How to not choose an all-inclusive resort

How to not choose an all-inclusive resort

New to traveling to all-inclusive resorts or maybe it has been awhile since you’ve been to one? These days choosing the right resort can be overwhelming - there’s literally thousands of different options to dig through. Here’s my five suggestions on how not to choose an all-inclusive resort for your next vacation. Don’t make one of these rookie mistakes!

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Embark on a brand-new voyage

Embark on a brand-new voyage

There are some awesome new cruise ships sailing now - or in the near future - but the one that I am most excited about is the brand new cruise line - Virgin Voyages.
If you know anything about Sir Richard Branson then you know he likes to do things differently. Very differently. And so it should come as no surprise that his new cruise company is not going to be your normal sailing experience. Here’s reasons why I’m excited about this new cruise brand.

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A Culinary Theatre Experience in Mexico

A Culinary Theatre Experience in Mexico

When you hear the term “all-inclusive resort” you may immediately think of crowded buffets with lackluster food and watered down drinks. And while that is still the case for some resorts (the ones I avoid!), the approach to food service at many all-inclusive resorts (AI’s for short) has made a big turnaround in the past several years in order to cater to “foodies” - or people who just enjoy decent food and drinks on vacation. Read More…

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Where to find the best pannenkoeken in Amsterdam

Where to find the best pannenkoeken in Amsterdam

You may have enjoyed a short stack (or two) but have you tried a pancake from the Netherlands? These pancakes are called pannenkoeken, or pannenkoek if you are talking about one of them. But after trying a Dutch pancake, you will probably want more than one! They are thinner than American pancakes but not quite as thin as a crepe. They can be eaten with sweet or savory items/fillings and can be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack between meals. Let’s look at where to get the best pannenkoeken in Amsterdam.

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Experience luxury in Tuscany

Experience luxury in Tuscany

Picture a lush green countryside with rolling hills. Smell the faint scent of delicate roses growing in the garden. Listen to the soft flow of a water fountain. Taste some artisanal cheese from the Borgo sheep or a vegetable picked from the culinary garden. Feel the dough as you learn how to make a pizza at Borgo Cooking School.

At Borgo Santo Pietro in Tuscany, Italy you can do so much while receiving 5-star service at one of Italy’s most luxurious hotels.

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Where does your airline food come from?

Where does your airline food come from?

I’ll be perfectly honest. We’ve never been big fans of airline food. I usually take a backpack full of snacks to make up for what we don’t/won’t eat on the plane. Just the smell of the food, and something about the coffee, often makes me nauseous. My husband has refused meals as he can’t stand the smell either (which always confuses the flight attendants).

But this past summer, we flew Lufthansa business class and something miraculous happened. We both ate our meals…

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Sail through France on a river cruise

Sail through France on a river cruise

Trains are great in Europe. They are quick and efficient. They get you from point A to B in a blur. Which sometimes that is what you want. But sometimes you may want a more relaxed and slower pace. And a slow relaxed pace is definitely what river cruising can offer.

Imagine being able to check-in to your floating hotel for at least 7-nights knowing that you will get to visit many places and see beautiful scenery without having the hassle of packing your bags every few days.

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Private wine tasting in Tuscany

Private wine tasting in Tuscany

Our day consisted of visiting two different wineries, lunch at a local "off-the-beaten" path restaurant in a tiny tiny village as well as exploring hilltop towns as we went. Our wine expert guide, Davide, is from Cortona so not only is experienced with the best wineries to visit in the area but also which back roads to use to get there and where the scenic views are to stop at en route. We just sat back, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

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Drinks with a view in Amsterdam

Drinks with a view in Amsterdam

I'm not usually keen on heights but I do love a good cityscape so when I heard there was a SkyLounge bar in Amsterdam I knew I had to try it. Turns out the SkyLounge isn't that high up - I believe it was the 15th floor - so it didn't cause any dizziness or vertigo. It is located on the top floor of the Doubletree by Hilton which is walking distance from Centraal Station conveniently located near the cruise ship port.

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Beyond Paris: Where to go in France

Beyond Paris: Where to go in France

You probably want to visit France but aren’t sure what part of France to go to. You may want to see chateaus, go wine tasting or participate in a cooking class. But where to do that? The choices can be overwhelming so I've put together a handy quick reference guide to the most popular regions of France.

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