We stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb for our 3 nights in Como. I think the pictures say it all. Our host, Jennifer from J&Co Homes was very professional. She and her husband manage several properties around Como. I loved this place so much that I thought we wanted out of the States for a bit, this could be our happy place!!!

We had just finished hiking in the Dolomites for five days and chose a pitstop in Padua for a couple of nights to see some of the notable sites and more importantly, to do laundry. Instead of staying at a hotel and getting charged outrageous fees to get our stuff cleaned, I decided we should check out an Airbnb instead, with laundry machine!! If you're new to using Airbnbs, check out my travel tips on choosing accommodations in my Bologna Accommodation post. In Padua, I opted

We usually travel just as a couple and stay in chic, smaller boutique hotels that offer a unique charm and personalized service. These accommodations often provide a more intimate experience, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the local culture and enjoy the finer details of our surroundings. However, for this particular trip, we were excited to be traveling with friends, which opened up a new realm of possibilities for our accommodation choices. This time, we decided to exp

When we planned this trip to Italy, we focused on the north, as we have visited Rome, Florence, Amalfi and Sicily in the past. Specifically, we wanted to check out the Dolomites and selected Backroads to take us through them. Backroads has many tour options that are either single activity or multi-activity. We chose to do a hiking tour, but they also have other multi-activity tours that include biking and kayaking. We were extremely happy with choosing Backroads as the tour

We arrived by water taxi from Venice Airport to the Baglioni Hotel Luna in the early evening hours. Despite exhaustion from our trip, we were happy to enter our home for the next 3 nights. We booked a deluxe standard room which was very comfortable and very Venetian. What do I mean by Venetian? Lots of silk.... silk drapes, wallpaper, bedding with Murano glass fixtures, all elegant and tasteful. Our room did not have much of a view as it was on a courtyard, but we got morni

We traveled by ferry from Crete to Santorini which was a pleasant way to arrive and we were not in a hurry. Santorini was our final destination after a month of travel, so we were spending a few days to simply relax, do a bit of sightseeing, but mostly to enjoy its beauty. The volcanic landscape, shaped by an eruption years ago, is the island's most distinctive feature. The Caldera, with its whitewashed buildings and blue domes, provides a stunning setting that is truly unfo

Santorini, part of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, experienced a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC that dramatically altered its terrain. The island's two main towns, Fira and Oia, feature whitewashed, cube-shaped houses that cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera. These towns offer views of the sea, small islands to the west, and beaches covered with black, red, and white lava pebbles. We stayed in Oia at the Katikies Villa Santorini. Since Fira is a pop

We spent five days on the Nile with a group of 16 friends celebrating a milestone birthday. The ship we took was on one of the Nour El Nil beautiful boats. You choose to take these boats because they are just that much more authentic. Our room and bed were comfortable, but the bathroom took a bit of getting used to because the space is multipurpose as it is your shower, toilet and sink all in a tight space, but the water was hot and that is really all we needed. The crew was

The Aria Hotel is a trendy and chic establishment, though it might have overdone the piano-themed décor, such as the keyboard pattern woven into the carpet in our room. The room was comfortably sized and as stylish as anticipated, but I found the bed slightly too soft. We enjoyed a nice terrace for relaxation, and the staff was both attentive and pleasant. Budapest boasts many renowned luxury hotels, so if you decide to visit, there are numerous choices. We usually prefer sma

River cruises are wonderful because the ship departs during the night and reaches the next destination by morning. On this particular evening, we were magically transported from Grein to Melk. Upon arrival, we hiked up to the Melk Benedictine Abbey, often referred to as the “Vatican of the North”. The most impressive feature of the abbey was its library, which housed thousands of volumes and manuscripts across 12 grand Baroque and Rococo rooms, with books stretching from floo