Aplahoué Attracting the same chic crowds as Monte Carlo and Portofino, the island of Hvar, Croatia has become a major destination for the yachting set in recent years. Of course, in the summer months, the warm Mediterranean climate, bustling nightlife, and serene beaches draw people from all walks of life to the usually sleepy island as […]
fast Cross Alaska off your bucket list by joining me aboard the ultra-luxurious Regent Seven Seas Explorer.
We are part of several exclusive programs such as Four Seasons Preferred Partners, Marriott Stars Luminous, Hyatt Privé, Intercontinental Luxury & Lifestyle Program, Waldorf Astoria & Conrad Impresario, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Rosewood Elite, Preferred Hotels & Resorts Platinum, and many more.
Everyone in the travel industry has been adjusting their businesses in order to protect the health and safety of their guests in this unprecedented time.
Here are some of the benefits you as a client would receive by working with a Virtuoso Travel Advisor like me.
I want to focus on travel that’s closer to home since I know many people would prefer to not travel internationally
There are literally hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early, or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling
Since ancient times lighthouses have offered protection, their glowing lenses providing a guiding light to the weary traveler. They meant a safe haven from the tumultuous sea, a warning of dangerous rocks or reefs. And after a long voyage, the first sight of a lighthouse gave hope and relief that home was near. Like photos of bridges […]
Only have a brief stop in Nassau while on a Caribbean cruise? No problem! Here are a few of the “must see” sights. If you plan your day out well you should be able to hit most, if not all, of these. Nassau is the capital and largest city of the Bahamas. Officially the Commonwealth […]
Ever since my 8th grade Spanish teacher taught our class about Lake Titicaca (to titters, naturally), I’ve been intrigued by the place. At thirteen, my conception of the world was still pretty limited; I never thought I’d actually go to this far-off place with the funny sounding name. Well, I recently did, and it definitely […]
Florence, Italy is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is graced with spectacular architecture, including countless churches and monuments. Located in the heart of Tuscany, Firenze as its known to Italians, is bisected by the meandering Arno River and surrounded by the region’s […]
Dilapidated. Decaying. Over-crowded. But to me, Venice is the most beautiful place in the world. Nowhere on earth can compare to this slowly sinking city. Sure, it’s teeming with tourists in the summer and yes, many of the crumbling buildings could use a little touching up (which I think is actually a huge part of […]
Whitewashed villages clinging precariously to the cliffs, blue-domed churches, and an equally blue sea stretching to the horizon. This is what typically comes to mind when anyone mentions the Greek Islands. My favorite is Santorini, also known as Thira. Located in the Aegean Sea about 120 miles (200 km) southeast from mainland Greece, it’s the […]
Barcelona, the capital of the autonomous Spanish region of Cataluña, is famous for many things: sunny beaches, a mild Mediterranean climate, exotic cuisine, afternoon siestas and bold art and architecture. No other person has left his mark on the city quite like Barcelona’s favorite son, Antoni Gaudí. Visiting his many whimsical buildings is a must […]
I received the most amazing gift for Christmas—a Groupon Deal for a helicopter tour of Los Angeles and Hollywood. I’ve lived in L.A. for nearly all of my life but had never seen the city like this before. Starting off at Whiteman Airport, a municipal airport in the north San Fernando Valley that I’d never […]
I’ve been on three cruises so far—one with my family when I was in high school to the Mexican Riviera (with ports of call in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas); one a few years ago with a group of friends to Puerto Rico, St. Martin-St. Maarten, and Labadee, Haiti (Royal Caribbean’s private island […]
In the USA, we’re all familiar with the New Year’s Eve traditions of counting down the seconds till midnight, throwing confetti, toasting with champagne, and kissing your loved ones. Since 2011 is drawing to a close, I thought I’d ask my friends and family members about the New Years traditions from their homelands around the world.
Called “A Cidade Branca” (“The White City”) for how the sunlight illuminates its aged limestone walls, Portugal’s capital enjoys a warm, Mediterranean climate and idyllic waterfront location. While not as popular a tourist destination as Paris or Rome, Lisbon (Lisboa in Portuguese) offers its own brand of captivating Old World charm. Perched atop seven rolling hills, […]
San Diego has been like a second home to me for pretty much my entire life. With a population of 1.3 million, it’s the second largest city in California and attracts more than 30 million visitors every year. Renowned for its idyllic Mediterranean climate, pristine sandy beaches and first-class attractions, it’s the perfect year-round travel […]
Siena is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Unlike Venice or Rome however, I didn’t have a mental picture of what to expect before I went there. For centuries Siena has been in the shadow of its neighbor and rival, Firenze (Florence), but to me it’s even more breathtaking. Nestled in […]
Istanbul is one of the most dynamic, beautiful and exciting cities in the world. You could easily spend weeks there and still not see everything. Located on both sides of the Bosporus Straight (which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara), the city of Istanbul is split across two continents—Europe and Asia. Known […]
For a relatively small town, Sintra, Portugal is chock-full of sights. Perched high in the forested mountains northwest of Lisbon, it’s only a forty-minute train ride from the capital city. Because of its cooler temperatures, strategic location, and remarkable natural beauty, Sintra has been a popular retreat for centuries. In fact, there’s so much to […]
This week’s “Snapshot” is a bit closer to home. Well, at least it’s in the United States, albeit at the very, very tip. I was only in Key West, Florida for one day so didn’t get to fully soak in the laid-back island lifestyle. However, in the brief time I was there I fell in […]
On my trip to South America last year I was blown away by the grandeur of Iguazu Falls, the subject of this week’s “Snapshot.” Located on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones, Iguazu Falls is actually 275 separate, spectacular waterfalls. Set in the subtropical rainforest along 1.6 […]
I was relaxing at a beach resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica on the final leg of my FAM trip when it dawned on me; Nicaragua is less than an hour away, this would be the perfect opportunity to check out a new country. I’d always wanted to visit the colonial city of Granada after seeing it on my favorite […]
Do you know where your morning cup of coffee came from? If you’ve ever had any from Pete’s Coffee, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts or brewed your own Maxwell House, then you’ve likely enjoyed coffee grown at the Doka Estate. Located on the verdant slopes of the Poás Volcano in central Costa Rica, Doka is one of forty […]
As you may know, I just returned from a 9-day trip to spectacular Costa Rica. I was there for what’s called a “FAM” in the travel industry. This is short for “familiarization tour” in which travel agents visit a number of properties to learn more about the destinations they sell. During my time there, I took extensive tours of […]
