Search results for 'italy'

Food is central to every holiday celebration, and Japan is no exception. The fresh, seasonal ingredients, precise preparation and the complete visual aesthetic—color, balance and design—of traditional Japanese cuisine represent thousands of years of traditions, stories and symbolism.  But it’s not just traditional Japanese foods that make this country a stand out in the world of gastronomy.  The Japanese are particularly adept at taking foods and traditions from other countries and turning them into something better. 

The holidays tend to be a bit busy.  My wish is for everyone to slow down, and enjoy the special moments a bit more.  This can mean enjoying a church service, lighting up the house, having a snowball fight, or building a ginger bread village.  Often the experiences are what create the memories more than all the materialistic things.  Also you may want to share an old tradition or create a new tradition.  In our house the holidays would not be complete without a few batches of Swedish Nuts to share. Although my youngest is now 18, she is going to join me in baking the nuts.

A system for reducing your cell phone charges while traveling in Europe.

Collette makes travel planning easy so you can simply focus on enjoying the world’s greatest destinations with your family. Collette’s Family tours blend the must-see’s of each destination with hands-on experiences that keep the kids entertained.

Fall in love with Italy as a family and join Collette for an unforgettable family adventure through Italy‘s most magical cities – Venice, Florence and Rome. Filled with history and culture, these cities come to life before your eyes. Explore Italy by foot, train and boat - making your way through ancient and scenic landscapes. Discover the magic of Italy as your family visits the legendary Colosseum, learns the art of making authentic pizza making, indulges in a Tuscan feast, explores a winery for a tasting and a pasta making class, discovers the fantastic world of Leonardo da Vinci and tastes Italy’s sweetest treasure – gelato! 

If you’re a sucker for romance, the great outdoors and a laid back atmosphere, then I have just the place for you! Head south to Adairsville, Georgia and visit the Barnsley Resort. This property begins with a love story and I have to include the Timeline of this estate so you can appreciate your visit to this magnificent area. 

Join Collette on an in-depth exploration that reveals the artistic and cultural treasures of Florence, the “Cradle of the Italian Renaissance” and discover one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Long a cultural capital, Florence is home to a third of the world’s art treasures. This new leisure-stay tour features five nights in a centrally located hotel with free time to independently explore the city. Immerse yourself in art on an expertly led tour of the Uffizi Gallery to view works from some of history’s greatest artists. Take a step back in time in the charming village of Certaldo Alto. Explore the Academy Gallery and see Michelangelo’s magnificent sculpture of David. You’ll be sure to leave your tour with everlasting memories of the unforgettable city of Florence. 

Join Collette on a new tour for 2015 named Spotlight on Venice in Winter that features a spectacular five-night stay in Venice during the best season to experience its culture and come to know its people – winter. This tour was designed for savvy travelers who want to experience the one-of-a-kind history, culture, and cuisine Venice has to offer, but with fewer tourists and more out-of-the-way surprises. Winter is a delightful time to visit the city. Embark on this exciting adventure with Collette today! Explore Venice where you’ll experience all of the following:  

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.

Join Collette on an adventure through the art, history and culture of Rome on the brand new Spotlight on Rome tour! This new tour is unique because it offers travelers the luxury to unpack just once for a single hotel stay and it blends the inclusions Collette is known for with free time to explore on your own. Travelers are sure to be captivated by Rome’s old-world charm blending with its lively cosmopolitan energy. Come to know the history and traditions of this spectacular city on tour with Collette. The unforgettable experiences are endless. 

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.

This is such a beautiful place to visit. You can fall in love with the quiet and the breathtaking views of the deep blue sea. You can bring some exciting books to read while staring at the sea.  There is also an exciting nightlife here if that is what you desire.

Just like the American Great Lakes, there are several of note in Italy, and we'll visit them.But, let's take a first look at Lake Como, in English and American, but the more romantic - Lago di Como in Italian. Whilst it has been a popular tourist destination for many years, with the advent of George Clooney and his villa full of Hollywood friends, Lago di Como is a paparazzi mecca. 

Perfect for seasoned travelers who seek exploration of culturally rich and historic urban destinations, Collette’s Explorations product line delivers a deep-dive into some of the globe’s most celebrated places. With only 12 – 24 travelers on these small group tours, Collette Explorations tours allow you to dig deeper into the culture than ever before. When you travel with a small group, you’ll be closer than ever to these new people, new places, and unforgettable moments.

Collette offers incredible Guided Tours, all with the options of savoring the local flavors. There’s an abundance of region-specific food & wine that’s simply waiting for you to arrive! For example, on our Spain’s Classics tour, you’ll get to enjoy native paella with a local fisherman and his family. While visiting Portugal & its Islands, you’ll experience the savory flavors of a traditional Madeira dish called espetada. And on Collette’s Italy’s Treasures guided tour, you’ll visit a winery in the heart of Tuscany that showcases a wine cellar, vineyards and olive groves. 

History, culture, art and romance… just waiting to be discovered on this wonderful introduction to Italy, a country you are sure to fall in love with! You’ll embark on a Venetian adventure that includes St. Mark’s Square, the lively hub of the city's activity and events. Be whisked by high-speed train from Venice to Florence where you’ll see all the highlights of this amazing cultural hot spot. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch set in the serene Tuscan countryside.  This is truly a wonderful journey across Italy, which encompasses the incredible sights and mouth watering food and drink; a once-in-a-lifetime excursion that will leave you with a heart full of memories.

We recently returned from a week in Tuscany’s famous wine region of Chianti. This is a heavily-visited area, especially in the high summer season, with throngs of people thirsting to sample the iconic Chianti Classico at countless wine bars and swanky wineries. But we found a few ways to avoid the crowds, and their spending, while still experiencing this beautiful, delicious, and intoxicating region to its fullest.

Iconic sights are almost always jammed, but there ways to break free of the crowds and stay cool, from a guided tour with skip-the-line access, spots to cool off or secret side entrances with no waits. Below are some unique ways that travelers can avoid the high-season lines, making the most out of their summer vacation. 

Enchanting, majestic, serene, Venice is like no other place in the world.  No other city has been built on a lagoon that with each year gently is sinking at the rate of 1 – 2mm a year.

You are in a new location trying to get the most out of your limited time to explore the area.  Although everyone wants to go explore 1 person has extreme food allergies, and another travel companion cannot walk far.  This means you have to miss out in seeing the Archaeological sites, eating authentic food, and seeing more than the touristy places on a right?

WRONG!

It is time to look into setting up a PRIVATE TOUR

From Bagdad (her birth) to London (her adopted home) to Miami (her last days), Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid, one of the greatest architects of our time and the first female architect to be honored with the Pritzker Prize (2004), architecture’s highest accolade, died of a heart attack on March 31^st. She was 65 years old. 

Have you ever visited a new city, and not been sure what you want to see? It can be very overwhelming. On a recent trip to New York City my daughter and I decided to take the hop on hop off bus. Keep in mind that I have sight limitations, and my daughter (who is 19) is very ADHD. This was her first time in the Big Apple, so we choose to take the night time tour.

Liz asked Stephanie Miles from AARP about Boomer Travel Trends for 2016 and here is her response.

Experience America’s most exciting metropolis during the most wonderful time of the year, the holiday season! Admire the landmarks like never before as they don their holiday best!  Experience the sightseeing, shopping, entertainment and holiday cheer of New York City and let Collette take care of all the details. 

Have you ever wanted to savor gelato in the streets of Florence or sample world-renowned wines in the hills of the Chianti region? Now is your chance with Collette’s Discover Tuscany tour!