Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts

4.26.2021

vaccination — your ticket to ride

E.U. Set to Let Vaccinated U.S. Tourists Visit This Summer .

It's been way too long. I was last in Europe in the autumn of 2019 when we took a Baltic cruise on Windstar, a luxury small ship cruise line that can get into smaller ports that cannot accommodate the large ships. We loved the cruise and enjoyed out-of-the-way destinations as well as highlights like Gdansk, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Stockholm. We finished up our tour by flying to Paris (my favorite city in the world) for a few days before flying home.

A lot has happened since 2019. Covid-19 struck with a vengeance in March 2020, forcing me to cancel a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii to see the brand new Mauna Lani as well as inspect the new room product at Four Seasons Hualalai. I held out hope that things would settle down by April, letting us visit Amsterdam during tulip season, then board our Tauck River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland ... but little did any of us know 13 months ago. Covid sadly necessitated the cancellation of that trip.

But Europe promises to be back this summer for vaccinated U.S. tourists. Anticipating its reopening, I was able to rebook my Tauck River Cruise three months ago and was able to score a pair of business class "Saver" award tickets on United. I received my second Pfizer vaccine on Feb. 19th, and Claire got hers on April 5th, so we're all set to go.

Getting vaccinated is your ticket to ride. I can't offer medical advice because I'm not a M.D., but if you're feeling a strong desire to travel the world again, vaccines offer the path forward to satisfy your wanderlust. If you're curious about the remarkable scientific advances that enabled the development of RNA-based vaccines, I highly recommend Walter Isaacson's recent book, The Code Breaker. A well-told story and a good read, the book provides an accessible introduction to the technology that led to the creation of the highly effective Pfizer and Modern vaccines.

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2.23.2021

travel advisors | saving time, money, and energy

It wasn't the primary purpose of our meeting. I was in my banker's office taking care of business with our checking account. As soon as our business was concluded, my banker wanted to talk about travel. He spoke of the Viking river cruises he had enjoyed with his wife and how much he loved traveling to Europe. He shared his plans to travel with his parents this summer to London. His parents being first-time visitors to Europe, he feels they will feel more comfortable visiting where English is spoken.

But it would be a shame, he thought, to go all the way to London without setting foot in Paris. He talked about his plans for their final day, a day trip to Paris. They'd take the Eurostar to Paris in the morning, spend several hours seeing some of the major sights in the City of Light, then take the train back to London in the evening.

My mind immediately saw the problem with this scheme. It's doable to take the Eurostar round-trip in single day, but it's not ideal. You'll be spending four-and-one-half total hours on trains. It will take added time to get transfers to train stations ... and even more time to get processed through French passport control going ... and UK passport control on the return. This day trip will require probably 7 total hours of traveling time. It will turn out to be quite an exhausting day.

So I shared Plan B. Don't buy round-trip flights to London. Book an open-jaw itinerary (fly outbound to London, return from Paris). The cost is virtually the same. Spend your entire last day in Paris.

Begin the day taking an early morning train to Paris. Arriving at perhaps 10 a.m., you have time to spend an entire day in Paris. Invest in a great local guide who can work with you in advance to plan an itinerary that will let you experience Paris the way you want. Then celebrate your trip with a final dinner, perhaps in a typical French bistro such as Chez Janou. Spend the evening in a cute Left Bank hotel such as Relais Christine, then leave for the Paris airport the next morning.

I wasn't trying to sell travel services to my banker, but with my mention of open-jaw tickets, he saw possibilities he hadn't considered. We live in a plan-it-yourself, google-can-be-my-travel-agent world, but think about the value of working with an experienced travel advisor, someone who will sweat the logistics, create an itinerary you can sit back and enjoy, and help you make the most of your precious time, money, and energy.

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2.03.2021

why you should plan that trip to Europe NOW!

itinerary of Tauck's river cruise The Rhine and Moselle

Now is the time to plan your next trip to Europe. Though most of Europe is currently closed to travelers from the USA, just as the US is currently closed to travelers from the EU, that's going to change. Here's why you should make your plans now.

COVID vaccines. I received my first Pfizer shot earlier this week, with an appointment set for my second shot on February 19. Within several months, vaccines should be available to everyone who wants them in the US, the EU, and the UK. Inexpensive, at-home COVID tests are also promised. Once a critical mass of people have been vaccinated, the travel floodgates should open up wide.

Hotel availability. With hotels are showing plenty of availability at reasonable room rates, you should take advantage. Once travel opens up, those rooms will quickly sell ... and as inventory goes down, prices will rise. If you can get a cancellable reservation with just a credit card guarantee, grab it! (You can even do it yourself on the Virtuoso booking engine for reservations with Virtuoso amenities — free breakfasts and $100 hotel credits).

High demand for cruises and tours. I just rebooked the Tauck river cruise I had originally planned to take last April, The Rhine and Moselle. Eight of the nine cruises in 2021 were already sold out, but I was able to secure a cabin on the one available sailing. I'm so excited to be flying to Amsterdam in October and experiencing Tauck's all-inclusive luxury river cruise to Basel.

Award flights. Before COVID struck, it was practically impossible to get "Saver Awards," but it can be done if you act now. I speak from experience. As soon as I booked my Tauck river cruise, I researched flights using miles in United Business Class from AVL-AMS and ZRH-AVL. I just had to make one small change to find Saver Award availability (departing for Amsterdam one day earlier). There were two available Saver Award seats for the flights I wanted, so I grabbed them!

I recommend planning travel to Europe this fall. Now's the time to contact your travel advisor while she or he has lots of time to work with you.

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3.20.2020

remembering the ladies and gentlemen...

So much has changed since last I wrote you a little more than two weeks ago about travel in the age of the coronavirus.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which closed at 27,090 on March 4th, is currently at 20,212, down over 25%.
Countries around the world are closing their borders to tourists. Americans can't travel to Europe. Europeans can't travel to the U.S. The Governor of Hawaii asked visitors to stay away. The US-Canada border is closed.
The list of hotel closures is growing daily. Even the iconic George V in Paris has closed its doors through May 4th.
Cruise lines are shutting down operations, and two clients are currently stuck on a Seabourn Cruise off the coast of South America waiting for an evacuation plane to fly them home to the US.
The entire State of California has been ordered to shelter in place.

The world has changed profoundly over the past two weeks. My original assessment was clearly overly optimistic. We are all disappointed at long-anticipated trips we've had to cancel. I had intended to travel to Hawaii this Sunday and to Amsterdam next month, but when the Conservatorium in Amsterdam emailed to inform me the hotel was closing and my reservation was canceled, that pretty much settled matters. I'm "sheltering in place" in California, and that seems like the wisest thing for me to do.

But my deepest concern is not my own disappointment. It is for the many people in the travel industry who truly are hurting right now. We love the experience of staying at luxury hotels. Our stays are made so comfortable by doormen who greet us and offer to carry our bags, front desk agents who show us to our rooms, concierges who make restaurant reservations and arrange transportation, housekeeping staff who clean our rooms daily, and restaurant staff who serve our breakfasts and keep our coffee cups full. So many of these people are out of work for the time being, missing out on paychecks and gratuities. And hoteliers themselves are facing massive financial pressures.

So let us be mindful of those ladies and gentlemen who make our hotel stays so special. When we travel again — and we will — let us regard them with new eyes, with true appreciation for the service they provide us. They are gracious hosts. Let us be grateful guests.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

3.02.2020

7 travel strategies in an age of coronavirus

To live is to travel, and for those of us for whom travel is our greatest passion, the coronavirus poses unwelcome questions. Here are three items that recently have come across my desk.

Hoping to enjoy the breathtaking seascapes at Six Senses Yao Noi, an Australian client became concerned about her trip to Thailand. She asked me for ideas about alternate warm-weather destinations in the South Pacific. Instead of Phuket, they are traveling to Fiji.
Las Vegas has gaming and entertainment that never stops, but the hotels are SO large. There are thousands of hotel guests with even larger crowds milling through the casinos, all in an environment with sealed windows and forced air ventilation. My client was worried and chose to cancel her reservation.
What could be more fascinating than Japan in May? Late spring is the perfect time of the year to explore Japan, before the summer brings heat and crowds. My client is taking a wait-and-see approach, seeing how the situation looks at the end of March before making any decisions.

So what should you do about your existing and future travel plans? Here are some thoughts.

#1 — It's your decision, and ultimately you have to be personally comfortable with what you decide to do. Neither I, nor anyone else, can tell you what your decision should be.

#2 — Get the facts. Here's a very useful map maintained by Johns Hopkins University showing the number of reported incidences around the world. The CDC regularly updates their website with a Coronavirus Situation Summary. The State Department maintains this page of travel advisories.

#3 — Use common sense. Avoid crowded places — large museums, movie theaters, casinos, and indoor sporting events.

#4 — Take normal hygienic precautions. Wash your hands regularly, and carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer. Cough into your elbow and avoid anyone who is coughing and sneezing.

#5 — Wait-and-see. As long as you're outside the cancel deadline of your hotel or resort, you have the luxury of time, of waiting to see how things turn out in your destination. If a week out from your trip, there are reports of vacationers contracting COVID-19 and being quarantined, yes, of course I would cancel.

#6 — Develop a Plan B. Feeling nervous about Asia or Italy? You can have an incredible vacation at home in the United States. Explore a Hawaiian island where you've never been. Or relax at one of dozens of Virtuoso resorts in secluded, uncrowded destinations — ranches in the American West; seaside resorts in Georgia, South Carolina, or California; or luxurious getaways in Vermont, upstate New York, Tennessee, or Wine Country.

#7 — Consider Medjet Assist. If the need comes up, your Medjet policy will provide medical evacuation to the hospital of your choice back home. I've had a policy for my wife and myself for years, and fortunately I've never used it.

What am I doing about my own travel? I have several upcoming trips — going to the Big Island in 20 days ... and to Amsterdam in 6 weeks with my wife to enjoy a Tauck River Cruise to Basel. I am very much looking forward to both trips and have every intention of taking them ... unless the situation deteriorates dramatically. I think I have a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 on a plane rather than on the ground, but I'm not a doctor and do not take this as medical advice. I'm not going to stop traveling. Travel is my greatest pleasure in life and, as they say, I'm not getting younger.

1.09.2020

great business class deal to Europe

Book a Tauck Tour to Europe and score round-trip business class air for $2990 per person. Airfares are refundable up to 60 days before departure, and only a deposit is required to reserve.

But first, why a Tauck Tour? A family-owned business since it was founded by Arthur Tauck, Sr. in 1925, three generations of Taucks have led this tour company ever since. Specializing in group escorted travel, the great thing about Tauck is that you'll never feel like you're being herded around in a group. You won't be crowded onto a full 49-passenger bus. You won't find yourself following behind a tour guide holding a flag. And in place of the cookie-cutter experiences provided on big bus tours, each of Tauck's 140+ unique tour features exclusive, out-of-the-ordinary experiences that will bring you a lifetime of memories.

Fully inclusive — all taxes, fuel surcharges, admission costs, meals, and beverages — Tauck experiences have no hidden fees and no surprises. I'll be on my first Tauck Tour experience this April, a river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, and I'll be sharing highlights of the journey.

Take Off With Tauck — round-trip air at $790 pp economy, $1690 pp premium economy, and $2990 pp business class. Book by Feb. 29th for travel through August 31st. Read below for the fine print.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Take Off With Tauck is valid on trips departing March 1 through August 31, 2020 as indicated: valid on all Tauck Europe land trips, European river cruises, Tauck Bridges Europe trips, and Europe small ship cruises (Note: Venice & the Dalmatian Coast small ship cruises departing March 1 through September 30, 2020).
Above trips must be booked January 9 through February 29, 2020.
Tauck’s air package is available to all guests departing from select US and Canadian gateways to Europe; available for new bookings only (subject to availability). Air must be booked with Tauck, and a deposit is required at the time you make the booking. Air is refundable up to 60 days before departure.
Premium Economy cabin is offered on trans-Atlantic flights and select carriers only.
Not combinable with other offers.

12.17.2018

four tips | avoiding overtourism

Overtourism affects all of us when visit popular tourist destinations. Europe had 671 million visitors in 2017, the eighth year of sustained growth in its tourism industry. We've all experienced the loathsome effects of too many visitors in the same places — long lines in front of the pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, huge crowds crowding the Piazza San Marco in Venice, a precious few seconds on a moving conveyer in front of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. Overtourism also means crowded airports, long security lines, and wasted time in immigration.

Here are my top tips for avoiding overtourism. Short version — be a contrarian.

(1) Avoid high season. Unless you have school-age children, don't travel in the summer. I can guarantee that Italy will be hot and crowded in June, July, and August.

(2) Visit when everyone else is staying away. For instance, many visitors deserted Paris during Sunday "Yellow Jacket" protests on the Champs Elysées. Hotel occupancy went way down, and some of the more popular tourist sites were closed. I would see this as the perfect opportunity to avoid the Champs Elysées, explore less-known parts of Paris, and plan a Sunday day trip to Versailles, Chartres, or Giverny. Are you a nervous traveler? Just engage a knowledgeable tour guide, and you'll be kept far from any affected areas.

(3) Arrange for special access. Sit in Churchill's chair in the War Rooms (while the crowds filing past the plexiglass window wonder what kind of VIP you are) or witness the Changing of the Guard's concert from inside the Wellington Barracks (with nobody between you and the troops). Visit the Vatican Museum before it opens to the crowds (and without waiting in line). Yes, you'll pay for the privilege — but that's what keeps it exclusive.

(4) Get off the beaten track. You might explore the English countryside as the ten (10) tourists pictured above are doing at Cliveden. Ourisman Travel has partnerships around the world with companies that know their destinations like locals ... because they are locals! Special bonus feature after the break — the outline of a 10-day, 9-night off-the-beaten-track itinerary in Portugal and Spain, suggested by our friends at Made for Spain, completely customizable. Contact us to plan this trip!

cancelled river cruises on the Danube?

Planning a river cruise on the Danube? I recommend double-checking with the cruise line ... and researching alternative travel plans just in case. Europe's hot, dry summer has resulted in record low water levels on the Danube. The river has been too low for some riverboats to embark on a planned cruise. Some of my colleagues report that clients have arrived in Europe, only to discover their cruise had just been cancelled (or the itinerary altered).

You'll have more and better choices if you plan ahead proactively. We all hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Call the cruise company. Ask for up-to-date information about potential cancellations. What alternatives can the cruise line offer you if your cruise does not sail?

Turning lemons into lemonade. If your river cruise cannot sail and you choose to get a refund, what's on your European bucket list? Consult with your travel advisor and work on an alternative itinerary, just in case.

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit our website.

6.11.2018

are fast track tickets worth it?

Questions like this come up frequently on travel forums: "Are Fast Track tickets worth the extra cost?" This is what a recent visitor to fodors.com was wondering about. He's heard about the L-O-N-G ticket and security lines at Europe's most popular attractions. Is it worth paying extra to avoid the long lines, he wonders?

Here's how I calculate the cost/benefit ratio.

(1) Think about a typical trip to Europe. Add up the cost of your airfare and hotels, trains and transfers. You're spending thousands of dollars on your bucket list trip. For the sake of argument, let's assume the trip costs $5,000.

(2) Let's make another set of assumptions: you have six full days on the ground and spend 8 hours a day sightseeing. This means your trip costs about $104 for every sightseeing hour.

(3) If you've seen the lines at Europe's popular tourist destinations, you know can easily waste hours of your precious time doing and seeing nothing. Each wasted hour costs you $104.

Now, let's consider the value proposition of the Paris Pass. It includes unlimited travel, zones 1-3, on the Paris Metro, RER, and buses. It includes a Museum Pass, covering entrance fees at many of the most popular museums and attractions in Paris. (Benefit: you don't have to stand in queue to buy tickets). You also get Fast Track entry at the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou.

If you plan to maximize your museum visiting over the days of your Museum Pass, it won't cost you a euro more — but even if you enjoy a very leisurely vacation, it's totally worth paying to skip the ticket lines.

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

3.08.2017

will Americans need visas to visit Europe?

Have you seen this headline? Is it anything to worry about?

EU Parliament Urges Visas for US Citizens Visiting Europe

The backstory. There is an ongoing dispute between the European Union (EU) and the United States over the requirement that citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania, and Cypress obtain visas before visiting the United States. US citizens have the right to visit any EU country without obtaining visas, and the EU is understandably concerned over the lack of reciprocity.

So the EU Parliament made a symbolic gesture to make its point. A simple "show of hands" was taken on a motion to urge the EU develop a new regulation requiring Americans to obtain visas before visiting any EU nation.

The facts of the matter. No such regulation has been formally proposed. Once approved, it would have to be approved by the European Union countries, a process that could take years. And it is not in the interests of countries like Italy, France, or Spain to take such a step, as Europe receives much economic benefit from American tourism.

My guess is that there's nothing to worry about. Of course, I would also have guessed that Britain would have voted "no" on Brexit and that the US would have elected Hillary Clinton ... but the smart money says that this is only a negotiating ploy.

Bottom line: this is a great time to visit Europe as the exchange rate is highly favorable. 100€ = $105.45. I remember when it was 140 dollars to the euro.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

1.05.2017

don't "do" Europe | "experience" Europe

I confess to being a regular "lurker" on the fodors.com Europe forum. I find it interesting to read the questions posted by travelers thinking about a European vacation and find that there are some quite knowledgeable fellow lurkers who provide great insights. But I'm — is "amused" the right word? — interested by some of the questions that people ask.

One traveler asks if his itinerary is "too much." My rule of thumb is, if you think there's too much crammed into your itinerary, pay attention to that feeling. You're probably right. One traveler posted the following itinerary for feedback. (They plan to get from place to place by RailPass.)

Athens - 2 days
Capri - 1 day
Naples - 1 day
Rome - 2 days
Milan - 1 day
Cinque Terre - 1 day
Vienna - 2 days
Prague - 1 day
Budapest - 2 days
Krakow - 2 days
Berlin - 2 days
Copenhagen - 1 day
Amsterdam - 2 days
Barcelona - 2 days
Madrid - 2 days
Lisbon - 2 days
Porto - 2 days

"I'm concerned that we have too many stops," he writes. Um, yes!!! ... This is an insane itinerary. Here's what I wrote:

This is crazy busy... You're seeing places, "doing" places in the parlance of some, but not really experiencing much of anything except seeing the countryside through the window of a train. You will be tired, frustrated, and disappointed at the end of this vacation.

I totally agree with what another poster wrote:

You're high as a kite if you think you can do 17 cities in 27 days, especially ones as geographically distant as these.... Cut the number of destinations in half. Then halve that. 4 or 5 locations in 4 weeks would be awesome.

Don't "do" Europe ... experience Europe. The photograph at the top of this article shows what a European vacation should be like. This couple in Paris is sitting at a table in a café, watching the world pass by. Slow down. Less is more!

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

7.30.2016

how much to tip?

Sally, our extraordinary private guide in London

How much should you tip your driver, guide, or waiter when on tour in Europe? Abercrombie and Kent, one of our preferred suppliers of customized, private luxury tours in Europe, passes along the following advice.

If you're on an independent itinerary (as opposed to a group tour), the cost of your tour does not include gratuities. Although not required, tips should be considered when someone goes above and beyond for you. A&K provides the following guide for tipping in Europe:

Transfer Driver — 10€ per transfer

Local Guide or Driver-Guide — 15€ for half day, 30€ for full day of sightseeing

Driver — 10€ for half day, 15€ for full day

Restaurant Service — when service is included on the check, not required. If not, 10% of the total.

Taxi drivers — round up the fare

I hope you find this information useful! For more information about organizing private tours in Europe or anywhere in the world, we are here to assist.

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

6.25.2016

Europe on sale | how to lock in your savings

While I was personally disappointed by the result of the Brexit referendum, that is not the point of this article. Citizens of the United Kingdom voted and made their decision, and the consequences are largely unknown.

One outcome is clear. The value of the Euro and the Pound Sterling has dropped significantly, at least in the short term. The Euro currently costs only $1.11 and the Pound is currently worth $1.37. Exchange rates may rebound, once the fog of uncertainty surrounding Brexit begins to clear, but for the moment Europe is on sale. This makes life more expensive for my European clients — but it means unparalleled values for the rest of the world.

Even if you don't want to go to Europe right now (and I believe that the Fall is a better time to travel), you might want to lock in the favorable exchange rate. Here's how to do it:

Make and pre-pay your hotel reservations now in Europe and in London and the UK. This will lock in the current discount. Even if the pound and euro rise in value before your trip begins, you will have taken advantage of the currently advantageous exchange rate. Should you decide to change your dates, your prepayment will still be applicable to the new booking.

11.25.2015

Christmas markets in Europe

Want to visit some Christmas markets? My friends at Rocco Forte hotels suggest these cities for a December trip to Europe:

Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt provide an idyllic setting for a romantic Christmas market break. There's plenty of traditional treats for the senses. Aromas of spiced mulled wine, gingerbread and sausage fill the air as you wander through the streets, soaking up the festive atmosphere. From food and drink to hand crafted toys and tree decorations, Christmas markets offer something for everyone.

We have Virtuoso hotels in each of those German cities, including three Rocco Forte options. Please ask me about special Festive Offers at the following Rocco Forte hotels, and check out the Virtuoso amenities here (free, added-value perks you get just by booking with a Virtuoso travel consultant).

The Charles, Munich

Hotel de Rome, Berlin

Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

4.16.2015

travel in the age of EasyJet | a 4-part strategy

graphic from easyjet.com which should thank me for the free link

A client wanted to plan a trip to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. He contacted me this Tuesday for his dates in June ... and I soon discovered that every hotel he was interested in was totally booked. There was no space whatsoever for his dates at the Grand Bretagne or the King George in Athens. Choices in Mykonos and Santorini were extremely limited. Quite a frustrating experience, as he was ready to book a trip ... so he decided to postpone.

Europe is crowded these days ... and a big reason for this is that it's so cheap and easy for Europeans to fly around the continent. Just hop aboard a discount airline, and be in Paris, London, Rome, or a Mediterranean beach destination in little more than an hour. And if you can get there for 26.99£ as EasyJet's website promises (see above), why not!

You need a strategy to plan your trip to Europe.

1. Book early. 60 days is not enough lead-time to plan a trip to the Greek Islands in June, as my frustrating Tuesday impressed on me. Start 330 days ahead. Think hotels as soon as you start booking your award tickets. You'll have more availability, and you'll also put a ceiling on the rate you pay; flexible rates can always be lowered!

2. Explore less well known destinations. Rome, Venice, and Florence are always crowded; ever felt like a sardine packed into the Sistine Chapel? When you go back to Italy, visit lesser known destination such as Verona (where you can see Juliet's balcony), Sicily, and Puglia. Avoid the thundering herds of tourists and encounter a more authentic side of Italy.

3. Employ private guides and drivers. Pricey, yes, but knowledgeable local guides can save you time, your most precious asset. Why stand in queue to buy tickets or get through the front door? Our Virtuoso on-sites can even arrange after-hours tours of many attractions. Imagine having a private candlelit dinner at the Library of Celsus in Ephesus ... after all the crowds have left, a memory that will last a lifetime! Or book a VIP skip-the-line tour of the Eiffel Tower or Paris Catacombs.

4. Take advantage of local experts. Your Virtuoso travel consultant has a network of local experts practically everywhere on earth. These ladies and gentlemen have the experience and connections to craft a memorable European vacation, sparing you much of the stress encountered by those in the back of an EasyJet.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

6.04.2014

Italy, I'm lost!!!

That was the title of a post on the Europe forum of fodors.com — click the link to see the post. Fodors is an excellent resource by which experienced travelers provide valuable information to travelers planning their own travels, but the Fodors community has a definite bias against using travel consultants.

Don't get me wrong… many travelers can and do successfully plan their own trips. In fact, most professional travel advisors began by doing just this, eventually deciding to combine their passion for travel with a great career. But this traveler on Fodors conveyed such an air of desperation that he seems like the perfect candidate for using a travel consultant.

He is planning a five week trip to Europe with his wife and two teenage sons. He is "trying to cram as much of Europe into [a] bucket list trip as we can." Here are some assorted thoughts he posted: Fly to London. Train to Paris. Train to Marseille. Car rental to the French Riviera. Drive into Italy or fly to Rome. Likes trains but not the feeling of dealing with luggage. Asking about stays in motor homes interspersed with stays in hotels and villas. Wants to "sneak" into Munich and maybe Switzerland. You get the idea.

Google is not a travel consultant, and the first step to planning a life-changing trip doesn't have to start in a google search box. Your best first step may be to find a travel consultant who is thoroughly knowledgeable about your destination, who has planned dozens or even hundreds of trips to that very place. She or he can help you avoid bad ideas that will waste time and money. You'll still be in charge — an active participant in dreaming and planning your trip — but you'll have an experienced partner to sweat the small stuff … allowing you sit back and enjoy!

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

4.26.2013

book Virtuoso resort packages online *

Classic Vacations is an excellent Virtuoso tour company that specializes in luxury vacations, and most* (but not all) Classic Vacations packages include Virtuoso amenities . But there's a rather significant requirement: your booking must be made through a Virtuoso travel consultant.

But you can make the booking yourself. Classic Vacations has provided me with a personalized website through which my clients can price out and book vacations. These can be resort-only, or you can add flights or a rental car to the package. Any vacation package booked through this link will be identified as coming from Ourisman Travel, and you will be eligible to receive Virtuoso, Ritz-Carlton STARS, or Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities when applicable.

NB: I need to emphasize that not all Virtuoso hotels provide the amenities when booked through a wholesaler such as Classic, Pleasant, Island Destinations, etc. In particular, please be aware that the Four Seasons resorts in Hawaii need to be made via direct booking; Preferred Partner amenities are not extended through wholesaler bookings at Maui, Hualalai, Manele Bay, the Lodge at Koele ... or Punta Mita in Mexico. To get the FSPP amenities at these resorts, you'll need to book directly through a FS Preferred Partner travel consultant.

Want to be in charge of your own booking? Try it out! Research a vacation, price out the different options, create a courtesy hold — and then contact me. I'll help you sort out the insurance options and look into "bulk" airfares that can often be a better value. Sometimes just a few dollars more than the lowest published fare, bulk fares are flexible, refundable airfares that don't have to be paid for until 45 days before departure. I'll also want to double-check with the resort that what you want to book is eligible for Virtuoso amenities which include:

a room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
complimentary breakfast for two daily
an additional amenity (such as a $100 F&B credit or Spa credit)

So where do you want to go next? Hawaii, Bora Bora, the Caribbean, Europe? Check out my personalized mini-site on Classic vacation...

Virtuoso travel consultant (search here on Google)

* Important: Most (but not all) Virtuoso member resorts will honor the Virtuoso amenities when booked through Classic Vacations. It's essential that you verify with your Virtuoso travel consultant before finalizing your reservation.

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

9.20.2012

top 10 aspirational experiences in Europe

idea # 2 - drive a Ferrari through the Italian countryside

Another Abercrombie and Kent top ten list, their top ten aspirational experiences in Europe. I can honestly say that I've never experienced any of these.

1. MIG Flight, Russia

2. Ferrari driving experience through Italy

3. Personal shopper in Paris

4. Wine tasting with a Master of Wine, France

5. Private visit to the Grand Kremlin Palace

6. Private access to the Gardens of Highgrove

7. Private tour of the Porsche factory

8. Private opera recital at the lavish Hungarian State Opera House

9. Helicopter flight over the Valley of the Geysers, Kamchatka

10. Private motor yacht on the Adriatic coast of Croatia

Do you have an extraordinary dream? Your Virtuoso luxury travel consultant has the contacts to help you realize your travel aspirations.

travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

1.13.2009

all-inclusive vacation in Europe | $3,598 for two

What if $3,598 got you an all-inclusive vacation in Europe including round-trip airfare, 10 nights accommodations, fine dining, and transportation from city to city?

What if your journeys took you to Barcelona, Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Malta, Santorini, and Athens?

What if you were sailing on a premium cruise line, Oceania Cruises? With a maximum 684 guests onboard any cruise, Oceania offers an intimacy and relaxed ambiance not found on 3,000 passenger megaships. Oceania's menus are crafted by chef and author Jacques Pépin, and open-seating is offered in all of their ships' restaurants.

This is just one of over 40 bargain fares for Oceania sailings. Interested in exploring the possibilities? Contact my cruise associate to book this offer - or to learn about the many luxury cruise vacations available to you.

all-inclusive vacation in Europe (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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10.23.2008

a great time for luxury travel to Europe

Want some counter-intuitive advice? This is an ideal time to think about luxury travel to Europe. Here are four reasons why:

1. Great exchange rates. The US dollar has gotten much stronger over the past three months. You'll be paying considerably less for your hotel room, meals, and sightseeing while in Europe and the United Kingdom. Here are the numbers, comparing July 15 to today (October 23).

The price of one EURO has dropped from $1.60 to $1.28, a discount of nearly 20%
The price of one POUND has dropped from $1.96 to $1.62, a savings of more than 17%.

This is the best exchange rate in five years!

2. Discounted room rates. The economic downturn has made many upscale travelers nervous about taking expensive trips. I can tell you, as a luxury travel consultant, that bookings have dropped significantly over the past few weeks ... and cancellations are up. This means lots of empty hotel rooms, and empty rooms motivate hoteliers to lower their prices and create special promotional packages to fill those rooms.

3. Valuable free amenities. You can get complimentary breakfasts, room upgrades, and other free amenities that can include lunch, dinner, spa treatments, or limousine transfers. How? Simply by booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant. Best of all, many hotels offer these amenities at the Best Available Rate. You pay less and get more.

4. Less crowds. When less people are traveling, you don't need to deal with crowds and long lines at the attractions you want to see.

I have always been a contrarian. When everyone else is buying ... it's an ideal time to sell. When everyone else is selling ... it's an ideal time to buy. This is one of those opportune times. With some very real values out there in the luxury travel market, this is a great time to plan a luxury trip to Europe.

luxury travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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4.26.2021

E.U. Set to Let Vaccinated U.S. Tourists Visit This Summer .

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