Mention a river cruise, and most travelers immediately think of Europe. The Rhine. The Danube. Medieval towns, castles, wine regions, and a different port nearly every day. European river cruising has plenty of reasons to be popular, and I still recommend it. This year’s low water levels have caused some cruises to change their routes […]

Scotland has been calling me back since 2013, when my former life as a film producer took me there to scout locations for a romantic comedy. I was taken with its misty Highlands, ancient castles, proud character, and slightly cheeky sense of humor. Perhaps my Scottish heritage played a part, but from the moment I […]

Every once in a while, someone I know will casually say, “Oh, by the way, we just booked a cruise.” And I’m thinking: You did what? These are often people who know I own a travel agency (my sister, I’m talking to you!). Some read my weekly e-zine faithfully. They ask where I’ve been, what I […]

There are destinations that impress you from the moment you arrive. And then there are places that quietly work their way into your heart. That’s Portugal. It’s the café where locals converse over coffee instead of rushing to the next appointment. It’s the sound of church bells echoing through cobblestone streets that have been walked […]

Some trips are relaxing. Some are exciting. And then there are journeys that completely change the way you see the world. That’s exactly what comes to mind when I think about Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand by land. Instead of unpacking once and spending a week in one destination, imagine waking up each morning to a […]

There are some destinations that are beautiful. And then there are destinations that make you slow down, look around, and wonder why you waited so long to visit. Scotland has been on my mind for a while now. Imagine beginning our journey in Glasgow before making our way into the Highlands, where winding roads lead […]

I get the question a lot, usually from the same kind of client. They’ve heard me talk about expedition cruising for years. They’ve seen photos from Antarctica. And then they say some version of: “Shannon, I want that. But I get seasick just reading about the ocean.” Fair enough. The Drake Passage has earned its […]

Most people come to Bad Ragaz for the thermal waters. They soak, they dine, they admire the Alps, and they leave, never knowing that in just over two hours, they could have stood in four countries. I learned this from Gian, my contact at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, during a visit last November. He grew […]

Most of my clients carry a mental list. Machu Picchu is usually on it. So is a safari. The Taj Mahal. The pyramids at Giza. Easter Island, for the adventurous ones who’ve seen the photos and wondered what it actually feels like to stand in front of those stone faces. The problem isn’t ambition — […]

Twenty years from now, people might forget the candle and the flowers, but they’ll remember the trip. They remember the restaurant in Lyon where the waiter brought another bottle of wine without being asked, and suddenly two hours were gone. They remember seeing their mother tear up in front of Monet’s Water Lily Pond, a […]