Mostly on Social Media this Days.

Despite having ridden out 2009-2011 as a travel writer with Brillianttrips.com. I have already become too busy to focus on blog writing. However, if you really enjoy my posts, please tell me and I’m sure I can write some more. Below are some examples I wrote in early 2021 before travel really too off. I do invite you to follow or like on social media.

Five places in Europe to snorkel you may not be aware of:

Some people need a beach on vacation.

Being a coastal native, I understand needing a beach; sometimes I also need a beach.

In the travel industry, sometimes the job is making different people with different priorities all happy on the same trip. Europe, for Americans at least, is mostly about culture; that usually translates to food, museums, history, and the like. Americans don’t tend to think of Europe as a beach destination, but it has many beautiful beaches. So, if you have always wanted to stay at the George V and eat at Le Cinq, but your main travelling companion won’t be motivated by anything but sand and waves, well... That can be done, and it can be done well with the right location..

Recently vaccinated, I’m contemplating my next trip and I find myself divided as my clients often are. My heart yearns for Europe; I have family and friends there, but also, I’m on a mission to get a soon-to-be seven-year old scuba certified not long after her 10th birthday. Which means my next trip with the family needs to have some snorkeling. So allow me to introduce… (Below the beautiful picture courtesy of One and Only Portonovi)

Five places in Europe to snorkel you may not be aware of:.

Sardinia

We start with Sardinia, and in particular, Olbia on the northern coast as that’s where you’ll find an airport to get us to the Costa Smeraldas—or the “Emerald Coast” of Sardinia.

This Italian treasure is off of most Americans’ radar, but for Europeans, it is legendary. I can’t tell you how many times I try to wedge a beach into your typical Italian vacation. Usually I end up putting somebody in Forte Dei Marmi, or perhaps in Monterosso. The west coast of Italy is beautiful for its rocky glory, not beaches. If you want beaches, other places in Italy have your name on them.

Because we want snorkeling, much like Sardinia, we want the north coast close to La Maddalena Archipelago. A book could be written about this virtually unblemished, natural wonderland of Italy. The islands are beautiful and the water on their coasts is spectacular.

The property I would choose for me and my family is the Capo D’Orso. The location is married here with a five-star boutique, sitting on 25 acres of olive and juniper trees. Golf–check, horseback riding–check, thalasso spa–check. It’s such a perfect place for a beach break that it’s worth a flight from Brussels, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, the UK (multiple airports), Paris (Orly), Venice, and Barcelona. There may be more–those options are just off the top of my head. With those airports, there are so many possible ways to put Sardinia in quite a few European itineraries.

Gozo, Malta

Next, we have Malta—or rather for our snorkeling purposes, Gozo.

First, we must understand that there is the archipelago nation of Malta, the largest island with the same name. Malta is fairly built up, being the fifth most densely populated location in the world. Since we are focused on the water and not the (amazing) history of Malta, we’ll go to the quieter and less populated Gozo, the second largest island in the nation.

It should be pointed out that great snorkeling and scuba is available on Malta as well as Gozo, as well as many of the other smaller islands. Hondoq ir-Rummien, San Blas Bay, and Wied il-Għasri all stand out as a little more exceptional in a destination full of exceptional snorkeling.

The hotel I would recommend in Gozo is the Kempinski San Lawrenz. In a line of wonderful hotels, the Gozo property stands out. While the resort is not coastal, it does have an excellent location with excellent amenities. For those families that wish to fly there, have a look at their residences.

Malta is easily accessible from many places in Europe, particularly Italy, the UK, and Germany. Getting to Gozo is just a short ferry ride from Malta’s main island.

Greece

My next stop for snorkeling in Europe is in Greece, and more specifically Adriatic Greece, as opposed to Aegean Greece. The Ionian Islands get less attention from Americans as opposed to say, the Cyclades and others, but they are amazingly beautiful, particularly under the water.

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos is a national treasure of Greece. It also is a protective nesting place for loggerhead turtles. Zakynthos has flights arriving from all over Europe, mostly in the north—Zurich and London are popular gateways for Americans.

My accomodations pick for my family here would be the Lesente Classic, not only for its location, but for the way it captures the heart of this special island. Zakynthos has been a coveted vacation destination since the days of the Venetian empire. It has always been a place of relaxed luxury. Lesente, with it’s clean lines and remarkable service, captures this perfectly.

Montenegro

A very special spot for snorkeling, also on the Adriatic, is Montenegro. South of Croatia, lies one of the most beautiful bays in all of Europe, Budva Bay. Something that goes for all of the Adriatic is that while the water is often very clear, it’s often colder; we recommend 7mm wetsuits to withstand the chilly waters. The experience will be worth it.

The hotel of choice here is the new One&Only Portonovi. One&Only always makes its properties singular, each one a work of art; and this new one captures the essence of Budva Bay perfectly.

See? You can snorkel in Europe!

Despite not being the first place you think of for underwater adventures, Europe has some excellent breaches for you and your family to snorkel at.

Frequently, European vacations for Americans tend to be jam packed, nearly hectic with each of us trying to work as much into our two-week vacation as possible. Wherever possible, a little beach break—complete with a pair of goggles and a breathing tube to snorkel with—can be just the thing to relax and come down from the travel whirlwind that often typifies American travel.

What is the purpose of your trip?

The purpose of any trip is the purpose the traveller most wants it to fulfill. Finding the “why” behind a trip is crucial to planning a trip that will give you what you need and want.

The ethos of Counsel Travel is that it is customer driven, meaning that the overall aims of the travel in question is determined by the traveller.

Some people know exactly what they want, but many others do not. They know they always wanted to go to a particular destination, but they don’t have a vision for it. For example, I just had this come up for a client wishing to celebrate a big milestone of marriage, and they picked a beautiful spot.

One purpose, like this, is love—or in this case, celebrating the years of devotion it takes to get through years of marriage. So, already, with this being an anniversary trip, this is where the specifics of a trip can draw inspiration. I ask questions like, “What things do you like to do? What things does your partner like to do? What are some of the best times you’ve had with your partner?” The questions get more and more personal—the better I know somebody, the better job I can do.

I’ve heard so many answers, sometimes it distills down to something simple: “I want to sit on this particular beach,” or “I want to go to these restaurants I’ve dreamt of all my life.”

Other times, the job is to craft an experience for a whole group of people, finding options that appeal to each of them. Every trip has its purpose.

When I took my wife and four-year old to Africa, my purpose was to find and share a travel experience for my family that would also be meaningful to a four-year old. I don’t think she would’ve handled being dragged through the Louvre for hours and hours, but elephants, lions, and giraffes close enough to touch? That worked! I know my family pretty well, and so our family trips are pretty great.

Always ask yourself: “What is the purpose of this trip?”

If it’s to see Italy, you aren’t going to see it all; you are going to have to pick what will be best for you. What excites you most about visiting and seeing Italy. Ask yourself, what about Italy made you dream? Is it the glory of old Rome? Is it to see a sunset over a hilltop town? Answering those types of questions will help inform your best trip.

Here are some of the things I have helped arrange where learning about the client’s specific reasons for going helped plan something extraordinary:

1. Arranging for a grandfather, who was also a Vietnam veteran, to take his children and grandchildren to Vietnam. When I found out he was a vet, we managed to find the exact locations he was stationed in during the war.

2. Helping a man surprise his opera-loving wife with tickets to La Scala their last night in Italy.

3. Finding a photographer to follow newlyweds through Paris to chronicle the first day of their honeymoon.

4. Arranging a family to visit, with necessary supplies, an orphanage in southeast Asia. This was a very wealthy family that could’ve bought a home in the Midwest for the cost of their vacation. Despite this, they took a day out of the opulence to take their children to help those less fortunate.

5. Driving the Amalfi Coast in a Lamborghini for a car lover.

6. Dining at Jiro, in Tokyo, for somebody who really wanted the “best” sushi. That was the only thing he wanted on the trip with his wife to Japan. She, however, had many priorities with Japan like snow monkeys, skiing, and buddhist temples. When they got back, he told me the whole trip was worth that one meal.

All of those special add-ons really do a lot for a trip, and they all required digging deeper to match what was in their hearts for a travel experience.

If you aren’t sure of how to do that, you can call me to counsel if you aren’t a client. If you are, then what are you waiting for?

To stopover, or not to stopover

sking the question of stopping over where it saves money and adds value

Layovers are one thing when en route to a destination--stopovers are another. Stopovers often involve staying a night (or more) in one location in order to catch the next plane on your journey the following day. Some people may see stopovers as a headache; they just want to get to their destination to enjoy their travels. However, stopovers are a prime opportunity to explore new places and do things you might not otherwise do.

There are three benefits to stopovers: cost, health, and fun.

Stopovers Save You Money

The reason for the lower cost of stopovers comes from split ticketing, where the price is much less by buying two tickets to one destination. For example, an economy ticket from Denver to Christchurch with a return flight is $2,500, but only $300 for Denver to LAX and $1,200 from LAX to Christchurch, also including return fare.

One example was my honeymoon to Patagonia. We went to New York first, had a day and night of fun there. The New York open jaw ticket into Buenos Aires and out of Santiago was much less, but we were also able to take advantage of a reduced price air pass, further reducing our expenses. Even with a night of fun in the Big Apple calculated into the total cost, our airfare on our honeymoon was reduced by half.

I always advise, and book for myself, an overnight stay for split ticketing to offset the risks. I personally want to see at least 10 hours between disconnected tickets, hopefully longer, barring any delays or unforeseen circumstances.

Stopovers Allow for a (Healthy) Break

Sometimes stopovers aren't optional. For the truly intrepid, there are simply many places on the earth you cannot get to without an overnight stay somewhere. Some flight schedules demand spending two nights in a row on an aircraft. Even in business class with lay-flat seats and showers in the lounge, this is arduous. If one is flying in economy, it’s painful.

Stopovers provide a break for your body amidst the multiple flights you need to take. Just adding one night in an actual bed with a few hours of mild physical activity can make a huge difference on very long journeys. You’ll feel more rested and feel more refreshed than spending back-to-back time seated on a flight.

If you are over 70 years old and cannot afford business class, then I suggest spending time instead of money and building long journeys with stops along the way.

Stopovers = More Fun!

The last reason for a stopover appeals to those with a sense of adventure--stopover cities can have a lot to offer! Sometimes you may find that you enjoyed your stopover more than your actual vacation; that happened to me with New Zealand on a trip to the South Pacific years ago.

There are also many trips that could benefit from specific stopovers. Heading to China as a lover of Asian Art and History? Take a stopover in Taiwan and see the very best items that Chiang Kai Shek took there. Heading to Sardinia for a beach break and love the opera? A stopover in Milan for La Scala is a win. Heading to Africa to be up at dawn to view lions and back after dusk to see hyenas? Spend a few days prior to your safari in Dubai where jet-lag recovery naps are no problem. As you can see from our latest video, we did this particular stopover en route to our last safari, and Dubai was a blast.

To me, the best strategy to dealing with an undesired stopover is to make it desirable. I’ve added concerts, football games, plays, and other activities I enjoy to cities I’ve had to pitstop in. If a stopover is used for financial reasons, then the cost saved should be enough to make the stop enjoyable or at least restful. In the case of my honeymoon, the money we saved by spending one night in New York translated to four more days in Patagonia. That… is travel value.

Downside to Stopovers

One disadvantage with stopovers is that splitting airfares can be risky. Let’s say a huge snowstorm moves into Denver on the day I was supposed to leave. If I had a single ticket from Denver to Buenos Aires then the airline would issue a weather exemption waiver, which would allow me to change or even refund my ticket from Denver.

If I had one ticket to NYC and another one from NYC to Buenos Aires, then the snowstorm in Denver means nothing for the carrier taking you to Argentina from New York. Same with any other kind of delay. This is why I always recommend having at least a 10 hour buffer between stopover flights--personally, I prefer closer to 24 hours to enjoy what the city has to offer, at least.

Here are a couple of other possible changes to be aware of if you’re looking into booking a stopover connection:

1. Schedule changes for airlines are common.

2. If a flight changes by more than 5 hours, then it usually can be refunded.

3. You have at least two different flights to consider.

Splitting airfares into a stopover arrangement can be a great plan to save money, incorporate recovery time between long flights, and find unexpected delights in a different city. Planning appropriately is the key to pulling it off for your maximum benefit… And I can help you with that.