~Just for Laughs~

And yet so true... 
"Airplane travel is natures way of making you look like your passport photo"

~The Biltmore Estate~

My agency focuses on custom European travel but I certainly book domestic travel amongst other things. One of my "must sees" in the US is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC. Castles in the US aren't really the norm but the Biltmore Estate qualifies as one in my mind. Walking inside is like being transported back in time. The grounds are gorgeous and the winery is worth a visit too!

Asheville itself also has a lot to offer. If you are the outdoorsy type you can find hiking, white water rafting and horseback riding in the area. For the indoor types, like myself, there are museums, shopping and spas.

For those of you on the East Coast, Asheville is not just a great weekend escape, but it is also super affordable! The next time you find yourself itching to get away, consider Asheville, NC.

~Amsterdam and The Netherlands~

Last March my husband and I began our 3 week vacation in Europe in Amsterdam. To be perfectly honest Amsterdam wasn't ever a place that I just HAD to visit. It wasn't on my top ten list but my hubby had always wanted to go there so off we went. Let me tell you, I am SO glad we did!

Everyone has this idea that Amsterdam is the devils playground, well at least I did. Yes, the Red Light District is alive and well and Yes, there are "coffee shops" on every corner where you can partake in "soft drugs". By the end of our first day in the city I realized that Amsterdam has so much to offer beyond what it is famously know for. It really is a beautiful city! The canals are charming, the houses are lovely and there are a variety of museums and churches to explore. The city was also very clean and felt very safe, with the exception of people on bicycles who might run you over at any given moment. Take my advice, if you hear the "bring bring" of a bike bell while in Amsterdam, step aside!

     

We also spent a day in the country side with a local tour guide and were lucky enough to visit several little towns. Amidst the beautiful scenery we visited a working windmill, a cheese farm and a clog making factory. My number one piece of advice to all of my clients is to get out of the cities if you can. You get a true feeling for the culture and the people once you are outside of the cities and the tourist traps.  


If you are questioning whether or not you should visit Amsterdam my advice would be "do it"! You wont regret it.

~Travel Tip~

Waiting until the last minute to book a trip means scoring a great discount, right? As a travel agent I have found that more often than not the opposite is true. Booking early can save you tons! And it means you get first dibs on the best seats and best rooms. Plan and book early!