Where We've Been Lately
July 7, 2022

Our Travel Advisors have been on some exciting trips in the past few months. Check out the photos and stories below to see where our advisors have been lately!

Switzerland
April 2022

I am a Switzerland specialist who used to go to Switzerland at least once a year, but I hadn’t been in three years (thanks to the pandemic). This was my first trip back to Switzerland… and it felt so wonderful to finally return! I treated myself to flying in the excellent business class on Swiss International Air and fully enjoyed being a princess. With the seamless efficiency of the SwissTravel System (integrating trains, boats and busses), I was able to go directly from my plane on to the train to Lucerne, on to a boat across the lake, then on to a funicular train, and finally arrive directly at the spectacular Burgenstock Resort perched 1,640 feet above Lake Lucerne.

The resort, originally built in 1873, has a long and glamorous history where it became a magnet for the European rich and famous along with Hollywood stars. It later fell out of favor and sadly went into decline and closed. With new owners and an extensive nine-year renovation project costing over $560 million, it reopened five years ago with four hotels as part of the resort. The Burgenstock Hotel is a super luxury headliner with huge rooms and suites, awesome views, fabulous restaurants, one of the largest spas in Switzerland, and all the bells and whistles you’d expect. Outdoor activities abound, including tennis, hiking, biking, and golf.

As well as revisiting a few of my favorite places in Switzerland, I was on a quest to discover many of the new attractions, transportation, and hotels which had opened since my last visit. My itinerary had a “climb every mountain” focus so that I could experience many of the new improvements in accessing the mountains.

It had rained in the morning in Lucerne, but the weather cleared up in the afternoon so that I was able to take a quick ride up to Mt. Pilatus on the aerial cableway – “Dragon Ride” – for some fabulous views. The large capacity cabin has eliminated the bottleneck which often occurred.

Then I was off to Interlaken to spend a few days in the Jungfrau area. Brand new (opened December 2021) is the Eiger Express – a tricable gondola which takes you from Grindelwald to the new Eiger Glacier station in just 15 minutes, and then a direct transfer to the train to the Jungfraujoch “Top of Europe” 47 minutes faster than before! I could have easily spent a day up there exploring the Glacier Palace (yes, you’re walking inside the glacier) and outdoor activities plus shopping and eating… but I needed to get back down the mountain for a quick jaunt around Grindelwald. Then back on the train to go to Lauterbrunnen and back up another mountain to the charming car-free village of Murren. This was definitely my “Great Race” day, as I finished by going back to Interlaken and another funicular train up to Harder Kulm (a little local mountain) to enjoy dinner and the sunset while looking out over Interlaken, the two lakes, and the Eiger Glacier, Monch, and Jungfrau.

I bid farewell to my beloved mountains, as I headed off to Basel and Zurich, where I also shed my puffer coat for delightful spring weather. The locals were out and about enjoying life… and so did I, as I walked about the Old Town area of Basel and strolled along the Rhine River. Then off to Zurich to visit the new Lindt Home of Chocolate, a museum with an interactive chocolate tour including the origins of chocolate and the development of the Swiss cultural heritage of chocolate… with plenty of tasting opportunities also! The highlight was a lakeside lunch with my friend Carole and her son, as my farewell to Switzerland on this whistle-stop visit. Auf wiedersehen. I’ll be back!

Contact me to plan an amazing Swiss holiday, customized for you.

Jodie & Jill's Greek Isles Cruise on Azamara
May 2022

The beautiful Azamara Onward launched in May 2022, and Jill and I were among the lucky few to experience this ship in its first month on the water. Sailing on Azamara is like traveling on a lovely boutique hotel. The Onward is a small ship with less than 700 passengers. The laidback vibe of the crew and passengers combined with excellent service, great food, and incredible ports of calls made for a perfect week for our first time sailing with Azamara. We both agreed that we have never sailed with nicer people!

One of Azamara’s hallmarks is their immersion in the destination, and this trip was no exception! We enjoyed so many wonderful tours that highlighted each city, and the AzAmazing Evening event featured two Greek violinists who entertained the ship with their lively renditions of many popular songs as well as some Greek favorites! Last but not least, one of the best nights onboard was Azamara’s White Night. It was an evening filled with amazing food and entertainment, and it was quite a celebration for the crew and passengers!

Our journey started with an easy boarding process in Athens, and then every new day brought an exciting destination to explore! One of the great things about sailing the Greek islands is how much time you have in each port. Most days we arrived by 8am and departed after 10pm. We spent the week exploring the Greek islands of Mykonos, Rhodes, Patmos, Santorini, Crete and Ephesus, Turkey. Every destination was so beautiful and unique, it simply couldn’t be captured in a picture! From the iconic white and blue-domed buildings in Mykonos and Santorini, to the mountains and beaches in Crete, to a medieval castle in Rhodes and the quaint villages of Patmos, the Greek islands are all vastly different and special in their own way. And each one had its own story to tell. Taking a cruise is a great way to get a taste of each island, but you will likely leave knowing you will return again for a longer stay!

Jill and I experienced a nice variety of tours during our time in Greece, but our favorite tour of the trip was our hike in Santorini. We hiked five miles between Thira and Oia, and the views around every corner were magnificent! One of our favorite ways to experience a new destination is by immersing ourselves in the outdoors and this hike did not disappoint!

Azamara is definitely a great option as you look to explore Europe this summer and fall!

Australia
May 2022

G’day mates! Australia is a destination most people have on their travel bucket list, but it's generally overlooked because there are so many misconceptions about going there! In May, I went on my fourth visit, reminding me why it should be a destination everyone visits and that it's much easier to get to that we think!

Misconception #1: "The flight to Australia is WAY too long!"
It's a non-stop 13-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. While it is a long time, getting to destinations in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa often take MUCH longer! Once you include layovers, etc, you can easily be looking at 15+ hours of travel or more. When you look at it that way, 13 hours is a nap, a few movies and then you're there! Easy peasy!

Misconception #2: "When I go to Australia, I want to make sure I see it all in ten days!"
I understand, but this is the thing to remember: Australia is the size of the United States! Can you imagine seeing everything in the US in ten days? Let's keep it all in perspective. Don't worry, we can help manage your expectations and plan the best way for you to see the things that top your list!

Misconception #3: "Everything in Australia can kill you!"
There definitely is wildlife that can be scary and can hurt you, but for the most part, those critters keep to themselves unless they feel threatened out in the bush. You will see kangaroos, wallabies and wombats (maybe) – but no worries on them, they'll keep their distance from you!

Misconception #4: "The one thing I want to do is hug a koala!"
Sorry mates. While there is opportunity to get up close and personal to one, holding a Koala is no longer an option. It's the best way for us to keep them healthy and to prevent the koalas from using their massive claws to hold on to us.

This is my mate Tucker. He was VERY sweet and extremely curious. While I couldn't hold Tucker, it was great to pet him and receive some koala kisses.

Misconception #5: "Australia is WAY too expensive!"
While it's not inexpensive, the value of the dollar is currently very strong Down Under. It's all relative. Meals can be delicious and reasonably priced. I just had the BEST ramen for approximately $6.00 USD. Meat pies and flat whites (BEST COFFEE EVER) for about $4.00 USD. They are filling and super tasty!

Meat pies are the best! They can be found
most places and are a great option for a quick
bite to eat. They are filled with beef, chicken
or vegetables surrounded by an amazing flaky
doughy crust! It's a must-try at least once
while in Australia!

There is so much to do and see Down Under! Talk to your Travel Advisor to plan an Australia vacation based on your personal interests and travel wishes!