River Cruising Archives - Ingenious Travel

Beautiful Belgium: 7 Cities You Need to Visit

Posted in Europe, Culinary, River Cruising, on 18 September 2020, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

The land of beer, waffles and chocolate has so much to offer, and we’re not just talking about the food! While small in size, I se packs a punch when it comes to its culture-rich cities, from the capital of Brussels to riverside Dinant. Brush up on your Dutch, German and French and dive into beautiful, bewitching Belgium.

Brussels

No trip to Belgium is complete without a stay in the country’s capital, Brussels! Home to the European Union headquarters, Brussels is an important political hub as well as a cultural one, with grand plazas, ornate buildings, richly-decorated palaces and museums filled with treasures. Grab a piping hot waffle from a street stall, stroll the Grand-Palace square and marvel at the architectural wonders of this bustling city.

Bruges

Bruges steals the hearts of all who visit. The capital of West Flanders, the city is most famous for its string of romantic canals, cobbled streets and medieval architecture. You may have to fight off a few tourists in the summer months for the perfect Instagram photo, but touring this fairy tale city will most certainly be worth it.

Discovering Budapest

Posted in Europe, River Cruising, on 24 July 2020, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is certainly one of the most delightful cities to visit in Europe. It boasts of impressive architecture, cool green spaces, vibrant cultural scenes and rich historical heritage – all of these earned the city a much-deserved nickname of “Pearl of the Danube”. Budapest is also strategically located at the center of Europe’s similarly popular destinations such as Austria, Croatia and the Ukraine, among others. Also, it offers tourists great value for money, without sacrificing on the quality of sights and overall travel experience.

Getting Around Budapest

You can simply hop on a plane from dozens of major cities in Europe, Asia, North Africa and Middle East to get to Budapest. Direct flights are not hard to come by because there are several airlines servicing the area. The country’s major airport is located about 10 miles from the city center and taking a taxi to get to your destination remains the most efficient, albeit most expensive, transportation option.

Join Us For Our New Virtual Vaction Series!

Posted in River Cruising, Australia, Theme Vacations, Travel, Wine, on 26 April 2020, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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!

Celebrate Beethoven’s 250th Birthday in Vienna

Posted in Theme Vacations, Europe, Groups, Music, River Cruising, on 6 December 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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.

A River Cruise in 2020 is a Classical Music Lovers Dream

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.

Tis the Season to Plan for Visiting European Christmas Markets

Posted in Theme Vacations, River Cruising, Tours, Travel, Unique Getaways, on 16 August 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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!

Three Christmas Markets to Consider

Nuremberg, Germany

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)

Rathausplatz Market , Vienna

This is where you want to be for delicious hot punch, Christmas ornaments, candles, and mouth-watering bites. (November 16 – December 26)

Is River Cruising Right For You?

Posted in Africa, Asia, Europe, River Cruising, on 4 May 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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…

Where do they go?

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.

What Does Luxury Travel Really Mean

Posted in River Cruising, Africa, Australia, Europe, Food, Golf, Luxury, New Zealand, Tours, Travel, Wine, on 23 March 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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.

Collect Experiences – Not Things

Posted in Adventure Travel, All-Inclusive, Baby Boomers, Europe, Family Travel, Golf, Groups, Luxury, River Cruising, Unique Getaways, on 22 February 2019, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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?

Dear Baby Boomer – It’s Time to Travel

Posted in All-Inclusive, Adventure Travel, Caribbean, Family Travel, General Travel Information, River Cruising, Travel Tips, on 5 October 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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.

What’s preventing baby boomer travel?

According to Groups Today, the top three barriers to travel include:

Cost (43%)
Health (34%)
And Security Concerns (28%)

What is a Christmas Market?

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, Gift Ideas, Groups, Holiday, River Cruising, Tours, on 21 September 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

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.