Search results for 'Europe'

The Royal Horticultural Society, one of the world’s leading horticultural organizations, has partnered with Collette to bring you a line of botanically themed tours. Discover the distinctive horticultural gems of France from Paris through the Loire Valley. Delight the senses at the 22nd annual International Garden Festival in Chaumont, a special highlight on tour. 

There’s no better way to spend your holiday than exploring the magic of Europe in the winter. Join Collette on a glorious holiday adventure that includes Europe’s finest Christmas markets. Enjoy a guided tour of the old quarter, “Petite France,” featuring the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Mingle with locals as you sip mulled wine and explore the lively Christmas markets featuring local specialties, crafts and traditional food and drink. Find items like Nuremberg spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, bakery goods, Christmas tree angles and toys while exploring the oldest and most famous Christmas Market in Germany. Step back in time as you stroll the streets of past old-world cottages and shops covered in colorful frescos, in the town of Oberammergau, the ideal place to shop for cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers and Hummel Figurines.

The kids are grown and flown the coop. Career established but winding down. Parents healthy and living a good life. You have some money put by, so it’s your turn to look at the Bucket List. Hopefully you revised it through all the years of waiting?  Now you’re 60+ you have different desires, tastes and physical abilities.

MAKE YOUR CHOICES – but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE………………

Follow these tips gleaned from being a “traveler” since the age of 4, and sometimes learning the VERY hard way.

No one has ever explained to me why the hairs at the back of my neck stand on end when I listen to a choir in full voice, but, what I do know is that it’s a ‘good to be alive’ feeling all the same.

So, imagine combining the resounding sounds of 70 choirs of all ages and many nationalities with the magisterial natural beauty of Cornwall, the UK’s westernmost county. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? 

So best book your flights and tickets and head for the 2015 Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival.

Whenever a trip is being planned, there are usually many “wishes” to be fulfilled. One thing for sure is the desire to taste the most fantastic food in the most luxurious settings. Of course, there is fabulous street food, but we’re all about making reservations, dressing up, and enjoying a dining experience for a true foodie!

We’ll journey to many great restaurants in these travels, but let’s start with a couple of my favorites, in my ultimately most favorite place – the French Riviera.  And, we’ll start at the top of a mountain. COLUMBE D’OR in St. Paul de Vence is arguably one of the most famous restaurants in the world. It has appeared in numerous movies, and attracts Royalty, Presidents, Movie stars, and the global uber-rich out for an amazing experience. 

Susie and Beau are always glad to hear about new opportunities for pets in travel. It has come to our attention that a bill has recently passed the House of Representatives (HR 2066) that will require Amtrak to allow pets aboard trains. The billed is dubbed the Pets on Trains Act, which is part of a larger package called the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act.

This is the year of Diego and Frida.  A historic exhibition, with 70 of the most passionate works by these iconic Mexican artists, opened on March 15 at the Detroit Institute of Art.  On May 16, the first solo exhibition of Frida Kahlo’s work to be seen in New York City in 25 years will open at the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx.  The New York exhibition will be the first to focus exclusively on Kahlo's intense interest in the botanical world. The Detroit show is a wonderful introduction to Diego and Frida and their time spent in Detroit (1932-1933).  But there’s so much more …

What comes to mind when I say Mozart, Weiner Schnitzel, Sacher Torte and Waltz? You are correct if you said Vienna, Austria. With the Euro being almost on an equal par with the U.S. Dollar, a trip to Europe should be on your agenda this year and Vienna should be one of the stops.

One of the great advantages of visiting a European capital is the proximity to the cultural and culinary opportunities that surround you. One of the disadvantages is the noise and the crowds. What if I said you could have the best of both worlds in Stockholm? Well, you actually can! The Hotel Skeppsholmen is situated on an island encompassed by the sea and nature, yet a short walk into the City. It is located across the bridge from the National Museum. The building, a former Navy barracks, dates back to 1699 and offers a variety of room types. Be sure to read the descriptions for each one to see what suits you best. There are 79 rooms, a tennis court, fitness center and a restaurant. You can rent bicycles here, go fishing or just enjoy the sea and garden. Room amenities include a TV, DVD player, minibar, modern shower and more.

SWITZERLAND is one of the smallest countries in Europe, in the world in fact. SWITZERLAND has, however, one of the most powerful reputations for many things. All well deserved!

What you will remember most about Switzerland is how refreshingly clean and clear it is.  It sparkles, even on dull, grey, rainy days; it has a clarity of its own.

You know it has to be close to Paradise, when one of America’s truly richest men at the time buys a part of Heaven on Earth and sets out to create Paradise. 

Set sail on a magnificent cruise that will take you to The Netherlands, Germany and France where you’ll drift by castles, fairytale landscapes, and quaint towns. Along the way, you’ll pause to experience the treasures that these two bodies of water offer.

Experience the beauty of Eastern Canada on these wonderful tours that will take you to Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, and Ottawa. Explore the European-styled, old world elegance of Quebec City before marveling at the thundering magnificence of the Niagara Falls. Enjoy the view of the busy St. Lawrence River from high atop Montreal’s Mount Royal and experience the energy of modern and multicultural Toronto. The Eastern Canadian tours showcase all the remarkable treasures Eastern Canada has to offer. 

When it comes to selecting new luggage, “Yes, size does matter!” 

Join acclaimed actress, Linda Kozlowski, best known as the leading lady in “The Crocodile Dundee” trilogy, as she embraces her new role as co-founder of Dream My Destiny (www.dreamydestiny.com), a bespoke Moroccan tour company with her partner Moulay Hafid Baba. Her bold new travel business offers one- of-a-kind vacations perfect for those seeking a truly customized travel experience in 2015.

Join Collette on an exciting cultural experience in the Imperial Cities of Central Europe. Bask in the splendor and romance with 3-night stays in each of Europe’s Imperial Cities, Prague, Vienna and Budapest. You will adore Prague’s unique culture and architecture while walking the Golden Lane, a delightful neighborhood of tiny, medieval houses. Delight in the baroque marvels of Vienna’s Schoenbrunn Palace, the summer retreat of the Habsburg dynasty for more than 200 years. Explore your 4th Imperial Capital during an included walking tour of Bratislava. Visit a 14th century Hungarian castle where knights recreate the days of chivalry. Cruise the Danube River through the beautiful scenery of the Wachau Valley to the famous Abbey at Melk. Combining included guided city excursions and days at leisure to explore on your own, this tour is designed to make sure you see all the Imperial Cities have to offer.

Join Collette and experience the best of France on this 12 day France Magnifique tour! Bask in the rich history, art, culture and romance of France’s celebrated cities and charming towns. Enjoy a tour and tasting at one of the famous wineries in Vouvray. Witness luxury and splendor in the Principality of Marco, the glittering gem of the Riviera. Relax on a sunset dinner cruise in the “City of Lights,” past famous landmarks along the River Siene.  These fabulous experiences will be sure to make your journey through France unforgettable. 

Its name will live in history, as it has for almost 2,000 years. But, given the pop culture of our society, it is getting ready to become even more famous as a Royal visitor will one day soon set foot on the soil of Malta.

Ludwig II of Bavaria – “the Mad King of Bavaria” of drama and history. He may have been mad, but what he created with Neuschwanstein, and other palaces could only be divine madness. 

I am often asked why so many people are drawn to river cruises, and for me, it’s an easy answer.  It is hands-down the best way to explore the history and culture of some of the most historic rivers in the world and the cities located along them.  River cruises offer you access to places and experiences that ocean cruises, and even some land tours, can’t.  Add the convenience of unpacking only once, the amenities of a fine hotel, top-notch excursions, and excellent food -- and you’re in for a vacation you’ll long remember.  

Venture to Barcelona with Collette for an extended stay exploring the art, culture and history of this unique city.  Enjoy unpacking just once for a single hotel stay in Spain’s second largest city and capital of the Catalunya province.  Get acquainted with one of the liveliest cites in all Europe on an adventure full of excitement and rich in culture. From learning the secrets of Catalan cuisine during an interactive cooking class, visiting the Penedes wine region for a winery tour and tasting, to a tour highlighting all the “must see” spots of Barcelona, travelers are sure to be immersed in the city. 

If you know me, or travel with me, you know I have my mobile phone and/or small laptop with me at all times.   You never know when you might get that one, fabulous, life-changing call (or email).  OK, I know it’s a bad habit, and the opposite of what I tell my clients to do when vacationing.  Slow down, soak in the sights and sounds, and immerse yourself in the moment, I tell them.   

I love the South of France, my favorite place on earth.But, just over the French/Italian border is another piece of Heaven. The Riviera of the Flowers – they grow in wild profusion and greenhouses all over the hillsides of this area. The flower stands are places of immense delight, just to stand and smell, and see God’s miracle of color and growth illuminate our lives.