Everyone loves a bargain, especially when on a tour to an expensive city like Paris.  I have been to Paris over 50 times, either traveling solo or on one of The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Paris.   I have found 3 hotels that are not only a good value, they are well-located, are comfortable, and are reasonably priced.   Take a look at The Professor's picks for bargain hotels in Paris in today's blog post. 

One of the reasons we all travel is to experience the differences of our cultures.   The American concept of "customer service" is different from that of Europe.  I find that this does cause confusion among travelers and sometimes even anger or disdain.   But if you know what to expect on your next tour to Europe, I think you will have a more enriching experience.

When most people travel to Italy for the first time, they usually wind up in Rome, Florence, Venice and maybe even the Amalfi Coast.  These are all wonderful places to travel, but let's face it, there can be quite touristy with big crowds and high prices.   There are other parts of Italy worth seeing.  I think they are more authentic, less crowded, and much less expensive.  See my blog post for my favorite places to visit in Italy second time around.

On The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Paris or if traveling on your own, there is nothing like a Paris river or canal cruise.   Almost everyone knows about the Seine River cruise but fewer know about the charming Canal St. Martin that runs through some of the most charming of Paris neighborhoods.  Take a look at my blog post to find out the best Paris cruises.

Our Traveling Professor tours are not budget tours, and with the exception of one tour we run, they are not super-luxury tours either. On our Traveling Professor tours we like to stay at good 3 or 4 star hotels in a central location that are a good value.  But some people, when traveling on their own, like to plan a budget tour.  Here are some of my ideas for saving money without sacrificing comfort.

Last year, The Traveling Professor ran his first small group tour to Iceland.  Norway was also included on the itinerary.   It sold out in about 2 days and another tour was added that sold out immediately also.   People who went on the tour absolutely loved Iceland.  So, what's the big deal?  Isn't Iceland way too expensive?  Isn't Iceland cold? Then why do people love Iceland so much and why is it a great tourist destination?  Check out my blog post to see why.

I travel a lot.  I will have put in over 100,000 air miles this year alone.   I am always looking for good travel equipment, guide books, gear, and entertainment items.   In my blog post I am putting down my favorites for travel gift giving this holiday season.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

When on a solo tour to Paris our when taking one of my Traveling Professor small group tours to Paris, a welcome part of the day is lunchtime.   Paris is not the place to "grab and go" with a lunch but a time to savor lunch, watch the world go by, and enjoy some of the best food in the world.  In today's blog post I recommend 4 places for an inexpensive and enjoyable lunch in Paris.

I read a lot on traveling "cheap".  If you are like me, you are NOT going to:

• Sleep in a hostel or a stranger's couch.
• Ride in a bumpy bus over 11 hours through rough terrain to save $10.
• Be herded into a cheap, budget, no-frills airline.
• Wait in line for 4 hours to get into a museum for free.

These are the kinds of "tips" I get delivered into my mailbox all day.    Take a look at my blog post to see how to travel less expensively, without sacrificing luxury or comfort.