Kathie’s Links

Bucket List Trips

Have yourself a BLT!

Christmas Markets in Europe

christmas-market-2

AmaWaterways Iconic Christmas Markets

Globus Imperial Escape Budapest, Vienna, Prague

Rail Europe  Budapest, Vienna and Prague

Tauck European Christmas Market tours featuring a Danube river cruise from Nürnberg to Vienna

Tulips in Holland

MomsTulipsSwans

AmaWaterways - Tulip Time Cruise

Globus - Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium

Monograms - 3 nights Amsterdam Independent Travel

Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean

TC-hobie-2

Beaches Turks & Caicos Grace Bay was voted the worlds #1 Best Beach by Trip Advisor in 2017

The Sands at Grace Bay 

Silver Sea Fort Lauderdale, Grand Turk, St. Marteen, St. Lucia, St. John's, St. Kitts, Jost Van Dyke, San Juan

One of a Kind Trips

Hogmanay & New Year in Scotland

Join the revellers and get the party started! In Scotland, New Year's carousing gets underway when thousands of torch-bearers join Up Helly Aa's Vikings, pipes and drums. Together, they march through the heart of Edinburgh with flaming torches, creating a river of fire down the historic Royal Mile to Holyrood Park for the finale and closing celebrations.

 

St Patrick's Day in Ireland

Join a tour of the top sites in Ireland finishing with a stay in a castle.  Yes, they still make crystal in Waterford.  Yes, Kissing the Blarney Stone can be fun (or fun to watch and the views from the top of Blarney Castle are pretty nice too and one stop shopping can be found at the Blarney Woolen Mills).  This trip includes: a Medieval Castle Banquet, Cliffs of Moher & River Shannon Ferry, Ring of Kerry Tour & Sheepdog Trials, Blarney Castle & Cobh Heritage Centre (take your picture with the statue of Annie Moore, see the history of immigration and the stories of ill-fated Titanic and Lusitania), Waterford Crystal & 6th Century Glendalough, Dublin Sightseeing Tour & Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardes, then the tour ends at Dromoland Castle Hotel.

Sail From Athens to Sicily to Malta

Enjoy the Informal Elegance of the Star Clippers as you sail from iconic Athens, then  three days in three different ports in Greece,  with a stop in Sicily ending in Malta where you can stay for a few extra days to explore.  "On Star Clippers, you will find that there are no rigid schedules. You are free to do as you wish with your days – and evenings. To entertain you, we bring local performers on board to give passengers an authentic taste of the local music and arts."  

Galapagos

Silver-Galapagos-ship

Small ship cruises with G-Adventures to the Galapagos:  "Snorkel with sea lions, soak up the sun with iguanas or marvel at the natural beauty that surrounds you – just a typical day on a Galápagos tour! Situated 965km (600 mi) off the coast of Ecuador, this isolated haven of biodiversity remains nature’s greatest science laboratory, home to a dazzling array of birds, reptiles, fish and mammals that you won’t find anywhere else."

South Africa Safari

Experience a small group (max 16 people) safari from Victoria Falls to Cape Town.   "This 18-day National Geographic Journey through four African countries hits the highlights and is perfect for the adventurer who wants to discover the region’s diversity. Explore the Okavango Delta by dugout mokoro canoe, marvel at some of the highest sand dunes in the world in the Namib Desert, and meet the San Bushmen of the Kalahari. Your knowledgeable CEO will take care of the hassles and planning while you recharge in hotels, local lodges, and camps for a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience you'll forever treasure." 

G-Adventures is one of the tour companies that I have access to. I like them because they are small group travel adventure experts and have a philosophy of "Responsible Travel". See this page for more info: https://www.gadventures.com/about-us/responsible-travel/

Cooking in Chianti

Join my friends Francesca and Tom, with Castles & Kitchens, for a wonderful week in Chianti - they invite you to "Go beyond being a tourist. Get to know the people. Let them get to know you. Experience the rhythm of life in this place."    "Our week in Chianti is dedicated to getting to know this unique area and its people.  What better window into a culture than its kitchen table? Tuscan cuisine is as honest and down to earth as its people. Roasted and grilled meats, fresh vegetables, soups, and pastas are elevated by the sublime addition of the local olive oil."  On this vacation, you can "do as much or as little as you like, on your own schedule. All your food and wine at the house is  included. We have also included a day tour of Chianti, winery tours, and an offsite cooking class. You are welcome to shop with us at the markets any or every day, explore with us or on your own, and cook with us, or sleep in every morning.  It’s YOUR vacation!"

Co-Branded Sites

AmaWaterways

PROJECT EXPEDITION - Discover and book tours and activities

Sandals Family of Brands

These links take you to Kathie's "co-branded" Globus sites.  That means Globus owns the pages, including the colors that don't match this site, but they are linked back to Kathie so she will be responsible for helping you with the booking process and any help you need for your trip.

Viking River Cruises

Viking Co-Branded site.