On our Traveling Professor small group tours to Italy, one of the most popular destinations is a visit to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.  Go without making plans and risk long lines, big crowds and possibly not getting in at all.  With a little planning and insider information from The Traveling Professor, you can make the most of a trip to one of the top destinations in Europe. 

From all of my trips to Florence, and there have been many, I won't tell you what I do get tired from, but what I never tire from this the great food.  Vegetables, pastas, meats and even seafood. I'm not big on desserts, but believe me, Florence has that too.  From our Florence friend, Melanie Wilson, we have 3 restaurant choices for your next trip to this wonderful Tuscan city.  There is plenty here for those who like seafood, vegetarian dishes, and authentic Tuscan food. We'll tell you about the great pizza places in another post. 

Everyone who goes to Copenhagen loves it.  It's a clean and casual city filled with plenty of things to do. We like the restaurants, pedestrian walkways, good transportation, and friendly people.  It is a bit on the expensive side, but if you purchase the Copenhagen Card, transportation and museum admission (including Tivoli Gardens) is free. Read about how to enjoy Copenhagen in today's blog post.

For me, the most underrated city in Europe is Oslo.  It has it all.  Beautiful scenery as it sits on the base of a fjord. The Viking history and culture is impressive. The Opera house may be the most beautiful in the world. The city is clean, never overcrowded and the tram transportation system is easy and makes it a pleasure to get around. It has the feeling of serenity and easiness. There is plenty to see and do in Oslo, but take a look at The Professor's top 5 picks of things to see in Oslo.

One of the primary and most expensive costs of vacationing in Paris is the cost of hotels. Everyone wants a hotel that is clean, quiet and comfortable.  Location is also of prime importance too. Here are 3 selections by The Traveling Professor for good and cheap Paris hotel choices. Check them out on your next trip to Paris.

Travel insurance can be expensive.  I just ran a quote on $5,000 worth of travel insurance that included reimbursement for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical care, and medical transportation and a bunch of other options for an international trip.  The premium was $359.  That's more than 10% of the cost of a typical Traveling Professor small group tour.  In today's blog post, I will show you how to get free travel insurance.

On our small group tours to Italy, a stop in Rome is a must not only for the history and culture, but of course also for the food.  Some people think that Roman food is pretty standard, without much change from restaurant to restaurant.  But let me tell you, Roman food is much more than that.  Today, I outline 4 of The Traveling Professor's "go to" places to dine when in Rome.

We have been on several small group tours to Norway - it is one of The Traveling Professor's favorite destinations.  It cannot be beat for natural beauty.  It is also rich in culture and history.  We love the food there too. In our travels on our small group tours, we've found some great hotels and developed exciting itineraries. Check out today's blog post to learn more about traveling to Norway.

Paris has something for everyone. There is food, culture, history, nightlife, architecture, and more.  And for something else, check out the last resting places of people and their pets. In today's blog post I have listed several places of interest that you might not go to on your first trip to Paris, but are definitely interesting and enjoyable.

Over the years, through my small group tours and through my personal trips, I have gained much experience in dealing with hotels. I've found strategies I can use to save money and get perks.  The Traveling Professor is happy to share his hotel booking experiences so that you can get the best hotel experience possible while saving money.  Read today's blog post for some great tips on booking hotels.