Europe Bound Journeys

Travel Tip Tuesday: If you have intercontinental flights or are making connections in Europe this Spring, check your flight status and confirm it is still there. Europe is consolidating and cancelling flights due to the jet fuel shortage. IF your flight is effected, trains are a great alternative, if applicable. Check with your travel agent and make sure your trip protection covers any possible cancellation. Cancel For Any Reason insurance is highly recommended.

Ready to trade your morning coffee for a Venetian espresso? Then we need to get you to Italy for an unforgettable 11-night journey through the heart of the Mediterranean!

Here is a sneak peek at the magic we have planned:

2 Nights in Venice: Get lost in the winding canals and witness the glass-blowing mastery of Murano.

3 Nights in Florence: Walk the birthplace of the Renaissance, see David, and sip Chianti in the Tuscan sun.

3 Nights in Rome: Step back in time at the Colosseum and throw your coin in the Trevi Fountain.

3 Nights in Sorrento: End with a "Limoncello" toast overlooking the stunning Amalfi Coast before we fly out of Naples.

From the floating city to the sun-drenched coast, this is the Italy you’ve always dreamed of.

Call us today to get started on this dream vacation! (503) 290-4513

The Algarve is the southernmost region of continental Portugal, celebrated for its dramatic limestone cliffs, golden beaches, and over 3,000 hours of annual sunshine.

Stretching about along the south coast, the landscape transitions from the bustling resort towns and vibrant nightlife of Albufeira and Lagos in the central and western areas to the tranquil lagoons and barrier islands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park in the east.

Beyond its famous coastline, the region is steeped in history, with Moorish-influenced architecture, whitewashed villages like Tavira, and the rolling Monchique mountains providing a lush, green contrast to the sun-drenched shores. Whether you're seeking world-class golf courses, fresh seafood cuisine or a slow-paced retreat in a traditional fishing village, the Algarve offers a diverse and welcoming escape for every type of traveler.

Today on Off the Beaten Path Treasures, we recommend: Matera, Italy!

Looking more like a calcified beehive and less like an inhabitable city, it is easy to see that Matera is not your average Italian town!

While not "founded" in the modern sense, the area has seen a continuous human presence since the Paleolithic era (cira10,000-7000 BC). Nomadic hunter-gatherers first used the natural limestone grottoes for shelter before transitioning into permanent Neolithic farming villages roughly 9,000 years ago.

Modern Matera is a stunning "rags-to-riches" story where ancient cave dwellings have been reborn as hubs of contemporary luxury and culture. Once a symbol of national struggle, the city is now a vibrant UNESCO World Heritage site and a former European Capital of Culture (2019).

In this area, Europe Bound Journeys recommends you treat yourselves by staying at the Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita! Their gorgeous cave suites provide all the comforts of a luxury hotel while you sleep in centuries old caves that could have housed the Roman soldiers on their way back from campaign!

Ireland has its traditional ballads to tell the stories of their people. We Americans have our folk songs that do the same. In Germany, they have what they call Volkslieder, but in Portugal, they have Fado!

Most travelers arrive in Portugal chasing its sun-soaked beaches, historic cities, and famous custard tarts, but one of its most overlooked cultural treasures lies in the haunting, deeply emotional tradition of Fado.

Originating in the old neighborhoods of Lisbon, particularly Alfama and Mouraria, Fado is more than music, it’s a reflection of the Portuguese soul. Often performed in dimly lit taverns, this genre is defined by its mournful melodies and lyrics centered on longing, loss, and the concept of saudade, a uniquely Portuguese word that captures a deep emotional state of nostalgia and yearning.

While many visitors may stumble upon a Fado performance as part of a dinner show, few realize its cultural weight. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Fado has roots in the lives of sailors, immigrants, and the working class, people whose stories were rarely recorded in history books but lived on through song.

While Europe Bound Journeys does not take sides politically, news this important cannot be ignored: Europe has about six weeks of jet fuel left.
According to BBC News, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that flight cancellations could begin soon if oil supplies remain blocked by the war in Iran.

To effectively prepare for the potential European jet fuel shortage and subsequent flight disruptions this summer, travelers and travel advisors in the US should focus on building robust contingency plans and much more!

If you are a travel advisor and would like to read more about how you can get your clients prepared, email us at EuropeBoundJourneys.com and we will add you to our weekly newsletter so you can stay on top of all the news!

Europe Bound Journeys is thrilled to announce our new travel destination course and certification: The Cross, The Crown and The Claymore! Designed for travel advisors and explorers, this course goes beyond your typical destination information and highlights the stories behind the locations associated with Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Our job as advisors is to make our clients feel the excitement of the locations they are visiting and to really bring them to life! Knowing the stories behind historical sites is what turns travel from movement into meaning. A castle becomes more than stone when you know you are walking the same halls as a kings and queens. A battlefield becomes more than a field when you understand the hopes, heartbreaks, and human choices that unfolded there.

The course covers:

Henry VIII - Tower of London, Windsor and Hampton Court
Mary Queen of Scots - Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle
Bonnie Prince Charlie - Culloden Moor Battlefield, as well as his connection to both Holyrood and Edinburgh Castle

Advisors taking the course will receive a certificate confirming that they are a Certified British Heritage Travel Specialist.

Call or email today to book your space in our next webinar! 503-290-4513 or [email protected]