On Saturday I depart for 14 days in Italy on a Traveling Professor Small Group Tour to Italy. We are taking 9 travelers to Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Florence and Venice. I only do carry-on because based upon my experience, about 15% of all luggage transported internationally does not meet its owner upon arrival. Also, we are handling our own bags on/off trains, vans, buses and in Venice, even boats. See what The Traveling Professor is packing in his bag on his small group tour to Italy.
A Trip to Giverny, The Home of Monet
On our small group tour to Paris this month, we visited Giverny, the home and gardens of the famous impressionist painter, Claude Monet. It's and easy day trip from Paris and quite easy to plan. In today's blog post The Traveling Professor tells you how to plan a trip and what to see once you get to Giverny.
3 Recommended Bargain Hotels in Paris
Even with the euro being at historic lows against the dollar, people are still looking for the best bargain hotels in Paris. The ones listed in The Traveling Professor's blog post are selected for their location, cleanliness, friendliness, and value. In fact, one of my hotels was selected by Conde Nast Traveler as a featured pick, based upon my recommendation. So, if you are looking for a best bargain hotel in Paris on your next tour to Paris, check out my blog post first.
Markets in Rome
The Traveling Professor is getting ready for another small group tour to Rome as well as the Amalfi Coast, Florence, and Venice. A significant part of touring any Italian city is a visit to their markets. I have listed in today's blog post some of my favorite markets while visiting Rome. There will be food, wine, cheese and all sorts of wonderful items that I will stock up on for our 2-week tour of Italy.
An Amalfi Coast Itinerary
The Traveling Professor will be leading a small group tour to the Amalfi Coast and Italy next week. As part of that tour to Italy we spend 4 nights in Sorrento as a base to visiting the Amalfi Coast. We have a definite itinerary of what to see and do while in Southern Italy that The Professor is happy to share with you on this Italy blog post.
More Budget Hotels in Paris
Lodging is probably the most expensive part of any tour to Paris or anywhere else for that matter. For me, the location of a hotel is the most important factor when making a selection. I also like a place that is clean, comfortable and quiet. While we don't use 1-star hotels on our Traveling Professor tours, I have some recommendations for Paris travelers looking to save a few dollars on their next tour to Paris.
Eleven More Affordable Paris Hotels
Everyone loves a good, inexpensive Paris hotel. I can't even count how many times I have toured Paris, but it must be at least 60 times and over that period, I have collected quite a list of affordable Paris hotels. Check out today's blog post and get the information on where to start looking for an affordable Paris hotel.
Take the Bus, Not the Metro
Generally, there are two forms of public transportation in most cities, the bus and the metro. In Paris, the metro is as sophisticated as can be found. In Rome, for now there are only 2 metro lines so the buses are much more widely used. But on any tour to Paris or to Rome, I always prefer using the bus, and I will tell you why in this special Paris and Rome travel blog post.
My Italy Packing List
We're Going to Italy
The Traveling Professor is off on a "Grand Italy Tour" with 9 travelers. We will tour Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Florence and Venice. The weather should be terrific this time of year and we are looking forward to another great small group tour of Italy. In the blog post, I have published our ambitious and exciting Italy itinerary.
Best Venice Hotel Picks
The Traveling Professor just got back from a small group tour to #Italy with 9 travelers. On the tail end of our trip was 3 nights in what I consider the most unique city in the world, Venice. When choosing a hotel in Venice take into consideration the location. Being near St. Mark's Square is not a bad choice, but it is going to be crowded and touristy. Staying too far from the historic district is not a good idea since expensive and time-consuming travel (water taxi or vaporetto) is more effort than it is worth. Check out the blog post to see my picks as the best hotels in Venice.
Italy Trip Report
We just returned yesterday morning from a 2-week tour with nine travelers. We did our "Grand Tour" of Italy to include Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Florence, and Venice. We saw the great sites of Italy, ate some delicious meals, but the best thing about our tour were the friendships we made. Check out the blog post for a quick overview to see what our ambitious small group did in Italy, where we stayed, and what we ate.
What to See and Do on the Amalfi Coast
The Traveling Professor just got back from a 2-week tour with 9 travelers. After a short stint in Rome, we spent 5 days and 4 nights on the wonderful Amalfi Coast. There is plenty to see and do on the Amalfi Coast and there is also time to relax and enjoy the sun. In this blog post I will give you some ideas to make the most of a tour to the Amalfi Coast.
We're Off to Norway and Iceland
Last August, The Traveling Professor floated the idea of taking small groups of travelers to Norway and Iceland. Within a few days, the first tour was sold out. I added another tour and that was sold out in a matter of weeks. Norway and Iceland are two of the most exciting destinations right now and I am even more excited to be going on a small group tour to explore and enjoy these Nordic treasures. Take a look at the blog post to see our planned itinerary and follow our fun on The Professor's Facebook page.
Seven Myths About Peru and Machu Picchu
The Traveling Professor has taken hundreds of travelers to Peru and Machu Picchu on his small group tours. It is truly an amazing travel experience with tremendous natural beauty and cultural traditions. However, when we talk to people about Peru, they have reservations about going there. Most often they think it is a "third world" country, they will get sick, or it is crime-ridden. I have been to Peru and Machu Picchu as many as 4 times a year in recent years. In this blog post, I will try to dispel the most common myths about traveling to Peru and Machu Picchu.
Normandy Invasion Beaches Tour
June 6, 1944. It was 71 years ago today that "Operation Overlord" took place - the largest invasion in history. The Allies stormed the beach at Normandy, France. The Traveling Professor has had the opportunity to visit the Normandy Invasion Beaches and the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer several times. We did it just two months ago upon a completion of a small group tour to Paris. In today's blog post, I will tell you more on how to visit the Normandy Invasion Beaches.