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.

Winter in Europe can be an amazing time to travel.  The crowds are gone, airfares are low.  Travelers have their pick of hotels and restaurants.   I particularly like traveling to Italy, especially Florence during this time of year.  In this guest blog post, Karen Mills of www.Anamericaninitaly.com provides her perspective of traveling to Florence in the wintertime.

Without a doubt, one of the most dazzling and memorable trips one can go on is a tour to Peru including Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and the Amazon Jungle.   When I planned my small group tour to Peru, I did it the right way, spending ample time at Machu Picchu, with guided tours not only of the major sights, but a view of Machu Picchu few travelers see.  We stay in top-notch hotels, including the Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica, one of the top eco-resorts in the word.  To get the details on my small group tour to Peru, see the blog post.

April in Paris!  The flowers are blooming, the streets are bustling, and the weather is mild.  Join The Traveling Professor for a week-long adventure to the wonderful City of Light.   We give the traveler an "insider's view" of this great city by not only visiting the major sites like the Louvre, Orsay, Eiffel Tower, the Marais, and Orangerie, but we can point out and explain the history, culture, architecture, and dish out the gossip that you simply cannot do with your own or with a guide book.  Read the blog post to find out about our exciting small group tour to Paris with prices, itineraries, hotels, and features.

Last night I met with a group of about 8 travel professionals in a restaurant in New York City.  We were there as a part of a focus group to give our opinions on the state of the travel industry.  A high-powered marketing company was hosting us and wanted to know what we had to say.   Our opinions were diverse and intelligently articulated.   Read the blog post to see the interesting results.

I usually don't run deals on my small group tours to Italy but we need just a few people to fill up two of our tours.  On of our Italy tours is in April and the other one is in March.  It is a terrific time to visit Italy - airfares are low, the crowds are sparse, and the weather is extremely pleasant.  So, jump on this great deal to Italy and enjoy a Traveling Professor small group tour to Italy.  Read the blog post to get the details on this tour of Italy, including pricing, itineraries, and what's included.

Being in the travel business, part of my job is to ask people to join me on my tours to Italy, Paris, Spain, Peru and Machu Picchu.   Most people say they want to go but when it comes time to go, I hear lots and lots of excuses not just to go on my tours, but any tour.  I once had a traveler tell me that most people will spend more money after they are dead on their funeral rather than enjoy it on a trip of their dreams while they are alive - and I think she is right.   So, I have heard many excuses of why not to travel and put them in today's blog post.   I would like to hear ones you have heard too.

I have been running Traveling Professor tours since the publication of The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris in 2009.   Most of those tours are for individuals or pairs of travelers who want to join a small group tour to Italy or Paris.  However, private groups have approached me recently about running a tour for their organization as a fundraiser.   For instance, there is a church group who does missionary work in South America who I am scheduled to run a tour for.  Another civic organization from the Midwest has me taking a  private group.   I am also putting together a proposal from a cultural organization for a tour to Paris where we will feature classical music performances in addition to other sights.   Read more about using a tour to Paris, Italy or South America as a fund raiser.

I have rented an apartment in Paris and in Italy on several occasions.  My experiences have been very positive.  However, before my Paris and Italy apartment rentals I followed several guidelines that practically ensured that my apartment rental met my expectations.   Read my blog post so that when taking your next tour to Paris or your next vacation to Italy, you too will wind up with an apartment you love.

The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris, 2nd Edition is expected to be available this month.  My first book came out in 2009 and I am excited to bring readers some great updates and new features in the new edition, keeping the theme and content of that made the original book the smashing success that it was.   Travelers to Paris loved my book and I am sure they will enjoy the new edition of The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris too.  In the blog post I have described what's new in the 2nd edition  and how you can get a copy at a discounted price.