If you are anything like me, you’re totally over being trapped inside and just eager to escape…we all miss travel. While right now the best place to be is in the safety of our homes, there will come a time when the world will be open again for us to explore.
To help you escape, a few friends and I have partnered to bring you a new Virtual Vacation Series. We’ll be highlighting a new destination every Thursday!
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Did you know that Beethoven’s 250th birthday is in 2020? The classical artist spent most of his life in Vienna, and as a result, the capital of Austria has many plans underway to celebrate him. While his birthday is actually in December, and the largest of celebrations will happen then, you can enjoy concerts and festivals in his honor all year long. One of the best ways to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday in Vienna is with a river cruise.
Some of the river cruise lines that sail the Danube and Rhine rivers have created itineraries to commemorate and enjoy the music of Ludwig van Beethoven. One such cruise is the Amadeus cruise line which will host a special Rhine River cruise October 27 through November 3, 2020. Their itinerary features private concerts at stunning landmarks, as well as an exclusive concert onboard the ship.
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The Christmas spirit is still embraced in many cities, towns and villages throughout Europe, where many Christmas Markets can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Their streets are lined with lights, décor, and all sorts of local, unique, seasonal items. Let these cities transport you to a Christmas wonderland!
You don’t want to miss the enticing aromas of mulled wine, irresistible pretzels, and traditional gingerbread. While there be sure to climb the stairs of the Church of Our Lady and get a wonderful view of the lights, the stalls, and the amazing Christmas themed decorations. (November 29 – December 24)
This is where you want to be for delicious hot punch, Christmas ornaments, candles, and mouth-watering bites. (November 16 – December 26)
Over the last couple of years, river cruising has become one of the fastest growing travel trends around. It a vacation option I recommend to many of my well-traveled clients looking for a different type of experience for their next vacation.
If you’ve been curious about river cruising, here are a few things you ought to know…
While Europe may be the most popular river cruise destination, it is definitely not the only choice. Some of the other places you’ll find river cruises are along the Volga river in Russia, Amazon river in Peru and Brazil, the Nile river in Egypt, the Yangtze River in China, and the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia.
In Europe, some of the most popular itineraries include the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Saone, and Seine. I typically recommend European itinerary for most first-time river cruisers unless there is another location that you have been dreaming of for quite some time.
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Here at Ingenious Travel, we’ve always defined our “niche” as luxury travel, but I’ve found that this means different things to different people.
There are some people to whom “luxury” means gilded walls, gold chandeliers, velvet covered furniture… and of course a hefty price tag. That’s not how we define luxury, and it’s not what most of our luxury travelers are looking for when it comes to their vacation.
We tend to focus more on exceptional, authentic experiences, a high level of service and hospitality, and a focus on comfort and convenience. Each client’s experience is customized and personalized to their wants, needs, and expectations. Moreover, we don’t focus solely on price because “more expensive” doesn’t always mean “better.” We look at the value rather than the price when evaluating travel experiences.
While it’s true that most of our clients book exclusive cabins and high-end suites, that isn’t the case for every vacationer. We also have clients who are less selective when it comes to accommodations and choose to focus instead on activities, experiences, and dining options for their vacation.
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As a travel professional, I value great experiences. The moments spent in awe of a beautiful view, a priceless piece of art or the wonder and pure joy on the face of a child as they experience something new and exciting are worth far more than the price of admission.
We all have a limited amount of time and money, and we are often faced with the dilemma of what is the best way to spend – or to invest – both of those resources.
We can choose from an endless assortment of high-tech gadgets, sparkly things, and material luxuries that will impress our friends and family… for a short time at least. Children (and some adults) have lists of the gaming systems, toys, and fashion labels they want for their next birthday or holiday gift.
But once we’ve bought the latest smart phone or the expensive shoes, how long do they last? How long will they continue to bring joy? And how likely are they to be truly treasured by those around us after we are gone?
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There’s no better time than the present to start crossing those dream destinations off your list. Whether you’ve traveled to dozens of places and just need another vacation, or have worked and waited your whole life for this – you deserve to see the world if you want to. Baby boomer travel is more than just an internet buzz phrase. It’s the new way of self care, and these days is more important to people nearing or in retirement age than simply sitting around the house in their golden years.
According to Groups Today, the top three barriers to travel include:
Starting around July, travel vendors, and city tourism boards begin promotions for upcoming Christmas Markets, in hopes of enticing travelers to come to their cities to visit and shop. But, what exactly is a Christmas Market, where do they happen, and which ones are the best ones to visit? We’ll answer these questions and more below.
A Christmas Market is a street market that involves vendors selling goods and gifts in celebration of Christmas. Some of these are more religiously focused on Christ and the church than others. They are usually set up about a month before Christmas day the week of Thanksgiving, but some are much shorter in length.
The best and most popular Christmas Markets also entail live shows and entertainment making it more than just a shopping event. For example, you could watch a Christmas play, try some new desserts, or spend the evening ice skating on a temporary ice rink.
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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.
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.
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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.
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