Author: savvypaula

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The Wonder & Beauty of Wales: 4 Top Spots to See

Wales is one of those under-the-radar destinations that rarely rises to the top of one's travel bucket list unless A) Welsh heritage is involved or B) friends or family live in the country. With the good fortune to fall into categories A and B, we finally made our way to Wales for the first time this year. Our only regret was that we didn’t go sooner. Simply put: Wales floored us. We weren’t prepa...
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Smitten with Stockholm

A last-minute summer visit to Sweden? I'll take it! The beautiful city of Stockholm is at its finest in the warm summer months, so when presented the opportunity to spend two days in the Swedish capital last July, I didn't hesitate to seize it. Although it was my first trip to Sweden, I didn't have much time to research and prioritize my plans. My main preparation was following several very cool S...
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London Is Lit: Two Suburban London Experiences You Won’t Want to Miss

Always short on vacation time, my travels often unfold like speed dates. I’ll typically spend one or two days in a city and then quickly move on to the next destination, hoping to pack in as much sightseeing as I can. The pace of a trip like that can wear you out, and that’s why my recent visit to London was such a treat. I was fortunate to spend seven full days in the city, exploring every corner...
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36 Hours in Eze on the French Riviera

You're more than 250 miles from the French Riviera and you have less than two days before your flight whisks you back home to the states. Is a spontaneous drive to the coast going to be worth your while in the heat and traffic of summer? For us, the gamble -- and the three-plus-hour drive -- paid off.  But we took the road less traveled, choosing to spend the last 36 hours of our French vac...
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A Life Well Lived in France’s Luberon Region

A trip to Provence, where French living is at its finest, has been on my bucket list for many years. From California, it's not such an easy trek, and that's one reason it took me decades to finally get there. This famous section of southeastern France (formally called the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region), hugs the Mediterranean, and is best known for the French Riviera and jet-set destinations s...
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Rome on a Budget

Rome is a city for romantics. Its cobblestone streets, numerous fountains, and thousand year old buildings hold more stories than it would take to tell in a lifetime. The sharply dressed denizens, chic shops, and quaint cafes give the city an affluent air. However, it would be a disservice to romantics everywhere to assume that this means Rome is for the luxury traveler only. In fact, I ...
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Paris at a Price — a Price You Can Afford

Who doesn't dream of a trip to Paris? It's the city that's on everyone's bucket list.  After spending two wonderful weeks in the south of France in my late twenties -- a trip that never brought me to Paris, much to my regret -- I finally returned this year to the land of fine wine, fabulous food and balanced lifestyles. This time, I made a beeline for what may be the world's most beautiful cit...
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Lake Tahoe: Skiing Simplified

There's no question that Lake Tahoe is an exceptional year-round destination. Whether you go to enjoy the sun or the snow, the resort area will not disappoint. What keeps people coming back time after time is the beauty of the lake: it's not only the largest Alpine lake in North America, but also one of the most breathtaking sights you'll ever see.   (more…)
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Vacation Rental Hits and Misses: A Look Back at Our Travels

Not every holiday goes off flawlessly and no doubt many of you will be able to relate to at least one of the four “misses” we’ve identified below: Vacation Misses Bed with a Blade – Yes, this trip involved an unexpected blade – a 12-inch knife -- found under my pillow as I nestled into my bed at a mountain cabin we found on VRBO. While the knife freaked me out, what shook me up even more was t...
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Hawaii in a Heartbeat: 3 Ways to Cut Costs on Your Next Trip to the Islands

Hawaii is where my husband's heart is, not because he has family there but because it's a place that makes him feel relaxed, re-energized and renewed. We've spent many vacations there as a result, including a trip to Kauai earlier this month. Our feeling is that if you live on the West Coast of the U.S. like we do, or have easy access to it, there's no excuse not to head to Hawaii -- and to arrive...
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