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How To Enjoy Paris With Kids

10/21/2019

 
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Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. But amid all the love-struck couples, Paris also happens to be an idyllic destination for families. Filled with lush green parks and kid-friendly museums, glittering palaces and a seemingly endless supply of pastries, Paris offers families a fairytale-like magic all their own.

To give you an idea of how you can enjoy the City of Light with your little ones, here’s a sample three-day itinerary that hits all the right notes for families. Of course, you can contact our agency to plan this trip or personalize your Paris journey to fit your family best.

DAY ONE
Treat the kids with breakfast at iconic Café de Flore, where they can revel in fresh-baked croissants and bowl-like cups of steaming chocolat chaud. Afterward, walk to Luxembourg Gardens and spend the morning sailing wooden sailboats in the famous Grand Bassin, taking in a marionette show and riding on the city’s oldest carousel. Then take a short ride to the banks of the Seine to board one of the glass-domed boats that depart every 30 minutes. Next stop: the Eiffel Tower, preferably in the early evening when the wait is shorter.

DAY TWO
For the second day of you trip, embark on a private tour. The first could be a tour of the city in a classic Citroen, listening to your driver and guide entertain you with stories about the city during a 90-minute Paris Highlights itinerary. For art lovers, head to the Louvre for a private tour designed especially for families. The tour caters to the kids’ short attention span and allows you to skip the museum’s long admission line—a win-win for everyone.

DAY THREE
On your last day in Paris, begin with a walk along the Champs Elysees. Starting at the Arc de Triomphe, where you can ride the elevator to the top to take in the panoramic views, head toward the famous patisserie Ladurée for pastel-colored macarons. Then jump on the Metro and travel to the picturesque Montmartre neighborhood. Lunch in the garden at Le Moulin de la Galette, a restaurant housed in one of the last remaining windmills in the neighborhood, before taking on the 300 steps of the Sacré-Coeur (the view at the top is totally worth it). Afterward, stop by Trocadéro Square and enjoy watching the street acrobats and skateboarders who take over the monumental plaza.

There are some wonderful land tour itineraries created with kids in mind! 
Contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to help you plan your European family vacation. She is a certified expert and will help you chose the itinerary best for your family. Her personal professional services add value from research through return, at no additional cost.

One City, Nine Treasures You Simply Cannot Miss - In Pictures

9/17/2018

 

BARCELONA’S MUST-SEE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Barcelona’s seaside beauty, sprawling beaches, world-class shopping, eclectic architecture, incredible tapas and Tempranillo and all-around zest for living one’s best life is no secret. The city famously presides over global travelers’ lists of “must see” destinations, inevitably enticing them with days filled with as much energy and discovery as the pulsating nightlife. Barcelona’s treasures are many and diverse, and have drawn attention beyond that of culture-seeking travelers. In fact, nine important sites in the city have earned the esteemed acclaim of UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Since the city is fairly easy to navigate, whether on foot or by the abundant tourist and public transportation options, one can certainly plan to see all or most of these treasures during a visit to Barcelona. And with more than a dozen luxury cruises calling there in 2018 and 2019 – many with overnight stays – I'm happy to give you plenty of choices and opportunities to check these remarkable sites off your bucket lists.

Fun Fact: Of the nine Barcelona UNESCO World Heritage Sites, seven are works by the city’s most famous son, architect Antoni Gaudí. They are listed collectively on UNESCO’s register as one enduring treasure, but are separate sites, boasting individual character and the signature style of the master, found throughout the city.
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Sagrada Familia – Possibly Gaudí’s most famous work and a true centerpiece of any Barcelona experience, this remarkable church is still not considered complete, projected to be finished in 2026, approximately 100 years after Gaudí’s death. Sagrada Familia is an incredibly intricate work of Gaudí’s signature rounded Gothic style with modernist touches, and that’s just the exterior. Inside the main sanctuary, massive mosaics of stained glass windows create a kaleidoscope of light throughout.
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Casa Vicens – By contrast, perhaps Gaudí’s least well-known work in Barcelona is Casa Vicens. It was also one of his first commissions in the city, designed as a private residence for Manel Vicens I Montaner. Like all Gaudí designs, this one is inspired by nature, with lush gardens and waterfalls and fountains on the outside, and botanical themes on the interiors. The home is significant for its groundbreaking design, nothing of which had been seen in Catalonia before Gaudí hit the scene in the late 1800’s
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Casa Milà – Also known as La Pedrera is another early work by Gaudí. It is prominently built on the corner Passeig de Gràcia, near to another of Gaudí’s great works, Casa Batlló; and can be identified as one of the master’s buildings from a mile away. No interior wall is built completely straight, making this particular building an inspiring beauty that is unique, even for the boundless creativity of the architect. Casa Milà is considered one of the finest representations of Gaudí’s legacy in Barcelona.
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Casa Batlló – The nearby Casa Batlló is another abstract rainbow of design, adorned in oblong, oval-shaped windows framed with vibrantly colored tiles and painted façade. It takes on an almost creepy display, with curved roof and outer structure resembling a skeleton, and the shapes of the tiles resembling the scales of a reptile. This ominous vibe is overtaken by the building’s striking beauty, and its individuality in cityscape that boasts some of the most unique places in the world.
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Parque Güell – The view from Park Güell nearly rivals the view of Parque Güell, with its perch high above the city, inland, looking out at the Mediterranean. Mosaics cloak walls of endless mazes of walking paths, unusually shaped rooftops and the famous multicolored salamander, known as “El Drac” (the dragon). The park fully embodies Gaudí’s unquenchable love of nature, providing numerous quiet enclaves to explore surrounded by ivy and draping trees.
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The Crypt of Colonia Güell – Technically located just outside of Barcelona, about 15 miles southwest in Santa Coloma de Cervelló, the Güell Crypt is a spectacular sight to behold. The colony was originally imagined to be an industrialized community that would support all facets of life for the workers of Eusebi Güell, but Gaudí created something more. His signature non-linear columns and walls, tile mosaics and breathtaking colorful stained glass are not to be missed.
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Palau Güell – Or Güell Palace, another early work by Gaudí, this private residence is extraordinary in its ordinariness, considering its creator. Featuring straighter lines than he typically used, Palau Güell makes a statement of its own as one of the premier buildings of the Art Nouveau movement, made of marble, stone and hand-carved wood and iron. It is located on Carrer Nou de la Rambla in the heart of the Raval neighborhood, a lesser-known but truly worthwhile landmark of the city.
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Palau de La Musica Catalana – The first on our list not designed by Antoni Gaudí, this concert hall by Lluis Domenech I Montaner is considered one of the most majestic concert halls in Europe. Its ornate and lovely exterior sits in contrast to the more uniform buildings around it, drawing visitors inside for a closer look at its massive glass roof and elegant stage. A perfect representation of Catalan Art Nouveau, this is the only concert hall built in this style to be featured on UNESCO’s registry.
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Hospital de Sant Pau – Another Montaner masterpiece, this hospital was fully functioning until 2009 – one of Europe’s oldest healthcare institutions – when it became a stately icon of Barcelona and its Art Nouveau history open to the public. The grand gardens, colorful mosaics, water features and sunlit courtyard certainly helped many patients through the healing process over the years, while a modern exhibition showcases other highlights of the building, as well as the operational procedures of the hospital itself.
Exploration of many Barcelona UNESCO World Heritage Sites is included with luxury cruises and land tours. There is also the option to create your own discoveries of these treasures with private adventures.  Crystal Private Adventures, for example provides guest an incredible experience! Contact tour and cruise expert Chris Rakes to explore options and start planning! ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com

Travel Off The Beaten Piazza

8/13/2018

 
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Rediscover Your Love for Italy


Perhaps you've already stood inside the storied walls of the Colosseum or marveled at the chiseled lines of the statue of David. Maybe you’ve cruised through the most romantic of ancient canals. Even if you’ve experienced the highlights of Rome, Florence and Venice, there’s an entire country of diverse regions, people, traditions and cuisine you haven’t seen, experienced or tasted in Italy. And there is no better way to get to these picturesque towns, than with the insight and expertise of a local guide and ease of transportation; than on the right tour.

Touring is the best way to rediscover Italy. In the last year alone, not only did I go myself, but I sent several clients back to Italy to find these undiscovered places. Because I believe it is the best way to see Italy, I used tours that focus on those out-of-the-way cities.  These itineraries really get you to see the beauty of Italy often missed when you only visit Rome, Florence, and Venice.  Even if you have experienced the highlights of Rome, Florence and Venice, there's an entire country of diverse regions, people, traditions and cuisine you haven't seen or tasted in Italy.  It is not a "visit once and done" destination.  Italy is a place you can go to repeatedly and still want more! I'm already planning my next trip back!!
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​ALBEROBELLO
Take in views of the "Trullo," white-washed conical-roofed houses. Created out of local limestone, these homes, which once housed peasants, could be easily dismantled and moved

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​CASTELLANA GROTTE
Explore the caves of one of the most amazing natural wonders of Italy. Journey more than 60 meters deep to see amazing stalactites, stalagmites, concretions, fossils & canyons

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​LECCE

A small gem in Italy's heel dazzles with beautiful baroque architecture, which has earned it the nickname "The Florence of the South"

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​RIOMAGGIORE

The largest of the five fishing villages that make up Italy's Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is one of its most romantic sights.Enjoy the dramatic scenery, colorful houses, and harbors filled with fishing boats. ​

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SAN GIMIGNANO
This well-preserved walled city, known as the "Town of Fine Towers," is surrounded by rolling vineyards and bright sunflowers, offering an idyllic representation of Tuscany. 

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​TAORMINA 
This charming hilltop town boasts views of Mount Etna. This town offers a true taste of Italian La Dolce Vita with fewer crowds than other must-see Italian coastal towns.

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Contact All Inclusive Vacation & Tour expert ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com; to get off the beaten piazza to six cities you can't pronounce, but need to visit!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO FIND ADVENTURE

7/30/2018

 

Pick A National Park

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​You don’t have to go far to find an adventure and nothing proves that better than a visit to one of the U.S. National Parks. Each park has its own striking natural features, dramatic landscapes, and unique attractions. But it can be tricky to know how one park varies from another, or which you might like to visit most.

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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK; Perfect for the Thrill-Seeker
Yosemite is home to diverse alpine terrain, stunning waterfalls and lakes, and perhaps most notably, some of the world’s best rock climbing areas. The landscape is guaranteed to delight thrill-seeking travelers who can descend the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half-Dome, should they wish. Or, if scaling a sheer rock face isn’t really your speed, there are plenty of other activities to engage in – hiking, fishing, gold panning and biking.
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK; Perfect for the Wildlife Lover
While Yellowstone is home to many famed geothermal features, it is also home to the largest concentration of mammals in the United States. Its most notable inhabitants are grizzly bears, bison, elk, wolves and bighorn sheep. Here, it’s not uncommon to see bald eagles soaring overhead or for a family of bison to be strolling alongside the road, making it the perfect national park for those looking to safely interact with wildlife.
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REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK; Perfect for the City-Slicker
A few hours outside of San Francisco lies Redwood National Park, home to the world’s tallest trees. This park is the perfect escape for San Fran or Sacramento’s city-slickers (because we ALL need a break from the hustle and bustle sometimes). There are a lot of great hiking trails but if you’re not the most outdoorsy, this park is a great choice because much of the sightseeing can be done from the comfort of your shuttle bus or motorcoach.
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GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK; Perfect for the Photographer
Aside from being one of the most iconic U.S. landscapes, the Grand Canyon, and it’s many unusual natural features, is a photographer’s dream. The dramatic colors, ever-changing light, and burning sunsets make the Grand Canyon an ideal place to capture nature’s raw beauty. Try these few favorite spots to get the perfect snapshot -  Yaki Point, Horseshoe Bend, and nearby Antelope Canyon!
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GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK; Perfect for the Snow Fanatic
​There are a lot of beautiful mountain ranges in the U.S., but perhaps none quite as striking as the jagged peaks of the Grand Tetons. While the park is open year-round, a wintertime visit offers an equally serene and adventurous experience, giving outdoor lovers the opportunity to snowshoe, cross-country or downhill ski or snowmobile against an incredible mountainous backdrop.
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There is still time!  Contact land tour specialist ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com to help you knock one off your bucket list! She'll make it both easy and enjoyable.



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    Chris Rakes

    River Cruise & Luxury All Inclusive Travel Advisor

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No fees are charged to clients, as we get paid by suppliers when clients travel.  The only exception to this is when clients cancel after bookings are confirmed with deposit and assistance has been provided.  In this case, a service fee of $250 will be charged for individual reservations  or $500 for groups.  

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