Each year I take 2-5 small group tours to Peru and Machu Picchu. The Traveling Professor has been doing that for about 3 years now. I often speak at travel shows and with civic organization about traveling to Peru. People call me with questions about Peru regarding altitude sickness, the safety of Peru, hotel quality, and well, they wonder if Peru is a "third-world" country. In this blog post I will tell you more about Peru and what you can expect if you are traveling solo to Peru or on one of my small group tours to Peru and Machu Picchu.
On my small group tours to Italy, visits to Roman markets are an essential part of the tour. What I like about the food markets are the colors and smells of flowers, fruits, vegetables, olive oils, and herbs. There are other types of Roman markets featuring works of art, souvenirs, and other items of interest. In fact, we will be visiting two of my favorite Roman markets described in my blog post on my next small group tour to Italy next week.
Paris has something for everyone. Whether traveling on one of my small group tours to Paris or traveling on your own, everyone always wants to pick up a remembrance of their tour to Paris. The small specialty markets of Paris provide an opportunity to take home something unique. Personally, I have all the souvenirs I need of Paris but as an experienced traveler, I still enjoy looking around at Paris markets for those interesting knick-knacks that I can't find anywhere else. Read today's blog post to find out more about Paris specialty markets.
Travelers on my small group tours to Peru and Machu Picchu are often surprised what a modern, progressive, and exciting city Lima, Peru is. It is also a culinary destination that is getting more and more noticed. I like it for the terrific food, great prices, and variety of selection. Peruvian food is very dynamic but retains traditional tones and exciting new fusion concepts. Contrary to what a lot of people anticipate on my small group tours to Peru and Machu Picchu, it is very unlike Mexican food. Read my blog post to find out two of my favorite food spots in Lima, Peru.
We've been taking our small group tours to Rome and the rest of Italy for about 5 years now. When traveling to Rome and since it is a city that is somewhat spread out, we like to stay in hotels that are convenient to local transportation. I prefer, as well as the guests on my small group tours to Italy, like hotels that are comfortable, clean, well-run and will not break the bank. Check out my blog post to find out two hotels I recommend for traveling to Rome.
It is one of the most basic questions I get, from people traveling to Rome on their own, or for people on my small group tours to Italy: "How do I get from the airport to my hotel in Rome?". We'll give you all of the Rome airport transfer options in this blog post to make sure you arrive safely and economically. Read the blog post to find out how to get to your hotel in Rome from the airport.
One of the most popular activities on our small group tours to Italy is a visit to Vatican City. There are two, really three, main sites that everyone wants to see: St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel (the Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museum). Although the Vatican follows pretty regular hours, there may be some surprise closing dates. The other issue is that there can be extensive, and I mean extensive lines to get into the museums or basilica. My tips will help you enjoy your next tour to Rome and the Vatican.
For quite some time I have been resisting adding a small group tour to the Amalfi Coast. I wasn't sure if an Amalfi Coast tour really lent itself to the small group tour concept. But after studying and doing some research, I think we have come up with a terrific option for a small group tour of the Amalfi Coast. We'll start off in Rome, visit Herculaneum and Pompeii before moving on to Sorrento. The next day we'll visit Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. The following day is a tour to Capri. On the last day we relax in Sorrento before heading back to Rome. Read the blog post to find out more about our small group tour to the Amalfi Coast.
We take about 4 small group tours to Peru and Machu Picchu each year. Every time our group is surprised how modern, up-to-date and in some ways, how favorable the services, hotels, transportation, and especially food is compared to other places they have traveled in Europe and other parts of the world, including the United States. Peru has some terrific hotels, great restaurants, and other features that make it one of the most interesting and exciting places to visit in the world, while it still retains its cultural charm.
When traveling solo to Italy or leading one of my small group tours to Italy, I like to stay in smaller, family run hotels. They offer more intimacy than those big tourist-class hotels. The small family-run hotels in Florence that I use offer specials service and make their guests feel cared for and unique. The small, family-run hotels I like in Florence also offer greater value than tourist-class hotels. Read my blog post to find out more about two picks for family-run hotels in Florence for your next tour of Italy.