I have been taking my small group tours to Italy and Paris for years.   Although I know my French and Italian pretty well, ordering from a menu can be a challenge.  For example, when dining at Aux Lyonnais in Paris, exactly what am I getting when I order "Caillette de Chabeuil" or "Gigot d'agneau de lait roti"?  In Rome, what happens next when I order "Braciolette d’abacchio ai ferri con patate" or "Straccetti di calamari alla piastra".   Use this travel product of the month to avoid using the hazardous "point and pray" method when ordering off a French or Italian menu.

Who doesn't love to eat while in Paris?  Who doesn't love to eat near the Eiffel Tower when in Paris?  The Traveling Professor has picked out 2 of his favorite spots to share on your next tour to Paris.  As an extra bonus in the Paris food post, I suggest a place near the Eiffel Tower full of casual eating spots as well as markets and shops.

Nearly every week I get 5 or 6 requests regarding my favorite eating spots in Paris. Believe me, I have never run into a Paris traveler who has complained there is no where to eat. But in any case, whether it be on my small group tours to Paris or traveling solo to Paris, take a look at my favorite restaurants on the Left Bank of Paris.

Let's face it, there have been incidents that are cause for concern for travelers.  The US State Department recently issued a travel advisory for Europe.  Should you be concerned?  The Traveling Professor's answer to this question is "of course you should be concerned".  But as a colleague of mine recently said, "Over the past 10 years I have lost too many friends to cancer, but none were lost while traveling".  So, in today's blog post, The Traveling Professor gives tips for a safe trip.

Generally speaking, hotels in Europe are rated by "stars", from zero to 5 stars.  People often ask what the difference is between a 3 or 4 star hotel or even a 2 or a 5 star hotel.  Does selecting a 2 star hotel over a 3 star hotel guarantee a better hotel.  Or will a 1-star hotel be not as good as a 2 star hotel.  The Traveling Professor answers your questions in today's blog post.

The Traveling Professor took his first small group tour to Vienna last November-December when travelers went on the inaugural tour to the Austrian and the Baviarian Christmas markets.  There is plenty to see and do in Vienna, and by itself, deserves a 5-7 day itself. In this blog post, The Traveling Professor tells you the Top 5 things to do in Vienna.

I fly about 75,000 to 100,000 miles a year and have been doing so for the last 10 years or so.  In general, I find airline employees to be hard-working, courteous, and very capable of doing a good job.  However, it is the customer service policies of airlines, in this particular story, the bad customer service of British Airways, that makes you wonder if management is just out of touch, or just incredibly arrogant and dismissive.  Read The Traveling Professor's story and we let you decide if British Airways has the worst customer service in the industry.

Last month The Traveling Professor conducted the 2nd Annual Travel Survey where we asked all subscribers to our mailing list to answer 9 short questions.  Some things did not change (we have about 80% women travelers and 20% men travelers) but there were a few surprises regarding The Traveling Professor's small group tours.  Read the blog post to find out more how people responded to our travel questions.

The culinary scene in Ireland has improved quite a bit over the years.  It is full of varied and interesting culinary experiences.  On our small group tours to Ireland, we enjoy a good meal, close to our hotel, for a reasonable price.  So, if not going on a small group tour to Ireland with The Traveling Professor, read today's Ireland blog post and you can enjoy the same Dublin dining experiences that we have on our small group tours to Ireland.