When going on a tour to Paris, take the opportunity to visit the varying neighborhoods of Paris. Some are sophisticated, some are smutty, some are charming and others are cheap. They all have an element of "je ne sais quoi" making each of them appealing in their own way. I have written about two neighborhoods to visit while on your tour of Paris, and I have listed one, that may be of a surprise to you, that I recommend avoiding.
Three Underrated Museums in Paris
Of course Paris has the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Orsay, and Notre Dame. But how about some other great museums that are not on everyone's radar when going on a tour to Paris? We try to visit them on The Traveling Professor's tours to Paris and perhaps you should give them a try to. Read my blog post to find out more about my favorite lesser-known Paris museums.
Sign Up for The Professor's Newsletter
The Traveling Professor's monthly newsletter has been published for about five years now. It is extremely easy to sign up. Just look at that box at the upper right side of this website, put in some very basic information, confirm your subscription with an email and you are good to go! Once you are on the mailing list you'll get my monthly travel newsletter and maybe one or two special notices of tours, airfare specials, or important travel news. It's easy to unsubscribe if it clutters up your inbox or if you feel The Traveling Professor's newsletter is just not for you. For details of what you can find in the newsletter, read the blog post.
Tips for Buying High Speed Train Tickets in Italy
Train travel in Italy can be great. Fast and comfortable trains get you where you want to go quickly. On The Traveling Professor's tours to Italy we often take trains from one city to another. However, train tickets can be very expensive and there can be issues when purchasing Italian train tickets that the first-timer might not know about. On your next tour to Italy, follow my tips on purchasing train tickets.http://www.travelingprofessor.com/
What to Tip in Europe
Probably one of the most common questions I get whether it be from travelers on my small group tours to Paris, Italy or Spain or from those traveling on their own tours is what to tip. Tipping practices in Europe are definitely different from those in the United States. So to clear up the controversy, read my blog post to get my tips on tipping in Europe.
Two Neighborhoods to Visit in Paris and One to Avoid
Things I Always Do When in Paris
Travel Insurance and What You Need to Know
On my tours to Paris, Italy, Spain and Peru, travelers often ask me what type of travel insurance, if any, to purchase. There are several travel insurance products out there. The descriptions can be lengthy and confusing. So for your next tour whether it be to Paris, Italy, Spain or even Peru and Machu Picchu, I have put together some concise information on what kind of international travel insurance a travel might want to consider purchasing for their next tour.
Ins and Outs of Taking the Train to Machu Picchu
For the most part, there are two ways to get to Machu Picchu: take the train or walk. Fortunately the train ride to Machu Picchu is spectacular and one of the highlights on The Traveling Professor's tours to Peru and Machu Picchu. However, it is much more involved than buying a train ticket, hopping on and arriving at Machu Picchu. To help make a tour to Peru and Machu Picchu a success, read more in my blog post on how to take the train to Machu Picchu.
Using a Credit Card in Europe
On all of my small group tours to Paris, Italy and Spain, The Traveling Professor recommends using a credit card to pay for as many things as possible. However, it is important to use a credit card in Europe wisely. In this blog post, I give some basic tips for credit card use in Europe that will save the traveler money and help avoid problems.
Peru, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon Jungle
#1 on just about everyone's bucket list is a trip to Peru, especially Machu Picchu. We've done the trip many times and we think we have the best tour to Peru and Machu Picchu out there. Our itinerary is terrific and includes many places no other tour company will take you in Peru and Machu Picchu. We stay in some of the top hotels not only in Peru, some of them ranked in the Top 50 in the world by outfits like National Geographic. We take all of the details to make sure your trip goes smoothly. And, we only travel with small group of adult travelers. Take a look at the details to the best trip to Peru and Machu Picchu in today's blog post.
Phone Options When in Europe
What is the best cell phone option to use when traveling to Europe? It is a question The Traveling Professor frequently gets from travelers on his tours to Italy, Paris, and Spain. The Professor will dial you in on the best phone options to use in Europe when phoning home to say "bonjour" from your tour to Paris, or to say "ciao" and tell your family and friends what a great time you are having on your trip to Italy.
When to Visit Paris
What is the best time of year to visit Paris? Actually, my answer would be that any time of year is a great time to take a tour to Paris. Each season offers distinct advantages in terms of weather, costs, and crowds. There are also some times to avoid when visiting Paris. In this blog post The Traveling Professor will present the pros and cons of visiting Paris during different times of the year.
How to Get the VAT Back
I am leaving for a tour of Paris tomorrow. Although I don't expect to make too many large purchases there, you might be on your next tour of Paris. In Paris, a surcharge called the VAT is added to most purchases. Since it is about 20% of the purchase price, it can be a significant amount, especially if making large purchases. So, how do you get the VAT back on a purchase in Paris? Check out today's Paris blog post.
Why the Latin Quarter is the Best Place to Stay in Paris
Whenever The Traveling Professor brings tours to Paris or whenever I travel solo to Paris, I always stay in an area on the Left Bank called the Latin Quarter. It is called the Latin Quarter because it is where schools like the Sorbonne are located. In the good old days, students spoke Latin. Hence, the Latin Quarter. In today's blog I will explain why the Latin Quarter is the best place to stay on a tour to Paris.
Norway: Our New Destination for 2015
After leading a small group tour to Paris, last week I flew from Paris to Bergen, Norway to begin a short journey in Norway. I was so absolutely impressed by the natural beauty, culture, cleanliness, and cuisine that I knew I needed to add a tour to Norway to The Traveling Professor's schedule for 2015. Although I am still in the planning stage, read the blog post to see why you should be going to Norway in 2015.