EBR Travel

11/03/2024

We arrived in Basel Switzerland bright and early, and the sun arrived with us! This morning’s bike excursion brought us to the borders of 3 countries: Switzerland, France, and Germany. We learned some history of the city and enjoyed some great views!

From there, we headed to Lucerne for the afternoon. We left the sun behind in Basel, unfortunately. Lucerne is a charming city on the water, and we had a fun few hours exploring. We stayed longer than the standard tour time and elected to take the train back, which is a great way to customize the cruise offerings.

Hard to believe our week on the Rhine is coming to an end! If you are considering a river cruise, let’s talk about what line and itinerary might be best for you!

11/02/2024

I love discovering new (to me) places that are now on my wishlist for more future travel! Strasbourg, France is one of those places. What a beautiful and complicated French and German city!

The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has switched back and forth between French and German rule for centuries, but they have a unique Alsatian culture that they identify with more. And their beautiful Gothic cathedral held the Worlds Tallest honor for 400 years.

We enjoyed a wonderful bike excursion followed by some time on our own (cathedral visit, cappuccino, pain chocolat, more exploring)… J’adore France!

Back on board the ship, we experienced crossing a few locks on the river, some quiet but chilly time on deck, and the Chef’s Table 7 course dining for dinner!

11/01/2024

Today’s adventure… a 20+ mile bike ride to the small village of Ladenburg. We started with highlights of the town of Mannheim, and then out to the countryside for the rest of the journey. We enjoyed time exploring the very old (dates are listed on the front of buildings!) town, and took advantage of an extra hour to enjoy the town and make our way back to the ship on our own. It was a good day. 🚲

10/31/2024

Very long day with so much going on. Tonight I commented on something that happened “the other day” but it was apparently just this morning!

Just before 8a, we entered the scenic Rhine Gorge, a 5 hour stretch with over 30 castles. Weather has been working against us, but we enjoyed time on deck listening to commentary of the passing scenery. No doubt the views would be better with sunshine, but experiencing them with overcast skies was still wonderful!

We then docked in the German town of Rudesheim, and started a vineyard hike excursion. It was great to listen to the guide share the history of this town of 10k residents that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year! We each continued on to an additional stop, as there was a beautiful monument in one direction and a convent in the other. I headed to the convent, which had a beautiful chapel. I loved learning the story behind the famous resident nun, while also enjoying the extra kms it took to get there through the peaceful vineyard!

Meeting back in town, Rachel and I had fun at a Biergarten tasting the local brew. Dinner on board was followed by a trip back into town to taste the local Rudesheimer Coffee (brandy plays a central role) and another walk around the charming town.

Finished it all off with a German Neil Diamond cover performer who sounded like the real thing! He performed on the ship that was decked out for Halloween. What a fun day!

10/30/2024

Our first stop on the Rhine was Cologne Germany. After sailing all morning, and sampling some German fare and beer at 11a as we passed into Germany, we arrived at 230p. We enjoyed a 2 hour bike tour, which was one of the included excursions. Our guide was fantastic and we got a great overview of this city, cycling through their large amounts of green space!

We then had time to explore on our own, and visited the Cologne Cathedral. This impressive structure is the third largest Gothic cathedral in the world. I would have loved to see it with the sun shining through the stained glass, but an overcast day and recent daylight savings time change in Europe gave us a dark view instead. It was still beautiful!

Fun fact about Cologne (per our tour guide): the 3rd largest Carnavale celebration is held here, beat out only by Rio de Janeiro and Venice! Who knew?!

10/29/2024

EBR Travel is on the road, or technically on the water! We said goodbye to Amsterdam today after a lovely 48 hours in the city that included the Van Gogh Museum, a city bike tour, a canal cruise, LOTS of walking, four hotel visits, and the incredible Anne Frank House Museum.

We boarded our home for the next week on Monday but did not set sail down the Rhine River until today at 1p. Having a cruise itinerary that includes overnight stays in a port is a fantastic way to enjoy more of the destination!

Rachel and I spent the afternoon working and watching the countryside pass by. It’s always nice to have time to work together in person!

Follow along for updates of our stops in Germany, France, and Switzerland this week!

10/13/2024

I love when I get the chance to see a new (to me) product right in my own backyard. I had the opportunity to spend the day yesterday on the Azamara Journey at Black Falcon in Boston. Azamara Cruise Lines offers a small ship, port-intensive, experience, with unique itineraries and features and a lovely, relaxed, onboard vibe.

If you are looking for a different style of cruising, reach out and let's see if Azamara is right for you!

09/20/2024

Ending a fantastic day spent training (including a great photography session), networking, giving back to the local community, and talking travel! After another delicious dinner, we had some fun putting our new photography tricks into practice. Although it’s really hard to take a bad picture in this beautiful place!

09/18/2024

Blue skies, palm trees, gorgeous beach… there is no down side to attending a conference in the Caribbean! I am excited to have been invited to Punta Cana this week to see hotels, experience the island, and network with one of my favorite suppliers.

I arrived a night early to check out Dreams Macao. This family resort offers spacious rooms, beautiful pools, multiple restaurants and activities, and a location on Macao beach known for its amazing surf. A body surfer and boogie boarder paradise!

Stay tuned for more from Punta Cana this week!

09/06/2024

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is an incredible project that is far more well known internationally than here in the US. Thankfully, it is growing and expanding to many domestic airports in the near future. If you or a loved one have a non-visible disability, and travel either domestically or internationally, check out the program and apply for a lanyard. Their "Travel Is For Everyone" campaign is amazing! https://hdsunflower.com/us/insights/post/airports-around-the-world

The Sunflower was designed to allow passengers to choose to indicate they have an invisible disability to have the confidence to travel independently, knowing that they get support, assistance or a li

08/01/2024

Summer travel is at it's peak, and we love following along with our clients traveling all over, and hearing from them when they return! Our customers are enjoying Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Alaska, Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Disney, Mediterranean cruises, Danube River cruises, Northern Europe cruises (do you see a trend?!)...
..and the Paris Olympics!! Photo credit to Rob for this amazing shot of the Eiffel Tower and Olympic Rings over the beach volleyball court. Go Team USA!

Thank you all for entrusting your family time with us, and for sharing your experiences when you return. We also appreciate the referrals you all send our way, and I, Rachel, and our newest advisor Kristin, look forward to continuing to make your travel dreams a reality!

07/06/2024

We are often asked for suggestions and help planning shore excursions. There are so many options for how to spend the day in port when cruising, and it can be overwhelming to decide what is best. While you are looking at your options, here are a few thoughts and guidelines:

1. Booking an excursion through the cruise line is usually a good choice if you are looking for convenience, "guaranteed" departure and return times that match with the ship, and/or are in a port where there are long travel times to the sights or you are concerned about being independently sightseeing. It is also typically the most expensive option.

2. There are many reputable shore excursion providers who have "cruise friendly" policies and may offer similar excursions to the cruise line, unique options, lower price points, and/or smaller group size. There are also private guided tours for a really custom experience.

3. If you prefer to be completely independent, many ports lend themselves to disembarking the ship and exploring on foot, by public transportation, or by taxi/ride share. You can purchase a short guided tour for an overview of a city, museum entrance tickets, a hop on/hop off bus tour, or visit a public beach or private beach club, all arranged separately of the cruise line. Being mindful of return times ("all aboard" times) is crucial but exploring independently is great for those that prefer to do their own thing, enjoy local restaurants, be on their own schedule...

Let us help you decide which style you prefer or which is best for each of your ports, based on your interests, budget, and the port itself!

We recently did a cruise with four ports in Europe, each somewhat different. In one, we did a guided walking tour and then walked around on our own. In one, we did a guided bike tour and then had museum entrance pre-purchased. In two, we rented a car and had a list of places in the area that we wanted to visit. I did miss having more guided tours, but for this particular trip these all worked well and were what we needed. Please enjoy some pictures of each!

If you are interested in a cruise vacation, please reach out and let us help you plan!

07/01/2024

Sometimes, travel isn’t pretty….

Yes, I embarrassed my children today riding around the city of Bilbao in the rain with my poncho hood under by helmet. It kept me moderately less drenched than I’d otherwise be!

So much can happen when we travel that is unexpected or less than ideal. Flight delays, lousy weather, long lines or crowds, overtired kids or hangry adults. The list goes on! But for those that love to travel and see the world, it’s all one big adventure, usually followed by some pretty spectacular moments when the skies clear, the flights arrive, you take a snack break, or you enjoy moments of appreciation despite the crowds. And these experiences build resilience and character, as does having an embarrassing mom. 🙂❤️

Please remember that every moment of every vacation isn’t Insta-worthy, but all the moments create lasting memories! When you are ready to plan your next real life adventure, reach out and let’s get you there!

06/27/2024

Accommodations with more space, a kitchen, and/or multiple bedrooms are often on travelers’ wishlist. This can be important when traveling with kids or with special dietary needs, and also for those looking for a more authentic local experience of shopping and preparing some food themselves, having a separate work space, or enjoying more space than what a typical hotel room provides.

Many people think of Airbnb or similar, and we are often asked about these. This rental model is designed to be direct from owner to renter and is not something we as travel advisors can book for our clients. The accommodations are also not vetted, the liability is high, and many places around the world are working to limit short-term private rentals because of the negative impact on the local communities.

The good news is that, in many destinations, apartment hotels are available and are a fantastic option! There is a wide range offered, from luxury resorts to modest apartments without any amenities.

On our recent visit to Portugal, we stayed in 4 different apartment hotels, each with their own style:

1. A moderate, no frills, studio in the city, with self check-in and no amenities.

2. A 1-bedroom Apartment in a small, low-key complex with a lovely breakfast, friendly service, and a “neighborhood” feel.

3. A 2-Bedroom “villa” in a large chain-hotel resort, with in room laundry, private beach access, multiple pools, and many amenities on-site.

4. A 2-Bedroom Apartment at a golf resort with a wonderful restaurant and a modern, clean, aesthetic.

They were all wonderful and perfect for what we needed, in different ways. There are pros and cons to each style and there are many of each to choose from in locations throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii and other parts of the US, and beyond.

Enjoy the pictures of each of the accommodations listed! If an apartment hotel sounds like a good fit for your next vacation, let’s check for options and talk about the benefits and drawbacks. It is a wonderful option for many travelers!

06/20/2024

The Algarve region of Portugal has long been known as a seaside holiday destination, and for good reason. It has gorgeous, white sand, beaches with turquoise waters. There are wide open, long stretches of beach and narrow coves surrounded by incredible cliffs and rock formations. The scenery is breathtaking!

In addition, there are towns and villages dotting the coast, each with their own character and attractions. Lagos is one of the better known, with an adorable and lively Old Town, a bustling harbor, fantastic restaurants, lots of hotels, watersports, and the famous Ponta de Piedade. It is both family-friendly and with an active nightlife. It’s a perfect base to explore the region.

If a European beach vacation is on your list, let’s see if Lagos and The Algarve is right for you!

06/18/2024

Lisbon is built on 7 hills, and it’s a very walkable city with so many spectacular views. History, architecture, art, wine, food, and a laid back, friendly atmosphere make it a wonderful European city to visit! There are a range of accommodations, from mid-level to luxury to apartment hotels (more on that later). It’s generally a starting or ending point, and can be paired with destinations to the north (up to Porto) or south (down to the Algarve), depending on interests and time.

Reach out if Portugal is on your wishlist, and let’s start planning for off-season or 2025!

06/17/2024

EBR Travel is on the road for a while, working for 10 days in Portugal and then taking a much needed vacation. I will be working a few days/week and checking email often.

Those of you who are also traveling right now, you know how to reach me!

Those of you planning future vacations, if it can wait until July 8, let’s do it. If it needs attention sooner, please send me an email at [email protected] and I or Rachel (who is also enjoying a few weeks away for family time and then work) will get back to you asap.

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far! Below is my favorite viewpoint in/of Lisbon. ❤️

06/04/2024

I spent a few hours last week volunteering at a local high school's "Reality Fair." This program for graduating Seniors assigns them a career and credit score, then walks them through a series of booths with real life expenses. They choose what they want and then meet with a financial advisor to review their budget.

I was at the "Luxuries" booth, where vacations were listed with concert tickets, sporting event tickets, pets, shopping, and coffee habit expenses. While I view vacations as a "Necessity" and not a "Luxury," the placement made sense for this event. 😉

As with the last time I did this event, my favorite part was the large number of students who looked at the Vacations board and said "Oh my parents will take me on vacation" or "I'll just keep traveling with my parents." Given the number of travelers I work with who bring their teen and young adult kids, and also adult kids and grandkids, on vacation, I think these students are on to something!!

So for all of you who continue to plan travel with your kids as they get older, know that they love it, and maybe are even counting on it for a few years!!

I love all these happy family photos!!