Sustainability is important in all aspects of our lives. People are making more conscious choices that will have a better impact on our communities and the environment. We are realizing that there is only one planet earth and we need to take proper care of it. Many people have made sustainable changes in their daily lives, but have you thought about how you can make your traveling experience more sustainable?

The World Tourism Organization defines the term 'sustainable travel' as "tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities." It goes far beyond refusing plastic straws and bringing a canvas tote to the grocery store, it is striving to leave the areas and communities you visit better off than when you arrived.

Environmental Sustainability: The environment is obviously important to tourism. Both the natural environment (such as beaches, forests, waterways) and the built environment (such as historic buildings and ruins) must be preserved for an area to be environmentally sustainable. Environmental sustainability means making sure resources in an area (whatever they may be) can be preserved for use by future generations. It’s much more than just being “green.”

Socio-cultural Sustainability: When an area starts being visited by tourists, there are bound to be some social and cultural impacts of those tourists on the host community. Locals may see increased congestion and overcrowding in towns and cities, perhaps an increase in crime, the introduction of new languages and values, and perhaps even an influx of migrant workers to be employed in the tourist industry. Socio-cultural sustainability, then, means minimizing these negative impacts and focusing on more positive ones, such as promoting cultural exchange and preserving local traditions. This can usually be achieved by getting the locals involved in the tourism industry. Having the community involved will not only offer visitors a more genuine experience, but the locals will be more likely to see tourism in a positive light because they will be proud of it.

Economic Sustainability: The last pillar of sustainability revolves around perhaps the most important part – the money. Many people don’t take into account economics when thinking about sustainability, but it’s really the key to making a tourism venture sustainable. Economic sustainability means building linkages and reducing leakages – essentially, keeping the money local. A hotel or company owned and operated by a foreigner is not likely to contribute much to the local economy – the money will likely leak overseas instead. This is not sustainable. Not only should the community be involved in tourism, but they should also all share in the financial benefits gleaned from it.

As a proud member of Ensemble, we support the recent sustainability initiatives being taken on by the travel consortia. David Harris, Ensemble CEO, announced at the annual travel conference in October 2019 that Ensemble has partnered with nonprofit Cool Effect. This "enables Ensemble members to offset their clients’ flights quickly and easily using its Offset Tool" (afar.com). 

We are looking forward this partnership, as well as eagerly awaiting even more sustainable travel initiatives.

Avoid the plane and take the train
Become part of the emerging “slow travel” trend by going to fewer places and spending more time in each. Train travel is a good way to do this. Not only will you experience a deeper sense of place, you’ll also decrease your carbon footprint. Some of my favorite travel-by-train destinations include India, Southeast Asia, East Africa, and China.

Give, the right way
Many well-intentioned travelers bring sweets, used clothing, books, and pencils to hand out to children and villagers in developing nations. Sadly, this kind giving often has unintended consequences—it can sow community conflict and encourage a culture of dependency and begging. I watched two Maasai women in Africa fight over a T-shirt that a smiling tourist had handed out; in some parts of Asia, the first English words children learn are “Give me sweet.” It is better to give—be it money or goods—to reputable local organizations that work on social welfare programs, or to international groups that partner with them. A good one is Pack for a Purpose.

Say no to plastic
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling mass of human trash stretching across thousands of miles of the ocean, includes gazillions of throw-away plastic bottles and bags that will take hundreds of years, if ever, to break down—all the while wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Be a part of the solution by opting for locally purified water in recyclable glass bottles (in the tropics, I rely mainly on green coconuts to stay hydrated) and carrying tote bags in your luggage that you can use while perusing street markets and shops. Not only will this cut back on plastic waste, it will also reduce your carbon footprint–petroleum-based ingredients are a staple in manufacturing plastic bottles and bags.

Research your tour operators
I explore on my own most of the time when I travel, but when I do seek out the services of a tour outfitter, I always ask three questions before signing on: What are some of your tour company’s environmentally friendly practices? Can you give me an example of how your trips help to protect and support wildlife or cultural heritage? Do you employ local guides on your trips? 

Support the real local economy
Locally made crafts and souvenirs are not always cheaper, but purchasing them ensures your contribution to the economy will have a more direct and positive impact. In Cancun, for example, some gift shops sell “traditional” Mexican sombreros that are imported from China because they cost less, while village artisans who make the hats by hand charge more. The difference is not just in the price. Buying the real sombreros supports authentic cultural heritage and provides needed jobs for the locals who make them.

Never buy wildlife products—period
On a trip to Vietnam’s Halong Bay, I watched a group of American tourists haggling with villagers who were selling some of the most beautiful sea shells I have come across in my travels. Similarly, in Mongolia, I witnessed a couple of backpackers haggling at an outdoor market to buy a hand-stitched eagle hunter’s hat made from plush wolf fur. These travelers were inadvertently helping to support a growing marketplace for trafficking rare and endangered wildlife products as souvenirs. Just say no.

We're in the middle of what feels like a never-ending winter and dreaming of a warm getaway for spring break. Nothing beats a week of sun, fun and well-deserved relaxation! There are so many beautiful places to visit, so it can be hard to narrow it down to one destination. Here is some inspiration for your spring break trip this year!

There is nothing worse than planning an amazing trip, only to get sick during it or immediately after returning home. Traveling to new places can mean new germs, close quarters in places like airplanes and a different routine than what your body is used to. Here are a few things you can do to combat sickness while traveling, especially during cold and flu season!

There is nothing better for your body than getting a good night of sleep! Being well-rested before you travel is important so that you are prepared for your adventures ahead. Once you get to your destination, sleep is still SO necessary! You want to get the most out of the amazing destinations you visit. Getting 8 hours of sleep at night will help you do that by giving you a clear mind and rested body to fully enjoy the places travel to. Did you know that our white blood cells increase in number while we sleep? So when you are sleep deprived, your body's defense mechanism weakens, making you more vulnerable to sickness. Make sure you are getting proper sleep!

HYDRATION! HYDRATION! HYDRATION! Remembering to drink enough water is very important, especially while traveling. Long flights and days packed with adventure can leave you more dehydrated than normal. Remember to drink at least the equivalent of eight 8oz. glasses of water a day! Opt for water instead of sugary drinks during your trip to stay properly hydrated. You can invest in a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter, so wherever you go, you will have clean, filtered water ready to drink.

When traveling it always feels like there is so much to do, but so little time. People tend to pack as much as they can into every waking moment of their trip. Have you ever come back from traveling and thought, "I need a vacation from my vacation"? Avoid the burnout feeling by making a manageable itinerary where you can see everything you want to see while still having room to relax and enjoy. Planning your trip with a Travel Consultant can help you with that! They have the knowledge and resources to help plan your perfect trip.

One of the best things about traveling is trying new food! Many people use vacation as a time to indulge and eat much more food or less healthy food than their body is used to. This can cause stomach issues that you do not want to deal with while on vacation. To combat this, try sticking to a balanced diet while traveling. Be adventurous, but also cautious, when trying new foods in a new area. The CDC also suggests avoiding raw food, street food and bushmeat when traveling.

This one should be a given, but is also important remember! Be diligent with hand washing while traveling. Remember to bring hand sanitizer when you aren't near a sink and sanitizing wipes to disinfect the surfaces around you, especially when flying.

When most people come back from a trip they jump right back into work and their regular daily routine. Allow yourself an extra day or two after you get back to readjust and unwind. This can also be a great time to get some extra sleep and fully unpack before jumping back into things.

​Travel Consultant Christine Hakenjos recently traveled to New Orleans with 9 of her closest girlfriends to celebrate her bachelorette weekend! Bachelorette trips (or long weekend getaways to celebrate the bride’s “last fling before the ring”) are becoming more and more popular with millennials. Christine and her Maid of Honor, Lindsay, planned the most perfect weekend getaway, and we thought it would be fun to share their travels along with giving tips for planning the perfect bachelorette weekend that you can do WHEREVER you may travel!

When planning a bachelorette weekend getaway, it is always a good idea to create SOME sort of itinerary for your guests so that everyone has something to refer to when packing/preparing for their travels. Creating a cute graphic always makes things more fun and adds even more excitement to the upcoming trip!

​We traveled to New Orleans for my bachelorette on Halloween weekend, which also meant it was VooDoo Festival that weekend. For our photoshoot theme, we decided to match the rest of the city this time of year and go with a “witches coven” theme. We started our day with the shoot and it was a fun way to begin our day in NOLA! The photos all turned out AMAZING, and I love that I have such great photos to look back on as a reminder of such an amazing weekend. We then went out on the town from there and received SO many compliments about our theme and how coordinated we all looked. It was so fun! 

​When planning an out of town bachelorette trip (especially with a big group), do your research to find out the best places to eat and drink and make reservations at the restaurants ahead of time! You don’t want to have to wait an hour (or sometimes longer!) for a table big enough for your group because that is only taking time away from your weekend, or even WORSE you may not even get a table to begin with! So planning ahead for the places you KNOW you want to eat and drink at is always a good idea…. ESPECIALLY in New Orleans where eating and drinking is one of the reasons for traveling to such an amazing city!

​Having outfits planned makes packing easy, right?! So one of the days in New Orleans, we all picked an iconic celebrity to dress up as. It was so fun to be out and about in NOLA dressed as people that MOST of the general public knew who we were. 

​Sometimes drinking all day every day on a Bachelorette trip can be quite exhausting, and expensive! Acting as real tourists and booking an exciting tour can be a really good change of pace for your group and will also allow them to learn and see more of the city you are traveling to! Before departing for our weekend in New Orleans, we booked a “Louisiana Airboat Ride & Oak Valley Plantation Home” tour and it was truly one of the best things we did all weekend! It was so fun to do something so unique and different as a group. Getting to experience such beauty and learning about these destinations together was so special! 

​In addition to the “being a tourist and booking a tour”, you can also have fun matching t-shirts made ahead of time for your group to wear on the tour or any day throughout your weekend! For New Orleans, I had t-shirts made for the girls from a shop on Etsy that matched the entire theme of the weekend: “Till Death Do Us Party”, and gave it to them as a thank you for their travels. We wore them with jeans the day of the tour and the photos of us as a group were great!

​There is nothing like having a psychic read your tarot cards, especially with your BFFs! This was yet another fun activity we did while in New Orleans. Originally, we had planned for a psychic to come to our house to do our readings, but a tropical storm hit that evening so we ended up going to the French Quarter for ours. We landed at “Voodoo Authentica” after a few insider tips from my family, who are locals to the area. Voodoo Authentica happens to be a true Voodoo shop located in the French Quarter and that is where we had a group reading done by a true Voodoo Priest! The group reading was very insightful and was just another unique activity to do together that you don’t get to do every day.

Going to listen to live music anywhere is always fun, especially when you are in a city where live music is at the center of the culture. To end our amazing weekend in New Orleans, we thought it would be fun to hop around on Frenchmen Street and listen to live jazz at a local bar. We ended up grabbing drinks and small apps at Bamboula’s where they have live music all day and all night. Frenchmen Street is just a short walk from the French Quarter and totally worth the visit! 

Something fun to do as a thank you to everyone that traveled is to make them little goodie bags. In the bags that I gave my friends, I included the matching t-shirts that I gave everyone, but I also gave them each a little reusable skull mug, and a homemade “hangover kit” with makeup wipes, Advil, and gum. To top it off, I hand wrote each of them a thank you card, as I was so appreciative of everyone taking time off work and spending their hard earned $$ to travel and celebrate with me! 

The most important part about your bachelorette weekend is having fun with your friends. Tailor your weekend to what YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS enjoy doing, and it will make some of your best memories together. To take the stress off of yourself, work with a travel consultant to plan the PERFECT weekend getaway! 

The items you pack in your carry-on can make or break your flight. Our well-traveled staff knows a thing or two about flying, along with the essentials you need to pack for every trip. Some of our travel consultants are here to share their recommendations.
​Keep reading to find out their top picks!

Maggie Groene and Melanie Muchnick always make sure they bring their headphones on every flight! These are necessary for entertainment or drowning out the background noise on the plane. If you're trying to get some sleep while flying, try earplugs to cancel out noise!

Nowadays, your smartphone is an important part of traveling. From mobile boarding passes to getting an Uber after your flight, having a dead phone is not an option. Bring a portable charger so you won't have to worry about what percentage your phone battery is at.

Food and drinks at the airport can be expensive. Think ahead and pack a reusable water bottle and snacks! Doing this can save you the unnecessary expense. Emily Medina likes to make sure she has her reusable water bottle to use at the airport, as well as while she's on her trip. Michelle Busse and Melanie like to bring on-the-go snacks that are easy to pack, such as almonds, Chex Mix or fruit.

The best way to dress on travel days is in layers. You never know what the temperature will be like in the airport or on the plane. The weather may be completely different from where you board to where you land. Be sure to pack a jacket or sweater to stay warm! Emily suggests packing or wearing a scarf that can double as a cozy blanket for when it gets chilly on the plane. What a great tip!

Airports and planes are full of germs! Be sure to bring hand sanitizer every time you travel. This one is a no brainer!

You don't want to just sit and stare off into space for your entire flight. Bring books and magazines to pass the time while flying. Or download games, music, movies or TV shows on your smartphone or tablet to keep you entertained.

Need to get some sleep on your flight? Remember to bring a travel pillow so you can sleep comfortably and feel refreshed when you get to your destination.

We always hope for the best, but sometimes checked luggage gets lost, so Michelle and Emily both recommend bringing extra clothes in your carry on. You'll feel much better knowing that you can survive an extra day or two without your checked luggage.

My husband and I have always been huge Disney fans which means we absolutely love to vacation at Walt Disney World. My entire pregnancy people told me "you know you have to wait years before you go back to Disney World?" because people knew I would be dying to go back there and to most people it sounds like a miserable idea to take a baby to Disney. Well, when I announced I was planning to take my baby to Walt Disney World I got tons of push back! Of course I was a little nervous, but guess what - taking my 10-month-old to Disney was the best decision I ever made and I can't wait to go back with him! I will say it definitely was a different type of Disney vacation than what I've been used to, but it was completely worth it and here are some of my tips for taking your baby to Disney: 

1. Be on your baby's schedule

On previous Disney vacations my husband and I would be the first ones in the park and the last to leave each day. We had to ride every ride, see every show and close out the night with fireworks. Unfortunately, this plan doesn't work too well with a baby. Nap time, feedings and bedtime all have to be taken into consideration. But this doesn't mean you can't still have fun! Be sure to have a stroller that you can recline back so baby can nap during the day and you can walk around the Park or get a yummy snack. Also, slowing down your pace will actually allow you to enjoy more of the Parks than constantly being on the go, which we definitely learned on this trip. Don't expect your baby will be awake for every photo opportunity. You have to learn to just go with the flow. 
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2. Ship baby necessities to your resort

If you plan to fly to Walt Disney World it's not practical to pack diapers, formula and food in your suitcase. You'll lose valuable space and you'll probably get stuck paying for heavy luggage fees at the airport. Instead, go on Amazon before your trip and select the items that your baby needs the most and have them shipped to the resort you're staying at. This was a lifesaver for us! I chose everything I needed and changed the shipping address to the resort. Be sure to include "Guest" with your name and check-in date on the shipping label so they can easily find the package when you check in.
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3. Pack a change of clothes each day

Accidents and babies go hand in hand. You just never know when something will happen to a baby's clothes. Be sure that before you head out to the Parks each day that you have a spare change of clothes in your diaper bag. To quickly locate everything I recommend putting the change of clothes in a Ziplock bag, and this will also help keep the soiled clothes separate from everything else in your bag. Trust me, accidents WILL happen.
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4. Mark your stroller

Any time you want to hop on a ride you have to leave your stroller in the sea of stroller parking. It can be difficult to quickly identify which stroller is yours, so to help out be sure to have a sign that you can attach to the back of your stroller. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, you could use a brightly colored ribbon. However I like to be a little extra and full of Disney flair, so I had a custom sign made that I found here on Etsy. Remember, don't leave valuables in your stroller! 
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5. Get a stroller fan

I can't emphasize this enough, you have to get a fan to clip on your stroller! There is almost nothing hotter than the Florida sun and you have to have something to keep your baby cool. I purchased this rechargeable fan on Amazon and it worked wonders. We clipped it to the top of the stroller so our son couldn't mess with it but it was securely aimed on him at all times. 
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6. Utilize Fastpasses for baby-friendly rides

Fastpasses are free with your park admission and they're a great way to make your ride-planning much easier. You get three Fastpasses that you can book in advance, and once you've used all your Fastpasses at one park you can request additional passes. To avoid waiting in lines and causing our son to get restless, we only went on rides if we had a Fastpass (or if there wasn't a long wait time). They made our day so laid back and our son thoroughly enjoyed every ride he went on! Our son got to experience The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Frozen Ever After, "it's a small world", Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan's Flight, The Voyage of The Little Mermaid, Prince Charming Regal Carousel, Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and Kilimanjaro Safari. I loved how his face would light up with curiosity, he would let out happy squeals and clap his hands to songs! 
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7. Book Character Dining experiences

My son is obsessed with watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and I knew I wanted him to have the chance to meet all of the characters. The best place to do this is at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. I booked this during breakfast when I knew it wouldn't interfere with nap time and he would be in good spirits. It was the best way for us to have one-on-one time with each character without having to wait in long lines to meet them. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy all came to meet our son and he just couldn't get enough of them! It even brought a few tears to this Disney momma's eye.
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8. Document as much as you can

Since Disney is so dear to my heart I wanted to document as many moments as I could with my son. Before the trip I made "first" signs for different experiences I knew my son would have throughout Walt Disney World. It made us pause during the day to appreciate little moments and take in different experiences in a new way. Not to mention I have so many more pictures for our photo album because I captured the moment! 
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wan·der·lust (/ˈwändərˌləst/) noun
A strong desire to travel.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? From beautiful islands to rolling green hills, we want to see it all! We asked our staff and these are Brentwood Travel's current top destinations giving us wanderlust.
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What destinations are giving you wanderlust?
Give us a call at (314) 439-5700 or email us to make your dream getaway come to life

"The cruise itself was amazing and we want to thank our Travel Consultant Stacey Hoehne for the wonderful dinner on our first night and the strawberries and champagne!

A highlight during our voyage was our balcony stateroom especially as it gave us the option to open the partition between our room and my parents which was fun! We also got up in the middle of the night while going through the inside passage and watched as we threaded that ship through a needle while sitting on our balcony in our robes. And it was a full moon that night!

One morning we were sitting out on our balcony and a humpback literally waved one of its fins at us. This was the first cruise that I’ve taken were you can see land all around most of the time. It was incredible when a momma brown bear and her 3 cubs were spotted on the shore and the captain would get us as close as he possibly could! And we spent many nights watching the sunset in the Crow’s Nest. The onboard naturalists were incredible and we all learned a lot about Alaska. The ship board credit also came in handy and we appreciated it.  Food was good and service was great!

It really was a trip of a lifetime with my family and we all have awesome pictures of the trip and great memories. I believe that every single human being on this planet should see the many wonders that I saw in Alaska!”

-Lynne A.  

One of the biggest things to look forward to the most when traveling to Italy is easily the food and drinks! But, there are a number of rules to keep in mind when dining and drinking in Italy. Chris Atwood with See Italy has come up with "11 Rules For Eating In Italy", but our agents have thrown in an extra couple rules ourselves 😉  *Look for See Italy’s original article that is linked at the bottom of this post*

#1. Pasta portions are individual sized.
              Here in the United States, we have Americanized Italian plates to a crazy amount. Most Italian restaurants that we know, offer enormous portion sizes of their pastas that are easily big enough to share. This is NOT the case in Italy. The pasta in Italy, considered there as “Primo” is individually sized and this is not because the cook is being stingy. Italians like to stagger their meals. They eat their appetizers first, then their pasta and THEN their main entrée. By keeping their pasta dish to a smaller size, Italians hold on to their appetites long enough to full enjoy all courses without feeling too stuffed. Leaving room for plenty Tiramisu for dessert!

#2. The pizza toppings are totally different in Italy.
              When ordering a Pepperoni Pizza in Italy, you will get a pizza pie covered in peppers. Why? Because pepperoni in Italy means ‘bell peppers’. Pizza originated in Italy, but again, we have Americanized the Italian Pizza to a crazy amount. For example, BBQ chicken pizza, Hawaiian pizza & yes, even the pepperoni pizza originated here in the United States. NOT Italy. The traditional pizzas found in Italy will be the Margherita (mozzarella, tomato & basil), the Marinara (which is just crust & tomato sauce), the Quattro Formaggi (white pizza with four types of cheese), and the Capricciosa (artichokes, ham, mushrooms, and black olives). So keep this in mind when going to order your favorite pizza pie in Italy!

#3. You do not need to order the whole menu.
              As noted above, Italians stagger the way they eat. Enjoying the antipasta before moving on to first course (pasta/risotto/soup). The second course is either a meat or fish dish. This is why you will NEVER see a meat or fish entrée served on the same plate as your pasta. Italians consider these as two separate dishes that should be enjoyed separately, with the pasta being served before the main dish. Insider tip: Split your antipasta and then order either a pasta or an entrée. If you are STILL hungry, you can always go back for more 😉
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#4. ONLY drink wine or water at a restaurant.
              We come from a land with AT LEAST five drinks choices being offered on almost any menu here in the States. At many sit-down restaurants, Italians will only sip on two drinks; wine and water. The wine in Italy will be served in chilled glass bottles and will usually cost about 2 euros per bottle. The waiter will usually ask you if you want “acqua naturale” which is flat mineral water or “acqua frizzante” which is fizzy mineral water also known as sparkling water. Do not ask for tap water, most restaurants will refuse to serve that to you. House wines can be ordered by the liter and are usually the same price as the water! Most will offer wine by the bottle also.

#5. Oil & vinegar are the only salad dressings offered.
              “Italian dressing” in Italy does not exist. That salad dressing was (yes, you guessed it) Americanized as well! When ordering a salad in Italy, the waiter will bring extra virgin olive oil and vinegar to the table or “olio e aceto”. This is the only way Italians eat insalata. Another fun fact! Italians will absolutely not dip their bread into olive oil and balsamic. 

#6. No bread before pasta!
              With foods like pizza, pasta and focaccia most think that Italians eat nothing BUT carbs. This is actually not the case. When ordering pasta, Italians would never consider eating their bread before their bucatini. The bread that is served at restaurants is used to scoop up the leftover pasta sauce onto your plate and ONLY when you are finished consuming the pasta.
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#7. There are no such things as “doggy bags” to bring leftovers with you.
              Italians love fresh, homemade meals. They do not appreciate leftovers the way we do here in the states. You must be careful not to over order while dining in Italy. The pasta that is left on your plate will be taken away and not returned back to you. So, enjoy the food that is in front of you while you can but do not expect to take it home with you. 
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#8. Some dishes will not exist in all of Italy.
              Rome is world famous for Carbonara. Florence is known for its Fagioli and Venetians go crazy for their risotto. Wherever you travel in Italy, each region will provide you their own flavors. So the food you enjoy in Rome will not necessarily resemble what you enjoy in Sorrento. Insider tip: before heading to Italy, do some research as to the local specialties in each of the places that you will be staying.
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#9. Cheese does not always go on your dish.
              It is not customary to ask for grated cheese on top of your dish. Sprinkling grated cheese on pasta dishes and Italian entrees is yet again a very American thing to do. Unless your waiter offers you a spoonful of grated cheese, do not ask for it. It is not meant to be on that dish or it will be offered after it is served.
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#10. Enjoy a caffe or digestive after dinner.
              Only foreigners will order a cappuccino with or after dinner in Italy. Italians would much rather order a caffe or macchiato after savoring a full, slow meal. Cappuccino’s are filled with milk and cream and is considered much too heavy after consuming a bunch of carbs. It is also very common to order a caffe corretto after dining, which is a shot of espresso spiked with liqueur. Insider tip: NEVER pass up on dessert while in Italy.

#11. Ask for your bill, when YOU want it.
              Here in the States, we are so accustomed to the waiter bringing us our check when we are finished dining. This is not the case in Italy. The waiters in Italy want you to sit and enjoy your meal and do not want to hurry you out the door. Instead, they will wait for you to ask for the bill (which you can simply do so by flagging them down and requesting the “il conto”  when you are ready to pay because they do not want to rush you out the door.
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#12. Peel your fruits and vegetables.
              Italians do not consume fruits and vegetables with the skin on them. They will always peel the skin off first. Many think that this is because Italians think the pesticides are unhealthy but most will say that this is because of tradition. If you start to bite into a fruit that still has the skin on it, you will most likely have the fruit ripped from your hand and the skin cut off for you by a local. Don’t get embarrassed this way 😉

#13. Arrive late to any dinner party or dining event.    
              It is considered rude in Italy to arrive early or on time to a dinner event. Italians will always try and arrive just a tad after the planned time as to not rush the host or chef. 

​Below you can find pictures shared by Travel Consultant Julie Skrainka, who travelled to Sorrento back in May. She & her husband, Alan spent an evening at their Agriturismo making pizzas with their host Natalia, her mother-in-law and her husband Luigi. Once Julie & her husband were finished creating their pizza masterpieces, Luigi then baked them in their own beautiful wood-fired oven. 

This trip of a lifetime began when my aunt and uncle came to me for help planning their cruise to Alaska. As we got further into the planning process, my cousin and I decided to book our own room and tag along!

Vancouver

We started our trip by flying into Vancouver two days before our cruise was scheduled to depart. We stayed at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel which was in a great location for exploring the city. To see some of the beautiful scenery in the surrounding area, we booked a small group tour with a local guide. He took us North to Squamish, where we were able to see Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola, and the famous suspension bridges. 

​Scenic Cruising

Our first full day on the ship was a day at sea. We decided to hangout on the top deck and enjoy the sunny weather while keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins. That evening we cruised through the inside passage, and the crew opened up the bow of the ship so we could all get a great view as we sailed forward! We then went to dinner in the main dining room and got a table next to a window to continue enjoying the passing scenery. 

Ketchikan

The first port we visited was Ketchikan, where we booked an excursion to go sea kayaking. Ketchikan is known for being the rainiest city in Alaska, and even though there was a light rain falling when we started our tour, the guides were prepared with rain gear that kept us completely dry as we paddled through the peaceful coves! After our kayaking adventure, we walked through the famous Creek Street. The sun came out and we had perfect weather as we did some shopping and sampled local beers. We then returned to the ship and spotted lots of eagles as we sailed on to our next port! 

Juneau

Our next stop was Juneau, Alaska’s capitol city. We started or day by visiting the famous Mendenhall Glacier. We took a leisurely hike down to the lake for a closer view of the glacier and Nugget Falls.

​Our next adventure in Juneau was an excursion that I had been looking forward to for months. We had decided to splurge and book a helicopter tour to a dogsled camp on top of a glacier, and it was definitely worth it! The helicopter ride took about 15 minutes each way, and the views from the sky were stunning. When we landed at the dogsled camp, the workers there gave us an insight to their way of life and let us meet some of their sled dogs. (As an animal lover, I was in heaven!) They hooked up a sled and we took off on a ride around the snow-covered glacier. I was happy to see how much the dogs loved running through the snow, and we could see that they were well taken care of by their handlers. This tour was very well done and was a highlight of the trip!

​Skagway

Our next port was Skagway, which is known for the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. We had planned to take the famous train excursion, but there was a landslide the night before and the railroad was closed for repairs. Instead, we took a bus tour up the Klondike Highway (which runs parallel to the train route) and had a great time! Our local driver made multiple stops for us to get out and take pictures of the beautiful scenery, and we spotted a family of bears hanging out right next to the highway. 

​We spent the rest of the day hiking a local trail, sampling the local breweries, and walking around the historic town before heading back to the ship.

Denali

When we arrived in Seward, we were sad to leave the ship, but excited to head up to Denali! We boarded a motor coach and began the drive North. We were able to stop at Potter Marsh for some free time and wildlife watching, and then we continued our drive. As we approached the park, our driver stopped at a scenic viewing point and we got our first look at the massive Denali Mountain! We then arrived at the impressive McKinley Chalet, which would be our home for the next 3 nights.  

​Because we booked a Triple Denali tour, we had another day in the park to do whatever we wanted! We decided to go whitewater rafting, and even though the water was freezing, our wetsuits kept us warm and dry. Our experienced guide told us fun stories about his life in Alaska and kept us safe as we paddled through the rapids. After our exciting rafting tour, we took a relaxing hike that followed a river and led us to a scenic mountainside with a whole family of caribou. 

​After our adventure in Denali, we boarded the McKinley Explorer for our scenic train ride back to Anchorage. The dome windows gave us great visibility as we traveled through the mountains. There were lots of food and drink options available onboard and we had a guide that gave us information about the areas we were passing through. This was a fun and comfortable way to make the 8-hour journey!

Anchorage
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We had one night in Anchorage, and then our flight home was late the next day. We had lots of fun walking around town, shopping, and trying out more local breweries! I was glad that we had free time to explore this unique town before heading back to reality. 

​Overall, this was an amazing vacation! Holland America did a fantastic job of helping us experience Alaska by land and sea. The transition from the ship to Denali was seamless and very well organized. Each employee we met was so kind and helpful, and I would highly recommend Holland America for anyone who wants to visit Alaska. Many people consider this a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but we enjoyed it so much that I know I’ll be back again someday!