British Airways Planes at London Heathrow Airport

Summer Vacations – How to Prepare for Flight Delays and Disruptions

Last summer it was security delays, airport staff shortages and lost luggage. Thankfully, Apple Air tags saved my stranded bag at Heathrow and I was fortunate to only have one flight delayed out of six flights to/within Europe. This summer it’s about extreme weather events (storms, heat, rain, hail, wildfires, […]

Amalfi Coast beach view

Vacation Themes – The Year of the Solo Cruise Vacation

I haven’t given much thought to my travels and how some years there tends to be a theme around the trips.  One year I focused on international film festivals (Toronto, Karlovy Vary and Avignon) and the next year my travels brought me to wellness resorts (Miraval and Red Mountain Resort […]

Venice Grand Canal View from Free Rooftop Viewing Point

Itinerary for Two Days in Venice Italy in July with a Teenager

My niece wanted to visit Venice in July and my first response was “I’m not sure I love you that much”.  The Venice I remember pre-pandemic was crowded with cruise passengers from May to September, add to that the daily tourists arriving by train each day and those charming tiny […]

Penedes region of Spain view of the vineyards

One Week Family Vacation to Spain – Barcelona & Madrid in Summer

My niece secured an internship with a football club in Madrid, so my family was keen to visit while she was there.  I offered to plan their family vacation to Spain to include Barcelona and Madrid.  While I would normally recommend a first visit to Europe be at least ten […]

Holland America Cruise to Alaska Eurodam Sunset at Sea

Cruise Changes – Are Cheap Cruises and Free Lobster Tail a Distant Memory?

It’s “wave season” and you are likely seeing a lot of cruise commercials everywhere (that dumb jingle is stuck in your head) so let’s talk about cruises. Cruises lines were hit hard during the pandemic and restarted sailing in July 2021 offering cheap cruises to anyone willing to take a […]

The Wynn Hotel Lobby floral decor

Wynn Rewards – Holland America Cruise Discount and a Free Cruise Offer

I recently visited Las Vegas to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday and had to treat her to a stay at The Wynn Las Vegas because it’s such a five-star luxury experience.  I am a Wynn Rewards card holder and while I rarely earn enough casino credit or comp dollars to […]

Water Taxi in Venice from the Airport VCE

Review: Venice Water Taxi Airport Transfer – A Unique Luxury Experience

For my summer visit to Venice, Italy with my 16 y.o. niece, I originally included the public transit option in our budget and my mom (aka mom-mom) vetoed it. As a solo traveler, I’m keen to save money and would normally take the Alilaguna boat (15 euros one way) from […]

Drinking chocolate and churros in Madrid San Gines

Madrid Chocolate & Churros at San Gines Chocolateria

It’s not a secret that I love chocolate. When I travel, I try to find the best local chocolate shops which can be easy or impossible (see Bruges Chocolate Shops).  On a recent trip to London, I even tried my hand at making chocolates at Melt Chocolate in Notting Hill.  […]

King Room London Bankside Hotel near Thames

Review Bankside Hotel, A Rarity in London – New Build Luxury Hotel King Room

As I exited the elevator to find my room, I noticed what looked like a draft beer bar in the hallway.  Of course, it wasn’t free beer, although I’m sure that hotel amenity would get lots of folks to book, it was a water station.  With three pulls representing tap, […]

Croissant baking class in Paris

Paris Baking Classes: Learn to Make Croissants and Macarons

I returned to Paris solo last year and wanted to explore the city differently this time. As much as I love the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay, I wanted a new experience for my three days in Paris. While my cooking skills are severely lacking, I figured learning how to make […]