Planning an international trip? Congratulations! As part of your travel prep, making sure your passport is current and that you have the needed travel visas are critical ingredients for success. Not having an updated passport & required visas can be a recipe for a travel disaster – and I should know! Yes, I have had “visa screw-ups” – TWO TIMES! – that really messed with my travel plans. Even though they both happened over 20 years ago, the painful memories still linger. So, I want to make sure that you are never turned away at an airport (like me!) or border crossing because your documen ..read more

Tower of Belem / Credit: DepositPhotos Belém, Lisbon’s southwestern-most district, is a treasure-trove of visitor delights from Portugal’s Golden Age. Its historic landmarks, like the Tower of Belém and sail-shaped Discoveries Monument, recall Portugal’s seafaring prowess when it was Europe’s wealthiest power. Lisbon Map Credit: Rick Steves Portugal / Click all photos to enlarge Historically, Belém was the location of Lisbon’s shipyards & docks. Thus, it was the final sending off point for voyages during the Age of Discovery in the 15th & 16th centuries. From here, famed explorers ..read more

Welcome to Rotorua – a must-see destination on New Zealand’s North Island. In a country known for  stunning & varied natural beauty, Rotorua delights visitors with its unique geothermal features. You’ll find dramatic spouting geysers, bubbling mud pots, smoking steam vents, and many hot springs (with some for bathing!) In addition, Rotorua is certainly the best place to experience the traditional customs of New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people with their rich history & culture. These two special worlds – the people and their landscape – are inextricably linked. My New Zealand Tr ..read more

Plitvice Lakes National Park / Photo Credit: Deposit Photos / Click on all photos to enlarge Imagine walking along crystalline blue-green waters, surrounded by majestic white travertine rock & beautiful, lush forests. All the while being awed by the countless waterfalls and cascades of water flowing between the park’s many lakes. Welcome to Croatia’s magical Plitvice Lakes National Park. Plitvice Lakes had been high on my travel list because of the almost surreal photos I’ve seen (like the one above), as well as the glowing accolades from friends who had already visited the park. My OAT ..read more

St. George’s Castle in Elmina / Credit: Deposit Photos / Click on all photos to enlarge The bustling fishing village of Elmina lies along Ghana’s beautiful palm-lined coast. There, overlooking the harbor, sits the imposing, white-washed fortress of Elmina, once a major center for the Atlantic slave trade. On my recent 2-week trip to West Africa, I was eager to visit this former slave fort – with its dark yet critical place in history. Even though my tour was focused on the region’s traditional tribal cultures, it included a visit to St. George’s d’Elmina Castle, one of Ghana’s most important ..read more

So, what’s not to like about walking the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago? You get to “recharge your batteries” with time out in nature, enjoy beautiful scenery in Portugal & Spain, explore cool medieval old town centers, eat good food, meet friendly & welcoming local people, and make wonderful new friends from around the globe! Click on all photos to enlarge As a Camino “pilgrim,” your task is to simply walk each day – rain or shine – and experience whatever the Camino has in store for you, providing its many joys & occasional challenges! I’m happy to report that I suc ..read more

When we plan that special international trip, we hope (and pray!) for easy airline flights, great weather and, of course, good health for ourselves and our travel partners. Sightseeing is no fun when you’re feeling crummy & sick! There are some important steps that you can do to maximize your chances of staying healthy on your upcoming adventure. However, the level of preparation and medical diligence when traveling abroad will greatly depend upon your destination and type of travel. For example, are you going to Europe on a tour where the country has a good healthcare system and you ca ..read more

West Africa Map Credit: Lonely Planet / Click all photos to enlarge West Africa has one of the most fascinating potpourri of cultures on the planet. Traditional and tribal culture still remains strong, as witnessed in vibrant village festivals held to honor local deities & dead ancestors. Not to mention the fact that Benin is the birthplace of voodoo, the animist religion practiced by many West Africans. So, when a friend invited me to join her small group cultural tour to West Africa in January & February 2023, I jumped at the chance! I’ve been blessed to have visited Africa five t ..read more

The start of each new year is a great time to revisit and update your Travel Bucket List. So, what are those travel dreams & desires that have been tugging at your heart, saying it’s time to start planning to make them a reality? We all have those desires – whether it’s visiting exciting international destinations or simply taking a fun road trip to a nearby state to visit friends or family, while seeing cool sights along the way. Travel Bucket Lists are very personal – they are for what “rings YOUR chimes” – not mine or someone else’s. This Bucket List blog post will focus mainly on inte ..read more

Photo Credit: Ivy Gordon Imagine the thrill of coming face-to-face with one of your closest primate cousins high up in the tropical forest of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. After an arduous trek, you’ve been rewarded with observing a family of mountain gorillas out in the wild pursuing their daily lives. These gorillas are only found in the mountainous forests of Central-East Africa, having never lived in captivity. This only adds to their considerable allure & the “bucket list” tracking experience. So, I was beyond excited to visit the mountain gorillas on my 2013 trip to Rwanda & ..read more