Travel

While most visitors to Northern Italy flock to Lake Como in hopes of catching a glimpse of the island’s most famous resident, George Clooney, many are missing out on what is truly the region’s most impressive lake, Lago Maggiore. Surrounded by mountains and a rigid coastline, Lake Maggiore has a completely different feel from the more popular Lake Como; the road surrounding the lake is at water level in contrast to Lake Como’s which takes…

I bet that three years ago most of us were not even considering travel insurance. Then bang! Covid hit and everyone was asking the question, “Do I need travel insurance?” Fortunately, during the height of the pandemic, most airlines and hotels allowed for cancellations. But as Covid rates slowed down, those cancellation policies ramped up again. So before we dive into the world of travel insurance, let me tell you a few personal stories.  My…

I’m a bit of an expert on this topic. St. Augustine is where I live. My backyard. My home base. My playground. And I hang out with my friends and other couples here every week. The city is full of history, amazing food, great craft cocktails, quaint hotels and an overall charm that makes it the perfect getaway for a group of friends traveling together. Here are the fun things to do in St Augustine…

Hopefully you’ve read my article on planning a South African safari, so now I want to tell you about the best South African safari lodge, Arathusa Safari Lodge. My brother and SIL had stayed at the lodge a few years ago so why reinvent perfection? I’m a bit OCD when it comes to trip planning, and especially about where I’ll be staying. I’m a homebody because I love my creature comforts (and my creatures) so…

True confession: an African safari was not on my bucket list. Not because I didn’t want to go, but the logistics of planning such a trip were dizzying for me. Long (and expensive) flights. Health and vaccination requirements. Logistics of getting around in a foreign country. Not to mention finding someone to mind the pets for an extended period. But when my brother suggested this as a special family trip, I acquiesced. And we ended…

I recently packed for my first trip since COVID and realized how many different things I chose. I used to travel so much that I kept a “go bag” of my essentials that never changed. I just threw it in my suitcase each time – you know, all those sample-sized bottles of everything even when I was following tips for packing light. I had a minimal first aid kit. But boy have things changed. I…