credit line to cover your big expenses (hotel, car rentals, etc.). Keep in mind some locations require a deposit that may eat into your credit availability. Advise your bank or credit card company where you will be traveling; otherwise it is almost guaranteed that your card will be declined, especially after the first purchase. These days notification can be done online. Also be sure to use cards without a foreign transaction fee. Those pesky fees add up quickly if you use your card often. Another question that comes up quite often is the need for a PIN when using a credit card. Quite frankly, I have never needed a PIN for regular purchases. However I have heard of some locations requiring it. I request a PIN from my card company just in case. Credit cards, though, are not perfect in all situations. When traveling to more remote areas or smaller towns that don't attract as many tourists, shops (smaller shops especially) may not accept credit cards. In many towns, including big cities, payment with credit cards require a minimum purchase, so if you are wanting a few post cards or a bottle of water, you'll either have to purchase more items or use cash. Credit cards are also the least best option to get local currency as they often come with higher fees and interest charges. So what about debit cards and cash? A question I often get asked when speaking to people about European river cruises (or any river cruise, for that matter) is whether or not it matters the direction you go. Is it better to cruise downstream or upstream? I have always been under the impression that going downstream is better - you know, "going with the flow". In the grand scheme of things, though, I think either direction is fine. Cruise lines have designed the itineraries with the direction in mind. You generally have same port stops and of course the same scenery. So the decision is really personal preference. However, there are a few small and a few major differences regarding the direction which may be important to you. When traveling with friends and family, I always seem to get in to the discussion on how and what to pack. I've seen a number of articles recently - each with a slightly different perspective. However they all had one tip in common: Lay out all the clothes you want to take, then put 50% back into the closet!
Well, depending on how many clothes you start off with, putting half of them back into your closet may be a bit drastic. However the point is spot on: Most people simply over pack. When you spend thousands of dollars on a dream vacation, it can be difficult decision to spend even more on insurance. "Do I really need it? I've traveled forever and nothing has ever happened." Isn't this what often times goes through your mind?
So do you need insurance? Well, it depends, but in most circumstances it is a good idea to protect your travel investment. Think about what could happen.... |
Laurie Marschall - Owner and Founder
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