bouillabaisse for lunch in Cassis

outdoor café in Cassis, France (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

One of the coolest things about a cruise is that you can go to sleep in Italy and wake up in France. Our first stop, after leaving Rome aboard the Seabourn Ovation, was in the port of Bastia (on the north coast of Corsica). The next morning, we awoke in Toulon, a small town in Provence on the Cote d'Azur.

Did you know that we can arrange private shore excursions? You're not limited to the group tours that cruise lines offer. Our visit was designed by Virtuoso onsite We Travel France. It included a wine tasting experience at the E. Bodin winery in Cassis, followed by a visit to the Port de Cassis. My highlight of the day was the utterly fabulous lunch I enjoyed at Chez César. Right on the water, their bouillabaisse was utterly authentic (and unlike what passes for bouillabaisse in the US).

Cassis is a cute town with at least a dozen open-air restaurants overlooking its small harbor. I captured the image above in our free time following lunch. I recommend a visit!

copyright (c) 2019 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.

Bastia in Corsica | crumbling charm

crumbling façade in Bastia (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Aboard the Seabourn Ovation, we left Rome yesterday and woke up this morning approaching the seaside town of Bastia on the north coast of Corsica. I signed up for a shore excursion, a guided three hour walk through the streets of this interesting town. "Crumbling charm," is how I described it to a colleague. Attractive buildings with crumbling mortar, Bastia does not enjoy the wealth of Paris or many other towns and small cities of France ... but it exudes charm and authenticity.

We visited several architecturally interesting churches from across the centuries (styes including Baroque, Neo Classical, and Rococo), We passed large public squares,  walked down a shopping street with opportunities to purchase souvenirs, and saw the beautiful marbler fountain pictured below.

fountain in Bastia (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

A fun morning that ended with a "taste of Corsica" (i.e., a plate of meats and a wonderful wedge of goat cheese), cruises offer the opportunity to visit see the sights of multiple destinations without ever having to unpack.

copyright (c) 2019 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.

traveling soon? check your passport...

Traveling out of the country? Here's something you should do immediately: check the date of expiration for every passport of your traveling party. Ensure each passport is valid for at least six months beyond the completion date of your trip. Most countries will deny entry — and many airlines will refuse boarding — if your passports do not meet this criterion.

Do any of the countries you're visiting require visas? Note that US citizens traveling to England, France, Italy, Canada, Mexico, and many other countries do not need to obtain a visa... but other countries require visitors to apply in advance. You can apply online for visas for many (but not all) destinations. Use the CIBT website to verify visa requirements for your trip.

In a hurry to apply for (or renew) your passport? Google "passport expedited service" for companies that can assist. If you live near a major US metropolitan area, you may be able apply in person. Make an online appointment at one of 27 U.S. passport agencies where you'll be able to submit your application on the spot. A traveler I know could not find her passport just prior to her trip to Mexico; she was able to obtain a new one with same-day service at the Chicago passport office. Note that there is a $60 expedite fee for this service.

But don't wait! If you're planning to travel internationally in the next year, check your passport NOW! Luxury travel is all about traveling stress-free, so plan ahead so you can relax and enjoy your trip.

from Ourisman Travel's Terms and Conditions: It is Customer’s responsibility to verify that all the visas required for your trip have been obtained, that the visas for each country are valid for the entry and exit dates of your visit, that your personal details are accurately reflected and that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the completion date of your trip.

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.

come back to ... America!

a graphic representation in the drop of foreign travel to the US since 2015

In 2015, the US global travel share was 13.6%. By 2017, according to the US Travel Association, the US global travel share had dropped to 11.9%. It's hard to do math in a blog, but the stick figures above put the drop in graphical terms: of every eight foreign visitors who chose the US in 2015, only seven chose the US in 2017.

The world's top twelve world destinations are listed in the chart below. Long-haul world travel has increased by 7.9% over the past two years, but two of the top twelve destinations experienced significant declines over the same period. Turkey has the worst decline — a 6.7% — and the United States is second worst with a 6% decline. Here's the list:

Australia +22%
Canada +21.2%
Saudi Arabia +20.3%
United Kingdom +17.5%
United Arab Emirates +16.5%
Thailand +13.9%
China +9.3%
Germany +8%
France +4%
Italy + 2.2%
United States -6%
Turkey -6.7%

Turkey's decline I understand. While the country is an incredible destination, it has recently suffered through a lot of domestic unrest and violence. But why the US? Has a stronger dollar, making foreign currencies worth less, discouraged foreign travel? Have more stringent visa regulations caused some travelers to visit elsewhere? Are visitors staying away in reaction to the policies of the current occupant of the White House? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Come back to ... America! The US has so much to offer from the redwood forests of California to the majestic rocky mountains, from the midwest's amber waves of grain to the white sand beaches of Florida, from great cities from San Francisco to New York. Take advantage of some of the current premium cabin deals from various European destinations to the US ... and plan a trip to the United States for your 2018 summer holidays.

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.

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.

Where are you headed in 2017?

directional sign at Six Senses Laamu (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

So many places to visit, but just one lifetime. What direction are you headed in 2017?

This signpost was photographed last March at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. If you're looking for a beach destination, you couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting than the Maldives. The water is warm and clear — a simply delightful place to escape winter and relax in the warm tropical sun.

2016 took me to four continents — Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America — and so many fabulous destinations — The Maldives, Australia, London, Paris, and the south of France. I've blogged extensively about each of these trips and taken notes about where to stay and what to do.

Where are you headed in 2017? If your plans are already set, get in touch and ask us how we can provide you with better value at luxury hotels than you can get online. How, you ask? Through our affiliation with Virtuoso and our preferred partner relationships with the top luxury hotel families in the world. If you need help prioritizing your bucket list, still get in touch ... and we can discuss a world full of possibilities.

Enjoy the holidays with your family and loved ones ... and best wishes for the New Year!

copyright (c) 2016 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.

Paris | I'll be there next Saturday

woman by the Seine (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Though I've been to Paris more than a dozen times, this is one place I can never get enough of. I inherited my love of travel from my grandparents who were intrepid world travelers in the 50's and 60's, and I always enjoyed my grandfather's slide shows of their travels. He traveled with his Leica, and I've photographed Paris with all sorts of cameras from a Minolta SLR and a Contax rangefinder to a Canon DSLR and a tiny Ricoh GR (which gets the credit for the photo above taken during my last visit).

Places to visit and things to do — here's a summary of the things I'm looking forward to this time around (and my travel partners who have helped organize the two walking tours).

Musée Marmottan Monet
Occupation & Liberation of Paris walking tour (Paris Personalized)
day trip to Giverny
Art Street tour of the 13th Arrondissement (W Travel France)
Quai Branly Museum
Bois du Boulogne

Hotels and places to stay — no visit to Paris would be complete (for me) without the chance to visit hotels. I'll be staying at and/or doing site inspections at the following:

Le Meurice
Le Bristol
Four Seasons George V
Grand Hotel du Palais Royal
Ritz Paris
La Reserve
Plaza Athenee
Peninsula Paris
d'Aubusson
Relais Christine
Saint James Paris
OneFineStay (apartment on rue Saint André des Arts, 6th arr.)

Please reach out to us for hotel bookings in Paris (with value-added amenities such as free daily breakfast and hotel credits that will save you hundreds!) and to consult with us to Discover More during your stay.

I'll be live blogging during my three weeks (!) in France, so subscribe to Travel Horizons or friend me on Facebook so you don't miss an article.

copyright (c) 2016 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.

how to plan a trip to France

driving route from Cap Ferrat to Castellan, Menton and Monte Carlo

Planning a major trip is a pleasurable endeavor as anticipation is such a huge part of the joy of travel. At the same time, detailed planning can be complicated, time-consuming, and frustrating. Travelers are so very different in how they plan. Some prefer total spontaneity — they rent a car and drive off into the sunset with no reservations but only a sense of adventure — not recommended! Other travelers are totally structured, every day organized down to the hour with spreadsheets detailing each element of the trip.

How do I plan my own travel? The intent of this article is to describe what works for me. Here's the story of how I'm planning our upcoming trip to France.

Step one: grab that great fare (or those award tickets). Back in May, British Airways had a three day business class sale, and the deal was matched by other carriers. I grabbed a great fare I found on United, nonstops from SFO to CDG. The same tickets are 400% higher today, so I saved 75%!

On other occasions, I've found availability for Saver Awards and grabbed those seats with miles. Moral: if you hesitate, you lose.

Step two: grasp the big picture of your trip. I knew I wanted to visit Paris + Something Else, and I had 20 nights to play with. As I haven't been to the Riviera since 1969 and am frequently asked about hotels in that part of France, I knew I wanted to end the trip on the Riviera. My big question: where to spend the 7 nights between Paris and the Riviera?

Step three: research a broad, day-by-day itinerary. While many travelers prefer to do all the research themselves, I know from my work as a luxury travel advisor that you're typically better served by enlisting the support of local experts. I hired W Travel France, one of our preferred travel partners in France, to assist with itinerary suggestions. They recommended we focus on the Luberon area of Provence (where I'd never been) and helped me fill in the broad outline of my trip with a "first draft" itinerary. After a couple of back-and-forth emails, we had a full 20-page itinerary in hand.

Step four: book hotels and arrange your logistics. We reserved train tickets from Paris to Avignon, rented a car from Avignon to the Nice airport, booked our hotels, got our flight back to Paris, and booked our final night using Starwood points at the Sheraton CDG.

Step five: tweak the details and perfect the itinerary. Finally, I turned to Google Maps to familiarize myself with the trip and flesh it out. As I'm a very visual person, I find it very helpful to see everything graphically displayed. Google Maps, a powerful (though frustrating) tool, is one way to visualize each day of your trip.

There's a big difference between having a 20-page printed itinerary ... and seeing each of your 13 driving days on a map. Working off Google maps, we were able to fill in the details and add ideas and notes about what to see in the various villages. If we hear about a must-see attraction in the Luberon, our map will show the ideal day to include that village (if we have the time and energy).

And when we get there, Google maps will even provide spoken driving directions on my iPhone!

Step six: share your trip. I've provided the link to the two google maps of our driving tour of Southern France. Your feedback is welcome ... crowd-sourcing in action!

From Avignon to Aix-en-Provence

from Aix-en-Provence to Nice Airport

bonus: map of some recommended restaurants in Paris
... http://tinyurl.com/par-rest

copyright (c) 2016 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

the best suitcase accessory | RISEgear Riser

my Riser, hanging in a closet, showing its stuff!

Have you seen the following ad on Facebook? It seemed to me to be an ingenious solution to a common problem for travelers. I am planning a trip to France this fall — a week in Paris (at three different hotels), five nights in Provence (at four different hotels at different locations in our tour of the Luberon), and two nights along the Riviera (at two different hotels), with a final night at the Sheraton Charles de Gaulle.

Facebook ad

That's a LOT of packing and unpacking. Having done this before, I know that my suitcase would be an impossible mess after my first hotel stay and will never get organized again unless I completely un-pack and re-pack at every hotel. So I decided to order the product and give it a try.

My observations about RISEgear:

(1) The Riser itself (pictured above) is absolutely fabulous. It has shelves for underwear and socks, shirts, and pants. There's room at the very top for shoes, and there's even a built-in "laundry hamper" in which to put your dirty clothes. When you get to the hotel, you just lift it out of your suitcase and hang the shelves in the closet in your room.

(2) I decided to return the Slider, the 21" suitcase into which the Riser fits perfectly. Why? It fits just as easily in my 22" Victorinex suitcase which has the added advantages of being expandable and having a built-in hanging suiter.

(3) While you can purchase this product on Amazon.com, the pricing is significantly better if you order through RiseGear itself... and here is an exclusive 20% off coupon valid through the end of August, 2016 — TRAVELHORIZONS20.

The proof is in the pudding, and I'll let my readers know my actual experience using my Riser in France this fall.

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.

grill courtepaille | french fast food

France is known for its wonderful cuisine, so you would expect that the French also do a better job at fast food than we Americans. I had the opportunity to have lunch at a roadside grill cortepaille restaurant during my trip to France this past April. I can report that this is a great place to stop for a simple but tasty meal.

Everything is grilled over an open flame and served hot, along with delectable frites. Pictured below is their brochette de canard et figues at 15.90€.

We saw lots of French families having lunch during our meal. Although McDonalds is popular in France, why not try something local and authentic. Grill courtepaille is definitely a great place to stop if you're driving on an autoroute and you see one of their restaurants when you stop for lunch.

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.

Perros-Guirec | beach resort in Brittany

the beach at Perros-Guirec, France — (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Want to go to the beach this summer? Northern France may not have been on your radar … most Americans think of the Riviera, but here are three reasons to consider the Brittany coast.

1. The Riviera is hot and humid.
2. The Riviera is crowded.
3. The sand on the beach at Cannes is coarse.

And where to stay? L'AGAPA Hotel Spa is a boutique beach resort overlooking the English Channel. Pictured above is the view from my room. A small resort with just 45 rooms, re-opened in 2005 after a complete renovation of an older resort. The hotel has an imposing contemporary design of glass and granite. We enjoyed dinner in their excellent restaurant, and I was also treated to a massage in Spa Nuxe. 

How to get there? I'd recommend beginning your stay in Paris — toujours Paris! You can fly from Orly to Lannion (LAI) in just over an hour … or make it a several-day road trip, visiting Giverny, Honfleur, the Normandy battlefields, and Mont Saint Michel on the way.

Virtuoso amenities! L'AGAPA offers complimentary daily buffet breakfasts for two, a welcome cocktail, and a $100 resort credit just by booking through your Virtuoso travel consultant. While upgrades may be difficult between 14JUL and 31AUG, June, the first half of July, and September are especially good times to plan your visit.

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.

Paris at dawn | Shangri La Paris

Eiffel Tower at Dawn, (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

I spent two evenings at the Shangri La Paris at the beginning of my recent trip to France. There's been a lot of interest in this new Virtuoso property, so I wanted to get a chance to experience the hotel first-hand. My impression is quite positive. The Shangri La is a boutique hotel with just 101 rooms and suites. Decorated in a classical Parisian style that light, airy, tasteful, and updated, I enjoyed my stay very much.

If you want to see the Eiffel Tower from your room, Shangri La Paris is an ideal choice (it's the closest hotel to the Eiffel Tower). Half of the rooms have a direct view, and my ground floor Garden Suite had a good view from my patio as well as from the bathtub. Click here to see a video I took in the evening.

But better than sitting in your room, take advantage of the location to take a short walk. I left the hotel before dawn and captured the photograph above with the lights from the Pont d'Iéna reflected in the water. Then I continued walking over the bridge and spent some time at the base of the Eiffel Tower with not another tourist in sight (usually, there are hundreds of people waiting in line). On the way back to the hotel, I captured the shot below of a solitary car traveling on the cobblestoned rue Fresnel.

Rue Fresnel at Dawn, (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

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.

leaving for France in eight days!

Chateau La Cheneviere

It's one of the best parts of my job as a travel consultant — traveling, exploring destinations, and inspecting hotels. While it  actually is work — and tiring work — it is immensely valuable to my clients for me to visit hotels and see them with my own eyes. Talented photographers can make virtually anything look nice on a website. A wide-angle lens can make a tiny, cramped room look spacious. Good lighting can lighten a dark, dowdy interior.

What are the rooms really like? What does it feel like to be in a property? Nothing can substitute for the experience of being in a place, especially spending the night — sleeping on the beds, taking a shower in (hopefully) a step-in shower. That's what I'll be doing next week, and it helps me make recommendations (and provide you with amenities) as your Virtuoso travel consultant.

Added benefit — meeting the management of the hotels. Those relationships can translate into recognition, room upgrades, and VIP treatment.

Here's my itinerary and a google map of my trip. I've listed the Virtuoso amenities where relevant.

1APR-2NT — PARIS. I'll be staying at the Shangri-La Paris, a recently opened Virtuoso hotel with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower from some of its rooms. I've heard great things about the hotel and will be experiencing two nights here on my own, before the FAM trip begins.

Other site inspections planned in Paris:  La Reserve Paris, Fouquet's Barriere, Prince de Galles, and Four Seasons George V. I'm also meeting with the sales manager of a few hotels under new construction or renovation: Ritz Paris, Plaza Athenée, and the Peninsula Paris. All of these are (or will be) members of Virtuoso.

3APR-1NT — La Ferme Saint Simeon. This Virtuoso property is near the picturesque village of Honfleur, one of my favorite places in France. The reflections on the harbor in the soft pre-dawn light is amazing.

4APR-1NT — Chateau La Cheneviere, the premiere property near Bayeux (home of the famous Bayeux tapestries), the Normandy battlefields, and Mont-St-Michel.

5APR-1NT — l'Agapa Hotel. A member of Virtuoso, this contemporary hotel is situated on the Brittany coast with amazing views of the sea.

6APR-1NT — Le Domaine des Hauts de Loire, a Relais & Châteaux property located in the Loire Valley. Want to explore the chateaux of the Loire? This hotel is centrally located.

7APR-1NT — Chateau de Bagnols. Located in the Beaujolais wine region of France, come here for wine tastings and the cuisine.

8APR-1NT — Alpaga Megeve is in the French Alps. Consider staying in the mountains to enjoy skiing in the winter, temperate sunny days in the summer, and the spa all year round.

I'll return from Geneva back to the US on April 9th, connecting through Frankfurt for my flight back to San Francisco (avoiding a CDG connection at all costs!)

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.

what's on your travel bucket list for 2014?

view from the museum at Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg

I enjoyed some wonderful travels in 2013 which I've shared with you on Travel Horizons. With the new year upon us, it's time to turn my attention to 2014 and a new set of travel adventures. Here are some of my travel plans. What's on your travel bucket list for 2014?

COSTA RICA — 31JAN-7FEB. While I've had a number of opportunities to visit over the past few years, this is my chance finally to experience Costa Rica. One of the world's eco-tourism destinations, Costa Rica has mountains, rain forests, volcanoes, lakes, and beaches. I'll be seeing all of these as well as making hotel site inspections. Two nights at El Silencio, two nights at the Springs Resort, and the final three nights at Four Seasons Costa Rica. My itinerary and transfers have been arranged with the expert guidance of Rico Tours.

FRANCE — 1APR-9APR. My trip to France begins in Paris with two days of site inspections. I'm planning to see the Shangri-La, Prince de Galles, and Fouquet's Barriere — and hope to be able to also see some hotels currently under renovation or construction including the Ritz and the Peninsula. My six-day FAM trip then takes me to La Ferme Saint Simeon, Chateau La Cheneviere, l'Agapa Hotel, Le Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Chateau de Bagnols, and Hotel L'Alpaga. We'll be visiting Honfleur, the Beaches of Normandy, the Bayeux Tapistry, Mont St Michel, Perros-Guirec, the Loire Valley, Beaujolais, and the Alps. The trip ends in Geneva; here's a google map.

IRELAND — 3MAY-10MAY. Brownell's annual FAM trip will take me back to Ireland in May with stays at Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, Kildare Hotel (K Club), and possibly Ballyfin. It's also a chance to reconnect with all of my Brownell colleagues … and to enjoy some half pints of Guinness.

LAS VEGAS — 9AUG-15AUG. While Vegas is not an ideal summer destination (I dislike heat), Virtuoso Travel Week draws me back year after year. Four days of appointments with hotel sales reps, education opportunities, and connecting with fellow Virtuosos.

September-October? Still thinking about the destination for Ourisman Travel's second annual FAM Trip. Where would you suggest?

copyright (c) 2013 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.

tickets for the Eiffel Tower

Did you know it's possible to pre-book tickets for the Eiffel Tower? Good idea, if you can do it, because the lines are humongous. The Eiffel Tower is one of the top tourist attractions in Paris.

Tip from one of our Virtuoso on-sites in France:

Reminder: tickets to the very top can be purchased on the second floor. In my opinion and it's only mine, unless someone wants to say I was at the very top of the Eiffel tower, there is no point of going to the very top. The view up there is not better at all than on the second floor. And the line to get on the elevator can be very long.

He was able to collect 4 pre-booked Eiffel Tower tickets for 8SEP at 12:30 p.m. and 4 tickets for 9SEP at 5:30 p.m. They're on a first-come, first-served basis, but if one of those dates works for you, give me a shout and I'll see if I can get them for you.

Eiffel Tower tickets (search here on Google)

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.

how much to tip?

It's a perennial question when we travel - how much to tip? Americans are pretty accustomed to leaving a tip, but practices in other countries are often different. Restaurants in France, for instance, will state service compris (service included) on the menu or on l'addition (the bill). What does this mean? Is the waiter's tip always included? Answer: by law, a 15% gratuity is always included in the price in France whenever you eat or drink.

During a recent trip to New Zealand, I was providing tips to drivers, waiters, and hotel personnel at my first destination, out of habit. When I offered a tip to my driver in my second destination, he informed me that "nobody tips" in New Zealand; service is included in the price. It was useful and timely information.

You may find the chart above to be a useful resource. You can double-click on it to print it out ... and keep it in your suitcase so it's always handy when you find yourself overseas.


how much to tip (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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guaranteed US Dollar rates in Europe

Upscale travelers look forward to staying in five star hotels with beautifully landscaped lawns, ornate lobbies, exquisitely furnished guestrooms, and incomparable service. They also expect to pay a small fortune to enjoy such luxury, especially with the sad state of the weak US Dollar.

So this offer is quite a value. Spend five nights at two or more of five Orient-Express hotels, and enjoy a flat rate of only $480 per night with daily buffet breakfast for two included. This rate is guaranteed in US Dollars (and is equivalent to about 322€).

1. Reid's Palace, Madeira (pictured above) is high on my wish list of places to stay. The island of Madeira is in the Atlantic Ocean, some 535 miles from Lisbon. It was discovered by Portuguese sailors in the early 15th century and, with a pleasant year-round climate, is a popular tourist destination for European travelers. Reid's Palace is a beautiful and gracious resort located on 10 acres of botanical gardens on a cliff top overlooking the waters of the Atlantic.

2. The Hotel Ritz, Madrid is one of the grand old hotels of Europe. It is located right across the street from the Prado Museum, one of the must-see attractions of Madrid. Convenient to museums, galleries, and shopping, and offering an elegant Afternoon Tea service, the Ritz is a storied and elegant hotel in the heart of Madrid.

3. Hôtel de la Cité, Carcassonne. Find yourself in a fairytale... reads the headline on the hotel's brochure. Carcassonne is an ancient walled village set in the wine country of Southwest France. Part of a medieval citadel, the Hôtel de la Cité has magnificent gardens on property and offers you the opportunity to make your home for a few days in this part of French history.

4. La Residencia, Mallorca is located on an idyllic island in the Mediterranean Sea. With hot summers and mild winters, La Residencia is a luxury hotel and spa on the northwest coast of the island, set in the midst of a grove of olive and citrus trees. The hotel was created from two 16th and 17th century manor houses and offers spectacular views of the sea.

5. Lapa Palace, Lisbon is set on a hilltop with beautiful gardens in the center of Lisbon, overlooking the river and the city itself. Originally built as a private residence, Lapa Palace offers an oasis in the midst of a busy city.

I would especially recommend this package to travelers planning to visit Spain + Portugal, or Portugal + Madeira this year. Conditions apply, but this is an incomparable value at several of the world's finest five star hotels.

five star hotels (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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travel and the weak dollar | three tips

The weak dollar is distressing to those of us who want travel to London, Paris, or Rome and explore the beautiful villages of England, France, and Italy. At one point this week, one Euro was worth $1.60. Many of us remember the days, not too long ago, when a Euro cost only 90¢. The dollar has been devalued, and it hurts!

So what can you do if foreign travel is in your blood? Here are three tips.

1. Visit places where the exchange rate is not so disadvantageous.

South America is relatively undis-covered by most of us in North America, and there is so much to explore. The cities of Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, Machu Picchu, Patagonia, the Amazon, and the Galapagos Islands are all high on my own to-do list.

Southeast Asia is also an affordable destination. My visit to Thailand was one of the most interesting vacations I've ever taken. Bangkok is a fascinating city, and there are luxurious and affordable resorts in the north (Chiang Mai or the Golden Triangle) and on the beach in Phuket and Koh Samui. Cambodia's Angkor Wat is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and well worth the visit.

Canada offers scenic beauty (from Vancouver Island in the west, to the rugged Canadian Rockies, to Nova Scotia in the east) and cultural diversity. Vancouver is a beautiful, world-class city. Quebec gives you a taste of Europe right in North America.

2. Take advantage of Guaranteed U.S. Dollar Rates.

Many luxury hotels in London and Paris offer these, and Starwood offers a Welcome to Italy package with a deeply discounted U.S. dollar rate (including breakfast and taxes) if you spend a total of seven nights at their properties in Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice. Because many casual tourists don't know about these deals, a foreign travel consultant can save you time and money in planning a trip.

3. Consider a tour or cruise.

I know the reasons people resist tours. On many mass market tours, you get the feeling you are being hurried through the places you're visiting, and upscale vacationers don't want this. The good news: there are great tour companies that pamper you and do everything possible to help you have the vacation of your dreams. Many tour companies can even put together a private tour for you. You take advantage of great rates available to them because of the volume of rooms they book, and you pre-pay everything in U.S. dollars.

Cruises can also be a bargain, especially if you're willing to take an inside cabin (keep repeating, you only sleep there). I got an email this morning about a 12-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona with rates beginning at $1,199 per person. That's $2,400 for a couple. You get twelve days in Europe with your room, meals, and entertainment included. There are extras, of course, but tours and cruises are good options, if you are concerned about the weak dollar, because the costs are predictable ... and you pay in U.S. dollars before you leave home.

foreign travel consultant (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2007 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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defense de fumer in French restaurants

Defense de fumer. No Smoking. Just a quick note... I am currently in Paris on a FAM Trip, and I can report that the No Smoking law which went into effect earlier this year is working! What a pleasure to be able to go into a restaurant, enjoy a meal, and not have to endure the obnoxious smell (not to mention the second-hand smoke health risks) of tobacco smoke.

A word of appreciation for the people of France: merci!

No smoking (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2007 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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