The holidays are coming, and with them comes that familiar question: What do I give the kids and grandkids this year? Another Xbox? Another sweater? Something they’ll enjoy for a while, then eventually forget who gave it to them? What if this year, instead of giving them more stuff, you gave them something far more meaningful? Time […]

Some trips are so good that you start planning the next one before the first is even over. That’s exactly what happened on our 2026 Croatia yacht charter. We spent a week cruising the Adriatic aboard our privately chartered luxury yacht, swimming in unbelievably clear water, exploring centuries-old towns, enjoying delicious Croatian food and wine, […]

There are two ways to plan a vacation. I often think the second approach leads to some of the most interesting trips. Timing affects far more than the temperature. It can determine what you’ll eat, what you’ll see, how crowded a destination feels, whether you’ll spend your days outside or enjoy a slow lunch, and […]

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 […]

This year, I’ve seen more people waiting until the last minute to plan their vacations. Sadly, this often leads to higher prices, fewer options, or missing out on the hotels and experiences they really wanted. The best trips usually aren’t booked on a whim. They’re carefully planned, letting you pick where you want to stay, […]

When people think of Barcelona, the same names usually come up first. La Sagrada Família. Park Güell. Casa Batlló. La Boqueria. Montserrat. I’ve been to all of them, and I wouldn’t tell anyone to skip them. They’re extraordinary for a reason. But on my recent trip to Barcelona, I found myself thinking less about the […]

When I took my first cruise back in 1990, it was a belated honeymoon aboard Premier Cruise Lines’ Big Red Boat (remember them?). More than three years after our wedding, we finally had the chance to celebrate, and I was immediately hooked. Since then, I’ve sailed with Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, […]

I use artificial intelligence every day. I use it to draft, research, organize, and brainstorm. It saves me real time. I’m not going to pretend otherwise, and I’m not threatened by it. But I’m not going to let it design my clients’ vacations, either. Here’s why AI is useful and where it falls short of […]

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 — […]

Every client asks for Lake Como. I get it: name recognition, Instagram, Clooney, beauty. I’d never talk anyone out of it. But here’s what I tell my most discerning clients: if Como is the lake you know for its fame, Garda is the lake you’ve been missing for its variety and unique experiences that Como […]