Travel by Kris

07/31/2024

So exciting - my clients at the Olympics!! 🤗

While in Paris - they attended events in gymnastics, swimming, and beach volleyball. Between soaking up the Olympics experience - they also squeezed in as much sightseeing as possible.

📷Thanks for always sharing your photos And as always, I appreciate working together! 😘

Feel free to reach out if you have the Olympics or other big events on your bucket list. I have some great connections and companies I work with for these trips! 😎

07/29/2024

Living in Colorado and with summer vacations in full swing - I want to highlight a favorite place in my adopted home state.

Click below to read "Visiting the Great Sand Dunes National Park".👇

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is one of my favorite spots in Colorado! Located about 4 hours southwest of Denver, it’s off the beaten path and I still haven’t figured out why it hasn’t become more popular with the tourists that flock here. It’s also home to the highest dunes in North Am...

07/26/2024

After island hopping in the Greek Islands - my clients’ trip wrapped up with a day in Athens. 🇬🇷

Athens makes the perfect start or end to your travels in Greece. So much history to soak in and convenient for your flight to/from the States.

Don’t miss a visit to the Parthenon (if during the summer - pre book your tickets for earlier morning to beat the heat), wandering the cobblestone streets of the Plaka, and sunset/Acropolis views from one of the rooftop restaurants! 😎

📷I took this pic in the Plaka during my trip there in 2021

07/25/2024

My clients continued their island hoping in Greece with 4 nights in Santorini. 🇬🇷

From Mykonos it’s much less hassle to ferry to Santorini than fly… and it’s also part of the experience of traveling in the Greek Isles! 🇬🇷

To make it more seamless (it’s very busy here June-August - taxis can be hard to come by) - I had private transfers arranged throughout their trip.

They spent their 4 nights here at the Alta Mare By Adronis, in a 2 bedroom suite with caldera views and a private balcony. IMHO - when it’s your first time on Santorini you should stay in Oia (that’s where you see the blue dome pics!), Fira, or in between these villages.This is where you get the best caldera and sunset views and unique cliff side hotels! 🌅

While on Santorini they experienced the famous Santorini sunset on a catamaran cruise and explored with their boys on ATV’s.

📷Client photo of their breakfast with a view! 🥐

07/24/2024

After a little break from social media, back to highlighting my clients’ recent trip to Greece. 🇬🇷

For their first island - they spent 3 nights on Mykonos at the Myconian Korali. With its convenient location to Mykonos Town and sea views - it’s a great spot for your stay!

While on Mykonos they spent time on their famous beaches, celebrated the 4th of July, took a private tour of Delos, and enjoyed the nightlife and sunsets here! 🌅🍹

📷Clients photo - enjoying drinks and sunset in the hotel pool!

07/15/2024

This family just returned from island hopping in Greece! 🇬🇷

They started off in Mykonos, ferried to Santorini, and spent a day in Athens before heading home.

I’ll be highlighting more of their trip - check back this week for details. They captured some great shots and came home with the best memories! 🤗

📷 Client photo (could they be any more photogenic!? 🤩) Thanks for sharing your pics and also having me help plan your adventures in Greece!

07/09/2024

Clients just returned from their Danube River cruise on Viking. For their first river cruise they sailed on the “Romantic Danube”.

This is the perfect itinerary if you want extra days to explore Vienna (so much to see and do here!). You’ll visit Passau and Regensburg Germany - along with Vienna and Krems Austria. 🇩🇪🇦🇹

You’ll also get a taste of Hungary, as this cruise starts or ends in Budapest. Viking includes an overnight on the river boat here - but I recommend an extra night or two - a day isn’t enough time in this magnificent city! 🇭🇺

My clients also extended their trip with a pre cruise visit to Prague for 3 nights. Including Viking’s hotel, flights, and cruise transfers - it was a seamless vacation. 🤗

📷 I took this photo of the Hungarian Parliament Building (what a gorgeous building!) from across the river in the Castle District of Budapest. My husband and I spent 3 nights here on 2022 before our Danube River Cruise. One of our favorite cities - we loved it!

07/04/2024

Happy 4th of July, travel friends! 🇺🇸

07/01/2024

Some of the most rewarding parts of running my travel business are hearing client feedback, about the memories made, and receiving pics they send me! I’m so lucky to work with such nice people! 🤗

Loved getting this message from my clients upon their return from their 3 weeks in Italy and Portugal! 😍

“First off, thank you for making the planning of this trip painless. Everything went smoothly and we had no glitches at all. Overall, the trip was amazing and life-changing. Thanks again for making it so memorable!”

📷 My clients” gorgeous photo of the Amalfi Coast!

06/28/2024

Are you road-tripping this summer? If you're renting a car - be sure to check out my article for tips. Click below to read.👇

Happy Friday travel friends!

Check on Fees Be sure to look into the additional rental fees such as; drivers over age 70, drivers under age 25, early returns, one way drop off fees and the cost for returning the car without a full tank of gas. Inventory the Car Before you leave the rental agency I highly recommend you tho...

06/26/2024

After spending a few days in Sicily researching some family history - my clients spent the last week of their European adventure in Portugal.🇵🇹

They split their stay between Porto and Lisbon - in 4 star, city center locations. I also arranged a Douro Valley wine tour, secret foodie tour, and plenty of free time for exploration on their own. 🍷

📷 My clients’ pic of the beautiful Duoro River and Duoro Valley (also a popular area for river cruising!).

06/25/2024

The next stop on my clients’ 3 week Europe trip was Sorrento, Italy. They home based at the Hotel Belair (with a balcony overlooking the bay!) for their 6 night stay in this area. 🇮🇹

After taking the train from Rome to Naples - I arranged a private transfer (with private guide to tour Pompeii included along the way 🤗) from Naples to Sorrento.

Along with their private guide in Pompeii - this part of their trip included so many fun activities… a lemon farm tour, pasta cooking class, and visiting many of the villages on the Amalfi Coast.

📷 My client took this pic in the village of Ravello, from the Villa Rufolo. Doesn’t this photo make you want to catch the next flight to Italy!? Gorgeous 😊

06/24/2024

This traveling couple has recently returned from their 3 week adventure in Italy and Portugal! 🇮🇹🇵🇹

Their trip included 5 destinations, 4/5 ⭐️ hotels, private transfers, trains, inter Europe flights, and so many fun activities and tours! I loved planning this one and following along on their vacation. 🤗

Their first stop was 4 nights in Rome… I also planned skip the line access to the Colosseum and Vatican for them… along with a secret foodie tour.

This was a fairly long trip - so it was also important I built in enough free time for them… time to wander and let the magic happen.

📷 Clients photo taken during their cooking class in Sorrento. 🍝

06/20/2024

We're traveling to Iceland in my recent TBK article. Waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers, volcanoes... a land of dramatic landscapes! It's a must visit destination.🤩

Click below to join me.👇

If you’ve only got a long weekend, it’s possible to see many highlights of Iceland! Before our cruise departure – my husband and I took advantage of the extended daylight hours to roadtrip to the southern part of Iceland. Since we’d be visiting places in the north on our cruise and many ...

06/19/2024

If you missed my post the other day I shared things to do in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley area of Germany.

I stayed in one of my favorite local, small hotels in this area (Lorch, Germany) - a former schoolhouse!

The school was built in the Bauhaus style... and it was so interesting to meet a former teacher who had traveled from England, just to stay in this style of school!

Click my article below to read more about this unique hotel.👇

Do you have a favorite themed hotel? Last July I stayed at the Im Schulhaus in Lorch, Germany for two nights. In 2013 this former school house was converted into a modern hotel with 44 rooms. I grew up attending grade school in the States – but from the moment we entered, I was carried […]

06/17/2024

After talking about river cruising last week - I also want to highlight a popular area along the Rhine River, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. This UNESCO site stretches from Bingen to Koblenz, Germany and is lined with castles, vineyards, and picturesque villages. Click my article below on what to do in this area.👇

During our trip to The Netherlands in July, my husband and I took a detour (ok, truthfully a break from our busy schedule of visiting friends and family! 😉 ) to the Rhine Valley in Germany. With no set plan and a couple of free days, we ended up in one of the most picturesque […]

06/14/2024

To wrap up our week talking about river cruising - I want to share one more of my TBK articles about this popular type of vacation.

Click below to read reasons to love river cruising.👇

Thanks for following along this week - happy weekend travelers!

1. A More All-Inclusive Trip A river cruise tends to have more included in their cruise fare compared to the majority of ocean cruises. With most food, drinks, tips and tours included in their price – you won’t feel nickel and dimed while on your trip. River cruise lines also offer options to in...

06/13/2024

While we're talking about river cruising - let's debunk the myth that river cruises aren't an active vacation!

From climbing St. Stephens Cathedral Tower in Vienna, hiking to Postlingberg Church in Linz, Austria, and logging thousands of steps in Budapest - my husband and I got more exercise on our Danube River cruise than many of our other trips!💪

Click below to read how to stay active during your river cruise vacation.👇

1. Shore Excursions River cruise lines have upped their game in the active tour department! Besides complimentary bikes to use on many ships – a few of the lines have partnered with adventure companies such as Backroads and National Geographic. On all the river cruises there are active excursions ...

06/12/2024

The past few years - river cruising has exploded in popularity... and also with my clients! They've cruised all the major rivers in Europe and the Nile in Africa. River cruising has become one of my areas of planning expertise - I've learned so many of the ins and outs and tips the past several years. Drop me a line, as I'd love to work with you on planning your river cruise adventure!

Two years ago I experienced my first river cruise for a 7 night voyage on the Danube between Budapest, Hungary and Passau, Germany. Since it's my most requested river cruise line here at TBK - I opted to cruise on Viking River Cruises.

Click below to watch my latest TBK video.👇

Catering to an English speaking clientele and with a plethora of itineraries around the world – my clients love Viking River Cruises!  Click below to join me for a tour of one of the Viking River Cruises longships! Until the next adventure – bon voyage! Kris

06/12/2024

The State Dept. has reopened the online passport renewal portal!
If you need to renew yours - now is the time to do so, so much easier! 😊

This page includes information about the limited release of renewing a U.S. passport online.

06/11/2024

Are you considering a river cruise? After planning numerous of these trips for clients the last several years and taking my first one a couple years ago - I've put together the pros and cons of river cruising. Click below to read.👇

I recently returned from my first river cruise experience! My husband and I had a great time cruising on the Danube for a week between Budapest and Germany. Let’s talk about all the good stuff first! Pros Docking The river boats dock in the heart of the cities and villages. There is no tendering, ...

06/10/2024

With the majority of my clients traveling to Europe this summer - I want to highlight the Upper Rhine River Valley and more about river cruising this week. 🇪🇺

During a visit to my husband’s family a few years ago a we took a detour from The Netherlands into Germany for a couple days. While we stayed in this area we shot a quick video to give you a glimpse of this unique part of the Rhine River! Click below to check it out.👇

Join me in Germany to explore the Upper Rhine River Valley. You’ll experience local villages, historic castles, and cruise down the romantic Rhine! In my Travel by Kris video series I share my personal travel and destination tips with you – only recommending restaurants, activities and accommoda...

06/06/2024

Vail isn't just for winter trips! When I lived just over the pass from Vail - I loved popping for a day of summer fun. And if you happen to be near there this weekend - don't miss the GoPro Mountain Games. There's nothing better than watching the dock diving dogs! 😊

Click below to read my tips for your visit.👇

With only a mountain pass between Vail and where I live, it’s fun to pop over there and play tourist on occasion! As most people know, Vail is a skiing and winter hotspot – but it’s also a terrific summer destination. One could easily spend days in this area, with so many activities! Here’s ...

06/05/2024

Hopefully you'll be spending time at the airport this summer! With the start of summer vacations - it's time to brush up on tips for navigating the airport.✈️

Click below to read: 👇

After traveling through many airports around the world the past 20 years, I’ve put together a list of my best travel tips for a stress free airport experience. 1. Allow extra time! My #1 tip and best advice is to always arrive to the airport with more time than you think you’ll need. At some [.....

06/04/2024

I currently have new clients cruising in the Mediterranean this week - it’s the first cruise for this family of 4! 🛳️

They’re kicking off their summer cruising the Greek Isles and coast of Italy aboard Norwegian Cruise Line - enjoying the views from their balcony cabin! 🇮🇹🇬🇷

It was so fun working with them to make their bucket list trip a reality! Hotels, port transfers, tours in Rome, shore excursion advice, and travel insurance were all included with my planning. Along with my personal tips on shore excursions and traveling in Europe! 🤗

📷 Photo of the NCL cruise ship I took in the Middle East in 2022. You can't miss the NCL ships with their colorful hulls!

06/03/2024

More clients returning from Europe! A couple is recently back from their 3 week adventure in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Norway.

The trip was part river cruise, luxury hotel stays, and visiting family.

Their river cruise was on Viking River Cruises’ Holland & Belgium itinerary - starting in Antwerp… with cruise port stops mainly in The Netherlands (including a slight detour into Germany). They were also able to catch the end of tulip season!🌷

They extended their trip with a 3 night stay pre cruise in Bruges at Dukes’ Palace. After traveling through the Dutch countryside - they enjoyed Amsterdam with an extra 2 nights at the Movenpick.

The conclusion of their trip was a week long stay and visiting family in Norway (with another city center location at the Hotel Thon Opera in Oslo).

I love working on trips and cruises with numerous moving parts and details! 🤗

05/30/2024

One of my favorite places I've visited in the spring - Texas Hill Country! So many reasons to visit - click below to read my top 5. 👇

In the spring of 2019 my husband and I road tripped through Texas for a month in our camper. In between Big Bend National Park and Galveston – we spent a few days in Texas Hill Country. These are the 5 reasons you should visit Texas Hill Country: 1. Cute Towns I’ve lost track of […]

05/29/2024

As we talked about Alaska cruises yesterday - I’d also like to share my tips on visiting Vancouver. 🇨🇦

It’s a fantastic destination unto itself - but its port is also one of the emabarking points (or disembarking) for your cruise through the Inside Passage. It’s the perfect time to spend a couple days exploring this vibrant city!

Click below to read my recommendations of what to experience in Vancouver.👇

Vancouver is one of those rare cities that makes city and nature lovers happy! Surrounded by water and mountains (truly spectacular views!), it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise. The downtown area is thriving with unique neighborhoods to explore, a foodie’s dream destination, and many cultural eve...

05/28/2024

Europe isn't the only hotspot for travelers this summer!

Alaska has always been a popular destination for TBK clients - the majority choosing Inside Passage cruises. 🛳

Having cruised in Alaska several times - click below to read my article about choosing tours for your Alaska cruise.👇

In the past 20 years I’ve been fortunate to cruise to Alaska several times. After visiting the Inside Passage ports quite a few times I’ve tried many of the shore excursions – here’s the top five for you to try! 1. Flight Seeing – If you splurge on one excursion on your Alaska cruise, flig...

05/22/2024

With so many of my clients traveling in Europe this summer - it's a good time to share this article again. Having traveled to Europe several times - I've learned quite a few tips! Click below to read.👇

1. Carry small bills and coins for tipping, toll roads, purchases at markets and to use the toilet. Don’t call it a bathroom in Europe, as they’ll literally think you want to shower or take a bath (important tidbit I learned from my Dutch hubby)! 2. Look for McDonald’s! No, not for an ...