Aldo Bodogo Seven U.S. Museums where you can see some of the best French Impressionist Art The secret is out – I’m a huge fan of art museums.  A visit is always a good use of time and can give you insight on culture and history.  And if you’re not careful, you might just get a little education thrown in! You don’t have to love everything, but the more you get exposed to the more you can learn to appreciate.  I’ll admit that I tend to have a hard time with some contemporary art while there is a lot that I’m just crazy about.  Remember, as with life “beauty is in the eye of t ..read more

Aldo Bodogo Rovaniemi, Finland The Ultimate Christmas Trip Located right on the Arctic Circle, the Santa Claus Village is regarded as “Santa’s official residence” and is one of the top tourist destinations in Finland.  You really can’t find more Christmas in one place anywhere else in the world.  Year-round you can find Santa greeting visitors at his office in the center of the village.  The path to meet The Big Guy passes his workshop where you can look through the keyholes of the small doors to spot his elves working away on toys for children around the world. Hang Out Wi ..read more

Aldo Bodogo I Finally Made It To Sark Many years ago, I saw an article on the Isle of Sark in a prominent travel magazine.  It was the kind of magazine I used to read cover-to-cover and fantasize about all the wonderful places I would go someday.    The story included photos of this tiny island in the English Channel that was described as “almost lost in time”.  There are no cars allowed – transportation options are limited to bicycles, tractors, and horse-drawn carriages.  The only way the island can be reached is by boat.  The stunning landscape consisted of gre ..read more

Aldo Bodogo Aldo’s 10 Favorite London Museums Two things that always give me great pleasure are (1) appreciating good art, photography, and design and (2) spending any amount of time in my favorite city, London. There are allegedly about 150 different museums in London to choose from.  They include some of the world’s greatest art collections, scientific discoveries, the first wax museum in Europe, histories of British industry, and small displays of obscure artifacts.   If you have a personal interest in something, there is probably a museum dedicated to it somewhere in London ..read more

Aldo Bodogo A Visit to the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt My first ever experience with a German Christmas market was a visit to the world-famous Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg.  It probably wasn’t the best idea to “start at the top” as I will forever compare all other markets to Nuremberg.  So, what makes the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt so special?  Pretty much everything.  Nuremberg’s Old Town is literally postcard-perfect. During this time of year, the city square is filled with wooden stalls topped with candy cane striped roofs and fresh evergreen garlands. You are s ..read more

Aldo Bodogo The Fear of Getting Cancelled Having a major trip unexpectedly canceled is one of the most difficult things to deal with in life.  If you’re a true traveler, you understand. For me, planning an overseas trip is like creating something.  It’s giving birth to a dream.  And when it suddenly and unexpectedly cancels, it’s almost like dealing with a death.  I go through all the emotional stages of grief. I start with disbelief and denial.  How can this happen?  Maybe there’s a mistake?  This can’t be happening to me. Then I get angry.  It’s not ..read more

Aldo Bodogo Six New Hotels To Consider On Your Next Trip to New Orleans New Orleans has everything I love – incredibly good food, readily available cocktails, and music that makes me think I can dance.  I also love staying in hotels, and this year is bringing some new entrants to the NOLA hotel scene that I believe are good additions to a city already full of options.  You can never have too much of a good thing, right?  While it appears that the vast majority of us will be staying closer to home this year, New Orleans is an easy and excellent choice for a stateside trip.  ..read more

Aldo Bodogo Aldo’s Guide to Isla Mujeres People often ask me why I keep going back to Isla Mujeres year after year.  “Is it like Playa del Carmen?” –  No “Is it like Tulum?” –  No “Is it like Isla Holbox?” –  No “Is it like Cancun?” – You’re kidding, right? It’s not even like “what Isla Mujeres used to be”, but I still love it.  Isla Mujeres is easy to get to – a short ferry ride from Cancun, but a world away.  There are no chain restaurants or bars.  Most hotels are small and full of character.  The local population is friendly, and you always feel s ..read more

Aldo Bodogo Seven Best Hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is hot.  Like Ricky Martin hot.  Or Luis Fonsi hot. The island has been captivating the hearts of travelers from around the world for years with its colonial architecture, tropical climate, live music, salsa dancing and traditional cuisine.  For travel-starved Americans it is an easy flight to an exotic destination that (A) doesn’t require a passport, (B) accepts dollars and (C) produces Bacardi rum.  What more could you ask for? There are indeed more low-key resort areas located outside of the capital of S ..read more

Aldo Bodogo Expert Tips on Choosing the Right Hotel The right choice in hotels can make or break a good vacation. There are many things you should consider when narrowing in on that ideal spot to spend your money on and your time in.  What kind of traveler are you? How much time are you going to spend there? What is your budget? Perfect hotel experiences can be hard to come by. Here are some of my tips on things to consider before you book: Location, Location, Location This is the first and most important item to consider when choosing a hotel.  When you are on vacation, you want ..read more