Conventional wisdom has it that people gain weight on vacation, especially on a cruise vacation where the culinary options are generally outstanding and abundant. But that doesn’t have to be the case. An extremely healthy friend of mine shared this experience with me, just after returning home from what she described as a fun-filled Carnival […]
TravelDesigner
Rüdesheim Christmas market
There’s nothing quite like seeing a river up close – especially one as powerful and as full of legend as the Rhine. Admittedly, our initial contact was brief – a 10-minute journey by car barge from the riverbank town of Bingen across to the other side and the twinkling lights of Rüdesheim. But standing on […]
Rhine River Port Highlights
One of the joys of a Rhine cruise is the variety of shoreside experiences it offers. You can find yourself exploring the cobbled streets of a sleepy medieval village or taking in the sights of a vibrant city, enjoying a lazy afternoon wine tasting, strolling the banks of a tranquil canal or marvelling at a […]
Rhine River Cruise Basics
One of the world’s most popular river cruising destinations is the mighty Rhine, which gets its name from the Celtic word renos (“raging flood”). But Europe’s longest and most important river begins as a trickle of melted snow from the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier high in the Swiss Alps. It first becomes the Rhine proper at Reichenau, […]
6 Tips for Protecting Your Luggage
1. Make the investment Demonstrating the abuse a bag can typically expect, Murphy began his segment by hurling a suitcase from atop a ladder. “This is a $60 bag. That bag is probably going to survive two or three trips and then it’s going to come out with handles broken and everything else,” he said […]
10 Reasons Travel Agents are Better Than the Internet
by Matt Metzer, thrillist.com While you might put travel agent right up there with VCR repair man and video store clerk on the list of jobs that have gone the way of the Yellow Pages, there’s a reason you still see them wedged into strip malls between your dry cleaner and the new VaporZone. Turns out […]
Debunking the Singles Cruise Myths
Singles who love to travel may have heard a few things about singles-oriented vacations and group singles cruise, but most of them probably don’t really know what to expect. Many people share common misperceptions about singles cruises that stop them from venturing onboard and experiencing a fun vacation. Some of the myths include: Singles cruises […]
10 Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
First things first: There’s no need to pity those who make the choice to cruise alone. The liberation of a solo cruise, of not having to be responsible for anyone’s pleasure but your own, allows you to appreciate the experience on an entirely different level than when you’re with a friend, spouse or family member. […]
Top Tours for Single Travellers
Are you thinking of taking a tour alone, but you’re afraid of being the only solo traveler in your tour group? Don’t fret. The number of solo travelers of all ages embarking on outdoors and adventure tours has skyrocketed in recent years. Many tour companies now offer a variety of perks to accommodate this growing […]
Travel agents know the best cruise secrets
On the big MSC Divina, my balcony cabin at the aft end provided a rare sense of privacy and easy access during a week’s winter voyage in the Caribbean from Miami. Four cabins away from mine was a door that led to a little-used outside stairway which became my nearly private entrance and exit. Using […]