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Sometimes It’s Not You, It’s Me

Meeting a new place is a lot like meeting a new person. You observe. You read their signals. You make judgements. You can’t help it, it’s just how we all process new information. As a travel writer, I try to be objective about every place I go. Some places can be boring, lame, or scary. Or are they? If I come across a city that I just don’t like, I have to wonder, is it the place or is it me?

Pari…

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Report from the Road: So, It’s a Bit Hot

Buongiorno from Florence, Italy! I’m here on my last day of a Rick Steves Family Europe tour. As I mentioned, this is one of my favorites and this tour hasn’t disappointed. Actually, it’s gone almost without a hitch which makes me a little uneasy…karma is circular in my profession.

But the heat though. It hasn’t been as bad as they’ve predicted so far, although Florence is pretty warm and getting…

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The Museum of Food: Foods to Eat in France

We all usually focus on travel experiences and seeing destinations when planning a trip. Maybe we have some fantastic hotel that a trip is built upon. I’d argue that food should be a part of the decision-making process and not just a way to fill the hole in your belly. On my tours, I curate what foods we eat, and I call it the Museum of Food. I’m in France right now, so I thought I’d take you on…

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Why Must You See the Mona Lisa?

Every day in every famous museum, there is a swarm of visitors mobbing a single piece. The David. Primavera. The Sistine Chapel. And in Paris, the Mona Lisa. Tempers flare as visitors vie for position to get the best view or the perfect selfie for Instagram. And as I observe the madness, I have to wonder, why are we doing this?

Along with the famous pieces, every museum is filled with “other”…

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And Away We Go! Summer Adventures

I’ve just arrived back in Europe this weekend and am on the summer beat. The past 10 or so summers have been spent working with Rick Steves Family Europe tours, and this summer is no exception. Starting in London, we hit Paris, French countryside, Switzerland, Cinque Terre, and finish in Florence. Is it hot? Heck yes. Is it fun? You bet!

One of the great delights of guiding family tours is…

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The 2019 Big Travel Shoes Blog

No matter what topic I write on, be it an exotic destination or something thought-provoking, there seems to be no topic that travelers want to dissect more than travel shoes. And for good reason. Bad shoes can drag a trip down by sapping energy. It’s a bit like playing music, you’ll only get a quality product by using quality tools. Putting some thought into your shoes now will keep you from…

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We Need to Talk About Cruises and Venice

Cruising is a popular way to travel, and is expanding all the time, and especially in Europe. This type of travel is attractive: stay in one place and watch the world float by while you dine and relax. The problem is, cruising isn’t good for every destination. As the crash of a giant cruise ship in the Venetian lagoon recently proved, some places were not built for this kind of tourism. If…

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Thoughts on Travel Safety

A reader recently reached out to me about travel safety, for advice on traveling alone.

Throughout my 25 years of travel, I have almost always felt safe. It’s true, I am 6’2″ and scary looking, but even so. Notice though, I said almost always. There have been some hairy and scary moments. In the end, being safe while traveling often boils down to making better choices. Here are a few thoughts…

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So, There’s this New Book

As many of you know, a new book is hitting the shelves today, Rick Steves Sicily. And yeah, I am one of the authors along with Rick and Alfio Di Mauro. It’s kind of a big deal.

I realize I’ve been quiet for too long and have neglected this blog, I’m sorry for that because I know many of you enjoy our correspondence. The reasons why are complicated but the book is a big part of my absence. I want…

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Faith, Loss and Notre Dame

Standing in the hotel lobby in Morocco, I hear a gasp and someone say- Notre Dame is on fire. That can’t be. How could it? But I check and there it was. A half hour later, video came across my screen of the central spire falling in the ball of flames engulfing the cathedral. It’s a scene from a surreal nightmare.

The flames are dying down now, but the damage is done. The roof and spire are gone…

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Face Meet Palm, Embarrassing Moments in Travel

I’m sure that being a professional traveler looks good on the outside. I do my best to fit into cultures and present myself well on the road. But even the smoothest of cool cats make mistakes, and I’m hardly that cool. I’ve made an idiot of myself more than I even bother to keep track of.

Today I present a sort of confessional. A handful of times when I did something dumb enough to remember long…

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Travel Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Christmas is around the corner and it’s time to fill the stockings of the whole family. If you’ve got a traveler in your life, it’s fun and easy to put together a themed stocking. Considering that I advocate for packing light, most of my gear could easily work for travel stocking stuffers, but here are more ideas–most of them inexpensive and practical.

Little Hair Clips – $7

There may be more…

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Little Language Lesson: Thai Tips

December 2: Our Travel Advent Calendar continues today in Thailand, the “Land of Smiles”.

In any part of the world, savvy travelers know that attempting to speak the local language is key to a good experience. Not only is it polite to know your please and thank yous, most locals will not expect it and will be delighted by any attempt. It’s ok to make mistakes, it’s the effort that counts.

My…

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25 Gifts for Travelers

It’s that time of year again, shoppers aimlessly wandering malls looking for the perfect gift for the traveler in their lives. But never fear! Help is here, and I’ve got some great ideas for you.

I’ve seen some cool products in my travels this year, and my readers also gave me a few ideas of their favorite things. You’ll find items at a range of price levels, some practical and others for a…

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#travel gifts

Tradition at a Slovenian Farm

I recently returned from one of my two ancestral homelands, Slovenia. My mother’s family comes from this small Eastern European country, so I have spent a bit of time experiencing the culture and traditions. It was such a pleasure to take guests there and surprise them with all the country has to offer.

A little background on my interest in Slovenia…I can tell you about my family traditions, but…

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Aqua Alta in Venice: What it Is and Why it Happens

You may have seen videos and photos in the news of Venice underwater from time to time, with tourists lugging suitcases through rivers or frolicking in Piazza San Marco wearing rain boots. This flooding is unfortunately common and is simply called “high water” or aqua alta.

Venice, as a city built on muddy islands in a shallow lagoon, has always been at risk of flooding. Floods were recorded way…

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What Happens if I Miss My Connecting Plane?

Sometimes things don’t go the way you hope when you travel. Forgotten items, long lines, you name it. But the one thing we all fear as travelers: what happens if I miss my connecting plane? Will I end up like Tom Hanks in that movie where he lives in an airport forever? It happened to me today. So let’s talk about it.

A Minor Inconvenience

I did something dumb. I booked a ticket to Venice,…

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