Category: THE ANATOMY OF A TRIP

This may run counter to what we have been taught (or indoctrinated) about credit cards; that they should be used for only emergencies or when there are no other options available. We charge every conceivable thing on our Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card. Not to sound like those annoying television commercials but for each dollar…

I don’t think I lose all credibility (OK, maybe just a notch) for not knowing that arranging a flight into one airport and flying out of a completely different one is called an an “open-jawed” flight. I literally thought the term referred to some sort of dental procedure. But that is exactly what we did….

There is a stark contrast between how people get from point A to point B in America and Europe; a reflection, I believe, of each country’s age. At roughly two and half centuries old, the US is a relative newcomer. Naturally, the nation leans toward the modern–the automobile. Why use a train or bus when…

We realized early on during our first excursion to Europe that for any and all future visits we would want to stay as close to locals as possible. We had hoped to enjoy that same intimate yet eye-opening experience we had staying with Peter and Traude in Austria. Hotels would be used only as an…

To belabor the ongoing physiological metaphor, attractions are a trip’s nervous system. It is the nerves that allow the traveler to feel the cool, smooth solidness of a Baroque-era statute or give the daredevil the adrenaline to run with the bulls through the narrow streetways of Spain. But it is also the same system that…

Sometimes, it is daunting to keep everything straight in your head. DAY 1. The plane lands at 9:25AM in Rome on August 3. Pick up the Roma Passes at Terminal 3 between 8:00AM and 7:30PM. The Order Number is 136813 and the Confirmation Code is 3LVR9J5P. Remember to pull out €300 at an airport ATM….

Microsoft Excel was and still is a valuable tool for us when planning our trips.

Packing smart and light is synonymous with independent international travel. It’s all about being able to pivot if an earlier train from Rome to Florence suddenly becomes available or to fit in an extra hour or two of sightseeing since you were luckily able to stow your baggage temporarily at the train station. We were…