lavender fields forever

photo credit: Original Travel UK, used by permission

The lavender fields are one reason so many travelers visit Provence, but did you know you can also see blossoming lavender in the Cotswolds? The fields normally start to flower from mid-June, with mid-July being the best time to see them. Less crowded than Provence, you can plan a driving or biking tour in the Cotswolds.

Scenic drives abound throughout the United Kingdom, and Original Travel UK (who provided the photo — thank you!) can assist with car rentals, maps, and recommendations on where to stop along the day... as well as theatre tickets, restaurant reservations, and transfers. They have planned thousands of itineraries, no trips alike, throughout England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Update: if you'd like to see the lavender fields, Annie from Original Travel UK recommends a day trip to Mayfield Lavender, followed by Afternoon Tea.

The United Kingdom is a favored summer destination as you'll be spared the heat, humidity, and crowds of southern Europe. Want to see the lavender fields blooming in the Cotswolds this summer? Get in touch, and we'll set up the rest!

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.

Europe on sale | how to lock in your savings

London phone booths (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

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.

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.

the most joyous, serene smile on her face

view from our living room at Gili Lankanfushi, (c) copyright 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

She had the most joyous, serene smile. She was lying next to her husband on the lounge chair in the back of Gili Lankanfushi's speedboat, and her face radiated the happiest and most joyful smile I've ever seen. They had escaped London's cold 26º F winter weather on a non-stop BA flight from Gatwick and had awakened to the warmth, sunshine, and brilliant blue waters of the Maldives.

I chatted with her after our arrival at #gililankanfushi. She said Gili is their favourite place on earth. They come back every winter, even staying in the same villa. Having been here just 24 hours, I can fully understand why.  

Gili Lankanfushi is as close to my ideal of a resort as anything could possibly be. Absolutely casual (no news, no shoes is their motto), informal luxury, spacious accommodations with gorgeous views, beautiful water, and very good snorkeling.

I wish the Maldives were closer to the U.S., but if you're from the UK like this couple, you can get here on a non-stop 10-hour overnight flight on British Airways. If you fly Club World with its lie flat beds, you'll arrive rested with a good night's sleep. We can book Gili Lankanfushi for our UK clients and provide you with added-value Virtuoso amenties that will save you quite a few £££'s. Drop me a line!

Back from the spa, I'm feeling especially mellow. If you could see me now, you might just notice a joyous and serene smile radiating from my face!

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.

walking in Wales

In today's column, I want to write about a destination, the United Kingdom (specifically Wales), and about my favorite way to explore any destination ... walking. The UK is an ideal destination for Americans for several reasons.

We speak the language. There's none of the insecurity that many experience when realizing they speak very little French, Italian, or Spanish (not to mention Chinese or Thai). While there's no need to brush up on a Berlitz list of travel phrases, visitors to the British Isles can look forward to hearing their own mother tongue spoken with a delightfully different accent. You definitely get the experience of being in a different culture.

The weather is moderate year-round. Italy is a hot destination in more ways than one. As crowded and warm as Rome was this past September when I visited, it will be even hotter, more humid, and more crowded come July and August. Many people don't mind heat, but I do, so when I think of a summer destination, my mind thinks of places like England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

There are fascinating things to see and do in the British Isles. Golfers can enjoy links golf in Scotland, the very place the game began. History buffs can spend endless hours exploring the British Museum or visiting Roman ruins. The anthropologically minded can marvel at Stonehenge and Avebury.

Me? I am attracted to beautiful landscapes -- shady woods and colorful fields, country paths and stone fences, craggy mountains and glassy smooth lakes, rocky shorelines and dramatic cloud formations. I love being alone with nature, taking in its beauty one step at a time. Nature nourishes me. Walking is a way of slowing down, contemplating the gift of life, and being filled with the wonder of this planet that nurtures life.

There are many ways of doing a walking trip, from a luxurious, meticulously planned trip with Backroads or Butterfield & Robinson ... to an economical do-it-yourself walking holiday based in strategically located bed-and-breakfasts (which I will be doing next month in Wales). This is my favorite kind of travel to plan, so feel free to call on me.