Europe. In relative terms, it is not that big. But the number of things for a traveler to see and do is overwhelming.There are ways, however, to maximize what can be seen but without the “hurry up and wait” mentality that can come along with a packed, multi-country itinerary. We think one of the best ways to see the continent is to see it by boat. Not a cruise ship, but a river boat. Much of Europe was built along important rivers, after all. There are tons of benefits to traveling by river, but here’s three really big ones. Read more...

Part of our irregular Dispatches series, Roger uncovers from his 2003 travel diary a most unusual European train ride.

It had been a long trip to Denmark. An overnight train from Paris, and then another five hours from Hamburg. Running a bit tight on funds, I’d eschewed the somewhat tasty train restaurant for a selection of baguette and cheese from a Paris market just before the train left. It was a tiring trip, but still fairly fulfilling. An early morning stroll to stretch my legs aboard the train turned into a chance encounter with a gentleman named George. A minister from the Midwest, he was hiding out. Apparently, his nonsmoking train compartment contained a somewhat crazy French woman, loose with her hands and possessing a complete disregard for smoking policy on the train. Read more...

A jewel in the middle of the ocean, Bermuda’s pink sand beaches and comfortable weather calls out to travelers far and wide. The water is gorgeous, the beaches are pristine, the golf is world-class. One could be forgiven for thinking that this small island has little left to hide… after all when a place is small enough that motor scooters are preferable to cars for getting around, the best of the island sort of presents itself to visitors, but we’ve found four places that aren’t as well known, but definitely worth a look. Read more...

The dog days of summer may be upon us, and the heat may be keeping us in the shade and seeking the comfort of Air Conditioning, but we’re still itching to get cruising – and fall foliage is closer than you might think. This means that Canada/New England cruise season is coming close, and we thought we’d share one of our favorite destinations heading up the coast of Atlantic Canada, Saint John. Read more...

We don’t normally talk about the physical ports here. After all, a destination isn’t normally defined by the building travelers pass through on the way in or out of a city. But the story behind Hong Kong’s new cruise terminal is too excellent not to share. As of this week, what used to be one of the world’s most dangerous airports has become one of the most amazing cruise ports. Read more...

The Galapagos made the news this week with Celebrity’s Xpedition ship getting its hand slapped for unauthorized lobster. Really, this is a thing down there! The Galapagos Islands are one of the most pristine places on earth where you can still visit, and whose environment the government of Ecuador fiercely protects. We expect the luxury 99 passenger yacht that Celebrity Cruises operates to be back fully on track shortly, but there are some other more intimate options worth considering as well, including the very small group cruises that adventure travel company G Adventures offers. Read more...

The writing is on the wall, room service is doomed! What used to be considered a luxury is fast becoming a tool for the lazy. Average food at best, delivered to the hotel room – lukewarm, and just a depressing reminder that of all the amazing food options that fill any city, the best that this hotel has to offer is a not so great Caesar salad attached to a dried out and overpriced hamburger. And with the foodie revolution offering options for different flavors everywhere, some hotels are doing what’s right – quietly killing off room service – just like the Midtown New York Hilton is doing this year. This is news today, because one of the largest four star hotels in New York has decided that there’s just no need for it. Read more...

Haven’t planned a summer vacation yet? Sometimes the best deals happen by making plans at the last minute. In fact, the next few weeks feature some of the best buys of the year for vacations! We’ve found three surprising locations where the deals are good, but act fast because the sale season for these destinations can be surprisingly short. Read more...

Relaxation. It’s one of the key words that travelers use when they describe an ocean cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line’s spa experience really focus on providing guests a relaxing experience and the Norwegian Breakaway offers a gorgeous, relaxing Mandara Spa experience that’s fantastic for body and soul. The Breakway’s spa is a step forward for cruise vacations, with an enormous two deck footprint aboard ship, and offering some firsts to spas at sea, guaranteed to provide benefits to both body and soul. Read more...

Summer may be coming, but this morning we’ve got the holidays on the brain. Christmas is always a magical time of year, and its a holiday that truly comes alive in Europe, especially at the Christmas Markets in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. And there are lots of great ways that travelers can catch the Christmas spirit all across the continent this December. Read more...