I always tell clients that research only gets you so far, and this trip has reminded me exactly why. So far I have visited Stockholm and Warnemunde, with Copenhagen and Oslo still ahead of me, and both stops have already given me stories I will be telling clients for years.
Everyone wants to travel in July. School is out, the weather feels safe, and summer has always been the obvious choice.
It is also, quietly, the worst time to visit most of Europe’s best-known destinations.
Shoulder season sits in the gap between peak summer and the off season, roughly April through early June and September through October. It is the window my most seasoned travelers request again and again, and once you understand why, you will probably ask for it too.
Sarah reached out with a simple message. She and her husband wanted to celebrate their anniversary in Italy, but they had never traveled internationally together and had no idea where to start.
Over the next several months, Sarah asked me almost every question I hear on a regular basis. Her trip ended up being a two week journey through Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast, and by the end, she told me she could not imagine having planned it alone.
A great golf trip is not just about the course. It is about the tee time that does not feel rushed, the caddie who knows the greens better than the yardage book, and the dinner reservation waiting after the round. I have planned golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and some of the finest resorts in the US, and the best ones always have one thing in common. Every detail outside the golf was handled just as carefully as the golf itself.
Picture the arrivals hall in Rome, early morning, light pouring through the glass. A traveler steps up to a kiosk instead of a booth. No stamp, no ink pad, no rush of relief when a page fills up. Just a camera, a quick scan, and a small blinking light.
There are approximately ten thousand travel hack lists on the internet.
Most of them are about packing a Ziploc bag or downloading an app to find cheap flights. This is not that list.
Yellowstone is different from every other set-jetting destination I have written about.
There is no European cobblestone. No Greek island ferry. No stately home with a gift shop.
There is just Montana. Big, wide, breathtaking Montana — where the sky actually looks like that, the mountains actually look like that, and the sense of space is something you cannot manufacture on a soundstage.
Richard and I were traveling through Bologna and I found the most special farmhouse/cooking class in the countryside of Bologna. The owners were lovely, engaging and we were in awe of the whole experience. A husband-and-wife team running a farm, restaurant, cooking school, and a B&B as well. This secret Bologna experience has stayed on top of our minds every time we think of Italy.
Fall foliage doesn’t have to mean elbowing tourists in Vermont or sitting in traffic on Route 100. Luxe fall escapes exist far beyond the New England postcard clichés. As a luxury travel advisor in Fort Collins, I know where colors pop without the chaos. Picture Virginia’s rolling hills, Oregon’s waterfalls, and Colorado’s golden aspens—all glowing without the crowds. The best part? You can still sip cider and snap your photos, but in places where luxury and breathing room coexist. These escapes turn leaf-peeping into a story you’ll tell long after the leaves are gone.
Picture this: your suite’s balcony frames twinkling lights. Medieval squares overflow with handcrafted treasures below. The scent of cinnamon and mulled wine drifts upward. This is Christmas Market Magic at its finest. European river cruises transform holiday traditions into luxurious adventures. No crowded buses or rushed schedules here. Instead, you glide between centuries-old markets effortlessly. Your floating boutique hotel follows the rhythm perfectly. Each morning brings a new festive wonderland. Each evening offers refined comfort and gourmet dining. The magic happens when premium travel meets authentic culture. Stress disappears as seamlessly planned itineraries unfold naturally. This isn’t just travel; it’s holiday enchantment redefined.