I was delighted to have the opportunity to travel to Spain recently on a site inspection for Dimensions in Travel. My traveling companion and I used an airport car/driver service, stayed at the Hotel Neri in Barcelona, ​and explored the city on our own. We had a short stay in coastal Valencia. Then we traveled onto Madrid, basing at the Hotel Orfila, did a half-day, private city walking tour of Barcelona arranged through Titanium Tours. This was a wonderful introduction to Spain for me!

Here's the short Youtube video that I created from my trip.

HOTEL ORFILA
This is a 5* Relais & Chateau hotel In the heart of Madrid, just five minutes from the Museo del Prado. Manager Emilio Ruiz stopped to introduce himself to us and chat for a few minutes. Usually in Madrid in February, 5 star hotels are at 35% occupancy.In February of 2023, they are at 70% occupancy. Emilio said he doesn’t know what is bringing everyone to Madrid right now, but it’s the place to be! 

• Location: In the Chamberi District on a quiet, private street. The Metro Station (Alonso Martinez) is a 5 minute walk. It is a 20 minute drive to the main tourist locations. It is about a 5 minute drive to the Prado Museum.
• Rooms: There are 32 Rooms, a variety of suites, superior room, junior suites, and five deluxe suite on the top floor. The deluxe suites have sloped ceilings – a very European touch. Some people don’t like this feature and prefer a traditional room. Most rooms have a bathroom and separate shower – very few rooms only have a shower. Rooms were renovated during Covid by a famous interior designer – all rooms are unique but the same style throughout (similar pattern wallpaper but different colors).
• Clients: Typical clients are 40+ who want to stay at a place that has this specific aesthetic. Children are welcome and they have a designated children’s menu in the hotel. In the rooms, some couches can turn into beds or it is easy to bring up an extra bed – the rooms have the space for it.
• Restaurant, Bar & Tea Room: Menu created by Mario Sandoval – a Michelin Star Chef.  When I was there they had three menu options: Regular Menu (€25 – 40ish), Tasting Menu (€85) and an Executive Special Menu (€45). It is common for locals to come for meals or a drink – they like the quiet ambiance.  The Bar across the lobby is an intimate setting. The terrace connects to the restaurant and tea room and offers outdoor seating. 

​I'd dreamed all my life of seeing Egypt’s incredible monuments to pharaohs and gods of Egyptian history. I was so eager to see the Pyramids of Giza and Abu Simbel and I love river cruising. This February, during winter break, I finally made this happen on an Avalon Waterways cruise-tour on the Nile with my friend Christine. It was an adventure! 

Cairo Hotel: We began by meeting up with our Avalon group of 26 people at the Marriott Mena House in Giza, right next to the Pyramids. The hotel offers deluxe pyramid-view or garden view rooms, two lounges, a large heated swimming pool and pool bar, spa/fitness center, and several fine dining options including Alfredo's (Italian), Mogul (Indian), 139 Pavilion (Continental cuisine and a substantial breakfast buffet) and 24/7 room service. 139 also features outdoor dining with pyramid views.

Exploring Cairo: Ahmed, our professional guide and knowledgable Egyptologist was outstanding and would be with our group the entire trip. Of course we explored the pyramids, inside and out, and by camel.

We visited the Cairo Museum (including the priceless face mask of King Tutankhamun),  Muhammad Ali Mosque (built in the 18th century with limestone from the pyramids), and Tahrir Square (site of the 2011 Arab Spring Revolution).

Nile River Cruise: We flew to Luxor and boarded our riverboat, the M.S. Farrah. The Avalon crew was fantastic and the variety of food was superb. On our two free afternoons, I was able to soak in the heated pool and watch Egypt go by as we floated down the Nile.

Temples: As we cruised, we visited Karnak (by day and at a night sound & light show), Luxor, Esna, Edfu, the Valley of the Kings (18-year old King Tut's body is in his tomb), Deir el-Bahari (Hatshepsut's Mortuary), the island temple of Philae, and Kom Ombo (with its crocodile mummies!).

Artisans & Experiences: For variety, we also visited Aswan High Dam, papyrus makers, alabaster sculptors, rug makers, spice merchants, exotic oil distillers and even visited a Nubian village where we had tea and got henna tattoos. The jewelry store onboard the ship also created many personal cartouche necklaces for our group members.

Abu Simbel: The grand finale of the trip was an optional morning flight excursion ($400) we could do to see the magnificent Abu Simbel, which of course we did. I highly recommend everyone do it. The temple complex was built by Ramses II to honor himself and to honor his wife Nefetari (his favorite wife out of his 34 wives). The 3,500 year old carvings inside were outstanding. 

Back in Cairo: We flew back to Cairo and stayed at the Hilton Heliopolis. It was located just 10 minutes from Cairo International Airport, which made an easy departure spot for our flights home. While back in Cairo, we visited Khan El Khalili bazaar, the Museum of Egyptian Civilization (many mummies here!) and sailed on a felucca boat one last time on the Nile. The Hilton is a deluxe high rise hotel featured 6 restaurants, an atrium lounge, 24/7 room service, spa, heated swimming pool, and beautifully appointed rooms.​ We all had different flight times home (a Lufthansa 2:00am flight for us - ugh) , but Avalon Waterways staff accompanied each of us to the airport and made sure we departed safely. This trip was everything I dreamed and I highly recommend it as a journey of a lifetime! Contact your favorite travel advisor at Dimensions in Travel to book it for you.

MARQUIS LOS CABOS RESORT
​The Marquis Los Cabos offers 209 rooms plus about 24 casitas with private plunge pools.  So fairly small by resort standards in Cabo these days. It is oceanfront but you have to sign a form that indicates you will NOT attempt to swim in the ocean as it has very heavy surf and undertow. The resort is just coming up to its 20th anniversary.  Five stories high, well maintained, all junior suites either ocean view (floors one and two) or ocean front, higher floors. We found a younger crowd this year, especially over the weekend.  Younger/livelier guests tended to congregate in one area where there was music and activities, and others, like us, who wanted it more quiet, at the other end of the pool area. Service was still outstanding.  Everyone knocks themselves out to be sure you are happy. ​​

Restaurants and Lounges
​The food was good, but not exceptional.  There are four dining venues, plus one extra-fee restaurant which we had tried two years ago and which had been a disappointment then.  The main restaurant, Vista Ballenas, has both indoor and outdoor dining areas and is open breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The Asian (Sakke) restaurant requires reservations and is open dinner only.  They have seating at a teppanyaki type table (like the old Benihana restaurants) – fun, and lots of food.  Too much, really. They also have table seatings for sushi and stir fry options.   

The Italian (Pergola) restaurant (also requiring reservations) is all outdoors and the temperature when we were staying was unusually cool. Low 70s and with a bit of wind.  By evening it would not have been comfortable without the portable heaters near tables.  Food comes from the main restaurant and we found by the time it was served it was warm, not hot.  And portions were the opposite of the Asian restaurant—rather small. ​

Probably the food we enjoyed the most was in the Dos Mares restaurant, which was near the main pool, again all outdoors.  This specializes in seafood like ceviche.  5 different kinds, all delicious.  It is open only for an extended lunch period, 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. 

The 24-hour room service features an extensive menu, and guests seem to use this a lot.  All rooms are junior suites at 650 square feet with balcony so it’s a comfortable way to dine in room with that space.   People also used room service for snacks and lunches (and of course drinks) served to them poolside. There is also a coffee shop with all kinds of fancy coffee drinks plus ice cream, milkshakes, sandwiches and pastries. 
 
A personal peeve is the continued use of QR codes for menus.  Limited number of paper menus and some like at the Italian restaurant were in such small print you needed readers. 
​
Resort has one bar, near the Vista Ballenas restaurant, which tends to get crowded. The resort also usually a nightly show or entertainment with a buffet dinner to accompany.  ​

WALDORF ASTORIA PEDREGAL
We went to the Waldorf Astoria Pedregal, which is now 15 years old, and a fabulous development.  They had to blast and create a tunnel through a mountain to develop it which is very close to downtown Cabo near the arches.  It is an amazing place, very much Mexican in feel but elegant with beautiful décor.  All rooms are ocean view and have plunge pools.  Very spread out, so lots of use of golf carts to get around.  Their El Farallon restaurant is impressive, set along the Cliffside overlooking the ocean.  Very service oriented.  There is a children’s pool, adult pool, and family pool.   And their spa is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. 
Mobility Note: None of the rooms here are accessible.  But they will install grab bars, a shower stool, if needed so it was emphasized to let them know if any special needs.  ​

CHECKING OUT THE MONTAGE TWIN DOLPHINS
We also visited a couple of resorts along the “corridor”. First we explored the Montage in the Twin Dolphins gated community.  It is 4 years old with two story “pods” with four rooms in each pod.  It is quite spread out, so again the use of golf carts is prominent.  There are private residences 2-3 bedrooms, available to rent as well as regular rooms.  A more casual feel here.  The landscaping is devoid of the usual palm trees, instead landscaped with all native desert plants.  Very nice.  Rooms have both indoor and outdoor showers.  Great sense of place here.  You feel you are in Mexico.  Rooms have large balconies and terraces.  Contemporary décor with lots of wood and tile.  On Santa Maria Bay, one of the safe swimming beaches, and they are lots of water related activities like kayaking, snorkeling.  It is pet-friendly for a pet up to 40 pounds. ​

CHECKING OUT THE LE BLANC RESORT
Our final hotel inspection was at Le Blanc.  It was the largest resort I visited, and very elegant, but it could have been at any beach—Hawaii, the Caribbean or Mexico.  No sense of place. 5 years old, rooms have large balconies and terraces.  Contemporary in feel.  This was another all inclusive resort, adults only.  Several restaurants including a Lebanese one with belly dancing! The French restaurant is rather formal, with a stricter dress code and requires reservations.  Pool area is huge.  Pricing on rooms I thought was a bit confusing.  They have ground floor rooms they call walk out rooms in the pool area—you walk out to the pool area which has both a heated and unheated pool. There is a charge for poolside palapas which have a t.v. and bottle of French champagne.  $209 a day, and a bit higher those closer to the ocean.  Partial oceanview rooms in the side buildings.  Oceanview in the main building.  Most are king but there are some with two double beds and was told the only way to absolutely guarantee a king is to book the king honeymoon rooms.

Since our last St. Lucia visit a quite nice shopping area around the pier has developed. The ship also organized a complimentary late afternoon beach party on St. Lucia. While we were not able to attend,  we heard it was very nice, with music from two steel bands.​

SEA DAYS
​Maybe because this was a fairly port intensive cruise, there was not a great deal of organized activity on the two sea days. Golf putting and trivia seemed to be the best attended activities of the day. Most people seemed content to be out on deck. There were no photographers on board and  no art auctions. Library was nicely stocked with comfortable tables and chairs, although we never saw anybody sitting in there. There are additional books in the Observation Lounge at the top of the ship. This deck is also where the fitness center and spa/beauty salon are located. Yoga and other classes are held in this lounge but I never saw anybody in it otherwise. It was a poor utilization of space.(MOBILTY NOTE: The Silver Wind was the perfect size ship for us, since my husband John needs a transport chair pushed most of the time.  He can walk just short distances.  It was  odd that no regular elevator to reach Deck 9. You either have to take stairs from the outside deck, or from Deck 8 there is a wheelchair lift up to the higher deck.) 

SHIP DECOR AND CONDITION
The ship is scheduled for refurbishment to expedition status in 2020. I had read on-line reviews before boarding which made it sound like drydock was WAY overdue, so I was not expecting the ship to look great and I was pleasantly surprised. I found the carpeting, upholstery and general condition of the ship to be very good.  There was lots of dark wood, marble and tile, which I understand will be updated to a more modern look with the refurbishment. UPGRADE NOTE: A major upgrade in December 2018 saw Silver Wind looking better than ever. A second refurbishment in November 2021 saw her benefitting from a strengthened to ice-class hull and made her one of the most adaptable ships in Silversea's fleet. 

OUR STATEROOM 
We had a midship veranda suite which was very comfortable. It had a layout similar to mini-suites on Princess but just wider giving a bit more space. It also had a walk-in closet, a bathtub and shower. The  bathroom size was okay, but not overly spacious and somewhat dark and it could use better lighting. The television in room had the regular assortment of news and other shows plus on-demand television shows and movies. The room service menu is 24/7 and very impressive - really the best I have seen on any ship. They also will serve the menu from the restaurant in your room if you wish, but that’s sort of in the fine print of information.​

DRESS CODE
​Speaking of dress code, the Silversea website says:
​Shipboard attire ranges from casual to formal. Casual wear is appropriate for daytime aboard ship or ashore and consists of standard sports outfits as worn at five-star resorts. Shoes should be flat or low heeled for deck activities. Evening attire falls into three categories: casual, informal and formal. On casual evenings, pants, blouses, skirts and casual dresses for ladies; open-neck shirts and slacks for gentlemen are appropriate. On informal evenings, ladies usually wear dresses or pantsuits; gentlemen wear jackets (tie optional). Appropriate formal evening wear for ladies is an evening gown or cocktail dress; gentlemen wear tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits. Tie is required. On formal nights, guests may dine in La Terrazza and choose to dress informal; dresses or pantsuits for ladies, jackets for gentlemen (tie optional).  Dining at The Grill is optional casual attire all nights. Following dinner on the formal night, all guests are free to take advantage of any or all public spaces, however, jacket is required. Sailings of 9 days or less typically feature 1 formal night, while longer voyages usually have 2-3 formal nights. 
​
However, despite the code and the brochure photos, we found the dress code to be far less formal.  On the formal night men are supposed to wear a jacket to dinner.  Many did not, and there was no fuss about that.  

LOUNGES AND ENTERTAINMENT
People gathered for cocktails either in The Bar or in the Panorama Lounge. There was comfortable seating in both areas, with live music before and after dinner but tiny dance floors. Entertainment and shows were in the ship’s Show Lounge. For a small size ship, it seemed unusual how large the the lounge tiered seating and a good size stage. There were no extravagant shows like on the big ships. There were six young people called the Voices of Silversea who performed in various shows, but these were sadly rather poorly attended. The cruise director was Colin Barbierre-Brown, who was a real class act and a trained concert pianist. He did three classical oriented programs that were excellent. ​

The Grill is one of the most inviting poolside casual restaurants I have seen on any ship. Instead of buffet style, there are menus and orders taken at your table for lunch. There were excellent appetizer platters, wraps, hotdogs, hamburgers and desserts. John figures we drank at least $100 worth of champagne (the real stuff) one day at lunch. On occasional nights they also have a casual Hot Rocks dinner option where they heat flat stones super hot and you cook your own dinner at your table – shrimp, salmon, steaks.  ​

THE CREW
The crew could not have been nicer or more helpful.  They really go out of their way to be friendly and made sure we were happy.  The wait staff, a mix of European and Indonesian and Filippino people, were excellent. 

This cruise was the perfect, warm,  luxurious escape that we needed!

I flew down to Southern California with my husband Bob for a long weekend getaway at Terranea Resort. I'd long heard about this oceanfront resort, which opened in 2015, and was eager to check it out for myself. Terranea is an 582-room property in Ranchos Palos Verdes, which is a 30-minute drive from Long Beach airport or 60 minutes from LAX.

The dress code is basically country club casual but there were a lot of families dressed very informally. ​

This resort is good for multi generational families, girl friend getaways, wedding parties, groups, and of course babymoons. Couples seeking privacy and a quieter environment would do better elsewhere.  Terranea could be an excellent place to stay before or after an ocean cruise departing from San Pedro or Long Beach.

Rates start at about $400/night plus their daily resort fee.

​If you book this hotel through Dimensions in Travel, you have access to these outstanding
​ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE AMENITIES:

• Breakfast for two daily (up to a $60 value per room) in Catalina Kitchen or via in-room dining
• $100 resort credit per room, per stay

Do let me know if I can book this Southern California oceanfront escape as a long weekend for you!

Day 6 (Nile River Cruise aboard the Sanctuary Sun Boat III - Luxor)
We began our day with a motorized boat ride to Philae Temple on the island of Agilika. This sacred complex was dedicated to the Goddess Isis and reflects a fusion of three great civilizations: Egyptian, Greek and Roman. The temple was dismantled and then painstakingly reassembled when the Aswan High Dam was constructed in the 1960s. The dam spans the Nile River, more than two miles across and incorporating 16 times the amount of material that went into the Great Pyramid at Giza. It provides irrigation and hydroelectric power to much of Egypt.
 
Afterward, we enjoyed lunch as we cruised to Kom Ombo (Hill of Gold) to visit the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god), who was considered by some ancient Egyptians to be the creators of the world. 

Back on board, we enjoyed time to relax, admiring the scenery as we sailed towards Luxor. Later we joined our chef for a cooking lesson featuring Egyptian specialties, followed by afternoon tea and a scenic sundowner. Tonight, we attended a festive Egyptian-themed costume party onboard the boat. We savored a buffet of local cuisine, danced and listened to music, and since we wished to look the part, we tried on complimentary galabeyya (traditional Egyptian robes.​

This afternoon, we chose from two Design Your Day options:

1. East Bank of Luxor  - Continue exploring the Nile's east bank at the Temple of Karnak, a sprawling monument bearing the mark of 30 pharaohs. Over the span of centuries, each ruler added their own monuments to the temple, making it the largest open-air religious site in the country. Proceed to Luxor Temple, ancient Egypt's most significant religious center.
2. Funtasia Cultural Center - We all visited this wonderful school and I highly recommend it for all my clients. This is a project supported by A&K Philanthropy and offers after school programming for local children, ranging in ages from 4 to 16 years old. The center focuses on strengthening confidence, communication and collaboration with young people using tools such as the arts, gardening, poetry, nutrition, health and coding. It is taught by locally trained facilitators. The aim is to prepare youth for a life of meaningful connections with people, for the job market of tomorrow, and to use creativity as a means to finding solutions to their challenges.

 
We returned to 'Sanctuary Sun Boat III for afternoon tea. Tonight's farewell dinner was a gala affair, with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine.

Day 8 (Luxor - Cairo)
Early in the morning, we bid farewell to Sanctuary Sun Boat III. After disembarking, we flew by charter flight to Cairo, where we enjoyed lunch followed by a visit to the Azza Fahmy Jewelry Gallery. Join the famed jewelry designer for a behind-the-scenes look at the intricate craftsmanship incorporated into every piece of her handcrafted jewelry and a discussion on how she gained access to the historically male-dominated field of jewelry making in 1967.
 
We spent the rest of our afternoon at leisure or shopping at Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, one of the city's major souks (open-air marketplaces).
 
Tonight's farewell dinner was a private affair at the Madam Sadat’s home.  She personally greeted everyone and welcomed us in to a lounge space where she spoke candidly for about an hour, then we were treated to a buffet of traditional Egyptian dishes.

​Next, we are off to Jordan! Stay tuned...

​UnCruise Adventures IS a cruise, but probably not the picture that first comes to mind when you see the word CRUISE. You do have a private cabin with shower and you are aboard an oceangoing vessel, but no formal nights, no Broadway shows, no port excursions, and no elevator; it’s a fabulous adventure with great food and knowledgeable crew.

​My 7-night adventure was aboard the 77-passenger Wilderness Explorer, boarding in Ketchikan.​

​Hawaiian Airlines flights
I always enjoyed flying with the local airline - I feel like the trip begins the moment I step on the plane. At the SFO check in counter, you will be asked if you are registered on Hawaii State website. If you are only bringing carry on and go straight to the gate, no one will ask you about registration. It is not mentioned onboard the flights either. Be sure you are registered so there are no surprise refusals of entry when you arrive in Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines is in the SFO International Terminal and there was only one small food outlet with bakery items, sandwiches, salads and drinks to eat before your flight or take onboard. All bottled water now in refillable bottles.

Of course masks are required at the airport and during the flight. We boarded from rear of aircraft (1st class could board at any time), and our plane was only 1/3 full. The Hawaiian Airlines crew was masked and greeted us with a sanitizing towelettes. Be sure to download the Hawaiian Airlines app to your phone or tablet for streaming as there is not any seat back entertainment on the flights.  The first class section had regular meal service and economy offered bottled water and sodas as well as  hot breakfast sandwiches.

Recommended Maui Restaurants
If you are traveling with a group, call the restaurants in advance to see how many people can be seated together. Local capacity requirements do change.  We ate at:

• Honu, Ma’la and Frieda’s - same owner, located just bend the Lahaina Gateway shopping center, water front.
• Star Noodle (reservations recommended) A new outdoor dining place on the water front. Next to Frieda’s.
• Maui Brewing Company: Indoor dining only - the kids went.
• Leilani’s in Whalers Village (same owners as Kimo’s) Okay for drinks and pupuu’s. Has outdoor seating.
• The Fish Market - highly recommend for those that want to cook themselves.
• Mamma’s Ribs & Rotisserie - great chicken and ribs
• Kitchen 5315: It just opened at Napili Shores. We got take out one night - pretty good! 

Our Family Snorkel & Whale Watching Adventure
​We booked a private trip for 11 with the Magic Mermen aboard a custom built boat operated by owner/captain Derek with Samantha and Nate. Normally they provide a lunch but due to Covid, only fruit, water and fruit juice/sodas. They allowed us to bring our own lunch and drinks. With a custom trip, they worked with what we wanted to see/do. We were very lucky and saw lot’s of whales, including some with calves and were able to spend as much time as we wanted. We snorkeled at Olowalu, just south of Lahaina. Both Nate and Samantha were in the water with us, (both locations) taking time to show and explain what we were seeing, We spotted sea urchins and even an eel - yikes! They provided styrofoam noodles, boogie boards, life jackets as well as snorkel and fins.  We saw more whales on the way to our next snorkeling spot - Mala Wharf. Usually it is very busy, it’s one of the best places to see Honu (turtles) as they come here for the “cleaning station” where the fish clean/eat the bacteria off the green sea turtles - fun to watch! We also saw a eagle wray and a white tip reef shark. This was a four-hour trip and one I can highly recommend!
One great tip: they used Johnsons No Tears baby shampoo as a defogger in our mask’s and it worked great! 

Flying Home
There was not much traffic at the Maui (OGG) airport, so we easily made it from Napili to the airport with a stop for gas in about an hour. There is a gas station just past the Ocean Center or a bit closer to the airport (if you have not been in awhile, the new road does not go through town, so fewer options) and easy car return. They are managing access to the tram to the terminal, to keep everyone distanced. 
 
HA only staffs First Class check in, Economy is at the kiosks and then a Drop Bag line. All easy these days as there are so few travelers. There are no shops open on the departures level. TSA pre-check had no lines, even regular security line moved quickly. After security upstairs, there was only Starbucks, Sammy’s ( pre-made sandwiches, chips, hot dogs and hamburgers) and one small convenience store open. So, do your shopping before you get to the airport! The “fruit security” screening was done inside the gate area.
 
Again on the flight, they served water, sodas and a sandwich. First Class was serviced either a meat or pasta and dessert. The crew definitely kept on eye on folks for mask usage.  My husband forgot to put his mask back on after eating and they nicely reminded him to do so.  

All in all, it was a wonderful family escape and worth the time it took for everyone to get registered online. Hawaii is always a good idea!

After this tour, we drove back to Oia to inspect the properties on the cliffs. We saw the ​Altana Traditional Houses, Altana Cliffside and the Astra Suites. These places are all on cliffs with MANY stairs. The stairs are uneven and there are no banisters. Clients should be aware that they are going to encounter lots of stairs and they should bring appropriate shoes. After lunch, we were transferred to Canaves Oia, Canaves Suites and Canaves Villa. All of these properties were perches on the hillside, many with private pools. After this afternoon of hiking in Oia, we were treated to a Catamaran ride. It was a great experience to view the hotels from sea level and to look back at the stairs we climbed. ​

The next morning, we were met and treated to a guided tour of the island of Delos. In Greek mythology, Delos is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. The water was very rough and some declined the excursion. It was very windy on the island but ruins and museum were fantastic to experience.  On the way back, we had a site inspection at the Myconian Villa and lunch. The last dinner of the fam was at the Buddha Bar in the Santa Marina. It was a bit of a celebration and a reward for a great group surviving all the stairs.

Heading Home Via Athens
After breakfast, we transferred to the Mykonos Airport for a 40-minute Olympic Air flight to Athens. Upon arrival, we claimed our luggage and walked across the street, a 4-5 minutes walk to the Sofitel Athens at the airport, to inspect the property. The entry level rooms are quite large and have black out curtains and soundproofing. Day rooms are also available. It also has a 24 hour bar and restaurant. The subway from the Sofitel goes directly to the Syntagma Square, right in front of the Grand Bretagne.

At the airport we boarded our Emirates return flight back to the USA.
 
Over the course of 9 days, I walked 91,469 steps, an average of 10,163 per day. I walked 43.2 miles and climbed 232 floors, 26 floors per day. I checked out 21 hotels. It was a lot of work exploring so much of Athens, Santorini and Mykonos but it was a great work out, I learned so much and really enjoyed My Big Fat Greek Fam Trip! 

​This was the fifth riverboat cruise Dimensions in Travel has done with Oregon's Broadley Vineyard owners and cruise hosts, Claudia and Craig Broadley. We had a total of 23 people on this Uniworld Boutique River Cruises lower Danube itinerary from Budapest to Bucharest. My husband John and I were so pleased to be the escorts and it was such a pleasure to connect with dear travel friends again.​

Starting in Budapest
We spent one night in Budapest, which we had visited in the past. We stayed at a Marriott Autograph hotel called the New York Palace.  It is a gorgeous property with a restaurant  called the New York Café which is quite famous in the city. The décor rivals the Ritz in London. Very ornate, lots of people taking photos. The hotel reserves a section of the café exclusively for its guests because of the popularity.  The hotel itself was originally built as an office building and was lovely, quiet, and had good service. But it is definitely NOT good for anyone with a mobility issue.  No wheelchair ramps.      
​

​Aboard Uniworld's S.S. Beatrice
The service was excellent in all areas. The crew was friendly and warm. ​The S.S. Beatrice was renovated in 2018 and  we thought it was a beautiful riverboat. Though our group has staterooms spread around the small ship, we would connect up over meals, during included shore experiences, at our private wine tastings and in the evenings in the lounge where there was always music or local entertainment.

For Those With Mobility Issues
​Uniworld offers wonderful curated included shore experiences at a variety of levels for active travelers, the culturally curious and gentle walkers. However, they state very clearly in their brochures and on their website that their itineraries are not ideal for anyone with mobility issues, wheelchair user, etc. And this is certainly the case. So do consider your European river cruise vacation decision carefully if you are someone who has difficulty getting around. I had two long time clients with me, on their first riverboat trip, and the wife who suffers from a very bad back, said they would probably not do another one. It was just too hard trying to keep up with guides, even on tours for gentle walkers.

Post-Cruise in Bucharest
Our cruise ended in Bucharest with an included two-night stay at the Radisson Blu.  It was a lovely place to say farewell to old and new friends. This city center hotel stands near Bucharest Old Town, a short walk from the famed Revolution Square. Also nearby, you can admire the architecture of the National Museum of Art or Biblioteca Centrala Universitara, walk along the Calea Victoriei or attend a performance at the Romanian Athenaeum Concert Hall. Those with a passion for the outdoors enjoy strolling through the beautiful gardens of Cismigiu Park, adjacent to Radisson Blu.  You can also enjoy shopping in Piata Unirii, one of the largest squares in central Bucharest, and the old town area of Lipscani.