travel advisors save you time and money

The trip was un fait accompli. The client had already booked her family's tickets, round-trip flights to Rome. She emailed a description of the itinerary she wanted to plan, the hotels where they wanted to stay, and the tours they wanted to take. But the email began with a logistical detail she wanted help with.

We arrive FCO 7/7 at 10:35am. We would like to go straight to Venice (train-shortest time and first class)

Before I go any further, have you noticed the big "OOPS" in this request?

Providing a second pair of eyes to look over an itinerary is an invaluable service. The client had messed up big time by booking round trip flights to Rome. She planned to begin her family vacation by taking the train to Venice. Assume the best case scenario... their flight arrives on time and they make it through immigration and customs in an hour. They hop on an 11:40 a.m. train, change to another train in Rome, and arrive in Venice at 4:40 p.m. Best case scenario is 5 hours on a train after 8 hours on a jet, the first day of their vacation essentially wasted.

Now consider the worst case scenario. They've bought the least expensive (non-flexible) train tickets because that's our instinct when we purchase things on the internet. Their flight arrives late, or Italian immigration is not especially efficient, or their bags don't appear on the carousel, or they have trouble finding the train station ... and they miss their train to Venice. If this happens, they're screwed. The hundreds of dollars they've spent on First Class train tickets have gone down the drain.

Any good travel advisor obsesses over logistics. If you want to book your own air, that's absolutely fine with me. But do you know the difference between round-trip and open-jaw itineraries? Do you know how to search for "Multi-City" instead of "Round Trip" flights? If you don't, do yourself a favor and call your travel advisor before you buy your tickets.

And the coup de grâce? A savvy travel advisor could likely have saved hundreds or thousands of dollars on her Delta tickets by booking bulk fares through Delta Vacations.

But everyone loves a happy ending, and this story has one. I advised her to call Delta and change their outbound flight from Rome to Venice. She was able to make the switch, for exactly the same fare ... so instead of searching in the fog of jet lag for the train station in the Rome Airport, someone from A&K will meet them at baggage claim in Venice, porter their luggage, and escort them straight to the private water taxi that will be waiting for them.

copyright (c) 2021 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

whatever happened to overtourism?

crowds at Rome's Trevi Fountain (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Overtourism was travel's biggest problem in 2019. I took the photograph above when I visited Rome in 2019 while on a walking tour of the city. The first time I came to the Piazza di Trevi in 1978, there might have been a half dozen tourists viewing the fountain. When I returned in 2019, the crowds were so thick that tossing three coins in the fountain would have been nearly impossible.

Scenes like this were rampant throughout the world as recently as last year. Do you remember the crowds at...

Venice's Piazza San Marco — passengers from massive cruise ships occupying every square inch of the square, queued in endless lines just to enter the Basilica and the Doge's Palace.

London's Crown Jewels in the Tower of London — after standing in line for a chance to see these royal treasures, being rewarded with just a very few seconds in front of the jewels as the moving conveyer took you relentlessly by.

Paris's Mona Lisa, star attraction of the Louvre — after enduring snaking admission and security lines and following signs to the "Jaconde," finding yourself in a gallery filled with hundreds of tourists jammed around a rather small painting on the wall.

lines at St. Catherine's Palace (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

We've experienced all of this. We've seen the lines to get into St. Catherine's Palace (pictured above) and the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. We've been jammed into crowded galleries at Vatican Museum in Rome and Versailles outside Paris. We've witnessed thousands of tourists in front of the Main Gate to Buckingham Palace to view the Changing of the Guard.

We can help our clients skip lines, enjoy exclusive access to experiences most tourists don't know about, or even score private visits before or after public visiting hours — when travel comes back...

But for now in 2020, the problem is no longer overtourism. The issue is Covid-19 and the need to practice social distancing. What will world travel look like once we have developed an effective vaccine? Do we need to reimagine travel? This article from The Guardian makes one argument. What do you think?

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.

a Grand Tour of Europe with Belmond

Belmond La Residencia (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

If you're traveling to Europe in 2020, Belmond's Grand Tour is probably the best combination of luxury and value that you can find. Here are three reasons why this is the promotion to go for...


(1) A selection of the world's finest hotels ...

in Italy

Belmond Hotel Cipriani (Venice)
Belmond Villa San Michele (Florence)
Belmond Hotel Splendido and Splendido Mare (Portofino)
Belmond Castello di Casole (Tuscany)
Belmond Hotel Caruso (Ravello)
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant'Andrea (Sicily)

on Mallorca

Belmond La Residencia (Mallorca)

on Madeira

Belmond Reid's Palace (Madeira)

(2) Seven nights at a flat rate

Low Season (March & April; October to January)

7 nights in a room — 4774€
7 nights in a Junior Suite — 8008€

High Season (May to September)

7 nights in a room — 6699€
7 nights in a Junior Suite — 11,704€

Extra nights are available at a pro-rated price.

(3) Full American Breakfast included daily. You'll receive the Virtuoso amenities and be blocked in the best available room on arrival.

P.S. — I've stayed at La Residencia in Mallorca, an absolutely gorgeous resort (click to read my article) ... and at the iconic Cipriani in Venice where you can wander the winding streets of Venice by day, then escape the crowds to your own private island each night.

Fine print: At least two Belmond properties must be booked, but stays can be non-consecutive within 45 days of first arrival. No deposit required; payment made at check-out. Cancellations within 14 days incur a 50% penalty, within 7 days a 100% penalty; travel insurance is highly recommended. Blackout dates ... Splendido, Caruso, La Residencia - not available July and August. Cipriani - not available June and September. Reid's Palace and Timeo - not available 28DEC-1JAN.

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.

four tips | avoiding overtourism

tourists exploring the grounds at Cliveden (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

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!

Aman Venice | stay in a baroque palazzo

Aman Venice Grand Canal

Venice is a city like none other — no cars, no traffic lights, and no modern high-rises! The canals serve as streets, and visitors get from place to place either on foot or by boat whether it be a vaporetto (like a public bus), water taxi (private boat), or gondola (the most romantic way to get from point A to point B).

Where to stay? I did site inspections five years ago and came away with my own very distinct impressions. Ca Sagrado is an authentic palazzo near the Rialto Bridge converted into a hotel with a real sense of place. Luna Baglioni, a true five star hotel right around the corner from the Piazza San Marco, feels both Venetian yet updated. Belmond's Cipriani is a resort where the jet set can escape the paparazzi; a five minute complimentary boat ride from San Marco (available 24/7), spend the day exploring Venice, then escape in the afternoon to a secluded island resort with its large swimming pool.

But for a real WOW, there's the Aman Venice Grand Canal. It was not open when I visited in 2012, but Aman has created a city hotel that transcends the ordinary. Once the palazzo (palace) of the Papadopoli family, the hotel is a meticulously restored monument of golden stuccos and previous frescoes. Virtuoso guests receive complimentary daily breakfasts and a complimentary lunch during their stay.

A must if you're an Amanjunkie — and if you're not, perhaps a stay at Aman Venice is the best way to experience the luxury and serenity of Aman for the first time.

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.

Belmond | double hotel credits

Planning a stay in a Belmond hotel? For new, 3+ day bookings made from now until July 15, 2017 (with travel completed before August 31st), enjoy a double hotel credit. This means, you'll get the added value of...

$180 hotel credit (food, beverage, spa) for room bookings (normally $90)
$400 hotel credit (food, beverage, or spa) for Suite bookings (normally $200)

There's nothing for you to join. As Bellini Club luxury travel advisors, our clients will receive the double credit along with full set of Bellini Club amenities with every booking:

• Buffet or full breakfast for 2 daily
• VIP welcome treats with a local taste   
• Complimentary upgrade based on availability at time of check-in 
• Complimentary WI-FI access 

There's something quite special about Belmond hotels and resorts. The company does not build new hotels; they acquire iconic hotels with character — the Cipriani in Venice, La Residencia in Mallorca, Villa San Michele in Florence, and Charleston Place in Charleston, SC (among others).  Every Belmond hotel with the exception of Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg is participating in the double hotel credit program.

What about Belmond trains and cruises? Enjoy a complimentary one-way airport transfer when booking through a Bellini Club travel advisor.

Terms and Conditions
Valid for new bookings only, made between 10 May - 15 July 2017
Valid for travel completed before 31 August 2017
Valid for bookings at selected hotels, trains and cruises — direct hotel bookings made at the BC rate (= the BAR rate) and train/cruise bookings made at the official published rates.
For hotels, offer is only applicable for bookings with a minimum length of stay of 3 nights
Premium Bellini Club amenities apply (rather than consortia amenities)
Advance reservations required, offers subject to availability, blackout dates may apply
Terms and conditions are subject to change

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.

four tips for the best gelato

Rialto Bridge, Venice (c) 2015 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

After spending the day exploring Venice, Florence, Rome, or another destination in Italy, it's time for gelato. I just read an informative blog on the subject posted by Concierge in Umbria, one of the destination management companies we work with. Follow this link to see the article itself, or read on to read my four tips for the best gelato.

1. Gelato is softer and creamier than ice cream because it has lower milk fat and is served at a warmer temperature.

2. Stay away from brightly colored, fluffy waves of gelato. Bright eye-catching colors? This is your clue that food coloring has been added. Fluffy waves? Air has been pumped into the product to volumize. What you want is gelato with dull, natural colors that lays hard and flat in the tin.

3. Made in house? Hah! That doesn't necessarily mean what you'd think. Gelaterias can use prepackaged mixes and still legally advertise gelato fatto in casa.

4. Buy what's in season. Strawberries in winter? This gelato has likely come from a mix. Go for what's fresh and natural.

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.

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.

Aman Canal Grande Venice | opening this spring

Exciting news for Amanjunkies! Aman has just (15 minutes ago) officially announced the opening of the new Aman Canal Grande Venice, its fourth Mediterranean destination. No specific dates have been provided, except that the newest Amanresort will open in time for the Ventian Beiennale on June 1st.

Reservations for the resort will open on March 15th, 8 days from now. No news on the Virtuoso amenities, but if typical of other Amanresorts, they should include upgrade if available upon arrival, breakfast for two daily, and an additional resort (usually a complimentary lunch or dinner)... but don't hold me to this!

If you'd like to be the first to reserve a room at Aman Venice, just send me an email, and I'll take care of the rest. The hotel will take wait listed reservations on the month of June, with confirmed reservations starting July 1.

You can download the hotel brochure at this link.

Introductory rates:

6 Palazzo Rooms (with views of the private garden) — 1,000€
9 Palazzo Chambers (with views of the Grand Canal) — 1,500€
6 Palazzo Suites (with views of the Grand Canal) — 2,000€
3 Signature Suites — from 2,500 - 3,500€

Aman Canal Grande Venice (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.

will this become the FS Venice?

San Clemente Palace has closed - will it be purchased by FS Venice?

Nestled on a private island in the Venetian Lagoon is the San Clemente Palace, a five star resort created in a former 17th century Camaldolesi Monastery. The Daily Mail reports that the hotel is closing its doors, victim of the financial difficulties facing Italy, and is awaiting a buyer. The article offers the intriguing rumor that "Canadian company Four Seasons has expressed an interest in buying the resort."

The beauty of an island resort is that you can catch a complimentary shuttle to the Piazza San Marco, spend the day exploring the attractions of Venice, wandering (and getting lost!) in the winding streets and alleys, and visiting the shops and restaurants. But when you want to get away from the crowds, you can catch the shuttle back to your resort, take a dip in the pool (really nice in the hot summer months), and enjoy the luxury, seclusion, and relaxation of your island sanctuary. If this appeals to you,  and you'd like to visit Venice this summer, definitely consider a stay this summer at Hotel Cipriani, the iconic Orient-Express property just a five-minute shuttle from St. Mark's Square.

Will San Clemente Island become the Four Seasons Venice - San Clemente? It's anybody's guess, but based on Four Seasons incredible property in Florence, the Four Seasons Firenze, this resort would be a stunning new addition to the FS worldwide collection of hotels and resorts.

Four Seasons Venice (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.

luxury travel in the age of EasyJet | 4 tips

I am in Venice and am struck by how different the city seems this time. No, all of the same attractions are still there — the Piazza San Marco, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile, the Rialto Bridge. What's different is how crowded the city is. Thousands upon thousands of tourists crowding every passageway. Getting from Point A to Point B requires walking around (or through) groups tourists blocking the way

I've experienced the same thing in other parts of the world. Long lines waiting for tickets to Versailles, the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, or the Vatican Museum. Dense crowds inside museums, making it impossible to spend quality time in front of, say, the Mona Lisa. Things were so bad in Capri, when I was there, that I escaped back up the hill to Anacapri to avoid the throngs.

Travel has become very popular, as it should be. Discount airlines such as EasyJet make it easy for Europeans in particular to travel all over Europe. As many as three cruise ships dock at Venice in a day, releasing an extra 10,000 tourists to gum up the works.

Is true luxury travel even possible any more? Here are four tips:

1. Travel during "shoulder season." Especially avoid school holidays, if you possibly can. (This tip doesn't work for families who want to expose their children to the world of travel.) By choosing less popular times of the year, you may not get the best weather, but you'll experience lower prices, fewer crowds, and a less hectic time discovering your destination.

2. Seek out exclusive experiences that the crowds (a) are not likely to know about and (b) can't afford. A before-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museum may cost several hundred euros, but you'll experience the Sistine Chapel in peace and quiet, not packed in shoulder-to-shoulder. Your luxury travel consultant has local connections in most destinations who can suggest and arrange these unique experiences.

3. Wander away from the crowds, through parts of the city with relatively few tourists. Or to put it another way, get lost (not difficult to do in Venice), then find your way back. It's the best way to explore a new destination and discover its secrets.

4. Explore off the beaten track destinations. Before going to Venice, I spent the day in Hampshire County, England. Instead of spending time in crowded London, I stayed out in the country, visited Winchester and its cathedral, drove through charming English villages, and ate a great meal at an authentic English pub.

Luxury travel is a matter of time and space, having enough time so that you don't feel rushed, and having enough space so that you don't feel crowded.


luxury 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.

top 10 unique journeys in Europe

idea #1 Simplon-Orient Express Train from London to Venice (other journeys available)

Sometimes the journey is as fascinating as the destination. The luxury travel company Abercrombie and Kent recently published this top 10 list of some unique journeys in Europe. I've never done any of these either, although I have booked the Orient Express train for clients. Any of these on your bucket list?

1. Simplon-Orient Express Train from London to Venice.

2. Glacier Express train from Zermatt to St Moritz

3. Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostock

4. River Cruise on the Danube

5. Royal Scotsman Train across Scotland

6. Rome to Sicily by Rail

7. Zurich to Milan by Rail

8. Drive past the fairytale castles of the Rhine Valley

9. Train journey between Paris and the Cote d'Azur

10. Cotswold Way on foot


Contact your luxury travel consultant to book the Orient Express, or any of the other journeys. We can suggest five star hotels at either end of your journey and provide exclusive amenities during your hotel stays, all at the best available rate.


Orient Express train (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. .

top 10 unique travel experiences in Europe

underground at the Eiffel Tower: the machinery that runs the elevators

You can do that? Abercrombie & Kent recently came out with several top ten lists for visiting Europe. Here is their list of the top ten Behind the Scenes unique travel experiences. Pricey, yes, but you'll always remember these unique experiences... and what stories to share with your friends!

1. St. Petersburg, Russia — special private access to the Hermitage store rooms


2. Rome, Italy — private visit to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel


3. Moscow, Russia — private backstage tour of the Bolshoi Theatre


4. Venice, Italy — private evening opening at St Mark's Basilica


5. Florence, Italy — behind the scenes at a jewelry workshop in Florence


6. Paris, France — visit the Eiffel Tower's machinery room and technical gallery. I've actually done this, and the picture above was taken during my tour.


7. London, England — private viewing of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London


8. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic — private tour of Cesky Krumlov Castle and exclusive access to the Castle Theatre


9. Vienna, Austria — private drinks reception and tour of Belvedere Palace


10. Spain — see how Castanets are made at the only makers in Spain

Want to plan an unique travel experience of your own? Contact a travel consultant who specializes in luxury foreign travel.

unique travel experiences (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. .

Italy in October

My next trip is officially planned ... I'll be going to Italy in October for some hotel site inspections. Here's what my plans entail:

Four Seasons Hampshire. OK, this is not in Italy, but as getting to Venice with one stop from SFO means an airport change in London and a very late evening arrival in Venice, I decided to treat myself to an overnight in the English countryside. Just 35 minutes from Heathrow, I'm looking forward to the chance to see the county of Hampshire, have pub grub and Guinness for dinner, and maybe even visit Winchester Cathedral. Then, my sensible 9:20 a.m. flight the next morning lands me just past noon in... 

Venice, city of canals. I haven't been to Venice in 34 years. I'm looking forward to wandering the streets and bridges of Venice. I don't expect to visit all 10 Virtuoso hotels in a day-and-a-half, but I do expect to visit a fair number including the Cipriani, Danieli, Europa & Regina, Londra Palace, and Ca' Sagredo.

Verona, where Romeo and Juliet lived. I will be the guest of Palazzo Victoria, one of three hotels that are hosting this trip for a number of travel consultants. I have never before visited Verona, so I'm especially interested in exploring this destination, especially the pink marble Roman amphitheater. 

Florence, city of the Renaissance. This will be my third trip to Florence. I've seen the two major museums (the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallary) and have climbed the famous dome of the cathedral designed by Brunelleschi. It's an amazing story, and you should read Brunelleschi's Dome before you visit. We will be hosted by Il Salviatino, and I'm planning to do site inspections at the Four Seasons Florence, Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy, and Helvetia & Bristol.

Milan, site of The Last Supper. My 15 minutes in front of Leonardo's classic masterpiece The Last Supper was the highlight of my previous trip to Italy, and if given the chance, I'll see it again. It's a special feeling to spend time with a classic work of art. Our host is the new Armani Hotel, and I also plan to visit the Four Seasons Milan, Park Hyatt Milan, and Principe Di Savoia.

Virtually every hotel mentioned in this blog is a member of Virtuoso. You can receive the Virtuoso amenities (free daily breakfast, room upgrades when available, and additional added-value perks) just by making your booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant. It's a great way to enjoy the most luxurious hotels in the world, while getting the best value for your euros.

Italy in October (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.

The Venice Experiment

The Venice Experiment: A Year of Trial and Error Living Abroad is the story of a really adventurous guy (Barry Frangipane) and the very interesting account of how he met his wife and subsequently decided to drop everything and move to Venice for a year. "Trial and error" is probably a very good way of describing their experience, but sometimes this is how we best learn. Barry and Debbie made their share of mistakes, but they came to know Venice in a way that few Americans will ever experience.

There is life in the neighborhoods, literally just around the corner from the crowded streets where tourists are milling about. The Venice Experiment offers a hint of what's there, waiting to be discovered. Worth the price of the book is a very short list of useful addresses (just nine entries). It includes Barry's favorite Gelateria in Venice, along with several pastry shops and trattorias and a recommended bar and cafe. A short list is exactly what you need for your few days in Venice, the net result of a full year's worth of trials and errors.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Barry on the phone - he's one of the most outgoing and enthusiastic people I've ever met. I was especially interested in Barry and Debbie's fledgling new enterprise, Savory Adventures, offering luxury culinary and touring experiences in Italy — not only Venice but in Piedmont and on the Amalfi Coast. Debbie is a CIA-trained chef (and you'll read about her culinary adventures in their tiny kitchen). Couldn't resist including this YouTube video of her outrageous Tiramisu French Toast recipe.




The Venice Experiment (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 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.
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travel bargains in Europe?

While the sad state of the U.S. dollar makes travel to Europe more expensive than it normally might be, there are bargains out there. Here's a deal that came across my desk the other day.

Spend twelve days on the Mediterranean, including round-trip air from the east coast. Your room, meals onboard, and entertainment are all included at a rate starting at only $2,199 per person. That's in U.S. Dollars. Yes, it's a cruise, but, no, it's not on Carnival or some other "budget" cruise line. This price is for an inside cabin on Holland America (while availability lasts); outside cabins with verandah begin at $2,899. Taxes and port fees are additional, and of course you're on your own when you visit Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Dubrovnik, Venice, and the many other stops on your trip.

Looking for an affordable way to visit Europe this Summer? This Mediterranean cruise might just be your ticket!


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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