Heike Milo - Senior Travel Advisor, CTC

01/05/2025

For a luxury spa-hotel in the UK, the Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is a great option. Set on 40 of its own patch of beautiful, rural Cumbria, the Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is a mix of a country house hotel and an ultra-modern spa hotel, with a choice of either traditional, or cutting edge decor in your room. couples spa, For spa treatments, all take place in dedicated couples’ treatment rooms. If you prefer a single treatment or separate treatment rooms, they are available at the Jetty Spa at the Lakehouse.

Gilpin is a hotel of three parts — the restaurants and public areas, the luxurious contemporary rooms on the grounds, and the Lake House located a mile away. Your room will be one of 31, including suites and private ‘cottage’ escapes — which have their own private hot tubs. There’s a picturesque lake on the grounds, with some of the spa treatment rooms offering you a view of the lake. This property offers you a choice for dining between SOURCE for Michelin starred restaurant or Gilpin Spice a more relaxed venue.

While you stay here you can visit Blackwell Arts & Crafts House, Beatrix Potter’s house Hill Top, head down to nearby Lake Windemere for some top notch sailing, rent a bike and explore some of the great mountain bike trails nearby, relax at the Champagne Bar, unwind in the lounge reading a book, stroll through the lush countryside, or enjoy the company of resident llamas, alpacas, and pot-bellied pigs.
The hotel is located 5 minutes away by car to the nearest town Windermere, or 3 minutes to the nearest village Bowness-on-Windermere.

01/04/2025

Surrounded by 40 acres and overlooking Lake Garda, Lake Garda, in northern Italy, is known for its crystal clear water. Villa Sostaga is a charming villa that was once an old hunting lodge. The bedrooms each have their own character (and individual names), decorated in vibrant colours with bold fabrics and fine antique Italian furniture. Set in the hills above Lake Garda, Villa Sostaga is certainly a perfect spot for sports enthusiasts with sailing, hiking, golf and cycling opportunities in the area. The villa features a large outdoor pool and terrace with lovely lake views.

Enjoy the elegant art nouveau dining room which gives a refined noble feel to this charming retreat. This elegant villa feels more like a home than a hotel.

Just 7.5 km from Gargnano, Villa Sostaga has splendid views of Lake Garda and its mountains. Within minutes you can reach Brescia, Verona, Mantua and Trento.

01/03/2025

Friday Funny....even Santa needs a vacation!

01/02/2025

Dinner in the Museum - Vienna. Start with a visit to the museum, then enjoy an excellent meal: Vienna’s museums beautifully combine cultural and culinary delights.

The Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna organizes a culinary Wednesday in its magnificent domed hall and offers either a mussel or asparagus dinner, depending on the season. Plus enjoy a breathtaking view across Vienna from the roof of the museum after dinner.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna invites you to a gourmet evening every Thursday with a multi-course dinner including museum visit. Dine in the imposing domed hall – a unique experience. As well as during these two themed evenings, the café-restaurant in both the Museum of Natural History Vienna and the Museum of Art History are also open during the day.

After a visit to the Leopold Museum with its masterpieces of Austrian Modernism, including the world’s biggest Egon Schiele collection, the museum’s Café Leopold beckons with delights of Asian and Viennese cuisine.

From the Porcelain Museum of the Augarten Porcelain Manufactory, head straight to the Sperling restaurant for lunch, dinner or coffee. The museum restaurant offers great food in a pretty castle right in the middle of the Augarten.

The Salonplafond restaurant in the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna, is well worth a visit. With its imposing historic ceiling (to which the restaurant’s name refers) and many design elements such as furniture by Josef Frank and chairs by Oswald Haerdtl and Ernst Schwadron, the restaurant fits perfectly into the MAK.

Prices vary for each museum and dinners offered. Fun way to end your day exploring the museum!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! Best wishes for a healthy, happy and full of travel 2025!!

12/31/2024

A perfect choice for an Adult beach holiday in Mexico! The all-inclusive JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar (formerly Iberostar Grand Paraíso) on the Riviera Maya is located beachfront and has been designed with adults in mind. This superior-category, elegant, and luxurious hotel is located in the Paraíso Complex along with 4 other Iberostar hotels. This Adults-only beachfront hotel offers 5 culinary experiences plus access to the entire Iberostar complex giving guest up to 19 restaurants & 19 bars to choose from!

Stay in a suite or villa at the JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar and receive:
Unlimited visits to the spa’s water circuit
Balinese beds available at no extra charge
Full access to the facilities at all 5 hotels in the complex
A customizable minibar that is restocked daily and also upon request, as well as snacks in the room
24-hour room service

This property is located on the beach in Playa Paraiso, 30 miniutes from Xcaret park and 1 hour from Tulum.
The JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar is the ultimate adults-only luxury resort with the Iberostar Grand Collection.

12/30/2024

In 2025, Bath, will celebrate Austen 250 – the 250th anniversary of the famous former resident novelist’s birthday - with a packed programme of events, exhibitions, talks, tours, trails, themed hotel packages and the Jane Austen Festival who present 4 themed balls: three in the summer and a special Yuletide birthday ball at Christmas.

Follow in Jane’s footsteps and imagine the Regency-era Bath she vividly brought to life on the pages of her novels. Events, experiences and celebrations will take place throughout 2025, and further event information and bookable product can be found at

When the celebrated author Jane Austen made Bath her home, from 1801 to 1806, the city was a thriving spa resort, popular with fashionable society. Retrace Jane’s steps on your visit to Bath and…

12/29/2024

Romancing Vietnam - visit Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong Bay. The sheer natural beauty, historical towns and cultural legacies that Vietnam offers creates a unique romantic journey. Trails of Indochina has a selection of stand-out activities and pursuits that are specially designed to share and indulge as a couple while exploring this magical country together – ultimately creating long-lasting memories.

Highlights of this12 day itinerary:
Romantic three-day cruise on the luxurious Jasmine in Halong Bay
Relaxing getaway to idyllic Cham Island
A romantic sunset cruise on the Saigon River
Explore Hanoi’s celebrated street food with a renowned food blogger

Trails of Indochina has been the leading expert in tailor-made travel to Southeast Asia since 1999. With extensive insight into the region this allows them to deliver an exceptional, authentic experience that connects travellers to the local people for a deeper understanding of the culture and history.

12/28/2024

Collette Vacations offers small group guided tours worldwide. I love this itinerary for exploring Tuscany & Umbira countryside in Italy! This tour takes you on less-traveled country roads of Umbria and Tuscany. Explore the Etruscan hill town of Spoleto, where the gilded façade of the cathedral rivals with the silvery sheen of the olive trees, and stroll Assisi’s old city. Hunt for truffles in Umbria. In Siena, stand inside one of Tuscany’s most ancient piazzas. Visit Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Admire the famous towers of San Gimignano. Delight in regional specialties and Italian wine with every dinner. Feel like a local as you discover the marvels of wine, cuisine, culture, and history.

10-day Tuscan & Umbria Countryside tour includes a guided small-group motorcach tour, stay at 4 Handpicked accommodations, enjoy 9 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners, unique experiences included and so much more!

For this tour you will be walking and standing for longer periods of time (2-3 hours) plus climbing stairs. If you enjoy a moderately paced two-and-a-half-hour walking tour, covering several km's, hills, and uneven surfaces, this tour is perfect for you. Expect some longer days balanced with free time to recharge or set out on your own adventure.

Tour departures April 26 - October 25, 2025 or March to May 2026. Tour cost from C$ 4649 per person/double occupancy (2 people sharing). Tour starts in Rome and ends in Florence.

12/27/2024

Interested in a sailing adventure? Intrepid offers a variety of options but this one features Sardinia & Corsica Sailing Adventure for 8 days.

As most of this trip takes place on a sailing boat, you’ll need to feel comfortable with moving about the vessel, including using stairs. The ship will experience some roll and pitch in choppy conditions, however, all our ships come equipped with stabilisers to minimise movement.
The yachts have a small Zodiac on board, which is used to transport travellers to shore if we need to anchor in the bay. However, they will most often overnight in the small marinas on each island we visit, so the Zodiacs aren’t used.
This is an adventure on board a real yacht, which means living spaces, cabins, bathrooms, and showers need to be shared with other passengers. Sleeping quarters can be quite compact, but you will be spending the majority of your time above board in the open air.
Sailing departures May 31 - September 27, 2025. Cruise price froim C$3063 per person. Max 8 people per group. Start Olbia and end Portisco. The minimum age on this trip is 15.

12/26/2024

Insider Access to the icons, Insightful Encounters with local experts, elevated dining experiences
and hotels…sounds dreamy, right? That’s premium touring with Insight Vacations. For a limited time, you can save up to $2,500 per couple* during The Big Tour Sale.

Big just got bigger... with worldwide tours on sale, Book your next guided tour by February 20, 2025 and Save!

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Wishing you a fun-filled holiday season with family and friends!

12/24/2024

Wishing you lots of warmth, happiness and togetherness with family and friends this Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas!

12/23/2024

Travel Time Inc - Kelowna holiday hours:

Landmark 1
Tuesday, December 24 / 9am-2pm
Closed: December 25, 26, 27, 28 & 29
Monday December 30 / 9am-4:30pm
Tuesday December 31 / 9am - 3pm
Closed Wednesday January 1 - Happy New Year!
Regular hours resume January 2, 2025 / 9am-4:30pm

12/22/2024

Hotel Cabane in Paris is a 3-star stylish boutique hotel offering fantastic value in the Montparnasse area. Choose from chic rooms, or opt for the hidden gem—the garden cabane—a romantic, wooden-clad retreat. This city hotel comprises of 43 rooms, There's no restaurant at this property but they have a cosy bar, charming terrace, and great dining options nearby make it a perfect Parisian escape.
The Gare Montparnasse railway station is some 500 m away and it is about 2 km to the Eiffel Tower. With gourmet breakfasts, gardens and beautiful living spaces, you'll feel pampered throughout your stay.

This property is part of the Orso Hotel family of Parisien hoels, creating singular places for a memorable experience. Orso revives the good old codes and forgotten values of the hotel business. The very essence of travel.

12/22/2024

I like the new seat recline feature!

12/21/2024

For a boutique hotel stay in Tokyo, plan a stay at the Asakusa Kokono Club Hotel located in Tokyo's Taito district, a short distance from the city's main sights. The property features dark, muted tones & smart interiors as well as a range of accommodation (penthouses, family rooms and dormitories). Japanese cuisine served. A splendid all-round stay. Guest rooms are “Japanese” and “Modern ”styled rooms that blends with the city, to give you a cozy and a memorable stay.

Asakusa Kokona Club Hotel is a fantastic choice for those looking to get to know Tokyo on foot or bicycle. Wander through the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden or simply meander around the streets of this bustling hub of activity. This property is a 3-minute walk to Sensoji Temple, which attracts many tourists from all over the world, and a 20-minute train ride to Tokyo's new symbol, Tokyo Sky Tree. During your stay visit The Nakamise Market, (shopping street) one of Japan's oldest shopping centers, Full of souvenirs with some dating back to the Edo period. Just a 10 minute walk from this hotel.
This is the only hotel in Japan that is combined with a theater. "Asakusa kokono Club" is standing on Hisago-dori in Asakusa, which retains the magnificence and gorgeousness of Edo era.

Smart, well-located and well-priced, with private rooms or dormitories

12/20/2024

Air Canada has a new flight to Asia. Non-stop flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in the Philippines starting in the spring of 2025. Flights will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring three cabins of service for customers to choose from, including Signature Class (Business) with lie-flat seats, Premium Economy and Economy Class.

The Philippines is a tropical paradise with its awe-inspiring beauty and vibrant culture. With its 7,641 islands offering diverse landscapes, you can go from pristine beaches to lush jungles in a heartbeat during your Philippines vacation.

Air Canada service will be year-round, with flights operating 4x weekly starting April 2, 2025.