Top Destination Wedding Locations: Riviera Maya, Mexico

When planning a destination wedding, there are a lot of factors to consider. One of the biggest, as you’ve probably come to realize, is your location. Where will you make this joyous commitment a reality? While a fairy tale wedding in the Black Forest of Germany will render enchanting photos, crossing an ocean may put quite the […]

Off the Beaten Path: Nan, Thailand

The little-known town of Nan stands on the western side of the Nan River. Rooted deep in the history of Thailand, for centuries Nan was a separate, autonomous kingdom with very few relationships with the rest of the world. ​At the end of the 14th century Nan was one of the nine northern Thai-Lao […]

Cinque Terre Italy

In Northwest Italy in the region of Liguria you will find five colorful fishing villages linked by an ancient system of footpaths. These villages perched on steeply terraced cliffs are collectively referred to as The Cinque Terre, which means five lands or five towns.As cars were banned many years ago you can reach the five […]

Off the Beaten Path: Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

Thailand is filled with amazingly beautiful areas not yet touched by mass tourism. In Northeast Thailand, just over 300 miles from Bangkok in the province of Ubon lies the city Ubon Ratchathani. Ubon province is known for its ancient Buddhist temples and forest-dwelling monks. Among the city’s 2 dozen temples you’ll find Wat [,,,]

A TALE OF 4 CITIES (continued)

After our trip to Warsaw we understand why some of the polish people have unofficially adopted Krakow as their capital city. Since most of Warsaw was rebuilt after WWII you’d expect it to be a very modern, progressive city, but that was not our experience at all. Even though the buildings are […]

Exotic Morocco and Group Traveling

After consulting with Enlighten Excursions travel advisor- Stacey Goodale, good friends Karen and Susan took their first small group tour to exotic Morocco. Both women are experienced solo and independent travelers, but in consultation with their advisor they decided on a little more guidance and structure for this North African adventure. […]

Traveling to Europe with Kids: Tips for a fun and stress free journey

Traveling to Europe with Kids: Tips for a fun and stress-free journey Author: Stacey Goodale Family Travel Specialist Taking your children on their first overseas trip to Europe may seem like a challenge, but with a little planning, you and your family can have a wonderful experience. Passports: Make time to apply for your child’s passport about 4-6 months ahead of your departure.  You will need apply in person and bring your child with you, along with the appropriate documentation and the filing fee (the passport book fee is $100). Check to see if there is a local post office that handles passport applications— you may be able to walk in without an appointment. Children 16 and older need to apply for an adult passport.  Child passports are only valid for 5 years.  Flights: Whenever possible, try to fly non-stop to minimize travel time and eliminate the stress of multiple deplaning/boarding situations.  In each child’s carry-on, pack a few comfort items like a small blanket and stuffed animal, as well as several types of activities like coloring books, a deck of cards, even travel games. Consider making a packet of fun worksheets about the country to which you are visiting. Although many planes have wifi, it is best to pre download any movies or apps on your devices and don’t forget your portable charger.  Bring lots of snacks, too! Airplane food may not cut it when it comes to keeping your kids’ stomachs full and happy.   Red-eye or early morning flights:  Many people will take overnight flights with the expectation that they will sleep on the plane and adjust to the change in time zones by staying up all day long.  But, is this a realistic expectation with kids? You will need to think about whether your children will be too excited to sleep on the plane and how you will manage your time without being able to check into your hotel room until the mid-afternoon.  Consider an early morning flight with a night-time arrival instead.  A later dinner and a good night sleep may help get them on track quicker. Food:  For the picky eater, food may be the biggest challenge on your overseas adventure.  You will need to find the right balance of trying new food experiences and maintaining your child’s energy level and mood.  Choose hotels that include an American style breakfast to start your day right and then don’t wait until everybody is starving to look for a place to eat.  To avoid last minute decisions that will demoralize your picky eater, it may be worth the extra effort before leaving the hotel to scope out some restaurants in the area of town you will be exploring close to the lunch or dinner hours. Pack several boxes of granola bars that you can add to your day bag for snacking.  But don’t pack things like applesauce which may not make it through security. If you have a local supermarket near your hotel, buy some peanut butter and bread for sandwiches.  Activities:  With children try to avoid waiting in long lines and standing around.  Airport style security is now the standard for all major attractions, so if you know you want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower or visit Buckingham Palace, make sure to have your travel advisor buy your tickets ahead of time.  You will still have to go through security, but you at least will minimize the additional wait of buying tickets.  If possible, have your travel advisor book private tours or “Skip the Line” entry for your family.  If you do have to wait, be prepared to entertain your kids— a good game of “I Spy” can make the time go faster. Rest: Make sure your itinerary includes lots of rest and down time.  A few hours back at the hotel in the early evening may refresh them enough for that evening activity.  Consider a late morning or early evening to slow down the pace. A few well-timed quiet moments will help everyone. Above all, be flexible with your itinerary.  If your kids are getting cranky, take a break.  If they are hungry, get them something to eat. In the end, even if you don’t see everything you planned, you and your family will still have an amazing adventure. Start Planning Your Trip Now More Travel Advice

The Real Scoop: Cuba

The Real Scoop: Cuba Because we field a number of questions regarding whether US Citizens can travel to Cuba we thought we’d lend a little clarification. In 2014, an executive order loosened the restrictions on traveling to Cuba. This order made it legal for Americans to travel to Cuba without having to go on an escorted group tour. In 2017, the current administration announced they were going to roll back all the regulation changes, but as yet nothing has been put in place and no details have been confirmed. This means that right now you have a number of options for visiting this culturally intriguing Caribbean island including traveling independently.  However, as Cuba has been isolated from much of the world for centuries, its tourist infrastructure is still developing.  ​If you’re planning your trip independently you may find that many hotel and dining standards fall short of ordinary expectations. Consequently, escorted tours and cruises still provide some of the best options today for an amazing travel experience in Cuba. However, for those who prefer independent travel, your travel adviser can help plan an itinerary tailored to your specific tastes and interests with first class accommodations. Your customized vacation might include unique experiences such as artist studio visits, dance and/or music performances, community project visits, festivals, and dining, cooking and cultural exchange experiences with local Cubans.​Whether you go independently or with a group, consult a travel adviser and don’t miss the opportunity to explore and discover this colorful island nation. With extremely friendly and welcoming locals, great food, amazing music, stunning art and lively neighborhoods, Cuba should definitely find a place near the top of your wanderlist. Schedule a Consultation More Travel Advice

Happy Client Travel Diaries: A Tale of 4 Cities

Author: Hali Wallach A little bit about me to give you a perspective of where these reviews are coming from:Proud Native New Yorker – I was born and raised in Brooklyn, currently living in Manhattan…the COOLEST city in the world.  New York is a walking city and I stay extremely active on a daily basis between catching the train, walking home or taking a spin class at the gym.Work in Corporate America – I try hard to find a nice balance between the uptight world of Corporate America and my Brooklyn rootsAvid Traveler – Show me what you got world!  Always interested in seeing how the rest of the world lives.  I’ve already been to 32 countries (including the 3 listed below) and will finish out 2107 with (minimally) another 2. When NYC is your benchmark, this is quiet the feat. One must have when I travel – Breakfast must be included with hotel.  This way, I can fill up (and sometimes stock up) on breakfast in the morning and go all day until dinner.  This also helps lower my daily spending on meals.  (*Breakfast was really good in all 4 cities)One nice to have when I travel – A guided tour of the city to get my bearings and see what the city has to offer and then decide on what I want to go and see more in depth. ​My must have on this trip – Aside from breakfast at the hotel…Pirogies and Blintzes in Poland and Schnitzel in Vienna.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Why we chose Croatia, Poland and Austria – I was invited to a wedding in Vienna.  My travel partner was interested in going to Poland to trace his roots because his grandmother was from a town outside of Krakow.  Since we were going to Krakow, we figured we would also go to Warsaw since it is the capital and the other “major city” in Poland.  We also wanted to go to the beach for some R&R. We were thinking of adding Romania, but Deirdre recommended Croatia which is known to have amazing sun, scenery and beaches. Ultimately the wedding in Vienna was called off but we still decided to go anyway since we had already started planning the trip.  CITY 1: ​Dubrovnik, Croatia (Middleclass Europe / Currency = Kuna)​ The town of Dubrovnik is located on the Adriatic Sea and is definitely a nautical town.  Their claim to fame is that Game of Thrones is filmed there and they have tons of GOT paraphernalia all over the shops.  I wouldn’t say Dubrovnik is super expensive (nothing like Vienna), but is it certainly NOT cheap (like Poland).​We stayed at the Ariston, Dubrovnik, Croatia and I thought the place was GREAT!  You walk in to the lobby and it is overlooking the Adriatic Sea.  It is clean, modern and nicely located in the Babin Kuk district in Dubrovnik, at the tip of a long walkway that connects all the resorts/hotels.  The city bus is right outside the front door and is just a 10-15 bus ride to downtown.​Downtown initially appears to be very small and concentrated, but once you go through all the shops and main streets of the shopping district, you will find many more little streets that veer off and take you through streets lined with a small apartments, hostels, B&Bs, art galleries and even little bars overlooking the Sea.  The views are beautiful and it is very easy to randomly wander around for hours and find little surprises all along the way. Although somewhat pricey, the cable car up to the Panorama Restaurant is an experience.  The view of Dubrovnik from that far up is pretty special and without a doubt not something you get to see every day (unless you work there).  We didn’t do much else as we were both really set on getting in some real R&R on this leg of our trip.  We thoroughly enjoyed Dubrovnik and could have easily stayed there a lot longer.​If you want to share stories of your Enlighten Excursions Travels just email us at enlightenexcursions@gmail.com.

Barcelona Spain Assails Unlicensed Apartment Rentals

Barcelona Spain Assails Unlicensed Apartment Rentals Barcelona is an amazing and vibrant city that is definitely worth adding to your wanderlist! Its architecture spans over 2000 years and includes its renowned modernist buildings inspired by Antoni Gaudi. This fantastic architecture, combined with the charm of the city’s trendy restaurants, narrow winding pedestrian streets, and the sunny Southern Spanish climate and beaches, makes Barcelona an excellent vacation destination. Just be sure to consult a knowledgeable travel adviser who can help you to find a legitimate vacation accommodation that best suits your needs. The proliferation of illegal apartment rentals has forced the city of Barcelona to go after popular apartment rental sites like Airbnb and Homeaway for allowing unlicensed properties to be rented on their websites.  This is a matter of quality of life for the local citizens. Since landlords can earn five times as much renting to tourists rather than residents, sharp rent increases have driven residents out and the city center has become depopulated. The Barcelona City Council considers this irresponsible economically unsustainable, & environmentally unfriendly tourism. This past year the city shut down over 2000 apartments that were operating without a license.  Still in addition to the numerous quality hotels in Barcelona there are close to 10,000 licensed tourist apartments available.   Airbnb was fined $700,000 for offering illegal rentals which it has yet to pay to the city. At the initial writing of this article Barcelona had issued no new licenses for tourist apartment rentals since 2014. Yet an illicit economy of illegal accommodations has cropped up as unsuspecting tourists are duped by fake or unlicensed listings on social media or vacation rental websites.  We support and respect every traveler’s choices to see the world. We also support and respect Airbnb’s “belief that strangers can trust one another” as discussed in the following article on the company’s safety team and practices. And we understand that much of a travelers experience is out or our control. Still our clients’ safety remains of the utmost importance to us.  So because our agency seeks to reduce risk and quality variations where accommodations are concerned, we do not assist travelers with booking or selecting Airbnb accommodations at this time. We do however offer luxury villa rentals using our partners who thoroughly vet each property owner and inspect each property. Find out more on luxury villas here. Schedule a Consultation More Travel Advice

Dreaming of a Villa in Tuscany?

At the National Gallery of Art you will find a painting of the idyllic valley of la Paiola, by Camille Corot, titled “A view from Volterra”. But why not enjoy this amazing view in person? If you’re dreaming of a Villa in Tuscany, we know a lovely 12th-century farmhouse built on the pre-Roman ruins of an Etruscan villa that sits in a valley above 70 acres of olive groves with its own burbling stream. [,,,]

The Real Scoop: Caribbean Island Recovery

The Real Scoop: Caribbean Island Recovery Caribbean Islands Open for Business! The Caribbean is a vast sea filled with more than 7,000 idyllic, sun-drenched islands. While recent hurricanes have damaged a few islands, a full 70 percent of Caribbean destinations were not impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and are open for business as usual. And many that took a glancing blow or sustained minimal damage are open now as well. Even more remarkable is that over 50% of the tourist accommodations on the most severely affected islands like Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands have reopened and are welcoming visitors.  The negative economic impact on the region will be compounded if visitors avoid traveling to unaffected destinations. Visiting any island in the Caribbean gives a boost to the entire region, so vacationing there is a mutually beneficial way to show support for the Caribbean islands and help stabilize their economy. Yes, there is a gamble to traveling to the Caribbean between mid-August to October, but it’s one that 99% of travelers win. This is a time of the year that many cruise lines and resorts offer amazing vacation deals, so travelers get more value out of their vacation. Plus, those who wisely advised by their travel agents can typically rebook their Caribbean vacation if a storm system is heading their way.  Whatever activity you wish to pursue in paradise, you’ll have many destinations and many resort options from which to choose. Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nevis, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitt’s, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos represent just a handful of the Islands we illuminate for our customers with authentic itineraries. Contact Enlighten Excursions to plan your Caribbean getaway. Schedule a Consultation More Travel Advice