Maria Stefanopoulos, Author at Ingenious Travel

Oberammergau Passion Play | Ingenious Travel

The Oberammergau Passion Play

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, Groups, River Cruising, Theme Vacations, Tours, on 10 August 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

If you are like most travelers, you are often looking for something unique to do when you’re visiting new places. Should Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany, or the surrounding areas, be on your list of destinations, the Oberammergau Passion Play is one experience you may want to add to your itinerary. You may be wondering what is the Oberammergau Passion Play, and what is so special about it? Keep reading to learn more.

The Origins of The Oberammergau Passion Play

Believe it or not, the origins of the Oberammergau Passion Play date all the way back to 1634, during the time of the bubonic plague. As the story goes, while this plague was ravaging Europe, the citizens of Oberammergau attempted to seal themselves off from the rest of the world in hopes the plague wouldn’t reach them. Unfortunately, a person carrying disease slipped through the cracks and dozens of people perished within less than a month.

As a result of these deaths, the town council came together and vowed to God that they would act out a play depicting the life and suffering of Christ for the rest of their lives if God would spare them. What the townspeople considered to be a miracle came to pass – no one else died of the plague. Therefore, the villagers stuck to their vow, and created and performed the Oberammergau Passion Play. They continue to do so today.

Cruising the River Seine with Adventures by Disney

Posted in Family Travel, River Cruising, on 3 August 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

River cruises have grown significantly in popularity in recent years. One big reason is because they are more intimate than large cruise lines can offer. Another is that the ships are smaller so they can visit ports the bigger ships can’t quite dock at.

If you have been considering trying a river cruise, perhaps the fact that Adventures by Disney is offering exciting cruise vacations will inspire you to cast aside your landlubbing ways and hit the waters for a new kind of journey. One of the cruise itineraries Adventures by Disney offers is via the River Seine. Read onto learn more about this 10-day/9-night experience that will help you discover the true essence of many things that France has to offer.

Don’t Wait To Travel With Your Kids!

Posted in Family Travel, Travel, on 13 July 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

“One day…we’re going to take the kids to Hawaii!”, “We really want to travel over to Europe, but we’re waiting until the kids are older” ; “We really want to go out West and see the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, but our summers are just too busy”. Do any of those statements sound familiar to you? The average American family doesn’t think they spend enough time together. Between school, work, sports, and extracurricular activities it’s no surprise that we are all feeling disconnected and burned out. The best way to reconnect with your loved ones is to get away. No distractions and no excuses: just you and your kids (or Grandkids) spending “quality time”, enjoying each other’s company and maybe even experiencing an unfamiliar culture together. “Next Year, maybe” turns into the year after that…and so forth…until you “blink” and are sitting at their high school graduation wondering what the hell happened!

Travel is proven to be a wonderful learning tool for children. Seeing how people live in other countries can open their minds and hearts and expand their imagination exponentially. Here are a few things that travel can provide for your family:

Ingenious Travel Can Meet Your Adventure Travel Needs

Posted in Adventure Travel, on 29 June 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Are you looking for something different for your next getaway? Then, perhaps an adventure trip is just what the doctor ordered. Ingenious Travel has partnered with Exodus Travels, and thanks to this partnership, we are proud to offer our clients:

More than 160 hiking itineraries
More than 90 cycling itineraries
Mixed activity trips featuring things like kayaking, canoeing and whitewater rafting
And so much more

Things to Leave At Home When Cruising

Posted in Cruises, Travel, on 15 June 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Want to know the number one mistake travelers make when going on a cruise? That is aside from not hiring a travel agent? It’s over packing! You need less than you think you do while you’re on board. With this in mind below you’ll find things you simply should not pack for your next cruise:

Avoid bringing more outfits than the number of days on the ship. Only bring enough clothes for the duration of the trip. There’s no sense in bringing two weeks worth of clothes if you are going on a week long vacation. Speaking of too many clothes…

5 Awesome Things To Do During Your Visit To NYC

Posted in Family Travel, Weekend Getaway, on 31 May 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Already done the “touristy” things on your last visit to New York City? Check out these off the beaten path favorites.

1. Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern art is another great place to see some incredible art. There are always new artists and exhibits being featured at the Museum of Modern Art – see what’s going on ahead of time to make the most of your visit. And be sure to check out MoMA on Friday evenings for free admission from 4pm to 8pm!

Explore Antarctica – The White Continent

Posted in Travel, on 18 May 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

When most people think of a vacation, they probably don’t think of Antarctica. The frigid temperatures, the lack of amenities, the frigid temperatures, the somewhat remote access, and did I mention the frigid temperatures?

Still, Antarctica is one of those breathtaking destinations that more and more people are adding to their bucket lists because it’s off the beaten path, and so unique. And, one of the best ways to explore this continent is in luxury, of course. By luxury, I’m talking about none other than a Lindblad Expedition aboard a National Geographic ship.

Cruises Are Booking Now for 2018 and 2019

Lindblad Expeditions are now booking for November and December 2018, as well as January, February, November and December 2019. The itinerary to explore The White Continent is 14 days long, and includes a day in Buenos Aires, Argentina before transferring to Ushuaia, Argentina. In Ushuaia, you’ll embark on either the National Geographic Explorer or the National Geographic Orion heading to Antarctica. From there, you’ll enjoy a full five days exploring Antarctica. With nearly 24 hours of daylight during these cruises, you can expect to have plenty of time and flexibility with your schedule to see all that this stunning location has to offer.

Small Group Safaris to South Africa

Posted in Travel, on 12 May 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Think going on safari in South Africa is limited to only the rich? Think again. Just like all forms of travel are more accessible than ever to people these days, the same is true for the former elite’s playground – an African Safari. Read on if you are interested in getting a group of friends or family together for a small group safari tour of South Africa.

Multiple destinations available

Through Ingenious Travel’s partnerships, we have several destinations available for your small group safari. Each tour includes:

A safari vehicle with an English speaking tour guide
Group accomodations
Chefs that cater to your group’s unique dining needs
Evening entertainment
Village visits and cultural immersion experiences

The Nelson Mandela South Africa Experience

Posted in Family Travel, Travel, on 4 May 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Now through September 2018, one of the Ingenious Travel partners is hosting a tour called The Nelson Mandela South Africa Experience. This tour features 9 days and 8 nights traveling through Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger National Park. To learn more about this exciting tour, read on.

Who was Nelson Mandela?

Nelson Mandela, for those of you who don’t know, is considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest patriot of South Africa. He was a non-violent apartheid activist, and South Africa’s first black president.

Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He was also imprisoned for 27 years for political offenses including his non-violent defiance of against the South African government and its racist policies. He is considered one of the greatest symbols of peace, and one of the best advocates for civil rights worldwide.

The highlights of the trip:

While on The Nelson Mandela South Africa Experience you’ll enjoy:

Visits to the Apartheid Museum
A stop in Soweto
A ferry ride to Robben Island
Witnessing the actual cell where Mandela was imprisoned
Multiple game drives throughout the Kruger region and more

Cruising the Rhine River with Adventures by Disney

Posted in Cruises, Europe, Family Travel, River Cruising, Travel, on 27 April 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

We’ve been getting pretty excited learning all about the upcoming cruises by Adventures by Disney. They have certainly taken the idea of luxury of river cruising and given it the kind of upgrade any Disney star including Mickey himself would approve of. Today, we’re exploring the Rhine River itinerary Adventures by Disney is offering. We think you’ll find yourself wanting to hop aboard this exciting cruise vacation after you read more about it.

Overview:

You’ll travel to six destinations in four countries on this 8-day/7-night Adventures by Disney Rhine River cruise vacation. Your trip will begin in Basel, Switzerland and end in Amsterdam, The Netherlands with plenty of exciting experiences along the way.

Cruise departure: You’ll fly into Basel Airport where you’ll be transported to Basel, Switzerland – the city the cruise will depart from. Be sure to ask Ingenious Travel about early arrival activities and accommodations, attractions and dining reservations should you decide you would like to explore Switzerland before your cruise.
On-board cruise experience: You’ll enjoy 8 days and 7 nights aboard either the AmaKristina or the AmaMora river cruise boat (depending on when your cruise travel dates take place). Both boats feature spacious staterooms, a heated pool, a massage and hair salon, a gift shop and a specialty coffee station.
Cruise arrival: On day 8 your cruise boat will arrive in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and you can either depart same day from Amsterdam Airport Schipol, or stick around another day or two to explore The Netherlands. Again, be sure to ask Ingenious Travel about late departure activities and accommodations, attractions and dining reservations should you decide you would like to explore The Netherlands before your flight home.