Your Ultimate Guide to Europe’s Christmas Markets
by Sue Lamb on 07/18/2025
There’s something special about sharing unforgettable experiences with the people you love—whether it’s family, close friends, or a group bonded by shared interests. Small group travel offers a perfect blend of connection, discovery, and comfort.
Imagine exploring Italy’s rolling hills by bicycle, pausing at local vineyards for private tastings and farmhouse lunches. Or walking through Portugal’s cobbled villages, meeting winemakers and olive oil producers along the way. Small group food and wine tours deliver more than indulgent tastes—they create immersive, cultural journeys grounded in authenticity.
Active travel doesn't mean non-stop motion—it’s about balance. Morning kayaking through Croatia’s pristine waters can lead into a leisurely seaside lunch. A market-to-table cooking class in France might follow a scenic hike through lavender fields. Each day is thoughtfully paced to combine activity, relaxation, and genuine connection with place and people.
These curated experiences are ideal for families celebrating milestones, friends reuniting, or affinity groups looking to travel with purpose. With logistics handled by experts and group sizes small enough to keep things flexible, you can focus on savoring every moment—together.
Whether you’re sipping wine in the Douro Valley or cycling past châteaux in the Loire, small group immersive travel offers the perfect mix of activity, rest, and indulgence—wrapped in unforgettable memories.
Ready to plan your next shared adventure? Let’s create something truly memorable.
by Sue Lamb on 07/16/2025
As a travel advisor, one trend I’ve seen grow steadily over the past few years is the rise of solo travel—and for good reason. Traveling solo isn’t just about going it alone; it’s about freedom, self-discovery, and the chance to experience the world entirely on your terms. Whether you're seeking cultural immersion, active adventure, or a moment of peace far from the crowds, there’s never been a better time to explore solo. And thanks to a growing number of travel companies, the experience is more enriching, safe, and accessible than ever.
Here are some standout options for solo travelers looking to make their next journey unforgettable:
gAdventures is a pioneer in small-group, responsible travel—and they make solo travel incredibly easy. With a “no single supplement” policy on many tours and the option to room with a same-gender traveler, you’ll feel welcome without the added cost. Their trips span the globe, from the peaks of Peru to the markets of Morocco, always with an emphasis on community, culture, and connection.
For active solo travelers, Exodus Travels is a dream. Whether you're hiking the Dolomites or cycling through Vietnam, their expertly guided tours bring together like-minded adventurers from around the world. Their trips are designed with solo travelers in mind—many participants travel alone—and their itineraries strike a perfect balance between activity and downtime, discovery and relaxation.
Cruising might not seem like the typical solo adventure, but Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is changing that narrative. Their innovative Studio staterooms are designed specifically for solo travelers and include access to a private Studio Lounge—a social space to connect with other solos on board. With flexible dining, entertainment, and a wide variety of destinations, NCL makes solo cruising comfortable and fun..
For those with a taste for adventure, expedition travel offers unparalleled experiences. Imagine standing at the edge of the Antarctic ice, zodiac cruising past glaciers, or watching wildlife in the Galápagos—these aren’t just vacations; they’re transformative journeys.
Companies like HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), Lindblad Expeditions, and Quark Expeditions specialize in small-ship, science-led voyages to some of the world’s most remote and pristine environments. HX, in particular, leads with sustainability and education, offering solo-friendly cabins on select voyages and fostering a strong sense of community onboard. Whether you’re exploring the Arctic Circle or hiking volcanic islands, expedition travel is where solitude meets wonder.
Ready to embrace the journey? There’s never been a better time to travel solo—your next adventure awaits!
by Sue Lamb on 06/24/2025
“Bigger and bolder than anything” Royal Caribbean has done yet. That’s how the cruise line is describing Perfect Day Mexico, with never-seen-before attractions. Plus, Royal Caribbean has revealed more destination experiences on the way as it doubles down on Perfect Day and Royal Beach Club private island and beach resort cruise destinations.
They’ll let cruise vacationers experience the best of Royal Caribbean's newest ships alongside shoreside adventures in Mexico, the Bahamas and the South Pacific.
The mega-ship family cruise line debuts the latest in its ‘Perfect Day’ lineup. Perfect Day Mexico occupies 200 acres on the country’s Caribbean coast – the feature of upcoming Western Caribbean and Mexican cruise itineraries sailing from Galveston, New Orleans and all Florida homeports beginning in fall, 2027.
Here are just 3 of the record-breaking resort attractions:
Like Royal Caribbean’s mega-ships, Perfect Day Mexico’s fun spans several neighborhoods.
Also in the Works:
Royal Caribbean's also launching a new concept over the next couple of years, with Royal Beach Clubs delivering ultimate beach days to cruise line guests:
Images courtesy of Royal Caribbean International
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by Lynn on 06/11/2025
It’s time to go ‘off’ travel. Yes, you read that right. Two of the smartest trends in travel are about visiting bucket list destinations when everyone else isn’t, and finding new destinations other people have yet to discover.
Here’s why.
Your choice of travel season can make a big difference to your experience and travel budget. And the good news is that there’s more flexibility and options than ever.
‘High’ season is the historically most popular time to visit a particular destination. Or just the most popular time to travel, due to ‘non-negotiable’ travel events like school breaks and holidays. Whether or not you want to fight the crowds, risk delays caused by disruptive snowstorms, and pay through the nose, you’ll be gathered round the family table in time for turkey.
There’s not much you can do about non-negotiable high-season travel except opt out and plan your extended family Christmas in July.
But other high-season travel is increasingly avoidable. And more and more people are discovering that the so-called ‘off’ season might be the best time to visit.
Off-season used to be a write-off. The perfect weather or main attractions, or signature local experiences may be missing. There’s no snow on the slopes in June. In some cases, hotels are closed, the locals have all gone on their own vacations, and it’s a ghost town.
But that’s changing fast. Many destinations are transforming themselves into year-round vacation spots, a boon to the local economy as well as visitors.
Highlights of Low-Season Travel:
More people than ever are traveling, and it’s making some of the world’s top destinations victims of their own success. When prices are driven up, when housing gets diverted to vacation rentals, when places become so crowded that daily life becomes stressful and difficult, noisy and polluted, the people who live there suffer. If it drives locals away, the very culture and lifestyle we are seeking when we travel to popular destinations are eroded. Natural wonders also suffer from their popularity.
Overtourism is a tragedy for both the destination and visitors. More and more of us are concerned about the impacts of overtourism on the destination and on our own travel experience.
Like off-season travel, off-the-beaten-path travel provides a solution that’s better for everyone.
Savvy travelers are looking for the places where everyone else isn’t going. And travel companies are providing more and more options to help you discover the hidden towns, natural charms,
PRO TIP: Ask your travel advisor to help you plan a trip to new and upcoming destinations. Sometimes they are just down the road from the ‘big name’ destinations you’ve heard about, whether it’s a wine tour, an alpine outdoor adventure, or an immersion into Mediterranean lifestyle and cuisine.
There you’ll likely find, if less tourism infrastructure, a more relaxed and authentic local experience, often at better prices. With a warm welcome from residents who aren’t overwhelmed by visitors and are happy their local treasures are getting interest from outsiders. And you’re supporting a small local economy.
As destinations and travel companies change with the times, your travel advisor has the key to unlocking the secrets of successful off-season and off-the-beaten-path travel.
By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert.
Images: Getty
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by Lynn on 06/12/2025
Puffins are a lot like penguins: among the most beloved, iconic and recognizable seabirds – yet occupying the opposite ends of the planet in some of the most remote regions of the Earth. So seeing either of them in the wild is a magical travel experience.
Unlike tuxedoed penguins with their mostly monochrome coloring, puffins are often called the “clowns of the sea” for their vivid, almost carnival mask-like countenance that livens up their pudgy, black-and-white bodies, not to mention their endearing facial expressions. That’s not all that makes these seabirds unique.
Three Species of Puffins: We think of puffins as being residents of the North Atlantic, and the Atlantic puffin is the standard-bearer of the species. It can be found as far north as the Arctic Circle. But other types, including the tufted puffin and horned puffin, are found in the North Pacific.
*** Of course, if we are fortunate enough to get to see puffins in the wild, we want to make sure our travel experience doesn’t harm the puffins, especially since our best chances of seeing puffins are when the birds come ashore during the critical breeding season.
Best Time for Puffin-Viewing: Late spring to early summer (May–August) during the breeding season when they come ashore.
Where to Find Atlantic Puffins
Where to Find Pacific Puffins (Tufted and Horned Puffins)
By: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/travel journalist and expert.
Images: Getty
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by Lynn on 06/11/2025
Windmills and tulips and river cruising, oh my! Springtime serves up the most iconic sights and moments of Dutch culture – and a river cruise may be the best way to experience them all.
Our Emerald river cruise sailed round trip from Amsterdam, navigating the Netherlands’ vast network of inland waterways, canals and rivers through countryside, picturesque villages and dynamic cities. We dipped into Belgium, then swung up again to complete our circuitous route back in Amsterdam.
It was a celebration of spring and a hit parade of the most charming elements of Dutch culture.
Windmills tie with tulips as the symbol of the country, and one of our shore excursions was to Zaanse Schans, a living museum along the river, where several windmills have stood for centuries. In recent years, other historic windmills from different eras were brought to the same site. We visited on a windy day – “the millers are happy!” said our Emerald Cruises guide. So the windmills were in full operation: pumping water, grinding paint powders, or harnessing the power of the wind to perform other tasks.
We visited Delft – the town synonymous with the Netherlands’ beloved rich-blue and whiteRoyal Delft porcelain, where we learned the process that is still used today – and even got to try our hands at painting a Delft tile of our own!
On board the Emerald Sky, another cultural craft project: painting our own wooden Dutch clogs. They’re only part-cliché. As our local artist explained, clogs are still worn by some farmers today, and they’re remarkably comfortable, as well as recognized as safety footwear! Inspired by our trip to Delft- and not very good at painting – I painted my clog in Delft blue and white. The hand-sized clog is a much more manageable size than some of the canoe-sized clogs that are scattered throughout the Netherlands for visitors to take jokey photos with!
But what everyone’s here for in springtime is the tulips. Horticulture is big business in the Netherlands, which produces nearly 2/3 of the world’s spring flower bulbs.
That means that, every springtime, vast fields of tulip farms are blanketed in blooms – a spectacle you have to see to believe!
Guests on our river cruise get to see the tulip fields on their way to Keukenhof – the world’s largest spring flower garden, and the highlight of our Emerald Tulip Time river cruise.
The entire journey was experiencing one vividly colorful, record-breaking tulip spectacle after another: from tulip fields, to Keukenhof garden… to the world’s largest flower auction house.
The Royal FloraHolland auction house is the size of 200 football fields and auctions 50 million cut flowers – every day! Even if you’re not into flowers, the phenomenal logistics of the intake of that many highly perishable products, auctioning them off to buyers around the world, sorting all the supplier’s blooms into different orders for buyers and handing them off to be shipped worldwide while still fresh – is mind boggling and was one of my favorite shore excursions.
Of course, you can sail the entire river cruising season in the Netherlands. But if you want to experience one of the most iconic, seasonal river cruises – and be simply blown away – by the spring wind powering those windmills, as well as the incredible colors and spectacle of one of the most famous floral phenomena in the world! A Tulip Time river cruise must be on your life’s bucket list.
Story and video by Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel journalist and expert.
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by Lynn on 05/22/2025
In 1275, no one could ever have imagined that a simple dam on the Amstel River would become a city that pioneered so many elements of modern life in the 21st century. As Amsterdam marks ¾ of a millennium, travel lovers with 20/20 hindsight can celebrate the European capital’s contributions to shaping our world today, as well as what continues to make it a beacon for visitors.
The Dutch capital marks its official start by that 13th-century document granting it city rights and allowing local residents to build a dam to manage the flow of the Amstel river without paying tolls. This pivotal moment was the foundation of transforming a tiny fishing village into a thriving urban center.
And it didn’t take long for Amsterdam to become a hub for trade, culture and innovation.
Key features of the modern Western World’s economic structure harken back to the 17th century when Amsterdam became the center of global finance and commerce:
The Dutch East India Company, founded in 1602, imported spices, textiles and precious metals from the Far East. It was the first company in the world to offer publicly traded shares.
And said to be the most valuable company EVER: valued at its peak at over $8.2 trillion in today’s dollars – far more than even today’s mega corporations. (Today’s most valuable companies are Microsoft, Apple and Nvidia, each worth less than half that.)
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, also founded in 1602, was the world’s first modern stock market (the city was also home to the first-ever international bond market and other banking and insurance innovations).
Immense trade fortunes translated into cultural and architectural riches, including:
landmarks like Dam Square and the Canal Ring
which are lasting reminders and modern-day visitor attractions of this era of prosperity.
Not only was Amsterdam the cradle of modern capitalism.
In its eminently practical, ‘live and let live’ way, the city has also been at the vanguard of ways of life other places have – often slowly – followed:
Tolerance:
If you think it’s about the famous Red Light District and window shopping legalized prostitution, you’re missing the point. In the 1960s and 1970s, Amsterdam became the epicenter of movements focusing on sexual freedom, drug policy reform, and LGBTQ+ rights, positioning itself as one of the most progressive cities in the world.
The city continues to shout out its commitment to reducing barriers and eliminating outdated laws, with inclusivity being part of everyday life as well as celebrations for residents and visitors alike.
Cycling Infrastructure:
In the 1970s, Amsterdam became a leader in sustainable urban mobility by developing its extensive cycling infrastructure. The city’s commitment to green transportation has had a lasting impact, making it one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world and a model for other urban centers. There are more bicycles than people in the city today! And even visitors embrace cycling as the best way to navigate the city.
Sustainability as a Way of Life:
Beyond bicycles, Amsterdam leads the world with a new, circular economy by reducing waste, promoting the reuse of resources, and minimizing the environmental impact of the city.
Inventor-Friendly:
Today, Amsterdam is also recognized as a hub for startups and technological innovation, home to numerous startups, incubators, and venture capitalists supporting new ventures and groundbreaking solutions.
The combination of historic culture and architecture, and leading-edge modern lifestyles, makes Amsterdam a magnet for visitors, 750 years after permission for that first dam.
The city’s celebrations run through October 2025, featuring a diverse array of events that highlight Amsterdam's cultural heritage, artistic achievements, and vibrant community spirit.
Festival on the Ring A10 – June 21, 2025
On the longest day of the year, the 15-kilometer Ring A10 motorway is transformed into a vibrant, festival space featuring music, dance, theater, and sports, celebrating the city's dynamic culture and community.
SAIL Amsterdam – August 2025
SAIL Amsterdam, a grand maritime event, returns in 2025 to coincide with the anniversary celebrations. Tall ships from around the world gather in the city's harbors, offering a spectacular display of maritime heritage.
ARTZUID 2025 – Summer 2025
The ARTZUID sculpture biennale presents "Enlightenment," an exhibition reflecting Amsterdam's values of freedom and tolerance. The outdoor display features works by renowned global artists set against the backdrop of the city's urban landscape.
Special Exhibitions
Major museums, including the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, are hosting special exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing Amsterdam's artistic legacy and contributions to global culture.
For a comprehensive list of events and activities, visit the official Amsterdam 750 website: amsterdam750.nl.
By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert.
Images: Lynn Elmhirst
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by Lynn on 05/22/2025
If the famous line, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife,” makes you smile affectionately and fantasize about the green pastures, elegant architecture, style and social intrigues of Regency Britain, you are not alone. For two centuries, Jane Austen’s witty, observant and kind novels have delighted readers and inspired travelers to discover the world of the author and her cast of beloved characters.
This ground-breaking female author’s books still among the most-read English-language classics. And they are also among the most-adapted into film and television, engaging fans who may not even realize they are immersed in the world of Jane Austen. The 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy remains one of the most iconic TV adaptations. Similarly, films such as Sense and Sensibility (1995), Clueless (1995, a modern take on Emma), and Bridget Jones's Diary (based loosely on Pride and Prejudice) have brought Austen's work to new generations of fans, blending classic literature with modern sensibilities.
In 2025, Britain – and especially Jane Austen’s home county of Hampshire – will be celebrating the 250th year of her birth, with special events taking place throughout the year.
From her birth in the village of Steventon in December, 1775, to a later home in Southampton, and a cottage now called Jane Austen’s House in the village of Chawton, where she lived for the last eight years of her life, to Winchester, where she died and where she is buried in Winchester Cathedral, to locations of where the romantic comedies of her stories took place, fans of Jane Austen, the Regency period and Great Britain her novels brought so vividly to life – can retrace her steps and enter the world of Jane Austen.
Start your journey in the small village of Steventon, where Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. The village, with its tranquil setting, inspired much of her early writing. Although the house where she grew up no longer stands, the Steventon Church and the surrounding countryside are evocative of the rural England that shaped her stories. Take a walk through the village, imagining Austen's daily life here as she wrote Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice.
Just a short drive from Steventon, Chawton is perhaps the most significant destination for any Austen fan. This is where she spent the last years of her life and where many of her most famous works were written, including Emma, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion. The Jane Austen's House museum in Chawton is a highlight of the visit, where you can step inside the house where she lived and worked, and see the writing desk where she completed her novels.
Click here for Jane Austen House, Chawton’s anniversary year exhibitions, events and partnerships.
The nearby Chawton House, once owned by her brother, is now a library dedicated to women’s writing, adding another layer to her literary legacy.
Bath holds a special place in Austen's life and novels. The author lived in the city for several years, and it appears prominently in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. The Georgian architecture and the famous Roman Baths give the city a sense of elegance and charm that Austen captured in her works. The Jane Austen Centre (pictured above and top) offers a fascinating glimpse into her time in Bath, with exhibits about her life and the period. Walking through the Assembly Rooms and the Royal Crescent (pictured below), you'll see the locations Austen would have frequented, bringing her stories to life.
Jane Austen Festival in Bath, held every September – 250th anniversary in 2025 - dates are September 12-21, 2025.
The final stop on Austen’s journey, Winchester, is where she spent her last days and where she was buried in the magnificent Winchester Cathedral. Visitors can pay their respects at her tomb, which is located in the cathedral’s north aisle. The city itself is steeped in history and offers an atmospheric setting for those following in the footsteps of Austen, with its medieval streets and serene cathedral close.
Winchester Cathedral unveils a Jane Austen statue in 2025, also celebrating with a special service, theater performances and tours.
For those wishing to experience the dramatic landscapes that feature in Austen’s novels, Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast is a must-see. The seaside town plays an important role in Persuasion, where Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth’s relationship is brought to a turning point. The town is famous for its fossil-filled cliffs and beautiful coastal views, making it a wonderful destination for both literary pilgrims and nature lovers.
These destinations provide not only a chance to immerse yourself in the settings that influenced Jane Austen’s writing but also an opportunity to step back into the elegance and grace of Regency-era Britain. For anyone captivated by Austen’s wit and keen social observations, visiting these spots offers a personal connection to one of England’s greatest literary figures.
START YOUR LITERARY TRIP!
Images courtesy of Visit Britain:
Top Images: Jane Austen Centre
Image of Bath: VisitBritain/Andrew Welsher
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by Lynn on 05/22/2025
Compared to many aspects of air travel, modernizing baggage handling seems, well, pretty ‘delayed.’ Am I the only person who is astounded at the fact that, as airport security has tightened so much when it comes to travelers and their water bottles, people can still just pull any bag off a carousel and walk out the door with it? Or that we let even inexperienced travelers attach their own sticky paper luggage tags, willy-nilly, and just drop them on a conveyor belt, along with thousands of other travelers’ bags, all going to different destinations on different flights… and hope for the best that they’ll show up at the same time and place we do?
It honestly seems like a miracle that baggage so often turns out right rather than wrong.
We’ve all heard horror stories in recent years. COVID and its aftermath wreaked havoc on air travel operations. They were dark years for luggage ‘mishandling,’ as the industry calls bags that are damaged, delayed or temporarily or permanently lost.
Some airlines – and some airports – do better than others. But overall, according to the SITA Global Baggage report, just under 7 bags for every 1000 air travelers worldwide were mishandled in 2023. That’s less than 1% - and a big improvement over the previous (pandemic aftermath) year. Still, that represents over 36 million pieces of luggage – and the tiny fraction is cold comfort if your bag is one of those that goes missing.
Operations improvements and new technology are leading the way in the war against lost luggage.
Some advances have been driven by travelers themselves.
It didn’t take long for savvy travelers to adapt handy air tag technology to track their personal bags as they flew – despite early pushback from quite a few airlines and jurisdictions. Their concern was apparently the batteries, an unfounded one, as many advocates pointed out.
Not only did airlines quietly stop banning AirTags, but many have done a 180-degree turn. Now, about a couple of dozen airlines make air tag tracking an official part of their lost luggage process, allowing passengers to share the location of missing bags from their app with their airline to help locate and retrieve their bags.
And most recently, the airline industry as a whole has begun a united charge to revolutionize luggage.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a 10-year “Global Baggage Roadmap” to modernize baggage operations around the world, with its member airlines, airports and industry partners all ‘weighing in’ on the best ways to make sure you and your bags reconnect no matter where and with whom you fly.
No surprise! IATA’s surveys show that:
So IATA’s plan includes:
IATA thinks that within a decade, no matter where we fly around the world, our bags will be on a new, technology-driven journey right there with us.
By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert.
Image: Getty
All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be copied, re-published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
by Lynn on 05/22/2025
Sue Lamb
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