River cruises are growing in popularity and are not just for the senior crowd. If you like tours but don't like the crowds or packing and unpacking daily consider a river cruise. If you want to maximize your vacation time and see a few countries, or multiple cities within a country consider a river cruise. Stick with me before you say, "not for me". River cruises are about the destinations and authentic experiences in the places you visit. The experience is like stepping onto a boutique hotel that takes you from one destination to the next while you sleep. Rather than traveling TO a country, you travel THROUGH a county or countries. You reach less-traveled areas to experience unique places, people, hidden gems, and all within walking distance of the ship most times. Let’s look at what you get for your hard-earned money. Of course, a well-appointed room with a view, all meals, wine or beer with dinner and a cocktail hour. One line has a 15-course meal with wine parings included at least once each trip. Onboard there are also free destination talks and various seminars. Wellness programs are included with classes, talks, yoga, Tai Chi, and Champagne Yoga. River cruise ships vary but you can find lounges, reading areas, observation or sundecks, restaurants, sauna, spa, salon, fitness area and some even have a small pool. Excursions are included. You heard me right, included. And not just any excursions; unique places like private castles, medieval wine cellars, and even truffle hunting. Try a gondola ride to a hilltop vineyard and learn about centuries old wine making. Take a cooking class in Serbia then dine on your meal. Maybe visit a private library where famous composers wrote their best works. Bikes are waiting for you to use, take a hike, or just walk the fairytale towns along the river. These excursions are for all fitness levels and excursion sizes are small and intimate to allow more personal time for questions or to sample local delicacies. If you get seasick, with the smooth movement through the water, you don't have to worry about getting seasick. The ships are small so when it is time to leave the ship, you are not waiting for extended periods just to get off the ship. The capacity is less than 200 passenger per ship so book early, they usually fill six months to a year in advance. Try a themed cruise like Wine, Golf, Gardens, or Christmas Markets. If you are looking for roller coasters, water slides, private islands, casinos, party-till-you-drop entertainment, or formal nights, this may not be the choice for you. They also do not have doctors onboard but you are close to shore should a doctor be necessary. River cruises like all other types of travel, vary by vendor and this article addressed most common situations on river cruises. Always check with your advisor for more information. Photos: Top: Bran Castle, Romania (Dracula's Castle) Center: Strasbourg, France Bottom: Reichsburg Castle, Germany

This is a nifty little gadget I picked up about a year ago. It came with me to a trip to Paris and now I take it on all trips. At a recent stay, the bellman opened the door to drop off bags in the wrong room. I put this on the door and the next time, he couldn't get in and realized that he had come to the wrong room. This was an upscale boutique hotel, so it is not just sketchy hotels that have this potential problem. Accidents happen. It has happened many times on many trips. I have even been given a card key for the wrong room! So now, once this lock is on the door, no one gets in. To be honest, I don't always use it but I always have it. I can't speak to all doors at all hotels, but It works on most doors. The hotel in Paris was an older boutique hotel and it fit fine. This is ideal if you travel alone or this is your first stay at a hotel and are not quite sure about the surroundings or the hotel itself. If you did not go through a travel advisor and selected a hotel you were not familiar with, have this just in case. Great for business travelers. There are many that look similar to this one, so you have quite a few choices. I have added a link to this one since I am familiar with it. You have the option to buy one or two. Click the link below to see this on Amazon Portable Door Lock Please note the links are affiliate links and therefore as an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is solely your choice to use the link or go directly to the sites or purchase elsewhere. #safety #doorlock #safetylock #hotelsafety #staysafe #hotel #hostel #travelsafe

Join the resistance in Disney Springs' "The VOID". This is a personal video account of the experience.

Special Note: This was recorded before we knew much about Covid-19 and has some great tips on staying healthy in normal travel times. As always, seek your physician's advice if you are or become ill or have questions concerning care during Covid-19.

I love my rose gold luggage, it takes a beating and is easy to find in the airport! I purchased this Kenneth Cole luggage in 2018 and it has been through airports in Florida, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia (several trips), Massachusetts, France, England, and on Cruise Ship to portions of Scandinavia. It still looks great. No damage to the wheels, as usually happens with spinner luggage. It has a few marks here and there but you would never know it has been in and out of cars, shuttles, buses, planes, a cruise ship, and many security checkpoints. It is light-weight and water resistance. Nothing fancy when it comes to locks or tracking it with your phone, but it is functional, looks nice, is easy to spot on the luggage carousel and if you pack like I do, it carries a lot! The luggage set contains in 20", 24", and 28" pieces. The 20' carry on fits well in the overhead on most flights but the smaller airlines may take it in the jetway and return it there after the flight. It holds quite a bit and I used it for my weekend trips. It is great if you don't want to check a bag. Specs are 21.75”H x 14.5”W x 8.5”D. Weight is 6.25 lbs. The 24" suitcase I used when I just can't use a carryon. The specs are 26” H x 18.5” W x 10.25” D. Weight 8.4 lbs The 28" holds quite a bit so watch that 50 lb limit for overseas travel. The specs are 29.5” H x 20.5” W x 11.75” Weight 9.6 lbs. Click the link below if you want to see or buy this on Amazon: Luggage Link Please note the links are affiliate links and therefore as an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is solely your choice to use the link or go directly to the sites or purchase elsewhere.

Video with tips for first time cruisers.

Eiffel Tower: The Most Iconic Landmark in Paris and it Wasn’t Supposed to Stay The Eiffel Tower broke ground in 1887 and at an aggressive pace was completed in 1889 for the World's Fair. The builder and owner of the construction company, Gustav Eiffel was not the only person who deserves credit. It was Maurice Koechlin who came up with the design. The two men worked on the Statue of Liberty structure years earlier. The Tower was not welcomed by many noted artists and literary figures. Protests ensued but with the acceptance of so many, the 2 million visitors during the world’s fair, and the use of the tower for scientific experiments, the tower won. Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel even had a small apartment in the tower which you can see if you tour the tower. A few interesting facts about the construction of the tower, courtesy of the Eiffel Tower website. · 18,038 iron parts · 5,300 workshop designs · 50 engineers and designers · 150 workers in the Levallois-Perret factory · Between 150 and 300 workers were on the construction site · 2,500,000 rivets were used · 7,300 tons of iron in the tower · 60 tons of paint was used · 2 years, 2 months and 5 days of construction · 5 lifts from the esplanade to the 2nd floor and 2x2 duo lifts from the 2nd floor to the top of the tower · 10,100 tons in total weight “If you are afraid of heights, you may want to stay on the first observation area but if you can muster the courage, go to the top, you won’t be sorry.” THE EIFFEL TOWER TODAY The Eiffel tower is said to be the most visited paid monument in the world. It has 7 million visitors per year and nearly 300 million since it opened at the World’s Fair in 1889. OBSERVATION LEVELS Climbing the Eiffel Tower, or ascending via elevator like I did, is an experience I recommend to anyone that has the opportunity. There are 2 primary viewing levels; the second floor at 376 feet high, dizzying even at that height, and the top which will take your breath away. You can walk to the first and second levels if you have the thigh strength and that is 190 feet high. Interesting side note: the French Resistance cut the cables to the elevator during the German occupation so that the Germans would have to climb the tower if they wanted to ascend the tower. There are a few different security checkpoints you must go through and they will check bags. If you planned on bringing a love lock to secure to the Eiffel tower, don’t even think of it. They will take it from you. The tour guide was kind enough to tell us that up front and I saw many in the boxes at the security checkpoints. You will also see signs posted everywhere about it. Fortunately, we had skip the line passes and we got in reasonably quickly. The elevator is packed and if you are claustrophobic, be aware of this in advance. It is packed and has lots of windows. You will take one elevator to the second floor and take a second elevator to the top. The views from the second floor are worth the trip even if you don’t go to the top. The elevator to the top takes 1 minute and 18 very long seconds. For me, going up was harder than coming down even with my eyes closed. But I’m not one to let fears stop me from a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so up I went. Eyes closed, my niece talking to me the entire time. It makes me smile now but it was scary then. The tower stands at 1063 feet tall if you include the antenna on the top. To say the view from the top was breathtaking would be an understatement. I’ll admit it, it was hard to go all the way to the railing for me, but I got the obligatory photo there and stayed a bit closer to the opposite side after that. You can see modern Paris sticking out like a mountainous island in a sea of white buildings. Sacre Coeur is off in the distance visible only as a shape with its distinctive domed roof, Champs d’Mars had been designed with a series of arms with hands grasping each arm and you can see it clearly from the top. There is a photo in my gallery page so check if out if you are interested. The video link below is the ride down from the top to the second floor. Yes, I kept my eyes open this time. RESTAURANTS The tower has it’s share of shops and restaurants. You can shop on every floor for souvenirs. Here is the run down on the restaurants. The 1st Floor has the 58 TOUR EIFFEL with views of Paris and seasonal french cuisine. I did not eat at the restaurant but it appears to be a gastronomic delight with a 4-star rating from Trip Advisor. The 2nd Floor has the Jules Vern which is a French gourmet restaurant. Proper attire required. It has 4-star rating from Trip Advisor but the reviews are mixed on this one. You will also find a Macaroon Bar and quick service on this floor. I chose the lower end and ate at both and they were standard quick service fare, tasty, enjoyable, and in my price range. I can't turn down a macaroon and they had so many it was hard to choose a flavor, or two ;-) I do hope to plan in advance next time and try Jules Vern or 58 Tour Eiffel. The Top of course has a Champagne Bar. I was already dizzy so did not partake in champagne. BUYING TICKETS Tickets are available in a variety of ways. As us about it, we can help. They sell out fast and so plan 3-6 months in advance so you can still get tickets. hey still had tickets and I paid more but got skip the line access and a great tour guide. Plus, I did not have to tell my niece we could not go to the top, which for me, was worth the extra money! The rates vary by Adult, Youth, Child, and under 4 which are free. The next option is how high, and then walking or riding. SCHEDULE The schedule changes throughout the year so check before you go. SPECIAL NOTES: No Locks Allowed. As with most of the tourist attractions, watch out for pick pockets. Video Link

Quick Video Riding the Disney Skyliner

This video covers 2 apps to make your international travels easier.

Putting a bag in a bag seems counter intuitive but apparently it works! So many travelers swear by them so I decided to take a closer look at the best travel packing cube sets. I have not included compression cubes in this list as I wanted to compare similar cubes. I'll let you know which one I'm getting after the reviews. The cubes in this review fit in your carry-on luggage but can be used for larger pieces or you can also purchase larger sets for more space savings “One reviewer said he could fit 10 day's worth of clothes in his suitcase using packing cubes” What is a Packing Cube Packing cubes are used to organize items in your suitcase and to save space. There are a variety of videos on YouTube about the use and benefits of packing cubes and those that try them, seem to be sold on using them. The 2 primary types are compression cubes that compress the clothes to allow more space and those that organize your clothes to save space. One of the benefits of the packing cubes, aside from organizing your suitcase is that you can also take them from your suitcase and put them in the drawers in the hotel or cabin as is. This makes it easier to repack as needed and stay organized during your stay. How to Use them I'm not much on rolling clothes but I seem to be outvoted! While you don't have to roll them to use these cubes, it is recommended to reduce wrinkles and allow you to pack more in the cubes. # 1 Bagail - 6 Set Packing Cubes, 3 Sizes Travel Luggage Packing Organizers These cubes ranked as #1 best seller at Amazon and an "amazon choice" product. Product Information: 6 cubes, 3 different sizes Durable Mesh top panel to allow visibility All 6 will fit in a carry-on Sizes 2* Large ( 17.5" x 13.7" x 4") 2*Medium (13.7" x 9.8" x 4") 2 *slim (13.7"x5"x4") Pro: I read many positive reviews on these cubes with 86% of purchasers giving it a 5-star rating. Positive comments include space savings, quality of product, easy to clean and price as compared to more expensive brands. Con: This product had 3% in total with less than 3 starts. The reviewers mostly discussed the quality of the zippers. Side note: This brand also got a #3 best seller rating for the set of 4 with a laundry bag. I did not include a review on this since it is the same brand just a different configuration. #2 Shacke Pak - 4 Set Packing Cubes - Travel Organizers with Laundry Bag These cubes ranked as #2 best seller. This product has over 8,000 reviews! Product Information Sizes 4 Packing Cubes - 4" deep Extra Large( 17.5" x 12.75" x 4") Large (13.75" x 12.75" x 4") Medium (13.75x9.75x4) Small (11" x 6.75" x 4") Laundry Bag for storing dirty clothes Pro: Shacke received 4.8 Stars with 87% giving 5 stars. The positive reviews mentioned durability, customer service, quality zippers, and how much they can fit in their luggage. One person who travels extensively raved about these cubes. Con: They only had 2% that rated less than 3 stars. They seemed to be disappointed with shipping issues. A few said they didn't get all 4. Side note: Do not put them in the washer, they are specific about how to launder these. #3 Bagail 4 Set Packing Cubes with laundry bag See above review, this is the same bag just a different configuration so I am including it with #1. There is a link below if you would like this smaller set. #4 Veken 6 Set Packing Cubes, Travel Luggage Organizers with Laundry Bag & Shoe Bag These cubes ranked as #4 best seller and has 4.7 Stars. Product Information 26% thicker than other nylon bags [per Veken] Waterproof fabric Sturdy and recyclable Unique logos on each bag to identify what is inside. Shoe bag and laundry bag for storing dirty clothes Sizes: Extra Large Cube ( 17.5" x 12.15" x 4"), Large Cube (13.75" x 12.75" x 4") Medium Cube (13.75" x 9.75" x 4") Small Cube (11" x 6.75" x 4") Shoe Bag (16.96" x 9.06" x 4.72") Laundry Bag (20" x 14") Pro: This product has 83% of the 508 reviewers giving it 5 stars with 10% giving 4 stars. The reviews discuss good value, the ability to organize and pack a more, and the quality and durability of this product. Con: It has only 508 reviews compared to the other two. Only 3% gave these bags less than 3 stars and the reviews spoke about receiving damaged product or ripping right away. Whether you use these to organize or to add space, it seems they are all the rage now. For my decision, I considered weight, durability, reviews of course, and configuration. They all weight about the same and are either water resistant or waterproof. Some come with more cubes than the others. The Big Reveal I decided to try the Shacke. I like the fact that it has so many reviews and 87% with 5 stars. I was also impressed by the full-page review written by a person that was a frequent traveler. My only hesitation is the hand washing requirement. Since I purchased these, I have used them twice. I did not roll the clothes but will try that next. I don't know that I saved any space (but I didn't roll them so that could be my problem). I was better organized for sure, but all that zipping and unzipping was a bit of an annoyance. I usually unpack but for these trips I did not, so that should be considered as well. It helped with wrinkles since the clothing could not bunch up at the bottom of my suitcase. My one caveat is that I used them with winter clothes and that means quite a few sweaters which call for extra space bags or not. I had no issues with the zippers or tearing. I'm off again next month to another cold climate but will try again. I'm not sure if I will roll the clothes or even use all of the bags this time. (Zipping and unzipping, ugh) So, I'm not sold on them as a must-have yet, but think that they are useful particularly with the items that get lost in the sea of clothes. (Socks, undergarments etc.) Love the laundry bag! Love that I can put shoes in them to keep the rest of my clothes away. Click the Links to see the product on Amazon. # 1 Bagail - 6 Set Packing Cubes, 3 Sizes Travel Luggage Packing Organizers #2 Shacke Pak - 4 Set Packing Cubes - Travel Organizers with Laundry Bag #3 Bagail 4 Set Packing Cubes with laundry bag #4 Veken 6 Set Packing Cubes, Travel Luggage Organizers with Laundry Bag & Shoe Bag Please note the links are affiliate links and therefore as an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is solely your choice to use the link or go directly to the sites or purchase elsewhere. #travel #packingcubes #luggagecubes #packingright #bestpackingcubes

This short video will provide 3 Secrets to Get Through Disney Faster