Nice is nice. That’s something I said at least a few times a day during my month in the unofficial capital of France’s Côte d’Azur. But the reality is that Nice is more than just nice. It’s a really lovely city with natural beauty, good food, and some surprisingly cool history and culture. The odds…
Genoa is not on most American tourists’ radar. Maybe a cruise they are on stops here - maybe - but otherwise they may or may not even know where it is, let alone think it’s a place they should visit in Italy. And so it was with me until I planned a trip here to…
I like most places I’ve been. I have positive experiences most everywhere, and try to find reasons to enjoy myself. But it is not hyperbole to state that this island, shared by Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin, exceeded any expectations I may have had coming in, and after merely a week, it can be counted on…
It’s really impossible to distill just how cool of a city Toronto is. There is an energy that rivals New York, a cultural mix reminiscent of London, an urban beauty in the mold of Chicago, and classical Canadian friendliness. The place is incredible. And while there really isn’t a single must-visit sight, and nothing overly…
Morocco is having a golden age as far as tourism goes. It seems everyone is either going to the North African country or trying to. And rightly so. While there are some issues that we will talk about in the “Other Useful Information” section below, the country is incredible. It is vibrant - sometimes overwhelmingly…
If you are a fan of nature and wildlife, chances are that you have either already been to Costa Rica or it is on your list. After all, this tiny Central American country has about 5% of the planet’s biodiversity, and a remarkable tourism infrastructure that both protects much of that and allows for access.…
Most visitors to the Bahamas envision deserted white sand beaches and azure waters, and indeed, the island nation has plenty of that. But it also has Nassau, the capital and largest city, where approximately 250,000 residents (about 60% of the country) live. In addition, at any given time there might be 40-50,000 tourists in Nassau,…
For many, if not most, visitors to Guatemala, Antigua Guatemala (literally Old Guatemala) is their first stop. The former colonial capital is a touristic center, boasting cool history and architecture, access to stunning natural beauty, and a ton of great shops and restaurants. Many spend just a day or two here, but I’ve now spent…
I really love this city. Istanbul, the bridge between Europe and Asia, and Turkey’s largest city, is a truly remarkable place. It is beautiful, vibrant, has some world-class sights, features great food, and is really unique. But there are also some challenges visitors find when exploring here. I’ve now been to Istanbul three times, including…
Heraklion is the capital and largest city of the Greek island of Crete, and Greece’s fifth or so (depending on metric) most populous city at around 150,000. For tourists, however, the city is pretty much a blank spot. Yes, some will fly in and spend a day (or cruise in) and then head to Chania…