Vacation Travel

A cultural and culinary landmark, Grand Hotel Europe has played a central role in social, cultural, civic and business life of St Petersburg for over 135 years. At the heart of St Petersburg, within walking distance of the Palace Square and Winter Palace, home to the Hermitage museum, Grand Hotel …

Backroads is truly passionate about experiencing the world actively and seeking out the perfect blend of activities to showcase the most enriching and authentic features of a place. Whether you’re biking tranquil country lanes or strolling through Renaissance hill towns, you can always count on activities that are woven into …

Inca Explorer We’ve added a few exciting twists and turns to our South American adventure in Peru to bring you Ker & Downey’s Inca Explorer. This 12-day luxury itinerary features overnight stays at some of the hottest hotels and destinations in all of South America combined. Explore Cusco, Arequipa, the …

Bangkok Floating Markets Bangkok is a unique city that still follows its traditions and customs, like the Floating Market. There are several within the city; one of which has been in existence unchanged for over 140 years. The farmers are often selling fruits and vegetables they have grown themselves. Each …

I visited Paris, the “City of Lights,” in May. What a great city! I found it very easy to get around by using a Metro and Museum pass, which I highly recommend purchasing before you arrive in France. It was well worth it.

Are you just showing up and seeing what happens while on vacation?  Doing this can make you look vulnerable, and there’s nothing more attractive to crooks and thieves than that look of vulnerability.  Unsuspecting, overconfident youth and the distracted elderly are prime targets.  I hear these stories all the time, and …

U.S. airlines lost a combined $1 billion in the first three months of this year. This is largely because of escalating fuel prices. Fuel costs are now the number one cialis 10mg operating cost for airlines. To put that in perspective:  ten years ago fuel represented 15% of an airlines …

This is a letter I recently received from a friend that has been spending the summer on a cruise ship in Alaska. He has some interesting insights as well as some spectacular pictures to share. ALASKA – SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! Whether you know it or not, Alaska in all of …

For my birthday I thought it would be fun to have dinner and drinks at the new resort in Las Vegas – the Cosmopolitan! The Chandelier bar was fabulous with the best of the best cocktails, and you felt like you where in the center of the hotel inside the …

On one of my recent trips to Oahu I took the opportunity to tour the magnificent Kualoa Ranch.  It is a place of extraordinary beauty, preserved through the stewardship of the Morgan family, who purchased the ranch from King Kamehameha III in 1850.  The property stretches for five miles along the coast and includes three …