Paul Dhadda

September 6, 2016 By Paul Dhadda

As far as favorites go, Edinburgh Scotland is up there, way up there. Moody, full of medieval and victorian architecture and thick Scottish accents, this city has a feel that is unparalleled. The stark contrast of the Old Town and that of the modern and elegant Georgian New Town is like experiencing two completely different cities in one. Walk the famous Royal Mile that separates Edinburgh Castle from The Palace of Holyrood House. Full of shops, restaurants, pubs and many more attractions, this street is a bustling stretch through Old Town. A unique quality of Edinburgh is that the wild landscapes of Scotland can be reached with just a short walk out of the city.

Bring your rain jacket and make the hike up Arthur’s Seat — an extinct volcano that overlooks city and the North Sea. Situate yourself up there amongst the vibrant landscape and watch the clouds pass right before your eyes. Catch the bustling city from the top of this mountain and experience the city in a unique way!

September 6, 2016 By Paul Dhadda

Beer is cheaper than water, in Belgium. Yes, it really is. Hard to believe, but as I shared 1 euro beers with some Belgians, this is not the only thing unique to Belgium. For such a small country, Belgium packs a real punch — chocolate, waffles and beer that are known the world over. For those like me who find the consumption of chocolate to be something of a necessity of life, Belgium is a haven.

Everything you know about waffles will be shattered when you step into a pastry shop and let the sweet smell of biscuits, cake and most importantly, waffles wash over you. Here, you can find a menu dedicated solely to waffles. As there are several types of waffles and endless combinations of toppings, this can be a bit overwhelming. For reasons that I still am unsure of, my travel companion and I opted to share a waffle…this was one of the premier regrets of my life. As the waitress placed the waffle on our table, we knew we were on the verge of something life changing — something that would be the mark of every waffle to cross my path from here to the end of my days.

A short train ride from the capital of Brussels will bring you into a town that truly delights. Voted in the top 15 friendliest countries in the world Bruges delights. It’s old world, riddled with canals and lush foliage, incredible architecture, overtly friendly locals, charming shops and sweet shops everywhere, to visit Bruges is to love Bruges. Get lost wandering through the cobblestone streets, venturing over arched stone bridges, conversing with locals and you’ll find that the feelings that Bruges evokes are hard to replicate.

During my short three day stay, the rain was hard pressed to keep me indoors. In fact, by some mystery the beauty of Bruges seemed to be amplified by this weather — wet cobblestones, and moody canal passages. Now, as many of us are aware, Belgium is known for its beer. As in, they have the best beer. In the world. During my time in Bruges I was fortunate enough to find myself in Le Trappiste brewery — a cellar bar with with brick walls and lofted ceilings, with a few locals. The cheery man that came to our table asked questions about what types of beers I liked, learned that I was a visitor to the country and told me that he would just bring over a few nice ones. Five minutes later, I find myself pulled up to a flight of beers, the next more delicious and completely different from the previous.

Do yourself a favor and visit this picturesque medieval town! We’ll help you plan your stay!

September 6, 2016 By Paul Dhadda

If you want to experience one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by yourself — go at 6am. After a long night of travel, the alarm was a rather unwelcome sound. However, I had been promised a beach sanctuary in a mixture of Spanish and English, so I pried myself from my present coziness. The ride there was quiet and sleepy, full of expectations for a regular trip to the beach. It was already humid out with an emanate cloud covering. Maybe 6AM is too early to swim. On your average beach day, it probably is. As I passed under a low bridge, an ethereal sight glassed over my eyes. I couldn’t be barefoot quickly enough — tiny silky golden sand grains pressed against my feet. I waited in the sand for several minutes, looking out across the refreshing teal mass of water leading to the edge of the world. The Mediterranean Sea is proper nice. You can float in the Mediterranean Sea without really trying. No matter how far out you go, you can see your toes and the bottom of the ocean. And you can lay, right there on the surface of the entire ocean and watch the clouds pass by for hours — and I recommend that you do.

A walking tour through Barcelona provides opportunities that a bus tour simply does not. Beginning in the central area of the city, Placa de Catalunya, a walk down the famous street La Rambla will take you past shops, restaurants and various vendors. A tourist attraction in its own right, La Rambla is a wonderful introduction to the sights and effervescent culture and atmosphere of Barcelona. One cannot take a walk through the city and not see architecture masterpieces such as the Casa Batllo by Antoni Gaudi. Seemingly on every corner and street you walk down there is another beautiful building that will stop you in your tracks. Wander northeast of the city center and you’ll encounter even more of what makes Barcelona one of the cities with the most character — La Sagrada Familia, another masterpiece by Gaudi that has been in the process of being built since 1882. To the east of La Rambla lies the Gothic Quarter of the city. In stark contrast with the more modernized areas of the city, entering into the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona seemingly takes you to a different place in time. Enter through a narrow side street off of La Rambla and an almost other worldly feeling washes over you. Surrounded by a sea of towering gray walls and intricate carvings and statues, the Gothic Quarter is somewhat eery. Upon wandering through the labyrinthine narrow streets that suddenly open up into a square with fountains and detailed building fronts, you will be struck with surprise that there are people here, simply enjoying their daily lives of plopped down at a tiny street cafe. This part of the city looks as if it should be sparse with people, a far cry away from the bright liveliness of the heart of the city, just a few streets away. Come across the magnificent 13th century Gothic Barcelona Cathedral and take in the intricate details of the exterior facade that includes mythic gargoyles. Sit on the steps and watch the charm of Barcelona dance by. This lively square is often filled with street performers as well as tourists and locals alike.

For many visitors I’m sure, Barcelona has a certain quality that awakens the spirit. The sheer history, character, delicious food and culture — not to mention the beaches settled right on the Mediterranean Sea — Barcelona has it all.

September 6, 2016 By Paul Dhadda

The Benefits of Cruising

Personalized travel plans

When booking a cruise with a travel agent, your agent is able to get to know you and whomever will be traveling with you. They can tailor the perfect vacation to fit those specific desires. Additionally, various cruise ships cater to different crowds. For example, if you’re traveling with a family that includes children, perhaps cruising with Disney or Royal Caribbean would be the best fit. Traveling with seniors? A cruise with Holland America could be your best bet. As you book your cruise with one of our travel agents, you will discover that they have cruised on various cruise lines and can offer insightful advice as well as information about the atmosphere of each cruise line.

A personalized cruise experience can certainly make a difference in your vacation. Booking through someone that has a wealth of information about cruises and the ins and outs of ships makes things easier. They can find staterooms that aren’t near things such as noisy stairwells and other locations that are not as desirable. Additionally, when you book a cruise with a travel agent, you have someone on your side. In the event that travel plans go awry or you have any questions about your travels, having access to someone that has decades of experience is a real asset.

Activities for everyone

Keeping in line with the idea that there are many cruise ships that cater to various crowds. There are a plethora of activities that vary by ship. As a blanket statement, you can be sure that regardless of the cruise ship you will have plenty of activities on board. From poolside activities and live entertainment such as comedians and theater, to an on-board casino and sport courts. There are plenty of ways to spend your time on the ship!

Cost effective

Booking a vacation can be somewhat stressful. Even once you know where you would like to go (see: the impossible question, deciding where to go), there are accommodations, flights, day excursions and activities, meals, transportation and many more variables that must be thought of as you plan a vacation.

Cruises are unique and particularly appealing in this area. Board a cruise and unpack your bag just once — no packing and unpacking, settle into the same room that you’ll be in for the duration of the trip, meals and entertainment are included, and cruise your way to exotic destinations where all the details have been thought of. Options for shore excursions and the ability to have reliable transportation to and from various ports is a huge advantage of cruises. Considering each of these variables separately when traveling can end up costing much more than an all inclusive cruise package — especially if traveling with a family and multiple people.

Ports

Wake up in a new location every morning. Cruise ships have the unique advantage of letting you have a vacation as you travel to your next location. Sit poolside or watch live music as you travel hundred of miles to the next port. Many cruise lines make arrangements that you can choose to partake in as you make port. No need for you to organize transportation to a sight — simply tag along.

Traveling by cruise ship allows cruisers access to locations that would be rather difficult and time consuming to travel to by land. Consider reaching the fjords of Norway by means other than a cruise ship. A train, bus or car rental out to the remote edges of Norway is an excursion in its own right. Go on a cruise and find yourself among the nearly mystical fjords with no trouble at all! A cruise allows its passengers to travel the world in a very different and effective way.

Imagine an itinerary that cruises through Spain and passes through France, Italy, Greece, and Croatia. Finally ending as it drops you off in one of the most scenic locations in the world — Venice, Italy!

Find out which cruise line is the best fit for you and let us make your cruising experience truly memorable!

Check out the latest articles in our travel blog!

September 6, 2016 By Paul Dhadda

This northern town has is somewhat unexpected. Settled in Basque country, there are three main beaches that rest right in the Bay of Biscay. Picturesque as any European beach, the slow relaxed style of Spain will shower you with its full charm as you spend your days on these clean, sandy beaches. Rent a kayak and make your way out to the Isla de Santa Clara and you may be rewarded with the ever elusive fourth beach of San Sebastian, a small strip along the island only large enough for a few people to sit and enjoy.

Nevermind the beautiful beaches, this small town has multiple Michelin star restaurants and is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. WIth charming pintxos (Basque style tapas) bars, a memorable and exciting dining experience is around virtually every corner. Before you know it, you’ll be buying into the Spanish lifestyle — spending the warm summer days at the beach, making your way to wherever you’re staying for a much needed siesta and spending the night eating delicious pintxos with a glass of sangria in hand — whiling away the night and the early morning dining and drinking with friends, both old and new!

There are several areas to the town of San Sebastian, each with its own unique feel. Walk through old town (Parte Vieja) to admire the truly unique architecture and authentic Spanish culture with some of San Sebastian’s most popular pintxo bars. Continue onto the east side of the river and you’ll find a completely different feel in the surfing beach and surrounding shops and restaurants — filled with a younger crowd and relaxed atmosphere.

Whether you want to come for the beaches, the world renowned food, the unique Spanish culture, go surfing, or simply to relax in a small cafe sipping rich espresso, San Sebastian is the perfect location that will thrill and surprise you. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, we’d be happy to arrange an itinerary to suit you!

September 5, 2016 By Paul Dhadda

Should I Use Travel Insurance?

Just in Case

There are few things as unsettling and nerve racking as hiccups in travel plans, cancellations, delays, and health issues in foreign countries. Forget about the initial inconvenience of these situations. Consider the full and total impact that they can have on your vacation. It’s one of those things that you hope you never have to have come in handy. However, you will thank your lucky stars if you end up need to use it.

A prime example of one of these situations happened to a young man I met while traveling to Slovenia. He told me of his nightmare experience — having one of his arms swell up to two to three times it’s normal size while in Croatia — without knowing what had caused this. He was taken to a hospital in Croatia and treated by a doctor and staff that spoke no English, but knew exactly what had caused the massive swelling — a small bug bite. Thankfully, his travel insurance had him covered. Had he not been covered, perhaps he would have been hesitant to seek medical attention because of the cost or he would have had to pay those medical expenses out of his own pocket. Fortunately, he was able to be treated and even continue on his planned travels.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Travel insurance can cover a plethora of events including but not limited to; lost luggage, cancelled flights, reimbursed flights in the event that you need to fly home unexpectedly, health concerns abroad, hospitalization and a range of other unexpected circumstances. Like any insurance policy, different companies offer different coverage — luckily, this is where a travel agent comes in handy. Agents have the experience of working with many companies and policies. They know what will be a good fit for the type of trip you are taking.

Other Insurance at home

Yes, you may have full coverage for nearly everything in your home country. This does not cover you abroad. This does not cover you abroad. Some credit card companies offer some sort of travel insurance, however it is most likely very limited. The only way to ensure that you will have the coverage that you need while traveling is to get travel insurance.

Again, this is something that you hope you will never have to use

Even the healthiest, seasoned, most able-bodied travelers have fallen victim to foreign parasites, stolen luggage, unexpected partial trip cancellations and other unfortunate circumstances. Being prepared for the unexpected can help keep your vacation worry free and be a lot less stressful should something arise.

Not only can we help you with travel insurance, our travel agents are here to be on your side should something occur. We’re here to keep you on the move!

Check out our other travel tips!