Sometimes we like to take a diversion from the city on our tours to Paris and head out to the countryside to the Champagne region of France. So, we'll take the 45 minute fast train to Reims and celebrate by visiting one of 20 or so Champagne houses like Pommery, Taittinger, Mumm, Krug, or Piper-Heidsieck. It's a fun day, easy to do. So next time on one of your tours to Paris, decide to pop the cork and head out to Reims.
On our tours to Italy, a day trip over to the walled-in city of Lucca is always a treat. Lucca is decidedly Tuscan in every way. It's double-fortified walls make it one of the best preserved cities in all of Italy. Within the walls, the streets are nearly car-free making it an excellent destination for a full-day stroll. Even better, rent a bicycle and ride either through the city or along the 2-mile ramparts surrounding it. On your next tour to Italy, take the train ride over from Florence and see what the beautiful city of Lucca has to offer.
An essential part of a tour to Paris should be a visit to one of the many markets. There are probably hundreds of markets (called a marché) in all shapes and sizes offering everything from flowers to foie gras, baguettes to books, and Cabernet to Camembert. I’ve listed those that are most likely of the most interest to those on a tour of Paris and are easily accessible when taking a tour to Paris.
On tours to Italy we always take a day to walk through the heart of Rome. As we stroll through the heart of Rome it is a tour through thousands of years of history. We see some of the most famous sights in all the world. I know all the health experts say that walking will help someone lose weight, but on our tours of Italy, we consume so much gelato, delicious pizza, tartuffo and other treats, our 1-mile walk through Rome might be an experience where we put on a few pounds, rather than lose them. Take a look at my blog post to see how we plan our walking tour of Rome while visiting Italy.
When do I buy my ticket to Paris? What website gives me the best airfares to Italy? What is the cheapest way to get to Spain? How do I get the best flight to Peru? What airline do I fly to Venice? These are questions I get almost every day. And while airline travel is confusing, getting more and more expensive each year, travelers are using more strategies to get the cheapest airfare to Europe and South America. I am involved with purchasing airfare for travelers all over the United States to Europe and South America. In this blog post I will pass on to you what I have found as the best way to find the best air itineraries for travel to Paris, Italy, Spain, Peru & Machu Picchu whether traveling on your own or going on one of The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Paris, Italy, Spain or Peru.
One of the reasons we travel is to experience the different customs and cultures of foreign people. When taking a tour to Paris, Italy, or Spain, travelers may find different approaches to customer service than what they are used to in the United States or Canada. In this blog post I'll go over a few things that might be encountered in terms of customer service in Europe in order to prepare you better for your next trip.
What is the best time to visit Paris? It's a question I get from people who travel on my small group tours to Paris as well as others planning individual trips to Paris. Every season has its advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post The Traveling Professor provides insight on which season to visit Paris depending upon weather, crowds, and in terms of best value.
I have lived in New York City nearly my entire life and I have not come close to being victim of a pick pocket. Unfortunately, pick pockets are much more common in Europe and Peru. I remember seeing someone having their pocket picked on the Paris metro, I can recall someone having their bag stolen in Lima, Peru and one of our travelers on a small group tour to Rome would have had his pocket picked (her hand was actually in his pocket) if we didn't scare her away. Violent crime is unusual in Europe and Peru, but the annoying pick pockets are unfortunately, way to common. In this blog post I give some tips to avoid having your pocket picked.
Whether traveling on one of my Traveling Professor small group tours to Paris or going on your own tour of Paris, the best way to get around is by bus or metro. Both the Paris bus and metro are economical, cover the city extremely well, and operate frequently. In this blog post we won't talk too much about the virtues of the Paris public transportation system, but we'll discuss what kind of transportation tickets to buy for your next trip to Paris.
Traveling alone has its advantages and some disadvantages. I have traveled to Paris solo many times. I once spent 10 days in Rome and Florence just by myself. I like the ability to do what I want, when I want to do it. However, the thing I miss when traveling alone is dining with someone else. There are also a few other factors to consider when traveling alone. Take a look at the blog post to get my views on how to plan a trip by yourself.