Sailing the rivers of Europe on the River Cloud II is simply a pleasure.  It is the most relaxing way to visit major city centers like Vienna, Frankfurt and Budapest while at the same time making stops in between at rural towns and villages. It is like taking an ultra luxury coach tour without ever having to get up early to board the bus to the next stop.  Unpacking just once, the River Cloud II takes you to cities and sites as she gently meanders along the winding rivers of Central Europe.  Staff and service is excellent and accommodations, albeit quite small, are beautifully decorated.

Dining on the River Cloud II is good with sumptuous buffets being the standard for both breakfast and lunch.  If you don’t like buffets than river cruising may not be for you.  Meals are prepared using fresh regional ingredients and seating is open at every meal. Supper is at one sitting for all guests, with country-club casual dress requested, except for the Welcome Dinner the first night and the Captain’s Dinner on the last night of the voyage. During those events, cocktail attire is appropriate. Fine linens, crystal and elegant dishes and cutlery set the tone in the dining room; wines are specially selected to go with the meals as they are served and are included in the price of the cruise (cocktails, wonderful German beers and alcohol are available for purchase at the cozy bar).

My favorite meal was breakfast.  I just love the variety of German breads and assorted breakfast pastries on display, along with wonderful smoked salmon and various smoked fish options.  Every morning the chef prepared made to order eggs and omelets with a variety of different ingredients available.  By the middle of the week he knew my preference…as I entered the dining room each morning, he proceeded to prepare my egg white omelet with sauteed onions and pepper.

Luncheon buffets were equally elaborate with salads, breads, soups and main items like fried chicken, German meatballs and  plenty of rich deserts.  My favorite dinner entree was a wiener snitzel  that was perfection.  One of the advantages of river cruising is planning to dine off the ship several evenings at local restaurants.  With a little pre-trip planing, you can dine at some of the best restaurants in Europe during some of the overnight port visits.

For more information about River Cloud II visit http://www.seacloud.com/

The two international (German/English) Great Lakes itineraries provide the rare opportunity to visit seven different states, two Canadian provinces, and all five lakes. A highlight of the Great Lakes journeys is when the COLUMBUS proceeds through the eight locks of the 28-mile long Welland Canal, after tackling a height difference of almost 328 feet. Guests will also be presented with numerous opportunities for outings which include: attending a real Pow-Wow and traversing the Agawa Canyon on an excursion that takes them where tourists seldom go, through a breath-taking wilderness with waterfalls, ravines and steep passes.

Also offered on the COLUMBUS in Fall 2011, an eastern United States and Canada itinerary from Toronto to Florida. This itinerary cruising through the St. Lawrence Seaway, makes stops at all the big cities along the route including: Boston, Newport, New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Also a dedicated golf cruise, this itinerary allows golf enthusiasts the opportunity to work with an PGA golf professional and to practice on a 21-course golf simulator onboard. Additionally the golf package allows guests to tee off at 5 golf courses along the route (golf package at an additional cost).

Guests will enjoy the casual, friendly atmosphere aboard the COLUMBUS, a 3-star-plus ship, according to the 2010 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. The COLUMBUS provides excellent value for the price, plus the exhilarating experience of travelling on an ocean liner, which includes sophisticated international cuisine, lounges, sports, a swimming pool and entertainment, for a maximum of 420 guests.

All three of the dedicated 2011 COLUMBUS international cruises ensure English-speaking passengers feel comfortable from the moment they step onboard. Travel Documents and information is provided to guests in English prior to their trip. Documentation in English onboard includes: daily programs, menus, announcements, lectures/video presentations, and safety drill instructions. Shore excursions are offered in English at each port of call. Lastly, the entire crew is fluent in English.

2011 International Cruises on the MS COLUMBUS:

Great Lakes Cruise – Toronto to Chicago
September 5 – 18, 2011, 13 Days
Lake Highlights: Welland Canal, Windsor, Tobermory, Parry Sound, Georgian Bay, Little Current, Lock “Soo,” Thunder Bay, Duluth, Mackinac Island
*Rates Starting at: $3,540 per person/cruise only; a 5% early booking discount applies if booked by February 7, 2011

Great Lakes Cruise – From Chicago to Toronto
September 18 – October 1, 2011, 13 Days
Lake Highlights: Traverse City, Mackinac Island, Lock “Soo,” Thunder Bay, Little Current, Georgian Bay, Midland, Windsor, Welland Canal
*Rates Starting at: $3,470 per person/cruise only; a 5% early booking discount applies if booked by February 20, 2011

Eastern Coast of North America – From Toronto to Miami
October 1 – 19, 2011, 18 Days
Cruise Stops: Montreal, Quebec, Halifax, Boston, Newport, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Port Canaveral
*Rates starting at: $4,280 per person/cruise only; a 5% early booking discount applies if booked by March 5, 2011
Golf Package $1,160 (includes tee time on 5 courses)

For bookings, inquiries, or to request a brochure please contact:

Air Travel Marketing Services, Inc. 1800-888-0200
Euro Lloyd Travel Group, Inc. 1800-782-3924
Kartagener Associates, Inc. 1877-445-7447

*Rates based on availability

There are many cities around the world where the old city inside the walls has been preserved. It’s fun to see what lurks inside those walls….

If you’re looking for a reason to travel, something like finding cities with walls is another lure to get you going.

Hopefully you didn’t miss our story about the W-A-L-L-E-D City of Rabat in Morocco, and how just hearing it mentioned, in just that way, set my hubby to dreaming about travel as a boy.

There are many other great cities with walls… or at least parts of their walls.

We just got back from exploring Jerusalem. We were told before we left that we probably wouldn’t want to be inside the old city after dark, but those walls called to us. We just couldn’t stay away, so we dove right in and found a friendly, welcoming, little restaurant the very first night. The warning was unfounded. We loved walking the walls and exploring old Jerusalem in daylight and in the dark.

Dubrovnik, Croatia is a real jewel of a walled city. There was a lot of damage during hostilities a decade ago, but those famous red roofs were repaired with an international effort, and walking the city walls is a great introduction to that charming little city. We just couldn’t stay at a hotel on the outside… we had to find a B&B inside the walls.

Lucca, Italy has great walls too. We stopped there one time just because it was getting late, and we needed a place to stay. Little did we know the treat we were in for. You can walk the walls, and inside the city, you can find a ring of shops and restaurants around an oval plaza, the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, where the old Roman amphitheater was… a delightful place for an outdoor dinner.

Avila Spain is surrounded by tall, formidable walls, amazing for a city of its size. Things are pretty austere inside the walls, but there’s a lively area for tapas and dinner right outside the walls.

There are plenty of cities where you can walk sections of the walls. The city of York has had walls since Roman times. York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England, though most of the walls have been rebuilt since the Romans started them.

The Romantic Road towns of Germany have well preserved city walls…. walk the walls of Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Norlingen and Dinkelsbuhl.

Carcassonne in France is famous for its walls… they almost look like a double ring around the city. The fortifications have been completely restored. Aigues-Mortes, further south in France, also has well preserved walls.

You see bits and pieces of the old city wall in Krakow, Poland…. Lots of cities have preserved parts of their old walls. More cities have bits and pieces of their walls preserved than have the whole wall.

You can visit ancient city sites… like Mycenae in Greece. The city is in ruins, but the Cyclopean Walls are still there to see. (Called that because of the size of the stones.)

Circling the globe, there are walls around the old city of Cartagena, Colombia and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri in India. We had a great time bicycling the city walls in Xi’an China. It was fun to peer over the walls and watch groups of people exercising and playing music.

The list of cities with walls goes on and on. And of course, the ultimate wall… though it isn’t a wall around a city… is the Great Wall of China.

If city walls intrigue you, go and find a city that has them. It’s one more great reason to travel and explore.

The old saying tells you something about them…, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Well, that isn’t always what you find anymore. It’s gotten a lot more commercial since I first went with my Mom and Dad, but it still draws huge crowds… vendors hoping to make some money, and shoppers hoping for a bargain or at least a day of fun.

Now I’m not much of a shopper, and we usually go more for museums and history when we travel, but sometimes you can have lots of fun at flea markets around the world, and learn something about that country’s culture at the same time. At the very least, finding one of these giant jumble sales will keep you from getting museum sensory overload!

Probably the first one we ever found abroad was the Marche Aux Puces de Clingnancourt in Paris. All the French guidebooks mention this one. It’s a great place to prowl around and find all sorts of vintage French items. I have to admit… we never bought anything, but it was a fun way to spend a morning.

If it wasn’t the Marche Aux Puces, then perhaps our first international “junk prowl” was Portobello in London, or maybe it was the Camden Passage to look at antiques. (Certainly not to buy… we couldn’t afford that on those early trips!) There are antique and junk markets all over London, many have become touristy, but if you look hard and bargain, you might still find a treasure to take home. There are lots of websites to direct you to all of the possibilities.

You’ll find markets like this all over the U.S…. From the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market in New York to the the Pasadena Rose Bowl Swap Meet which is supposed to be the largest on the West Coast. There’s the “127 Corridor” in the middle of the country. It’s actually a giant once-a-year yard sale that stretches over 600 miles through 5 states in August.

There’s the Mercat Gotic in Barcelona, Spain. In South America, there is the San Telmo Flea Market in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in Japan, there’s the Togo Antique Market in Tokyo.

You can find them in many less developed areas too…. but what really differentiates a flea-type market from the local bazaars? Flea markets typically sell second hand goods…. The question sometimes is when do they become antiques? ….And, in those developing counties, the next questions is… what is really an antique, and what is just made to look like one? Remember, anywhere you shop, it’s always buyer beware. Far from home, it’s hard to return what you bought.

Go ahead and explore those markets where ever you find them… and if you find that one man’s junk is YOUR treasure… buy it and enjoy it.

All four itineraries sail through the heart of Germany on either the Rhine or Danube Rivers and include outside, river-view accommodations, daily guided tours, all meals and visits to the time-honored Christmas markets. The itineraries are:

Winter on the Danube – Nuremberg to Budapest, December 18
Winter Rhineland – Amsterdam to Basel, December 19
Winter Holiday – Nuremberg to Vienna, December 19
European Winter Sojourn – Budapest to Passau, December 18 or 19

“History, culture and local traditions are important parts of each Viking River Cruises program,” comments Richard Marnell, Viking’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “Christmas is such a special season in Europe that we wanted to share that with our guests. And because these itineraries offer such a great value, they make a great opportunity for families and friends to travel together for the ultimate Christmas getaway.”

All-inclusive pricing, starts at $1,622 per person, which reflects the current offer of 2-for-1 cruise and land pricing. If guests act by July 31, 2010, they can also take advantage of up to 2-for-1 air on all-inclusive roundtrip international air and transfers when reserving a category C stateroom or higher. And, as an added bonus guests will also receive complimentary wine with dinner on board. To extend their European vacation, guests can add one or both of the Explore More™ land extension programs visiting cities such as Amsterdam, Budapest, Lucerne, Prague or Vienna, depending upon itinerary.

“Traveling during such a festive time of year at such a great price is a very enticing to our guests wanting to experience a different holiday vacation,” adds Marnell, “and with just one or two departures per program, these itineraries will sell quickly,”

Dates and pricing as well as ship and itinerary information are available on the company’s website at www.vikingrivercruises.com. Viking’s all-inclusive pricing features accommodations, all onboard meals, daily guided shore excursions and more. Also, Viking is the only river cruise line to include port charges in the cruise fare. For additional details, contact your travel agent or Viking River Cruises toll-free at 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546).

Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise company, offers scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China and Egypt. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards as well as recognized as the World’s Leading River Cruise Operator at the World Travel Awards. Travel agents have also recognized Viking River Cruises as “Best River Cruise Line” by Travel Weekly, “Best River Cruise Line” by Recommend and Travel Agent magazines, Best Cruise Line for Luxury River Cruises at the Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence and as “Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising” and “Best River Cruise Line for Travel Agent Support” by TravelAge West. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 18 vessels, and provides unique, deluxe vacations to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. With a $250 million investment in a fleet development program, by 2013 Viking will have several refurbishments plus the introduction of eight new ships beginning with Europe’s Viking Prestige in 2011. For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises at 1‑877‑668‑4546 (1-877-66VIKING) toll-free or visit the company online at http://www.vikingrivercruises.com.

On a recent visit to St. Martin, we joined La Samanna’s new General Manager, Pascal Deyrolle, for dinner.  In his newest role in a long term career with Orient Express, Mr. Deyrolle plans to add his distinctive signature to this venerable resort.  Inheriting the award winning La Cave restaurant, with the largest wine cellar in the Caribbean (and the best air conditioning anywhere on the island!), his creative approach to hospitality promises several innovative improvements to what some consider the ultimate luxury resort in the Caribbean.

La Samanna is a world-class luxury resort in St. Martin, French West Indies owned by Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises. Cloaked in lush foliage and colorful splashes of flowers, the resort is residential in nature, appealing to a discriminating, international clientele seeking seclusion, relaxation, fine dining and attentive personalized service. The resort is legendary for its extensive wine cellar and cuisine with provisions flown in from France daily. Equally renowned is the resort’s Elyseé Spa with its indoor/outdoor tropical garden treatment rooms and Pilates studio.

With 81 suites, located on 55 acres of breathtaking beachfront, La Samanna evokes a French spirit with a Caribbean soul. Inspired while touring the Greek islands, the original owners had a Caribbean architect design the hotel based on the whitewashed sunny houses nestled on the shores of the Mediterranean. Interiors throughout the resort feature Caribbean wicker, bamboo and hardwood furniture accented with light and translucent colors reminiscent of the Caribbean sky and sea. Designs reflect the island’s rich Creole culture with French influences. Spirited natural textures with luscious cotton prints in a variety of patterns and colors of deep blues, reds and golds have been used to complement furniture that is dark mahogany and teak, offset with touches of bamboo.

The dashing Mr. Deyrolle, who has appeared on the cover of the Orient-Express brochures for many years, plans to draw from his world-wide hospitality experience at other Orient–Express properties.  Along with expanding the popular La Cave’s private dining and wine celllar experience, his intent is to add ultra-luxe touches like a private motor boat pick-up at the airport for guests, reminiscent  of the water taxis to Marco Polo Airport in Venice.

We enjoyed a taste of two of the hundreds of wines at La Cave.  The two we were so impressed by are Rully 2008 – Domaine Joseph Drouhin – Cote Chalonnaise, and Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse 1999 – 5eme Grand Cru Classe – Pauillac.  For more information on spending time at this magnificent property, log on to www.lasammana.com or www.orient-express.com.

If you are interested in getting a taste of several or all the ports of call on your itinerary, a shore excursion is the most efficient way to see the sights. The shore excursion desk will always have a variety of options at each port. The cruise lines have great expertise in creating affordable, guided tours via coaches that hit the highlights.  After all, their ships make repeat visits to the same ports and they get to know the most reliable local tour operators/bus companies.

When you take a shore excursion through the cruise line, it typically will be well run and reasonably priced. It is a safe and efficient way to see a new locale rather than wandering about on your own without getting lost, let alone not speaking the language.  Some ships offer to arrange private tours with car and driver/guide for small parties.  These can be pricey, but a great option if you prefer not to see the sights getting on and off a bus with forty other passengers.

The variety of tours does vary and I suggest you select shore excursions based on your energy level (i.e. lots of walking/hiking verses seeing the sights from the comfort of an air conditioned coach with minimal walking). Some can be more scenic, while others can be steeped in the local history and culture.

Most cruise lines provide information and capability to book in advance of the cruise on their websites. Of course, once onboard, you can always go to the shore excursion desk and book most tours at least 24 hours in advance…be advised that it is best to book that “must do” excursion in advance since it might not be available onboard.

And, if you do decide to wander on your own, make sure you watch the time and are on ship’s time…if you are not back by departure time, the ship WILL leave without you! You want no part of that!

Did you know you can purchase shore excursions from reliable tour operators at lower prices than those offered by the onboard shore excursions desk? Plan ahead and you’ll save!

In August, I’ll be revealing a new service that will help you find the perfect excursions for you while you save money.

To those who study pre-history, they all are very specific types of monuments or structures. For tourists, if you’re like us, sites that contain any of these are great attractions if you like a little history mixed in with your travel.

Monuments of Prehistory are dotted throughout Western Europe. Travelers go to see the grand cities, the art, the museums, and sample the food and wine. History is all around in the cathedrals, the castles and even Roman ruins in the far reaches of the Roman Empire. But there are fascinating vestiges of the very early history of Europe scattered all over if you’re looking for it… in the form of ancient megaliths.

But you have to be interested in this type of thing. I remember traveling with our nieces when they were young, and having them pretend to sleep in the back seat so they wouldn’t have to see another dolmen. The experience did come in handy when they had to learn about dolmens in school.

So how do you know if you’ll find them interesting? Read about them. See if they sound like something you’d like to see. OK so maybe some of these aren’t as interesting as others. Stonehenge is a real tourist draw, everybody likes a visit to Stonehenge. There is also a great stone circle at Avebury, but while it gets many visitors, it doesn’t get as much press as Stonehenge, though in some ways it is better than Stonehenge. So maybe someplace like that with fewer crowds would appeal to you.

The alignments in Carnac, France are wonderful, but they don’t get as much attention as either Stonehenge or Avebury. If you liked Stonehenge, you should plan a trip to Carnac… then stop in some of the little towns for crepes and cider or great seafood.

Maybe other monuments aren’t so exciting…. A dolmen in the middle of a field may not fire your imagination, but the fact that looking for one will get you off the beaten tourist path might send you searching for it. We’ve found that looking for some of these can lead you to cute little villages that will never be written up in the guide books… and one part of travel that we love is “discovering” places for ourselves.

If you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about, what is the difference between a menhir and anything else? Let’s not be too scientific here. Megaliths in general are the big stones. Stone circles are made up of megaliths. Menhirs are free standing stones… megaliths. They can be a single stone or a group of stones, but they all stand alone. Dolmens are megaliths stacked like a table to accommodate a burial. They were generally covered by earth which has since eroded away or been removed.

Burial mounds are a whole different category. They have burial chambers inside, which may be dolmens, but burial mounds can also be just a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave site. They can also be called barrows, as in the West Kennet Long Barrow near Stonehenge.

Enough of the definitions. If you want scholarly works, there are plenty to be found. If you want a little ancient history mixed in with your travels to spice things up, you might just find that it’s fun to look for ancient megaliths.

Some of these things will be running in the background of your head when you’re choosing your destination, but just so you don’t make any mistakes, let’s list some of the major concerns.

You have some vacation time. Is that a set time of year that you can’t change? The time of year will play a role in choosing your destination. Do you want to go some place where it’s hot so you can sit on the beach? ….Or cold so you can ski? Are you planning it around a festival or trying to avoid crowds? Do you want to take a cruise?

Do you want to be active… skiing or hiking? …Or do you just want to sit and relax? Go sightseeing, explore museums or shop? Or do you want to have the options to go either way. Do you have kids or other family members to consider? It’s always good to make this a family decision.

And speaking of others… do you want to travel on your own or join a tour group where everything is planned for you?

How long is the vacation time? If you only have a week, that will limit what you can do. If you have two or three weeks or even more, you have far more options when choosing your destination. You can go further, plan for more activities… or more relaxing time. Some people say it takes a week to unwind… so even if you just want to relax for a few days, you may need more than a week to get into that relaxed zone.

Choosing a destination that offers a relaxing venue will help… a beach, a spa, a cabin on a nice quiet lake. For some people, shopping is relaxing… it wouldn’t be for me.

Another factor we all have to take into account is money. If you’re rolling in it, the sky is the limit when choosing your destination… you can go to Europe and stay in castles; go to Africa and fly from safari camp to safari camp; go to Asia or Australia or Antarctica! You can go to all of those places on a budget too, but it takes more planning and legwork on your part.

You can economize and go camping… or even (if they’ll invite you) stay with friends or relatives. Do you want to go by car, train or plane? I have a friend that will not fly and will not float… that definitely limits your options.

So where will it be? I know I haven’t given you any destinations to choose from. That would take some of the fun out of it. Where would you like to go? What would you like to do?

Part of the fun of any vacation adventure is dreaming about your options, so give all these factors some thought, and get closer to choosing your destination. This is the dreaming part of trip planning… next we’ll get to how you find information to flesh out these dreams.

So where do you start with a city that offers so much? Well, any self-respecting tourist has to hit the tourist highlights, so unless you have a particular agenda, you’ll probably want to visit this short list.

You can certainly see New York City on your own, but if your time is short or you’d like a quick overview, you might want to consider a city tour. Another option is to check into one of the sightseeing city passes that are available; they can save you time and money.

To start with you’ll probably want to visit the Statue of Liberty. There is no admission fee for the island that she stands on, but you must buy a ferry ticket to get there for about $12 for adults. If you want to go into the Statue of Liberty, you must reserve a free “Monument Pass”. These passes are time specific, meaning you have to go in at the time you have reserved.

Security onto Liberty Island is as serious as it is for getting onto an airliner these days. You will have to clear a security screening before boarding the ferry. There will be a second security screening if you have a Monument Pass for entering the Statue of Liberty. Allow plenty of time… probably 2-3 hours.

You can also visit Ellis Island. Again there is no admission fee, but you must pay for the ferry. Both of these attractions are only a short ferry ride from Battery Park. The ferry circles from the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island and back to the city. Check the ferry schedule for details.

If you just want to see the Statue of Liberty from the harbor, you could take the free Staten Island Ferry from Lower Manhattan over and back for great photo opportunities.

See the Empire State Building. Take the elevator to the observation platform for a great view of the city. There is an admission fee, and often a long line.

Take a walk in Central Park. There are lakes and open spaces right there in the middle of the city. It’s a great place to get away from the hubbub of the city and maybe have a picnic.

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art with it’s extensive collections of painting and ancient art. It is located on the east side of Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street. The American Museum of Natural History is on the other side of the Park at Central Park West at 79th Street.

See the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Or try the Frick Collection to see stunning art and get a peek at what a New York mansion from the early 1900s looked like.

And if you’re ready to get back outside, how about a little shopping or at least window shopping? Take a stroll down Fifth Avenue. Or see Times Square where New Yorkers and visitors celebrate New Year’s Eve, and where you can find out more about Broadway plays.

And all this is just for starters, so bring good walking shoes and enjoy New York City.