Amtrak. America’s very own passenger train system. Is it still a thrill to hop onboard a train and listen to the clickety-clack of the rails? To watch the towns and farms go by? To sleep in a private compartment...
Disadvantages of Cruises: Yes, There Are Some…

Wait! Disadvantages of cruises? Can cruising really have a downside? If you believe the glamorous ads—with slender couples wearing crisp white linen, clinking champagne glasses on the large balcony of their large stateroom as dolphins frolic nearby—then you may...
Holidays Elsewhere: The Pros & Cons

What happens when you think about spending the holidays elsewhere? Do you wish you could escape to someplace warm…or different? Or do you feel guilty, because you “should” stay home, drink cheap eggnog, and find a new spot for...
Gratitude from a Traveler: Thank You, World!

Gratitude: As Americans gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, most will be focused on being glad for family, food…and maybe football. A day of abundance and a pause before the frenzy of Christmas. For those of us who travel, there is...
The Best Gifts for Travelers: Adventure and Memories

What are the best gifts for travelers? It’s the time of year when we start to think about what to choose for those we love. The travelers on your shopping list may be the easiest of all. I just...
Travel and Happiness: There IS a Connection!

Travel and happiness: It’s a match! Isn’t it great when science backs our beliefs? Research at Cornell University shows that experiences produce more happiness than objects. Why? Because each experience is unique and can’t be replicated. “One of the enemies...
Travel Trends from Skift: Looking Ahead

Travel trends? Sure, tell us what’s new. But…Skift? What’s that?!? It’s the media company for serious travel industry professionals. It gathers data on anything and everything travel-related: airlines, hotels, cruises, and tourism trends…then analyzes and reports on what’s going on...
Disaster relief: What a traveler can do

Disaster relief: Many of us wonder how to help. Lately, there have been hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and fires. As travelers, we’ve been to many of these places. We’ve met the people. We’ve seen their communities, maybe visited their homes....
Cuba Travel Update-June 2017…How will the new plan impact American travelers?

Cuba Travel Update-June 2017 On June 16, Donald Trump announced his administration’s plans to increase regulation for American travel to Cuba. Calling independent travel to Cuba “illegal,” Trump will reinstate and strengthen former restrictions on how U.S. citizens can...
“Overbooked” by Elizabeth Becker: Travel Book Club Selection

Overbooked, by Elizabeth Becker, is our latest Travel Book Club Selection. It should be on every traveler’s reading list. I can promise you that it will change your perspective about the industry that employs 1 of 11 people worldwide....