As a travel advisor one thing I do is to make sure that my clients get the most out of ther precious time while on vacation.   Did you for instance know that the Vatican Museums have more than 20,000 visitors per day!  Visitors can deal with frustrations such as long lines, inadequate or wrong labeling and unannounced closures of galleries. Not to mention the fact that, at 9 miles long, the Papal Palace can be pretty tough to navigate, but why when you don’t have to?


Let’s for instance say you have decided to visit Rome this June, and one of the highlights on your trip will be the Vatican Museum, one of the most beautiful and impressive places in the world.  Without planning you could easily spend up to four hours standing in line getting tickets, which is definitely not the best way to spend your precious time in Rome.


There are ways to avoid the worst of the crowds and get the most out of your visit. Planning ahead is your best bet to ensure success when visiting the Vatican Museums.
The Vatican Museum opens Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on the last Sunday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Museums open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 pm. Check the Vatican website provided below for more information on holiday closings and special openings.

If you have a flexible schedule you can try to visit the museum in the afternoon for shorter lines or tour the quieter galleries, such as the Pinacoteca, at peak times and the most popular stops toward the end of the day. Visiting early in the morning is also recommended, particularly during high season.
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To ensure that you get the most out of your trip I would recommend a Skip the Line Tour for fast-track entry, or even better a VIP Tour and enter before the doors even open to the crowds or at night when it is closed to the general public.

A couple of years ago I was able to enjoy a VIP tour in the evening, and having done the visit during the day with the crowds as well I can assure you that the two experiences were quite different.

Let me know if you would like arrangements made for Skip the Line Tours or VIP Private tours to the Vatican or any other popular sight.  This is part of the service I provide.​

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/info/tutti-gli-orari.html    

Travel is a way to explore other cultures, people, food and places, and to see that there is more to life than just our way of doing things. Travel is a way to teach children respect for others and appreciation for life.

They learn to take care of themselves in new places. They learn that exploring is a must. They learn to ask questions. They learn how to navigate cities. They learn that life must be lived and not watched on TV or played on a video game.

When parents struggle to figure out what toys to give their children as gifts, consider giving the gift of travel instead - they will thank you for it when they become adults. When travel is given as a gift they will last much longer than the latest computer gadget or hottest electronic toy that you may have considered buying.

Teach your children geography by giving them age-appropriate atlases and travel books for the journey, and hang a large map on their bedroom wall where they can pinpoint their travels.

Older children and teenagers will be more interested in doing research for your travels if you let them help choose activities at your destination and or even help choose the places to visit.

Kids learn so much from seeing places, landmarks and wildlife in the places you're visiting.​

Younger kids need to stick to their normal schedules as much as possible, you need to give them their snacks and nap time. You don't have to see it all in one day.”  Make sure that they have a good amount of downtime during the trip.  Keep in mind that if you try to do too much it will backfire, and remember, it's not the destination, it's the journey.

Connecting with locals, discovering unique culinary experiences and holistic wellness are some of the top motivations for travel in 2018.  

The recently released American Express 2018 travel trend and top destinations report revealed international bookings are up 44 percent for the first quarter of the coming year as people are embarking on journeys around the globe for a multitude of reasons.

The study, which involved surveying more than 2,000 respondents, found that 57 percent of Americans have set exploring a new destination they’ve never seen before as their most important travel goal for 2018.

Nearly half of travelers, 43 percent, said finding a local culinary spot in a hip neighborhood is one of the most exciting dining experiences while traveling.  Travelers are looking beyond the pretty plate in search of authentic food experiences in local homes and from homegrown chefs.  

In addition, spontaneity continues to be incredibly important to travelers, 52 percent of whom enjoy getting lost and discovering hidden shops, restaurants or bakeries to create their own memories. Further underscoring the desire for the unexpected, 49 percent of Americans prefer trips with adventure and excitement. 

Additional highlights include:
—56 percent of U.S. travelers are willing to pay more to get better service, and 53 percent like to be pampered while traveling.
—Luxury travelers are increasingly booking premium seating with 68 percent planning to fly first or business class in 2018.
—22 percent of Americans say the most important travel goal for 2018 is to disconnect from technology, work and everyday life.

Another trend to watch for over the next 12 months is “social over solo travel.”    Solo travel still has its place, but 53 percent of Americans prefer a social travel experience during which they are able to connect with like-minded travelers for an optimal experience.

In addition, 57 percent of Americans are seeking to interact with locals when traveling. Still, others want to stay with locals while traveling.

The study also reveals the top 10 destinations for the coming year. The leading destination to visit in 2018 is Bali. 

The remaining destinations rounding out the top 10 include Costa Rica; Dubai; London; Portugal (Lisbon and Porto regions); Rome; Tel Aviv; Utah-Lorado (Park City, Salt Lake City, Aspen, Denver and Vail); Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City regions); and Zurich, Switzerland.

​What is on your wish list?

During my recent visit to Iceland I enjoyed a few hours at the Blue Lagoon, listed as one of National Geographic’s 25 wonders of the world.  Many may say it is a tourist trap, but it is is an oasis of relaxation nevertheless.

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula, approximately 12 miles (20 km) from the Keflavík International Airport and 24 miles (39 km) from the center of Reykjavík, (roughly a 21-minute drive from the airport and a 50-minute drive from Reykjavík).
The spa is based around the unique properties of the geothermal seawater in the lagoon.

The geothermal water originates 6561 feet (2,000 meters) below the surface, where freshwater and seawater combine at extreme temperatures. It is then harnessed via drilling holes at a nearby geothermal power plant, Svartsengi, to create electricity and hot water for nearby communities.
On its way to the surface, the water picks up silica and minerals. When the water emerges, its temperature is usually between 98-104°F (37°C and 40°C).

The geothermal water has a unique composition, featuring three active ingredients – Silica, Algae & Minerals. The reason the water has a light blue milky color is that the silica reflects sunlight. During summer there can also be a hint of green in the water. This is the result of the algae, which multiplies quickly when exposed to direct sunlight.

The geothermal water has many benefits. But there are a few things that you should keep in mind. The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis. The Blue Lagoon also operates a research and development facility to help find cures for other skin ailments using the mineral-rich water.


The lagoon is a man-made lagoon which is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi and is renewed every two days. It is the largest in the World. Superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat exchanger to provide heat for a municipal water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in.
Iceland has a strict code of hygiene and guests are required to shower prior to enjoying the geothermal spa.

Children age 8 and under are only allowed entry with the use of arm floaters, provided free of charge. The lagoon is not suitable for children under the age of 2 years.

The Blue Lagoon is accessible for wheelchair users with a ramp that extends into the water and a shower chair. There is also a private changing room available for those with special needs, complete with a roll-in shower.
Blue Lagoon is going through a phase of expansion. Construction is ongoing spring 2018, when a new resort complex will open.​

A few interesting facts:
The lagoon contains 2377548 gallons or 9000000 liters of water.
The water is self-cleansing – it renews itself every 40 hours.
Blue Lagoon is mostly 2.6 - 3.9 feet (ca. 0.8-1.2 meters) deep. Its deepest point is 4.59 feet (1.4 meters). 

If you would like to visit Reykjavik it is recommended to plan well ahead.  Hotels in Iceland have not been able to keep up with demand so to avoid disappointments it is recommended to book early

Once in a while you read an article that you just can’t get out of your head.  I just had such an experience with an article written by Arnie Weissmann, Editor in Chief of a trade magazine I receive called Travel Weekly.

The article discusses the impact that the impact that digital connectivity has on our lives, comparing cell phone use by millennials to the cigarettes of  the babyboomers.   It certainly is an addiction, and any addiction comes at a price.

Researching this a bit further I listened to a speech given by Patrick Marsden, a 33 year old director of Travel for MaCher who has taken academic research to better understand the importance of taking a hiatus from digital connectivity.

Mr. Marsden says that half of millennials check their phones between 150 to 250 times per day, and that this behavior is a big reason for why millennials are 25% more likely to be depressed than babyboomers, and about 36% of babyboomers were so depressed during this past year that they were unable to function.  61% of college students have signs of anxiety and the average high school student in the US has the same levels of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the 1950’s.

Why have this occurred?  Mr. Marsden says there are numerous reasons - educational pressure, achievement pressure, being over educated in entry level positions, poor economy,  achievement pressure, outrageous housing market, and the realization that they may never achieve the same quality of life that their parents had - even though they were brought up being told that they could be anything they wanted to, and feel entitled.

Mr. Marsden goes on to talk about a research program where a group of travelers were were invited to a trip to Morocco.  The group were observed first in a hotel setting where they were all connected to their devices, then taken into a desert without them.  It was remarkable how the dynamics of the group changed dramatically as soon as the members in the group were disconnected from the internet.  Posture improved, there was more eye contact and people engaged in conversation at much greater rates.

The conclusion was that travel and a break from all digital media has profound mental health benefits and that spending money on experiences provides more lasting pleasures than purchasing material goods. 
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