Florence is one of my favorites when taking people on my small group tours to Italy. And one of our favorite things to do is EAT! I like authentic dishes like riboletta, a Tuscan bean soup made with black cabbage. Let's not forget about the famous Florentine steak. And then there are the wonderful Tuscan cheeses, breads, and olive oils. Read the blog post and look at my favorite places to eat when on tour to Florence.
Altitude Sickness
I was exhibiting at the Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show this weekend and one of the most common concerns brought up by people interested in a tour to Peru and Machu Picchu was the issue of altitude sickness, also known as soroche or AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). No matter how you slice it, 10% of all travelers to Peru and Machu Picchu will get it, but in this blog post I will give my tips on how to avoid it and how to handle altitude sickness if you do indeed get it while on a tour to Peru.
The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris, 2nd Edition
It's here! The 2nd edition of The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris was officially published on Monday. It is revised with over 20% more content based upon my many, many trips to Paris and my experiences in taking hundreds of people to Paris on my small group tours. It still maintains it's concise format, combined with practical information that made the first edition of the book the smashing success that it was. It is available through Amazon.Com at http://goo.gl/TNFCkk or through me directly. Read the blog post to see what's inside and to order the book through me directly.
When to Visit Paris
Top Ten Mistakes on a Paris Vacation
Museum Pass Options in Rome and Florence
Romantic Restaurants in Paris
People always ask me for Paris restaurant recommendations, especially when they are going to be there on Valentine's Day. Although there are thousands of restaurants in Paris, a few come to mind for those wanting a romantic evening without breaking the bank. You can always go to places like Alain Ducasse, Savoy, Le Cinque, Taillevent, and L'Arpège, but let's face it, how many of us are going to spend $1,000 for dinner? In this blog post I have listed some romantic spots in Paris to share with your sweetheart that are perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day.
A New Tour to Peru
How to Tour the Vatican
How to Get to Versailles from Paris
It's a piece of cake to get from Paris to Versailles. On many of our small group tours to Paris we have done the 40-minute journey by RER "C" train to visit the former home of Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV, the Sun King. In this blog post we give you specific directions on how to get to Versailles so you won't lose your head trying to figure it all our on your own.
Top Paris Budget Hotel Picks
Like anyone else, I like to save money in Paris. However, I still like to be comfortable and in a good location when choosing a Paris hotel. It's not easy to find a budget hotel in Paris but there are some places that I can recommend for those who want to save a few euros when visiting the City of Light. Check out my blog post to find my picks for budget hotels in Paris.
The Professor in The Wall Street Journal
In 2012, I had the opportunity to be profiled in The Wall Street Journal. A journalist had heard about me retiring from my position as a professor in the State University of New York System and my change of careers to leading small group tours to Paris, Spain, Italy, and Peru. It took about 2 months from the time all the interviewing was completed until the time the article was published and I remember the first time I saw it in print. I was traveling home from a small group tour to Peru and Machu Picchu and someone in the seat in front of me was reading The Wall Street Journal. As he opened it up, I could see he was reading the article. I resisted the urge to get out of my seat and point to it and say "Hey, that's me!". It was an exciting time. Read the blog post to see the WSJ article.
Top Restaurant Picks in Florence Italy
Private Tour Guides in Paris
All of The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Paris are professionally guided. I made a decision to do that several years ago when I saw how much it adds to the Paris touring experience. In fact, it can make all the difference in a world on a visit to Paris or any other destination for that matter. In this blog, I will tell you what to look for in a Paris tour guide and give some of my best recommendations.
Where to Eat in Peru
Most people don't think of Peru as being a culinary capital, but it is. On our small group tours to Peru and Machu Picchu we make it a point to stop in some of the best (and most affordable) restaurants that can be found. Primarily, the best dining can be found in Lima and in Cusco. There are traditional dishes such as cuy and alpaca, but Peru chefs have strong skills in creating some of the best fusion dishes that can be found. Read the blog post and find out where to dine before your next tour to Peru and Machu Picchu.
Where to Stay in Venice
Venice is a fascinating city and we often visit on The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Italy. Some people only do a day trip to Venice but I like to stay a night or two because Venice is most beautiful in the evening as the cruise people disappear from the streets and St. Mark's lights up. In this blog post I will give my Venice 3 star hotel recommendations so that your next tour to Venice is an enjoyable one.