Unlock the Secrets: How to Travel Europe Like a Pro!

Posted on June 23, 2024 by aavtravel

Planning a trip to Europe, or just need a refresher since it’s been a while? There’s a lot to know about traveling this diverse continent, and it’s not as straightforward as exploring the United States. While traveling across the States means finding familiar places like McDonald’s, Marriott hotels, or Walmarts everywhere you go, Europe offers a completely different experience.

In Europe, every country has its own language, and some even have several. These countries have rich histories dating back hundreds of years, leading to unique cultures, architecture, and cuisines. For example, the UK was founded in 927 AD, Portugal in 1143, Switzerland in 1291, and the Netherlands in 1581. Each country has its distinct characteristics—some are more organized, while others are more laid-back and passionate.

Geography also plays a huge role in travel. A distance that looks short on the map can take hours if there’s a mountain in the way. While some countries have modern infrastructure, others have evolved differently due to their geography and culture.

To make the most of your trip, take time to learn about the country you want to visit. Does it have multiple points of interest? How much time do you need to truly immerse yourself and not just snap a quick photo?

As a rule, if you only have a week, dedicate it to one country.
For two weeks, focus on a country like Italy or Greece.
If you want to city-hop between places like London, Paris, and Amsterdam, go for it!
But if you want to truly embrace a country like France or the UK, spend your two weeks there. Many people combine Ireland and the UK, which works with two weeks, but to see Ireland properly, you need two weeks, and at least three weeks for the UK.

Commit that kind of time, and you can truly say you’ve visited and know the country well.

At AAV Travel, we make planning easy and stress-free; plus, we provide expert guidance, making your European itinerary seamless and something to remember!

Step into Adventure: Walk Europe with Confidence and Comfort!

Posted on June 20, 2024 by aavtravel

Walking is deeply ingrained in the daily routines of many Europeans, with urban planning often prioritizing pedestrian-friendly environments. Cities feature narrow, historic streets and well-maintained sidewalks that encourage locals and tourists to explore by foot.

Photo by Pierre Blachu00e9 on Pexels.com

In iconic cities like Paris, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen, walking is more than just a mode of transportation; it’s a way to immerse oneself in the local culture, enjoy bustling street life, and take in beautiful sights. Additionally, public policies that support pedestrian infrastructure make walking a convenient, healthy, and enjoyable choice for navigating urban areas. Many times, walking is the most efficient way to get from point A to point B.

Photo by Evgeniy Kostyunin on Pexels.com

If you’re not used to walking a lot, exploring European cities can feel pretty overwhelming. For starters, you might find yourself covering much more ground on foot than you’re used to, which can be pretty tiring. The cobblestone streets, hills, and stairs in those charming historic areas can add to the challenge. Plus, locals tend to walk briskly and confidently, making it easy to feel a bit out of step. Navigating through bustling crowds, busy streets, and unfamiliar places takes a lot of energy and can be quite a shock if you’re more accustomed to driving everywhere.

So here are a few tips to get prepared. Ideally, you start about two months before your trip:

Walk with friends. Join a walking club or get together with friends who enjoy the outdoors.
Experienced walkers can offer valuable tips and motivation, like recommending the best shoes for comfort.
Pick up the pace and try different terrains. Cobblestones, potholes, uneven streets, and inclines are all very common in Europe.
Invest in comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots, and don’t skimp on good-quality socks.
Consider the weather, too—a waterproof option is better for wet climates than mesh sneakers.
Remember to dress in layers. This helps regulate moisture and temperature; being outside more means a quick trip back for extra clothes might not be convenient.

Photo by Gu00fcl Iu015fu0131k on Pexels.com

Are you an avid walker and have some tips to share or gear to recommend? I would love to hear from you!

Reach out when you feel the itch to plan a European adventure, I’d love to help!

Summer 2024: Europe Travel Tips

Posted on June 5, 2024 by aavtravel

Paris Summer Olympics

Be prepared to pay steep prices in Paris as the games approach. Hotels and food will become more expensive, and some metro stations might close. Check the Paris Ministry of Transport website for updates on those closures. Arrange transfer in advance, as strikes could affect public transportation.

Our tip: If you don’t like crowds, avoid Paris this summer and choose a more laid-back spot.

The consequence of climate change: Natural occurrences

Europe is set to face a major heatwave in 2024, and unfortunately, natural disasters are becoming more frequent in this region. Massive floods hit Germany and Belgium last year and are now back. Greece dealt with wildfires in 2023. Iceland’s volcano keeps erupting.

That River cruise you booked may not be operating as planned. The hotel you booked may not have air conditioning or have restrictions on air conditioning use due to environmental objectives.

Our Tip: A professional travel advisor has deep insights into European travel because they stay updated on various factors that can impact your trip, such as natural disasters, political changes, and strikes. Their extensive network and access to real-time information allow them to anticipate and navigate potential disruptions. They can provide personalized advice and contingency plans that you might not easily find on your own, ensuring a smoother and safer travel experience.

Strikes and Delays: The new normal

Train travel is an awesome way to explore Europe, but air and land transportation has been delayed more frequently lately. Major travel strikes are happening across several countries. To deal with these inevitable strikes, it’s smart to prepare for delays and have a backup plan ready.

Our Tip: Slow down! Instead of hopping around every other day from city to city, country to the next, allow yourself time. That way, you still have days left if you miss a day and some space to make alternate arrangements. A good travel advisor will help you create an itinerary that holds up!

Tickets, guides, and politics

Popular attraction tickets are getting scalped. Some of the best guides refuse their services because the sights are overcrowded. Some attraction time slots, like the Colosseum in Rome, are allocated at the last minute. That said, your tour time could change.

Our Tip: You get what you pay for! Trust your advisor, upgrade your experiences, get up early, and don’t overload your day.

Daytripper fees

Photo by Gotta Be Worth It on Pexels.com

The city of Venice rolled out its one-day visitor fee this summer. On arrival, train passengers are checked to see if they purchased a day pass and fined if not. Venice overnight guests have to file an exception. The town of Clovelly in Cornwall charges a daily visitor fee. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, is discussing implementing a fee for visitors arriving by car. This is becoming the norm.

Our Tip: Work with a specialist! Unless you are a very thorough trip planner with hours to learn about destinations and how best to navigate them, trust an expert to help you craft your trip and prepare you ahead of time.

Is Europe on your mind? Reach out, and we will happily help you plan your trip!

The Twelve Days of National #PlanForVacation Day 2019

Posted on January 16, 2019 by aavtravel

Every year more than 52% of Americans fail to use all their time off, creating a stockpile of 705 million unused vacation days in 2018! It is a mistery to us how people can let their vacation days to go to waste. Yes, here at Cumar Gold Travel we are all about taking trips abroad. However, no trip is too small. We strongly encourage you to use your vacation days! There are so many beautiful places to see and experience everywhere.

In 2019, the US Travel Association has made it once again their mission to encourage people to plan their vacation, so fewer days go unused in the future. By celebrating January 29, 2019, as the National Plan for Vacation Day, they want to encourage Americans to take their well-deserved time off. We want to take it a step further and give you some ideas!

We want to give you ideas and encourage you to plan a vacation. That is why we decided to create the Twelve Days of National #PlanForVacation Day. For the next twelve days, we’ll be populating this blog post with one destination highlight each day.

For the First Day, leading up to January 29, we will be traveling across the globe to Australia’s Northern Territory, the South part of it to be precise!

In addition, here are three tips to help you get started with your vacation planning:

Let us know if and how you will be using your vacation days; we’d love to hear from you!

Written by STEFANIE PICHONNAT
Stefanie Pichonnat is the owner of Cumar Gold Travel; a boutique travel firm specialized in creating and customizing personalized travel itineraries. You can contact her at stefanie@aav-travel.com.

Mask Making in Venice

Posted on December 29, 2016 by aavtravel

Venetian masks are world famous and a symbol and tradition of Venice. There is no avoiding them when in the city, as every street vendor and souvenir shop carries multiple versions, from the cheapest mass production piece, to the more expensive, unique and handcrafted version. Nowadays, masks are mainly worn during carnival. However, as long as the Venetian Serenissima Republic lasted, until 1797, they were part of the everyday Venetian life. During those days, Venetian nobles put on the masks to be whoever they wanted to be and turn their life into and aventure, gamble, and add a little bit of spice and risk to the everyday life.

A few of today’s mask artisans open their workshop doors and offer classes. They can range from the actual making of the mask with paper mache, to learning the decoration techniques used. It is a wonderful experience for both old and young.

I wanted to do something special, memorable and had setup such workshop for my children and myself. We had picked a small mask making shop owned by Giorgio Galasso who has been making masks for the past 20 years.

Arriving at his shop is like stepping back in time. Instructions say find the San Zulian church, follow the wall, turn into a small square, and there you are. No street name, number, and most definitely not a place Google Maps knows how to find.

The artist’s workshop is tiny and although Giorgo says he accommodates up to 5 people in the summer, it seems like 3 are plenty. Giorgio is an older man, long black grey hair, the features of his face almost like a mask. He wears a black framed set of reading glasses, and you immediately feel like you are working with someone who truly knows his craft.

In broken English he explains that before you start, you have to make a plan. You start with a vision of your mask which you then complete in several steps. He works with my two children, aged 10 and 12, as well as myself, and easily succeeds in making us feel confident in our abilities. We spend a good hour decorating our masks, learning about the different techniques, and materials used. One of my daughters works in the window and becomes the attraction for many passersby, who oftentimes end up entering the small shop, and buying one of Girogio’s masks.

Once done the masks have to stay in the shop for about an hour to dry. We head for lunch and pick them up on our way back to the hotel.

We were truly pleased with the result. It is a unique and memorable souvenir to take home from Venice. The masks will always remind us of the experience which is one we will never forget.

Written by STEFANIE PICHONNAT
Stefanie Pichonnat is the owner and travel consultant at Cumar Gold Travel, a boutique travel firm customizing travel itineraries for discerning customers. With her extensive travel experience in Italy she can help you create a wonderful trip. Contact her at stefanie@aav-travel.com

Venice for a day – A Daytrip from Milan

Posted on February 23, 2016 by aavtravel

It was still dark when we arrived at Milano Centrale. Thanks to the Excelsior Gallia’s location we only had to stroll across the street to make it there. The air smelled moist and crisp on the early mid-February morning.

Milano’s train station is impressive, a humongous historical building dating back to 1912 when its architect, Ulisse Stacchini, came up with the idea to create the “Cathedral of Movement”. With 11,000 m2 of marble and the central arch spanning over 72 meters Milano Centrale is easily one of Europe’s most beautiful train stations.

Crossing the deserted hall, which seemed somehow dark, despite the bright, artificial lights, we made our way to the platform.

The ride from Milan to Venice Santa Lucia station takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. In the early morning hours the landscape had a romantic touch, covered by a layer of mist which softened the classic Italian shapes and colors, almost like a painting. In the distance a view of the Dolomites, the stoic mountain range which is home to some of Italy’s best skiing areas such as Cortina.

Once the train starts crossing the water from Venice Mestre to Venice Island it’s time to get excited. Venice’s train station is very welcoming with its bright, airy and clean setting. As you cross the arrivals hall and step out into the open, you are immediately greeted by the city’s romantic beauty. It almost hits you by surprise, it’s as if you stepped right into a postcard.

There is daylight now, but the sun still sits low. A romantic mist lingers over the canals, making the skyline of domes and towers of the city look like a pastel water color painting.

Since we hadn’t made any plans, we decided to hop on one of the water buses, the so called Vaporettos, to get closer to the Grand Canal and St. Marks Square. The waterbus system is extensive and very much like a subway or bus system in a larger city. Instead of hoping onto a train though you are embarking and disembarking a small, one story, passenger ship. Whilst public transportation usually is a quick way to get around, this is different. The Vaporettos are extremely slow. And, just like a subway or a regular bus, they fill up and get crowded at times, making it not the most comfortable and convenient way to travel.

Venice’s streets and canals are confusing. To have a map is essential and to look at it often is crucial. It is extremely easy to get lost in the many small passages and sideways. Quite honestly though, Venice makes getting lost as charming as can be. There are so many squares, palazzos, beautiful houses, canals and bridges, always something to see. It is hard to take your eyes off or wonder, if this place really exists. Getting lost also means that you lose the crowd of tourists and all of a sudden find yourself in a more residential area, where flowers are delivered by boat and old people stand at the street corner thoroughly engaged in a chat.

Presuming that it wouldn’t be busy in February, I was surprised how many tourists were crowding around the major attractions such as St. Marks Square and the Rialto bridge. It quickly becomes clear that Venice is attractive, no matter what time of the year. Some of the lines to enter attractions seemed almost ridiculously long. I cannot even begin to imagine what it must look like in summer. At the end of the day I felt utterly charmed by Venice, it is truly unique and one of the most romantic cities. However, it likely wouldn’t have had the same effect on me during the summer, when it is overrun by tourists and some of the canals exude bad odors.

Indy FastPark Ride & Relax – Best Place to Park your Car at Indianapolis Airport (IND)

Posted on October 13, 2015 by aavtravel

Whenever you take a plane to head somewhere, you either get dropped off at the airport or need to find a place to leave your car.

When it comes to parking around Indianapolis Airport there are a few options. If you have an early flight, you might want to choose to stay at one of the many airport hotels that offer so called Park and Fly rates. There are a few things you need to pay attention to when making your reservation:

Make sure the hotel’s airport shuttle actually runs during the hours you need it. Some shuttles run 6am – 10pm. So if your flight departs really early in the morning, or comes in really late, you won’t be able to take advantage of the shuttle.
Airport hotels can be located around Indianapolis’ old airport, or the new airport. Depending on the direction you are coming from, it makes more sense to stay in one area instead of the other. If, for example, you are coming from Terre Haute, your best options are located in the Plainfield and South Ameriplex area, as these locations will save you a good 20 minutes in additional travel time each way.If you are looking for a parking solution, you can stay on one of Indianapolis Airport’s official garage or parking lots, or you can choose an off airport solution. The best one, in my opinion, is FastPark Ride & Relax. Here are a few reasons why:

The hourly rate is very similar to Indianapolis airport’s Economy Parking. However, if you have an AAA Membership card your receive a 15% discount on the rate!
You are picked up and dropped off directly at your car. No need to drag your luggage around the parking lot or wait. If you can open your trunk with a click, the driver will deposit your luggage right into your trunk when you get off the shuttle.
They will even give you a bottle of water when you leave the parking area. What a nice gesture!
The parking is covered so you can expect a cleared and ready to go vehicle during those cold winter months. No defrosting and scratching icy windshields. This comes in particularly handy when your landing looks like this!

How to get to Indy FastPark Ride & Relax?
If you come from Terre Haute on I-70 follow these instructions:

At the airport exit, stay right towards SOUTH Ameriplex Pkwy

After about a mile you will see the first FastPark sign and the rooftops of the covered parking area.

Turn right on Stansted Drive, right before Subway. Park, Relax and have a great trip!

How to plan your time? To be on the safe side, plan about 30 minutes from the time you enter the parking lot to the time you make it to the terminal.

Written by AAV Travel’s Owner

STEFANIE PICHONNAT
Stefanie Pichonnat is the owner of Cumar Gold Travel, a boutique travel firm specialized in creating customized travel itineraries. Having personally traveled to many destinations worldwide, she can help you create a wonderful vacation experience. You can contact her at stefanie@aav-travel.com

24 hours in Paris – Paris is always a good idea!

Posted on September 15, 2015 by aavtravel

I will never forget my very first time in Paris. I had just turned 14 and my parents decided to take my sister and I to the City of Lights for a couple of days. It was sometime in the 80’s and the TGV, the high speed train, had just been introduced. This new, super fast train, made traveling from Bern to Paris non-stop and a breeze.

Quite a few memories remain from that visit. Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen and Le Magasin Tati, shopping heaven for bargain hunters, or teens on a limited budget. The incredible grandeur of Versailles impressed me forever with its lavishly decorated halls and perfectly manicured gardens. Dinner in a typical French restaurant, somewhere along the Seine river. A charming French waiter who traced a heart of whipped cream on my dessert, timidly asking my parents if he could take me out that night. Me, deeply embarrassed and the laughing stock of my sister. Needless to say, the trip left an everlasting impression.

A couple of years later, I returned to stay for a year. The city was still beautiful; but had become somewhat more menacing. I spent my mornings working as a nanny in one of the suburbs and the afternoons perfecting my French at the Alliance Francaise in the 6e arrondissement. Most of my free time I spent roaming around Paris, discovering every nook and cranny, meticulously following the different walks suggested in Michelin’s Guide Vert. For almost a year, I discovered Paris inside and out. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I’ve returned many times since but this summer was going to be different. I was headed in that direction with my girls and it was their very first time. We only had about 48 hours but I absolutely wanted them to see Paris, even if it was just for a day. It was an incredible experience to watch them get excited, show interest, and wanting to discover more.

Here are a few pictures from our day visiting some of my personal highlights in the city. Enjoy!

Our first stop, the carousel at the Parc de Bercy. This is probably Paris’ newest park which is beautiful and consists of 3 different gardens, The Romantic Garden, The Flower Beds and The Meadows. There was no chance we could leave the carousel, without enjoying one of the enormous “barbe à papa” (cotton candy or loosely translated, daddy’s beard).

Next on the list was one of my very favorite places in Paris. La Place des Vosges, home to Victor Hugo’s house, located in the area called Le Marais.

We headed towards Les Quais de la Seine, the boardwalks by the Seine river where until today, you can find merchants selling old books, magazines, posters and paintings.

Lively St. Michel made for the perfect lunch stop. We opted for Indian food at Le Safran and enjoyed a lovely lunch in their upstairs area.

Le Louvre was already closed when we got there but no matter what, it is beautiful to look at. I remember the controversy of the pyramids when they first installed them and today they are an integral part of these ancient buildings. If you go, make sure to check out La Pyramide Inversée, the inverted pyramid as well, which acts as a skylight.

We went on to Le Jardin de Tuileries (the Tuilerie gardens) where the summer carnival was in full swing. We did go on the Ferris wheel which was incredibly overpriced and honestly said, not worth the money. I was however able to get some nice shots. Can you spot La Défense, Le Musée d’Orsay, Les Invalides, Opéra Garnier and Sacré-Coeur?

Dawn was setting in as we headed North to the Montmartre area, one of my absolute favorites because of the incredible view. That evening, it was incredibly busy due to it being Le 14 juillet (Bastille Day).

We decided to head back to the Tuileries to watch the fireworks and walked towards Pigalle where the Moulin Rouge is located.

We enjoyed the fireworks from a distance and then traveled back to the hotel for a last night in Paris.

Bonne nuit mes amis! We had a great time, short but sweet. We will be back!

Written by STEFANIE PICHONNAT
Stefanie Pichonnat is the owner and travel consultant at Cumar Gold Travel, a boutique travel firm customizing travel itineraries for discerning customers. With her extensive travel experience in France and Paris, she can help you create a wonderful trip. Contact Stefanie at stefanie@aav-travel.com

“Into the Woods” – Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Posted on August 25, 2015 by aavtravel

“Into the woods, it’s time to go, I hate to leave, I have to go. Into the woods – It’s time, and so I must begin my journey”. Those lines kept on going through my head as I watched my daughters running along, disappearing into the thickly spread pine forest near Glenmore. The air was moist from the sprinkling rain, the undergrowth was covered with dew drops, and the smell of pine, moss, and grass, was overwhelmingly fresh.

The idea that day, was to take a stroll along the Ryovan Pass to the Ryovan Loch which is known for its vividly green color. People say that its color is due to the fact that the local fairies wash their clothes there. Always on the lookout for fairies, we were eager to head that way. I didn’t have much information on how exactly to get there, but knew that we had to park by the National Outdoor Training Center, at Glenmore Lodge.

Once parked, we looked around and simply took the first hiking path spotted. It so happened to lead us up a hill. We climbed through the thick of the pine forest for a good 20 – 30 minutes before emerging on a dirt road, higher up the mountain.

The view that greeted us was spectacular! With Loch Morlich and distant mountain ranges. We decided to follow the dirt road further uphill. It soon stopped and led us onto a smaller path through more woods.

Scotland has so many areas of incredible beauty and it is one of those places, where getting off the beaten path means you will be on your own. The entire landscape is there for you to soak up, and enjoy. It still has a very untouched feel and radiates an incredible energy. It is as if you get to the heart of nature, where everything is pure and you can feel the pulse of the earth and smell of the air as it is supposed to be.

We had set out to find a loch colored with fairy water that day, but found an incredible place uphill instead. We never doubted that fairies must live there. We even spotted a small stream with reddish water. And maybe, just maybe, fairies are as meticulous in separating their laundry by colors as we are.

If this peaks your interest and you want to learn a bit more about Cairngorms National Park and what it has to offer check out some of these videos

Written by STEFANIE PICHONNAT
Stefanie Pichonnat is the owner and travel consultant at Cumar Gold Travel, a boutique travel firm customizing travel itineraries for discerning customers. With her extensive travel experience in Scotland she can help you create a wonderful trip. Contact her at stefanie@aav-travel.com

Dominican Republic: Destination Wedding Inspiration Board

Posted on August 18, 2015 by aavtravel

This June, I had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic. AMResorts, known for the resort brands Zoetry, Secrets, Dreams, Now, Breathless, and Sunscape, had invited a group of destination wedding specialists to visit their resorts in Punta Cana and La Romana, to get an idea what the resort chain had to offer when it came to creating the ultimate destination wedding dream.

Let me tell you, it was an incredible experience! Each resort showed off, beautifully, what they can do. We got to see many different set-ups and decorations that matched their surroundings, whether it was lush gardens, white sand and turquoise blue water, or a resort banquet room. We savored exquisite food and were enchanted by the many beautiful displays. But that wasn’t all, fire dancers, acrobats, magicians, traditional dancers, live music and much more. We got to experience it all.

Here are some of the photos taken during my time in the Dominican Republic. As you will see, there are quite a few of them. If you have questions about a particular setting or location please reach out. I will gladly share all the information I have. Enjoy the pictures!

Written by STEFANIE PICHONNAT
Stefanie Pichonnat is a Honeymoon & Destination Weddings Specialist as well as an AMResorts Master Agent. She is the owner of Cumar Gold Travel, a boutique travel firm specialized in creating and customizing personalized travel itineraries. You can contact her at stefanie@aav-travel.com