There aren’t many opportunities to sleep in the former home of a Pope. But on three of our tours, you’ll have exactly that opportunity to literally step into history by spending nights at an 11th Century Benedictine Abbey that was once the residence of Cardinal Della Rovere, who would go on to be named Pope Julius II—the Pope who commissioned the artist Michelangelo to create the famous painting on the…

Have you ever dreamed of spending the night in a centuries-old castle? On two of our favorite trips in Catalonia, you can do just that, at the spectacular Hotel Castell d'Emporda, a 14th Century Gothic castle that has been lovingly restored and updated into a truly romantic luxury hotel. The castle has a rich history: The first documents that mention the castle date to 1301. In 1600, the chapel of…

If you’re the kind of traveler who can say how many Michelin stars you’ve had, or even if you’re the kind of traveler looking to get your first Michelin stars under your belt, then certainly no trip to Europe would be complete without a stopover at a Michelin-starred restaurant. A little background for those not in the know: The Michelin Guide is a more than 100-year old travel guide produced…

If you’re looking for more than just long and leisurely stroll, but something that will really challenge you and help you build up a good appetite while you’re on vacation, we have several great options. And the beauty is that some of our most challenging trips also happen to explore some of the most gorgeous country. Here are two of our favorite trips that fall on the more challenging end…

During the ice age, the Rhine Glacier in the northern Alps dug a notch into the earth, leaving behind a hollow that later filled in with fresh water. Today, that hollow basin is the third-largest lake in Europe, a vast lake that’s bordered by three countries: Austria, Switzerland and Germany. And one of our favorite cycling tours takes travelers through all three countries over 11 days, you’ll drink in views…