Episode 230: River Cruising Christmas Markets

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There are Christmas markets in Europe, and there are river cruises…what do you get when you combine the two? A Christmas market river cruise, that’s what! Cookies, gingerbread, warm mulled wine – celebrate the festive season on Europe’s might rivers.

Have you always dreamed of a river cruise? Listen up and plan your own. We can help!

Elizabeth – Sandy – Laura – Donna – Lindsay

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Episode 218: The Danube River with Adventures by Disney & Amawaterways

Three years ago, Disney and AMA Waterways announced their partnership on a brand new product line for Adventures by Disney, adding river cruises to their already rich portfolio of family friendly European guided vacations. Two years ago, they set sail on the Rhine and now have options on the Rhine, the Danube and new for next year, the Seine! Recently, Elizabeth and Aimee were among the very few selected to experience the first ever joint familiarization trip between Adventures by Disney and AMA Waterways to experience this partnership first hand on the Danube. So we thought we would chat with them about what they experienced and learned from this amazing opportunity.

Episode 215: Beautiful Croatia!

Croatia is an Eastern European country with a long coastline on the Adriatic Sea. Encompassing more than a thousand islands, it’s also crossed by the Dinaric Alps. Its inland capital, Zagreb, is distinguished by its medieval Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and diverse museums. The major coastal city Dubrovnik has massive 16th-century walls encircling an Old Town with Gothic and Renaissance buildings. Peter and Kevin spent a week in Croatia this August much of it sailing the stunning coastline and they have come to share their experiences, insights, and word of wisdom.
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Episode 214: Berlin & Munich

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Recently, Elizabeth was invited to participate in a familiarization trip to Germany in a cooperative venture between the tourism boards of Berlin and Munich. She spent a week in Germany exploring both the old and the new and we wanted to take a few minutes to ask her about what she experienced!
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Episode 185: Independent Travel to Europe

There are many different ways to experience the world around us- this week we thought it would be fun to take a closer look at one of the fastest growing types of travel- independent travel! What is independent travel? Who does it appeal to most? What are some of the mistakes independent travelers make? And, what is the value of using a travel agent? We will explore these topics in the context of Europe as a destination.

Episode 181: See Norway with Hurtigruten

Friends of the podcast Kevin and Peter joined one of their closest friends and spent 3 weeks this past August on the trip of a lifetime exploring Norway from many different vantage points. Norway is ranked as “The second happiest country” in the world, on criteria such as freedom, honesty, welfare, good health, and generosity. Norway is a Scandinavian country encompassing mountains, glaciers, and deep coastal fjords. Oslo, the capital, is a city of green spaces and museums. Bergen, with colorful wooden houses, is the starting point for many cruises into beautiful Fjords. Norway is also known for fishing, hiking,  skiing and is a hub for outdoor activities, fresh fish, farm to table foods, warm and welcoming people and some of the most beautiful scenery your eyes can behold. The fjords are said to be the soul of Norway, and that is in fact where Peter and Kevin’s journey began so listen in on this Norwegian adventure!

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Episode 173: Christmas Market River Cruise

Remember as a kid when Christmas was magical, surprising and fun? Yeah, so do we. Before crowded malls, and wrapping gifts, and homemade artisan cookies, and….all the work that sucks the fun out of being holly & jolly. Festive markets are the highlight of mainland Europe’s winter calendar. With roots in religion and tradition, the markets are perfect antidotes for anyone fed up with the commercialism and retail frenzy that is now so prevalent in the U.S.  How to see these markets?. On a river cruise, at your leisure. Would you like to join us? We are offering a group cruise on”Christmas Markets on the Rhine” 7-night cruise on AmaWaterways leaving December 3, 2018 from Basel, Switzerland, sailing to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The itinerary includes world-class cities such as Amsterdam, Cologne, and Basel, as well as picturesque small towns in France and Germany, visiting four countries in one week. So get your ho ho ho on and listen to why a river cruise might be the best way ever to visit European Christmas markets!
Interested? Get more information at: https://outlandertravel.com/rhinechristmas/

Episode 171: Club Med Europe & The Alps

Recently Donna got the privilege to go check out Club Med Val Thorens in Val Thorens, France to see the slopes, tour the resort and learn about how Club Med really does “ALL INCLUSIVE.”  She flew into Geneva, Switzerland and got to see the Christmas Market in Montreaux, Switzerland as a short side trip, and skied, skied, skied! Learn all about this European ski resort that includes everything!

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Episode 159: Discount European Air

There can be no doubt that Air Travel today is far more affordable and accessible than it has ever been. There are so many airlines and price options available now for almost every budget.  We all love to save money, especially when it comes to travel. As travel professionals we do have a tendency to look at Domestic discount air travel through a very healthy sense of skepticism. Leary of hidden fees, restrictions, costs or catches buried in the fine print.  But what about the latest trend of Discount European air? I’m sure by now you have seen the adds all over your Facebook feed- can you really fly from Boston to Iceland fro $199? With no regrets? Recently Lindsay decided to take one for the team and test out some of the rock bottom pricing offered by WOW & Norwegian Airlines
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Episode 157: Italy and The Cinque Terre

The Italian Riviera is not short of rugged coastline or romantic towns and villages, but the five fishing communities of the Cinque Terre are its most iconic highlight. The villages are no longer the isolated hamlets they once were, but there’s still a feeling of remote authenticity, with few roads, perfectly preserved architecture and a network of stunning coastal and mountain trails.
Cinque Terre, which means Five Lands in Italian, comprise the five small, coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso.  These are the types of villages to take in slowly, whether by trail, boat, or train, and all the villages are known for their beauty you’d probably recognize in travel photos and ads.  Learn all about these very popular villages. Have you been to the Cinque Terre?
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