Travel by Vicki

By Vicki Kramer, Travel by Vicki AmaWaterways river cruise ship sailing along the Main River in Würzburg, Germany.  Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways. River cruising has had a remarkable few years. What was once considered a niche travel style for a certain generation has quietly evolved into one of the most sought-after ways to experience Europe — and for good reason.  But as with any travel experience, there's what the brochure tells you and what you actually need to know before you book. As an AmaWaterways Certified Specialist, I spend a great deal of time researching, studying, and talking to travelers about river cruising. I haven't personally sailed a river cruise yet — and I think that's worth saying plainly, because what follows isn't a personal travel diary.  River Cruising Is Not Ocean Cruising If your only cruise experience is on a large ocean ship, your first instinct will be to compare the two. Don't. They are fundamentally different experiences, and it...

By Vicki Kramer, Travel by Vicki Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth reflects the line’s long tradition of ocean travel. There are dozens of cruise lines operating today, ranging from massive floating cities carrying 6,000 to intimate river ships with fewer than 200 guests. Prices vary. Destinations overlap. And yet the experience on board one line can feel almost nothing like the experience on another. Choosing the wrong cruise line doesn't mean you'll have a bad vacation. But it does mean you might spend a week wondering why everyone around you seems to be having more fun — or a different kind of fun — than you are. That's a preventable disappointment, and it starts with one simple principle: the least expensive option or the most popular destination is not always the right fit. Every cruise line has a culture. Understanding that culture before you book is the most important research you can do. Ask Yourself These Questions First Before you look at a single itinerary or compare a ...

By Vicki Kramer, Travel by Vicki Cliffs of Moher coastal cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland Ireland is one of the most rewarding destinations in Europe, but many travelers try to see too much too quickly. It’s easy to fall into the trap of changing hotels every night in an effort to cover the entire island. There is another way to experience Ireland that many travelers find far more enjoyable:  hub-based travel . Instead of moving constantly from place to place, you stay several nights in one central location and explore the surrounding region through day trips. Ireland is particularly well suited to this approach. Why Hub-Based Travel Works So Well in Ireland Ireland is compact, scenic, and well connected by road. Many of the country’s most iconic sights are within easy driving distance of charming towns and small cities that make ideal bases. Staying in one location for several nights allows you to settle in, enjoy the atmosphere of a place, and explore the region a...

By Vicki Kramer, Travel by Vicki     Shrewsbury, England — a historic market town that makes an excellent base for exploring the Welsh           countryside and Britain’s heritage railways. There's a particular kind of exhaustion that comes home with some travelers from their vacation. You've seen it — maybe you've even experienced it yourself. The suitcase that never really got unpacked because you moved hotels every night. The blur of cathedrals and cobblestone streets that all start to look the same by day four. The feeling that you checked every box on the list but somehow missed the trip. I hear this from travelers more often than you might think. They come back from two weeks in Europe having visited eight countries, and when I ask what their favorite moment was, they pause. They have to think about it. The whole trip passed in a kind of beautiful, exhausting rush — and the culture, the food, the feeling of actually being somewhere neve...