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.

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. 

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.

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.

A tour of the Vatican is on the itinerary for every Traveling Professor small group tour to Italy.  But a visit requires some planning to avoid the massive crowds, or even worse yet, being disappointed by all or one of the elements being closed.   In this blog post I have included some fascinating hidden secrets about touring that Vatican that very few people know about.  So, if visiting Vatican City on your next tour to Rome, read my blog post.

By far, my most adventurous and exciting program is The Traveling Professor's small group tour to Peru, Machu Picchu and the Amazon rain forest.   It took over a year to plan the itinerary and now, I think I have made it even better by including the Amazon jungle with accommodations at the world-class Inkaterra Amazonica resort.   This trip combines three distinct and separate regions of Peru.  We arrive at the ancient rock city of Cusco and immerse ourselves into the culture and rich history.   We travel to Machu Picchu and spend 2 nights (most tours bring you in in the morning and you are out by the afternoon) properly exploring the mystical city.  Then, we go into the Amazon jungle at the best eco-lodge in Peru for a program of 12 exploration adventures.  Read more in the blog post.

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.

When traveling to Rome or Florence on one of The Traveling Professor's small group tours to Italy, or whether traveling to Italy on your own, the last thing you want to do while on vacation is wait on line.   Rome and Florence both offer two museum pass options worth considering.   Both of them provide VIP admission to museums and in some cases allow you to enter without making an appointment.  Read the blog post to see how to save money and time on a tour to Italy.

On my travels, whether going solo or leading a small group tour to Paris, I notice a lot of travelers making mistakes that really impact how much they are enjoying their tour of Paris.  So, I have come up with a "Top Ten" list of things to avoid while on a Paris vacation.  Read it over and even if you take my advice on some of the items I have listed, I am sure you get much more out of your trip to Paris.

I can visit Paris any of day of the year and enjoy it.   However, there are advantages and disadvantages of going on a tour to Paris, depending upon the time of year visiting.  I can tell you my favorite month to visit Paris is October - the airfares have gone down, the crowds are starting to dissipate, and some good deals can be found on apartments and hotels.   But take a look at my Paris blog post and I will give you the run down on when to visit Paris.