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8 Food Lover Tips for Visiting Budapest

Hungry for Hungarian?  Read Our Top 8 Foodie Choices in Budapest

   Budapest is a city made for fairy tales – and one of our favorite destinations.  Combine a Budapest visit with one of our favorite river cruise routes along the gorgeous Danube to the Czech Republic, and you’ll be sure to be back for a more in-depth look at magical Budapest.

   Let’s face it – the castles and history are amazing, but food is what often creates the memories that linger.   Don’t leave without indulging in the delicious authentic dishes served throughout the nation of Hungary.   To guide you to some of the best spots to grab food in the capital city of Budapest, we’ve created a list of 8 foodie tips for your visit.

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Top 5 Things To Do In Amsterdam

Amsterdam has always been a favorite of ours, whether as a beginning to a river cruise, or a destination before a multi-country European tour.  And it is delightful year-round, whether in the spring when the tulips are in bloom or the famous Christmas markets.

It’s no secret that Amsterdam is one of the most exciting places on this Earth to visit. With its rich history, artistic legacy, intricate canal system, and abundance of museums, you will find that there is so much to do and see in the time you are there to visit. To help you come up with somewhat of an itinerary for your vacation, we’ve decided to write out a list of the top 5 things to do while you’re in Amsterdam.

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The Zen of An Ocean Crossing

Mary & Bill Cross the Atlantic on the Royal Clipper

Working in the travel business I meet people with 2 divergent opinions of cruising –

Opinion 1:  I want to enjoy the port experience.  Cruising is a convenient way to get from port to port.  Yes, the cruise ship and its amenities are important but the immersive port experience is what drives the choice of cruises.

Opinion 2:  I want to enjoy the ship.  In fact, I don’t care if I ever get off the ship.  I love the casinos, the onboard entertainment, lectures, and the food and drink.   I love hanging out in the lounges, restaurants, library, and coffee shop – hanging out with new friends I meet onboard.

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4 Perfect Days in London

Just a Few Days to Add Pre or Post? Pick a Great City and Go for It!

I joined two friends on a Norway-bound Celebrity ship out of Southampton this spring. It was a gorgeous cruise but only 7 days so why not take advantage of the long flight and enjoy a few extra days? This go-round, we selected one of my favorite cities in the world – London!

It does not matter how many times you visit this iconic city, there is always something new. And in London, the old never gets old. Here, a few highlights from our 4 days:

Day 1. The best advice after a long flight from the US is to stay awake till the sun sets! We settled in to our accommodations in Fitzrovia and walked to the corner pub for a light lunch and to explore the neighborhood. I highly recommend boutique hotels or apartments in one of London’s many neighborhoods. Shopping, restaurants, pubs, and museums abound whether you’re in Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Knightsbridge – or many other fabulous areas of this colorful city. And when you have just a few days, make sure to have a “must-do” list. For us, a must-do was fish & chips which we enjoyed at the Golden Hind – a mile walk down the road followed by a quick trip to the neighborhood Tesco to get a bottle of wine and some snacks for our apartment.

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Rollin’ Down the Rivers: Top 10 Things We Love About River Cruising with Ama Waterways

Ginger and I have both recently returned from European river cruises with Ama Waterways – me on the Garonne River in Bordeaux for a wine-themed cruise and Ginger on the enchanting Rhine. What a way to go! Here are our top 10 things we love about river cruising.

1. Easy on easy off. River cruising is a hassle free way to get right into the heart of amazing cities and towns along the way. Whether your preference is exploring on your own via Ama-supplied bikes, on foot, or by public transportation, guided walks or bike rides, you’ll find yourself in the center of historic towns. I had the pleasure of spending 3 days in Bordeaux, a historic trading center which lost its lustre in the 19th century but which has been beautifully restored. We took a brisk (VERY brisk) walk with a local resident tour guide to get a fantastic overview, then later explored on our own, seeking (and finding) the famous Dune cake from Patisserie David

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