WTT's Blog

One of my favorite areas in Paris is Ile de la Cite or Island of the City. The island has several key landmarks, the most famous being Notre Dame Cathedral. Over the years, I have explored the island. Still, this time, I wanted to see all that this part of Paris has to offer so…

One of my favorite neighborhoods in Paris is Saint-Germain-des-Pres. This historic neighborhood is on Paris’ left bank and is one of four quarters of the 6th arrondissement. The area is famous for its restaurants, shops, and chocolatiers. Some of these areas can blend in with the Latin Quarter neighborhood, but both places can be easily covered…

Paris’ Latin Quarter, or 5th Arrondissement, is located on the left bank of the River Seine. The famous neighborhood has many cafes, bookshops, and restaurants. I have visited the Latin Quarter many times throughout my visits to Paris, and in this post, I want to share some of my favorite spots to visit. Some of…

France is a country soaked in tradition. The nation is one of the most visited, drawing millions of visitors yearly. I have lived, worked, and traveled through France for over two decades, and one of my favorite regions is Normandy. The region dates back centuries, and it was here that Willian the Conqueror invaded England…

Fécamp is a fishing port in Northern France and was once home to the Dukes of Normandy. The port town is a seaside resort, religious pilgrimage site, and home to the world-famous Benedictine liqueur. I stayed in Fécamp for two nights after visiting Honfleur and Etretat. The Benedictine Palace My first stop in the town…

Normandy is full of charming towns, and Etretat is one you will not want to miss. Etretat is well known for its stunning white cliffs and eye-catching rock formations. I had always wanted to visit the picturesque town, and I am glad I finally had the chance to see it. Although I have explored many…

During my time in Normandy, I was also able to visit the charming town of Honfleur. The small town is located on the estuary where the Seine river meets the English Channel and it is a popular destination in Normandy. I had planned on staying one night, but after falling for the town’s charm and…

If you’re looking for a small coastal town to visit while exploring Normandy that is loaded with history, look no further than Arromanches-Les-Baines. Arromanches is a short 20-minute drive from Bayeux and a 30-minute drive to the American Cemetery. My first visit to Arromanches was in 1998 when I was studying abroad in Caen, France.…

After spending weeks based in Bayeux building World Travelers Today’s network for tours and trip designs in Normandy, I needed a break from months of work. I was in search of a place to recharge the batteries and a place that was secluded from a city. The small village of Juaye-Mondaye was the perfect spot…

While working with local guides in Bayeux and Caen, they informed me that no visit to Normandy is complete without exploring Rouen. After all, Rouen is the capital city of Normandy. I conducted my usual research and soon booked a two-hour train from Bayeux to Rouen. I spent four full days exploring the city and…

Many years ago, I studied abroad in the beautiful city of Caen. Caen is the capital city of Calvados, a county in France’s Normandy region. Caen is a two-hour train ride from Paris’ Saint Lazare station and the city was once home to William the Conqueror. I was fortunate enough to be working in the…

The third most visited location in France is Mont-Saint-Michel and for good reason. I first visited the famous island when I was studying in Caen in 1998. Mont-Saint-Michel left an impression on me for years and I am grateful that I had a chance to return to this historic location in Normandy. I thought about…

Do you love history and culture? France’s Normandy region is an amazing area to explore and it offers centuries of culture and history for travelers to enjoy during their visit. The historic city of Bayeux is the perfect city for travelers to base themselves on when visiting Normandy. However, Caen is also another city that…

A Fun Day Trip from Paris Are you looking for a good day trip from Paris? Look no further than the beautiful city of Reims. Reims is only 80 miles northeast of Paris and you can take a roundtrip high-speed train that will get you to Reims in only 40 minutes. Reim’s history goes back…

Visit the Amazing Galician Wineries of Martín Códax, Pazo Baión & Granbazán Did you know that every year there are over 4,000 fiestas in Galicia?  With this amount of celebrations, the Gallegos need a lot of wine; and boy do they have some amazing wine.  In fact, the wine was one of the reasons why…

Go Off Spain’s Beaten Path and Visit Teruel – Take a Journey into the Country’s  Architectural Past Why do we recommend that you go off Spain’s beaten path and visit Teruel?   Two main reasons are that the city is known for its Mudejar architecture and Jamon Serrano or Serrano ham.  For you Jamon lovers, this is the…

Take A Personal Journey to One of Spain’s Hidden Treasures Escape to one of Spain’s hidden treasures, Albarracín.  Albarracín is a magical city located in east-central Spain.  The city is surrounded by high cliffs and is nestled upon the Guadalaviar River.  The town’s location provides beautiful scenery from every corner.   Albarracín’s population is a whopping…

Visit Curiel de Duero’s Castle Hotel | Have you ever stayed in a castle hotel?  We had the opportunity to stay at Curiel de Duero’s Castle Hotel and it was an amazing experience.  The hotel staff made us feel like we were Spanish Royalty and the food at its famous restaurant was delicious.  We were…

Visit a 500-Year-old Winery in the Ancient Caves of Laguardia If you love wine then Laguardia, Spain is a place you should start planning to visit on your next vacation.  The city dates back to over 1,000 years and is till protected by city walls.  We had the opportunity of visiting this beautiful Spanish town which…

Wine and Cuisine Spanish Wine Have you ever visited Spain’s Ribera del Duero wine region?  Did you taste some amazing Protos wine?  Have you stayed at the historic Convento Las Claras Hotel?  Join me on a journey through Spain’s famous Ribera del Duero wine region. I arrived in Penafiel via Madrid which is a nice…

Traveler’s Spotlight By Sonja Eberly & Maria Milton Being half Austrian, half American, I’ve been to Austria many times in my life. As a child, my visits centered around seeing my grandmother, or “Oma,” in Vienna. I have fond memories of walking with her to the local bakery for fresh rolls and cakes each morning,…

Wine and Cuisine This week I had a chance to sit down with Javier Candon, one of SER’s owners, to talk about the restaurant’s vision and menu.  Javier shared with me how SER came to fruition and what the restaurant offers visitors.  He also shared some of his future plans and SER’s goals.  Below is…

Wine and Cuisine  Of course I couldn’t cover everything I did in San Sebastian in the video, but here are some other things to see and do during  your visit. Ondarreta Ondarreta is the western part of San Sebastian.  Here are some recommenations: Playa de Ondarreta (the beach). Palacio Miramar. The Ondarreta Gardens (near the…

Podcast Audio Player https://worldtravelerstodaydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/wtt-001.mp3 00:00 00:00 00:00 Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.   Recorded on June 27, 2016, two days before the airport bombing in Istanbul, Turkey.  We would like to express our condolences to the families of the victims of this terrorist attack. Joining me this week is Jim Sutton,…

Travel Security Tips By Jim Sutton  Five Easy Lessons for all Travelers  After several decades traveling around the world, including several “Hot War zones” I’ve learned several lessons about traveling.  I’ve narrowed my list down to the five most important lessons that have kept me safe during my travels. Lesson # 1: You will make…

Wine and Cuisine  SER:  “to be” simple. easy. real. This post is the second part of SER.  If you missed part one, you can see it here at SER Part One:  Interview with Javier Candon. Join me as I explore SER in search of Fab Food.  I will show you SER’s trendy look and then…

Wine and Cuisine “Italy has changed.  But Rome is Rome.” – Robert De Niro   By Samuel Garza   I have visited the ancient city of Rome many times over the past two decades and I can never get enough of Rome’s culture, history, and food.  I have several favorite restaurants and historical sites I…

PodCast I’m happy to have Robert Palmer, a United Nations Consultant speak with us on WTT’s Podcast.  Robert is a personal friend and former colleague.  Robert and I met at the University of Kent at Canterbury while we were both earning our MA in International Relations.  Robert travels the world for both business and pleasure…

History Hiker Samuel Garza I traveled from Madrid to Caceres, which was my first trip to the Extremadura region of Spain. My friends in Madrid told me that visiting Extremadura is the perfect place to see old Spain. Like many areas of Spain, there have been settlements in or around Caceres since prehistoric times.(1) The…

Travel Security Tips By Jim Sutton  Five Easy Lessons for all Travelers  After several decades traveling around the world, including several “Hot War zones” I’ve learned several lessons about traveling.  I’ve narrowed my list down to the five most important lessons that have kept me safe during my travels. Lesson # 1: You will make…

History Hiker Experiencing a Jueves Santo in Toledo, Spain will shake every emotion inside of you.  This is what happened to me when I was invited to experience Toledo’s Jueves Santo by my good friends from Madrid, Kiko and Beatrice.  I met my Spanish friends while living in Madrid in 2014. Beatrice was born and…

Travel Security Jim Sutton           An increasing number of Americans are fortunate enough to combine work related trips with brief vacation stints or getaways. This opportunity of combining work and pleasure, is great if we keep in mind how to avoid unpleasantness. The risks faced can be avoided if we keep…

Traveler’s Spotlight  By Amy Arden After my visit to Edinburgh I discovered that J.K. Rowling and I have something in common – we’ve both haunted its coffee shops with our laptops, pounding out our stories, hoping to nurture tiny creative sparks into something that could be called art. Edinburgh is known as the “City of…

Travel Security   Originally posted on History Hiker on March 11, 2014 By Samuel Garza & Jim Sutton This post is dedicated to the victims of the Madrid train bombing and also Francisco Javier Torrenteras of Spain’s Special Group, who gave his life in defense of his country. Ten years ago, several bombs were detonated…

History Hiker Where to Eat Restaurant o2 (Facebook Page) 2 r Lanmary/24000 Perigueux, France How to get to Perigueux From Paris: I took the train from Saint-Lazare station in Paris and arrived three hours later in Perigueux. From Bordeaux: Bordeaux is one 1/2 hour train ride from Perigueux. ©2016 World Travelers Today ©2016 World Travelers…

History Hiker If you travel to Paris in search of knights in shining armor, a majestic cathedral, and world class tour guides, then you can get all three at the Musée de l’Armée. The museum was built in 1905 and it is located in the inspiring location of the Hôtel National des Invalides. The museum…

Petty crimes against tourists are the most ubiquitous forms of illegal behavior around the world. No major urban area is safe from them. Even though they are costly and common, exceeding millions of dollars and euros and making up over half of all crimes committed, they are not always prosecuted. Don’t Be a Victim Despite…

Thinking about the intersection between travel and security is nothing new. A 2011 column (http://www.tourismandmore.com/tidbits/tourism-in-a-world-of-technology/ ) on the topic asked: “How does it draw the line between technology and personal service? There is no doubt that technology plays an important role in tourism and travel. Most of us are now used to booking our airline reservations…