Category: Family Travel

Bari Italy

DESTINATION BARI

Ciao, discerning travelers! Today, we’re embarking on a journey to the enchanting region of Puglia, Italy, with the charismatic city of Bari at its heart. Picture sun-soaked landscapes, ancient history, and a culinary scene that will tantalize your taste buds. Join me on this luxurious odyssey as we explore the hidden gems of destination Bari and its surrounding areas.

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Spring Break Trips

SPRING BREAK TRIPS

Greetings, fellow travel aficionados! As winter bids adieu and the first blooms of spring emerge, it’s time to plan the epitome of opulence. It’s time to plan your spring break trips. Whether you seek sun-soaked beaches, cultural immersion, or high-altitude adventures, let’s explore a curated list of ideas that promise nothing but the crème de la crème for your springtime retreat.

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Krka National Park waterfalls in Croatia—breathtaking natural wonder included in custom European itineraries by top-rated Fort Collins travel advisor Cathy Rowland.

CROATIA’S COASTAL TREASURES

Croatia is situated along the beautiful Adriatic coast. It is a hidden gem for luxury travelers seeking an authentic and unique experience. With its stunning architecture, crystal-clear waters, and rich cultural heritage, Croatia has something for every type of traveler. As I have just returned from here, let’s explore some of Croatia’s Coastal Treasures.

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Golden hour over Montepulciano, Tuscany—authentic Italy experiences curated by luxury travel advisor Cathy Rowland for culturally immersive getaways

SMALL VILLAGES IN ITALY

Italy is a food lover’s paradise, and there’s no better way to experience its culinary delights than by exploring the small villages scattered throughout the country. These hidden gems are filled with unique flavors and traditional recipes that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more. In this post, we’ll delve deeper into some of the best small villages in Italy that offer a unique culinary experience, from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the beautiful coastline of Campania. Let’s look at some small villages in Italy.

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Scenic boardwalk leading to Portugal’s wild Atlantic coast—expertly curated by Fort Collins luxury travel advisor Cathy Rowland for off-the-beaten-path European adventures.

HIDDEN GEMS IN ALGARVE

The Algarve region, situated in the southern part of Portugal, attracts many tourists who are drawn to its beautiful beaches and scenic coastline. However, for off the beaten path travelers looking to explore the area in a unique way, there are plenty of hidden gems in Algarve to discover.

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Discover the hidden gems of Europe with a visit to Portugal’s colorful Pena Palace in Sintra – expertly planned European getaways by Cathy Rowland, luxury travel advisor specializing in immersive, off-the-beaten-path travel experiences.

HIDDEN GEMS OF EUROPE

Rila Monastery, Bulgaria Nestled in the Rila Mountains of Bulgaria, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most impressive hidden gems of Europe and one of the most impressive Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the world. With stunning frescoes and a rich history dating back to the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is a must-see for any traveler interested in history and culture.

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WORLD’S HAPPIEST COUNTRY: FINLAND

If I asked you to picture the happiest place on earth, many of you would picture the same thing. You would think that the happiest country in the world is full of sunshine, tropical weather, and beaches, but if you’ve been to Finland you know different.
Every year the United Nations publishes a World Happiness Report. In this, Finland and its neighboring Nordic countries are consistently listed within the top 10 slots. That led to my learning that Finland is not only the number one happiest country in the world (Helliwell et al.), but they’ve been on top for four years in a row! Here are some interesting things about the world’s happiest country. Conclusion, world’s happiest country: Finland.

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FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

So, if you want to visit my hometown, what is there to do in this beautiful city? Well, I would be happy to help you explore this wonderful state, and more so, my town, Fort Collins, Colorado. This is a vibrant city on the Front Range (which is parallel to the mountain range). It’s a college town as well, but it’s very active with a lot to see and do.

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PUNTA DE MITA

A few weeks ago, I was in Mexico visiting a new area that I hadn’t been to previously.  Punta de Mita is near to Puerto Vallarta, which is the airport that you fly into.  There are some lovely properties in this area.  Punta Mita is a 1,500-acre private peninsula that is home to the Four Seasons Punta Mita, St. Regis Punta Mita, and 16 sub-communities. Punta Mita is located on the north end of Banderas Bay in the Mexican state of Nayarit, about 10 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. I am going to give a quick review to a few of the properties that I visited in this area. 

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THE PERFECT VACATION

So, what creates the perfect vacation for my clients? It all starts with a discovery call to learn how the clients like to travel, what they are looking to get out of their vacation and what will make it memorable and special for them. This should be the main goal of any travel designer. Those clients that are just needing a quickie Mexico trip or the best bargain they can find are probably not really needing the services of a travel designer/advisor. That’s what Expedia was created for. But if you want an authentic, off the beaten path experience, where people meet culture and immerse themselves in the destination, then you have found the right place to create a perfect vacation.

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Culinary Delights - Aperitifs - Hotel Recommendations - Experiences

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