Since the shipwrecked Costa Concordia can still be seen near the Italian island of Giglio, safety at sea continues to be something we are very aware of. When Hurricane Sandy was creating chaos off the Atlantic coast several months ago, a number of cruise ships were forced to alter their scheduled port stops and substitute […]

If you are considering taking a European river cruise sometime soon, but are confused by all of the different options, I would make this suggestion. By answering the following questions for yourself, you will be able to narrow down your choices and zero in on the best selection for your vacation requirements. 1. What do […]

No matter how savvy a traveler you may be logging many thousands of miles around the world, just a brief moment of attention deficit can cause you great loss. I had this gut-wrenching experience recently when my indispensable shoulder bag containing my purse, travel documents, money belt, cell phone, credit cards, driver’s license, contact lenses, […]

For passengers returning to the country from international destinations and then connecting to a domestic flight home, the connection time is often short. By the time you have cleared Immigration, claimed your luggage, and passed through Customs, you are hurrying to re-check your suitcases immediately with the airline and rush unencumbered to the domestic terminal. […]

How wonderful to have a chance to visit Hobbiton, newly opened to the public!  When Peter Jackson made his movie, “The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey,” he created a delightful 9 acre village scattered across the hills and pastures of a 1200 acre farm in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s north island or Middle-earth. The […]

Wages are very low in Cuba, about $15 to $20 per month.  However, as a Communist nation, almost all services are free, i.e. housing, transportation, basic foods, education and books.  The universities and art schools, which are free to Cubans, do allow some paying foreigners to enroll. Every adult works and has a ration book […]

Our charter flight left Miami before noon and arrived in Havana about an hour and a half later.  We were in a state of high anticipation to see an island that few Americans have been able to visit during the past 53 years. As part of a cultural exchange group, we would be exploring the […]

Have you watched other passengers walk up to a machine and then past the Immigration desks in less than 5 minutes, while you waited for over an hour to have your passport examined after returning to the country from an international trip? To begin the process, you will need to fill out the application online […]

When you hear your favorite music or view a beautiful painting, do you feel happy and uplifted?  It is wonderful how something beautiful can give you peace and serenity. There are a number of fascinating Impressionist paintings that I love looking at, and one of my favorite artists is Monet.  Of all the Impressionist painters […]

At Bon Voyage Travel™, we are very honored to have been chosen as a “Travel Weekly” Gold Magellan Award winner for travel excellence. To achieve this award, our web site, www.bonvoyageluxurytravel.com, was nominated for its creative design and superior travel content. The Magellan Gold Award winners were judged to be clearly excellent and the best […]

Recently, a number of airports have opened up special TSA security lines for passengers with airline frequent flyer status.  It is necessary to go online to fill out the forms, but there is no confirmation that you have been accepted into the program. You do not find out about your acceptance until you present your […]

Have you ever wondered whether you would be able to travel to Cuba in your lifetime?  Or why you might want to? Cuba has been a forbidden destination for most U.S. Citizens since 1961, although Canadians, Western Europeans and other nationalities have been allowed to visit Cuba in controlled tourist areas beginning in 1997 as […]