The Brooklyn Bridge Tower View

Review of Apple Airtags for Luggage Tracking – Don’t Travel Without Them!

“Good luck bag, hope to see you in New York” were my parting words to my luggage upon checking in at London’s Heathrow airport.  The agent laughed and said “don’t worry” but I was worried.  Not only was the news filled with photos of luggage at Heathrow and other European […]

Baltic Cruise sunset offbeat travel

First Time Cruise Tips plus a Realistic Cruise Budget Guide

As folks start to travel again and board cruises, I thought it would be good to revisit first time cruise tips and a realistic budget guide for your first cruise. Finding the right cruise is a bit like dating – there may be a few hits and misses until you […]

Glacier Bay Alaska Holland America Eurodam

10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle

On my first Alaskan cruise, I flew into Seattle and then boarded a bus to Vancouver to meet the ship.  Quite frankly, the last thing I want to do after flying cross country from Philadelphia is to move from one cramped seat on a plane to another cramped seat on […]

Bruges Boat Tour View of Canals

Cruise Port Zeebrugge – One Day in Bruges – What to Do, See & Eat

One day in any city is a tough call – there’s so much to see, do and eat how can you squeeze it all in?  The answer is you don’t.  Consider the “one day only” visit an appetizer to the city which may (or may not) tempt you to return.  […]

Eurodam Pool Deck Chairs to Alaska

Travel Solo Cruise List – Which Ships Have Solo Cabins, How to Avoid Single Supplement and Have Fun Solo

I was on a recent twitter cruise chat and asked the cruise line representative “do you have any solo cabins or will you waive the single supplement on any sailings” and then crickets.  They go dark and no longer engage with me.  Ignoring a large part of the travel community […]

London Eye Horse Guards

25 London Travel Tips to Help You Plan, Shop, Eat and Find Hidden Gems

[updated March 2022] Whenever I’m asked for London Travel Tips, I tend to talk really fast, excited that folks are going to the city that I’ve been enamored with for more than twenty years. They look at me and say “can you send those to me?” as they back away […]

Skirt Steak Restaurant at Eventi Hotel Chelsea NYC

Review: Skirt Steak Restaurant in NYC at the Eventi Hotel in Chelsea

I kept walking past Skirt Steak Restaurant at the Eventi Hotel in Chelsea and wasn’t sure my budget included a steak dinner in New York City on my weekend visit.   But something about the corner restaurant piqued my interest so I went online and it only added to the mystery […]

2021 Travel Review – Learning to adapt to the new world of travel

The past two years have been tough to find the good in travel.  I miss my friends around the world.  I’ve watched the travel & hospitality industry grind to a halt, restart, stop, restart, etc.  I’ve watched private guide friends lose their income when the ships stopped sailing in Europe.  […]

Aqua Class Cabin Celebrity Edge Ship

The Cruise Bid for Upgrade Process – Part Gambling, Part Strategy & Lots of Luck

I teach a “travel for less” class so am always keen to find new and exciting travel upgrades to luxury I otherwise can’t afford traveling solo.  So when I first heard of the cruise bid for upgrade program, I was intrigued.  Cruise passengers can submit a bid to “win” (buy) […]