Tag: Europe

  • We ❤️ The Christmas Markets of Germany & Switzerland

    I love Christmas in Germany, and the highlight of the holiday season there for me is visiting a local Christmas market. The Weihnachtsmarkt is a local phenomenon across German-speaking Europe during the four weeks of the Advent Season, right before Christmas. These markets are held in the town squares and adjacent pedestrian zones, and sell food, drink, and seasonal items from open-air stalls. There’s often traditional singing and dancing, which leads to an extremely jolly, festive atmosphere. Over the years, I’ve purchased most of my own Christmas ornaments and decorations from these markets, and one of my favorite activities while shopping is to devour a German Wurst (i.e. sausage) and drink the Glühwein (hot mulled spiced wine).

    One of our Savvy Navigator friends and fans, Cathi, recently took a Rhine River Cruise from Cologne, Germany down to Basel, Switzerland. Cathi kindly documented her adventures along the river in this clever little video and we think it’s worth sharing. As you’ll see, the highlight of her trip was visiting all of the Christmas markets along the Rhine, and she and her mama brought home WAY too many Christmas decorations (but that’s another story). Take a look here at this fun video, and let’s make sure you visit the Christmas markets yourself in 2016! Click here and we’ll send you more info!

  • Amsterdam Flower Show

    Spring has finally arrived here in NYC and the city has come alive! The trees are budding, the sidewalks and bike paths are filled with pedestrians and bicyclists, and the tulips are starting to bloom around the city. The abundance of greenery in the city these days is remotely reminiscent of a trip join the Netherlands many years ago (OK, very remotely reminiscent).

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    Keukenhof is an 80 acre park, 30 minutes from Amsterdam, and the home of the annual spring Dutch tulip show. With 7 million bulbs of all colors blooming, it’s a technicolor dream. The park is open for about 7 weeks between March and May, and the best time to visit is right about now in mid-April. It’s a super easy day trip from Amsterdam, too, so you can combine it with a quick stopover while en-route on KLM to someplace exotic.

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    So the next time you hear, “Spring has sprung, the grass has ris, I wonder where the flowers is?” you’ll have the answer!

  • A perfect day in Sicily

    A key mission of the new Savvy Navigator is to find the best travel partners in the most interesting locations, and we’ve recently gotten to know Gary Portuesi, from Authentic Sicily. Gary loves Sicily (he was born there) and marvels at the cultural, historical, natural, and culinary offerings of the island. His perfect day is a morning hike on Mt. Etna, followed by a village lunch, and an afternoon of local wine tasting.

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    He also has a beautiful private villa in Taormina, which we’re seriously thinking about booking for a September getaway (when the price really drops after the end of the summer season).
    Take a look at this awesome Villa!
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    Gary knows this region better than anyone and this is why he’s on our preferred partner list. If you’d like more info about Sicily, or how to book this beautiful villa, check out Gary’s site: http://authenticsicily.comfeb 9(1)Happy travel dreaming, and have a great week!

  • London Afternoon Tea

    Afternoon tea in England is one of life’s most civilized events. Savvy and spouse are here in London this weekend and we stopped in yesterday at the Hotel Corinthia for afternoon tea in the Lobby Lounge.

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    A perfect combination of sweet and savory, the menu includes handcrafted tea blends, pastries, scones, and of course, the classic tea sandwiches. By chance, we just happened upon the Corinthia’s afternoon tea a few years ago and it immediately became our favorite.jan 31(1)

    The only downside of this marvelous afternoon tea is that it spoiled our appetites for dinner last night, but more on that later.

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    Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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  • Happy Boxing Day!

    The day after Christmas in Olde England and throughout the Commonwealth is known as Boxing Day.

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    Traditionally the day that affluent families bestowed holiday gifts on household staff, or a day spent in the country hunting, today it’s really a day of retail therapy. Long before there relatively-new concept of Black Friday, shoppers headed out on Boxing Day in search of post-Christmas bargains. For example, Savvy has always loved Boxing Day at Selfridges department store in London and found some real bargains there over the years.

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    Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderfully happy Boxing Day, no matter which city you find yourself in today.

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  • Best Paris Brasserie

    A favorite Savvy holiday escape is jetting over to Paris for a few days between Christmas and New Year’s. The city is quiet, beautiful and generally cold, which simply adds to the ambiance. In addition to Café au Lait and croissants, the ultimate meal for us while there is Chateaubriand for two at La Coupole, the historic brasserie on the Left Bank.

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    La Coupole draws neighborhood locals, both French and international tourists, as well as anyone wanting an exquisite French meal. And if you’re lucky, someone might even stand up and sing an Edith Piaf song, or the wait staff will collectively sing Happy Birthday!

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    If you’re interested in getting more information about La Coupole or Paris in General, shoot us an email and we can show you the way. And in the meantime, have a very Joyeux Noël (if that’s your chosen holiday), whenever you are.

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  • Münchner Christkindlmarkt

    Tonight I’m flying off to Munich to jump-start myself into the holiday spirit. On Friday I’ll visit the Münchner Christkindlmarkt, aka the Munich Christmas Market, which is one of the oldest holiday markets in Europe. Dating back to the 14th century, the market is a must-see event for those celebrating the holiday, as well as for others who don’t. Think of this extravaganza as a holiday-themed version of Oktoberfest.

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    I’m sure I’ll come back home to NYC this weekend with some great new holiday ornaments and decorations, as well as memories of completely overindulging in Christmas treats and the hot mulled wine, Glühwein.

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  • Turkey in Turkey!

    Tomorrow is Turkey Day here in the USA, and, of course, this makes me think of the other Turkey — the country bridging Asia and Europe! A few years ago I spent a few days in Istanbul at the Four Seasons Bosphorus. It was a magnificent stay in one of the most explorable cities in the world. The sites, museums, mosques & temples, restaurants, and Hammam public baths were just superlative. And the Four Seasons hotel there right on the strait is just stunning.

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    As you devour your Thanksgiving turkey tomorrow, join me in thinking about visiting the other Turkey in 2015. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

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  • Revisiting Santorini

    Greece. Santorini. I was last there in 2001, and it was only for a day. Some pals and I were on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise and one of our port calls was Santorini. We hiked along the top of what was once the volcanic rim and had an amazing lunch with a view like this.

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    One of our Savvy Navigators, Edward, was here last year for about a week, and I’ve now got a to-do item to interview him about what he loved about the island.

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    Isn’t it time to return? Let’s go! We’ll show you the way.

  • Burgundy France Cruising

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    I’ve been thinking a lot about the perfect vacation for next summer. Last year, we chartered the luxurious Afloat in France Fleur de Lys barge for a week in Burgundy, cruising along the French canals. Quite simply, it was amazing. Everything was included — luxurious five-star accommodations, all of our meals, first-class wines that tickled the palettes of our fussiest oenophiles, private touring with a guide each day, and best of all, there was a swimming pool on board!

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    Should we do it again next year? I’m thinking there’s no other response other than heck yeah!

    Click here if you would like more information about this fabulous escape.

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