Glass of red wine and mug of popcorn at Flat Iron Steak London

London Dining Review Flat Iron Steak Clink Street Borough Market

My friend and I got lost one night wandering the streets of Southwark, Borough Market and London Bridge in search of Flat Iron Steakhouse.  I hadn’t heard of this UK steakhouse chain but he was keen to try it after researching steakhouses in London.  His description sounded similar to my […]

British Airways Planes at London Heathrow Airport

Upgrading to Club Europe on British Airways – Is it worth it?

Planning our Venice, Italy Itinerary was easy enough but as a solo traveler, I was torn with the additional costs of the Venice water taxi and the whether upgrading to Club Europe on British Airways was worth it.  My niece and I were booked in coach (World Traveller) on British […]

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 […]

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 […]