Hello all! If the stars align, I'm going to Italy next May, and I'm currently asking for the time off. I think I would like to leave on Sunday, May 1, which would mean arriving on Monday, May 2. However, will this be the official Labor Day celebration day, as it would be in the US if a holiday fell on a Sunday? I don't want to arrive on a holid... Read More

Hi folks: I am speaking at a conference in Basel at the end of August and want to add on a few days in Switzerland. Lucerne looks to be a top option. To see the highlights (no major hiking) is two days enough? Are the experiences of Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi different enough so we should make sure we have time to do both? Thank you, Ken Read More

Laval is a prosperous town of about 50,000 people, birthplace of Le Douanier Rousseau. It's not on most tourists' radar but it has a lot going for it and is well worth a visit. A friend sent me this link to the 2021 Christmas Lumières. There are lights all over the downtown as well as animations (un mapping) on the face of the Chateau Neu... Read More

We are planning a trip back to Italy in spring of 2023. We have traveled to Italy twice….and both times had a car for exploring Tuscany. This time we are traveling only by train. Questions: how is Italy in spring…we have only been in fall. Torino…..Rapallo…..Lucca…..Florence. Spring? and any recommendations for these t... Read More

Forced to reschedule, due to covid, a first visit to Greece originally planned for spring 2020, we're going to reschedule for 2023. I want to be intentional about this probably10-day trip and choose the best time for weather and seeing as much as possible. We do NOT want to risk a heatwave as has happened to us on other European trips (July travel)... Read More

Hello Everyone, My husband, 3 year-old, and I will be driving up to Oregon to visit family. We plan to leave early to drop off my dog at my parents in Santa Barbara, and from there we will drive up to San Francisco where we would spend 1 night. We plan to leave San Fran Sunday morning. Where do you recommend we stay on our way to Portland on Sunda... Read More

Does anyone know of a way to see the wine cellar under the hotel de paris? I looked online and it doesnt seem like this is an easy thing to do. I have emailed our concierge (not at the hotel de paris :). . Wondering if there is a way. TIA! Read More

Making Plans for 2 week trip in Sept. Going to Switzerland to see and hike in the subline mountains ,Lucerne or Inerlaken, Murren. Then potentially to NW Italy or France. Adore quaint villages. Thank you for your Ideas! Read More

Hi, We are planning a weekend trip to Salzburg and Hallstatt on Jan 20 2022. My first question is, would it be a good time to visit? Another question is about cafes. Would they be open? The weather would most probably cold for sure but I have seen lovely photos of Hallstatt in winter as well so fingers crossed. I know certain attractions might be... Read More

Hi, I am surprising my husband for his 60th birthday for a trip to Northern Spain. He has always wanted to go but we just never had the time. We want to stay 10 days and we are not sure what the best itinerary is. We like to stay a nice places and do some sight seeing but we also like to just hang out in the local areas. We enjoy drinking, ea... Read More

My husband and I will be in Scotland from September 25 through October 20, 2022. I knew car rentals would be more expensive but I wasn't prepared for the absolute sticker shock! Can anyone recommend a good car rental in Scotland that might be a bit cheaper? On all our driving trips in Europe we used a third party agency but their prices have gone t... Read More

I was considering naming this Planes, Trains, Automobile and buses. I drove down to the Chemult Amtrak station the evening of May 24 (Tuesday). The southbound Coast Starlight arrived about a half hour late. I did not have a seatmate so I could curl up and sleep on two seats and even use my CPAP. The train arrived early (5:59AM) in Sacramento. I hi... Read More

I don’t really have a good reason for not posting any trip reports in the past many years. It’s not for a lack of travel. DW and me (DH) have been on a dozen recent trips including Oaxaca, Mex City, Cabo, Croatia, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Hawaii (3x), Colorado, Utah to name a few. Maybe it’s because good reports that actually benefit reader... Read More

We need to travel from NCE to a hotel in Mougins for one night after our flight before joining a house party with friends and family the day after our arrival. Please give me some suggestions. if anyone has used a car service for a similar trip I would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks Read More

Hi everyone, My SO and I planning a last minute trip to Alaska and hoping to get some recommendations on things to do. I was also hoping to visit Denali National Park but after doing research, 6 days may not be enough to do it all and decided to focus on Kenai peninsula area. In terms of interest, we are in our early 30s who loves hiking and... Read More

Let’s say for the 2022 Mediterranean cruise season (or anywhere really) you’re on a cruise ship that mandates the vaccine. I assume they would do testing before and after the cruise like they just did on the celebrity millennium fully vaccinated cruise. The problem here is you and your family can be fully vaccinated, an... Read More

I am not new to traveling in Europe, but I am new to cruising. I can only book a forward cabin on Seabourne. I have read that this is the worst place to be in a ship, but I believe that all the cabins are forward on this ship. Are the newer ships smoother? I noticed they have some of their most expensive suites in the forward section. An... Read More

Greetings all - We're returning to Italy this fall, and each time we like to visit one place that's new to us. I'd like to end our trip with a couple days in Orbetello or Monte Argentario, but it would be in mid-October. Does anyone know if resorts, restaurants etc typically close after September? Is this a good time of year to visit there? And... Read More

Hello! We're planning a trip to Italy and will have a car (staying in the Puglia area). I know to look for the signs, but are there other tips on how to avoid the ZTLs? Does google maps or waze steer you away from them or warn you if you're approaching one, or is there a different app I should use (iPhone)? Read More

Hi All Planing to rent a house in Cape Coral Florida this coming March. It has a private pool that is solar heated. The pool is very important to us and we are concerned that solar heated will be warm enough during the month of March. Can anyone who has had experience please elaborate. We generally enjoy water temps in the low to mid 80s thank... Read More

Hello Guys, just wanted to check if anyone knows of a cheaper car hire option in bergamo. The price is 200 euros per day when i m checking now. I am planning a trip end of june. Kindly suggest. Read More

Looking for some help to avoid the tourist traps for dinners in Paris please. Ideal is a quaint bistro with great french food at a reasonable price. Not looking for Michelin star, upscale type of place, just your favorite neighborhood place you would go with friends for a good meal. I'd like something in the Montmartre area on a Tuesday evening... Read More

Hello, can anyone recommend a guide to campgrounds in France in 1970/1971? I'm trying to get a sense of popular campsites and their amenities, and I need a publication that would have been used by Americans. If anyone has one, an image of a page would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Read More

Hello everyone We want to go to Kaliningrad, Russia. Who has been to Kaliningrad, tell me where it is better to stay. Thanks Read More

Hi everyone, I’m planning my 40th birthday in Greece for next July. We will probably be a large group. So I want to create and share an itinerary and people can join for any part of it. I’m thinking of some islands with nice beaches and good nightlife for about 10 days. Some might bring their kids, not sure if that will impact the itinerary. I h... Read More