Considering a visit to Central Europe? Why not a river cruise where one can see some of our world's most historic sites. Buildings dating back to the early middle ages and towns that speak a thousand stories. My husband and I decided to take a 7-night river cruise down the Danube from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary.

Prior to the cruise, we decided to tour Prague, Czech Republic on our own. We stayed at the Augustine Hotel, a Luxury Collection hotel that was originally built as a monastery in 1284 AD. The eclectic hotel decorated with hints of Czech Cubism is ideally located in the quiet Malá Strana neighborhood, just below the magnificent Prague Castle and less than a 10 minute walk to the famous Charles Bridge. Most of the monastery was converted to a luxurious hotel, however four monks still keep residence on the property. Our room was located at the front of the hotel.  If you keep the windows open you can hear the electric street car; other than that the windows are dual-paned and when closed, it is quiet. The king-sized bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was enormous and luxurious. The marble bathroom had heated floors and heated towel racks (we had three), plus a large soaking tub!  Perfect to unwind after a day of walking on uneven surfaces and cobblestone. The hotel sales manager, Pavla gave us the grand tour of the hotel, including other rooms and suites,  the downstairs multi-function room (once the monk’s private brewery and now used for private events and receptions), and the hotel’s cool “Refectory” bar offering delicious St. Thomas Beer (a must for beer lovers).  Next door,  just on the other side of the bar’s wall is the beautiful and ornate St. Thomas Church, part of the Augustinian monastery. 

The restaurant is managed by Czech celebrity chef,  Executive Chef Marek Fichtner.  The daily breakfast buffet was amazingly delicious with the freshest of ingredients.  We also enjoyed a relaxing lunch on the outdoor patio overlooking their small garden of herbs.  Check out my mango salad.  

This year the internet showed no mercy towards its 'netizens' in regards to April Fool's pranks...and it certainly did not disappoint. Here is a list of our favorite travel related pranks that we definitely didn't fall for. Okay, maybe a couple...

In the age of Instagrammers and the ever-so-popular "follow me" pose amongst travelers, it wasn't hard to fall for this prank engineered by GoPro. Their ad starts out with a young wanderluster running in various cities around the world holding the hand of her seeming companion, only to be revealed at the end of the video as a plastic arm mount called 'Armie'. Designed for solo travelers that want to appear a little less...lonely, Armie is the perfect bait for single millennials. 
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I have to admit, coming into the office on Monday morning to this email made me scratch my head, however it wasn't crazy enough to be labeled as a prank right off the bat. Upon first read it looked as if G Adventures was offering a Machu Picchu trek with your dog...okay, that's cool. At second glance, they're offering a full on dogs-only itinerary where they promise to greet your furry friend with ceviche at the airport! A little ridiculous even for our canine loved ones...dontchya think? 
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At first I thought Southwest was getting ahead of the game with an 'Alexa' type virtual assistant for booking flights, but don't be fooled, this is again yet another April 1st prank. In the video the SWAlexa seems to sense awkward situations and offers the owner a flight away from it in true 'Alexa' fashion. Don't we all wish we could have a SWAlexa? Brava, Southwest. 
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This was one of those "um...what?" pranks. Hard to believe at first glance, but you have to give them their props. A little horrifying to think of Antarctica as the next 'Broadway' though...yay or nay? 
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As convenient as this invention by BioLite would be, it just seems a little out there and quite frankly, creepy. Let's keep the great outdoors a private experience without someone spying on us from above, eh? 
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REI may just deserve the April Fool's Gold Star for this one. An all-in-one, versatile utility jumper called the 'ZipAll' was the star of their prank this year. Offering more than 30 zippers with 1,001 unique wearing models, this item is truly an outdoorsmen's dream. Unfortunately, it still remains one, as REI created this look for only one day. We demand ZipAll! 
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I hope we're not the only ones that thinks this isn't too eccentric. I mean, if they used to have pianos, ping pong and fashion shows on airplanes, what's to say they wouldn't throw in a cardio room? Give the people what they want! 
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Singita means 'Place of Miracles' in Shangaan...and that is exactly what it is. Boasting 12 lodges and camps in five wilderness regions across three African countries, Singita has always been characterized by a pioneering spirit and a sincere desire to preserve wilderness areas for future generations. See their different lodges below: 

GoPro's are perfect for capturing professional quality video and photo. They are extremely durable and versatile, and can be mounted on a variety of mounts you can carry with you. They can be taken for an underwater plunge, on a dusty safari, or strapped on your body during a ski/snowboard session or even a sky dive excursion. 

GoPro's can be mounted on a long pole for easy selfie access, your head for POV footage, your chest for another POV angle, your foot, your hand, your wrist, your motorbike, car, plane, guitar, and even your dog. There are mounts available for all of these things, and more, including one you can bite on for surf trips. The options are endless!

Contact us if you are interested in bringing our GoPro along with you on your next adventure! 

People always ask me, "Don't you get bored being on a ship for so long?" Well, no. In fact, it is the opposite. I can hardly find time to sit on my Veranda and smell the salt air. Most times I won't debark at port just to have a slightly slower pace. Besides, everybody leaves and it is like having your own 750 passenger yacht! (That's when I hot tub). I know now why ships are referred to int he feminine text. Each is beautiful in their own way, with alluring nuances and quirks. Like a perfect marriage, find the right one and you savor every minute. 

Santa Barbara Travel's Marketing Manager Tells All

Desiring a river cruise but too many to choose from? In the last 10 years, the river cruise business has expanded tremendously. River cruises can be experienced all around the world: Africa, Asia, India, Europe, to even the major rivers in the U.S. and Canada. Accommodations and amenities can range from premium to ultra-luxury. For my first experience on the river, I chose AmaWaterway's 7-night "Romantic Danube" cruise, departing from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary, on one of their newer ships, AmaViola.

Being that it was my first trip to Slovakia and Hungary, I could not wait to board our cruise which departed at the end of May. We anticipated cooler weather than the 75-88 degrees we actually  had - it was lovely. One of my favorite parts of the cruise was traveling through all of the locks on the river. I believe we traveled through 15 locks, an awe-inspiring experience when you witness how close the bridges are overheard as we pass under them (so close that all guests on the top deck are mandated to sit), and how narrow the locks are when transiting, the walls are within just a couple feet of the ship. Be sure to take the roundhouse tour to visit with the captain and see how he maneuvers the ship through narrow passages.

​Considering a visit to Central Europe?  Why not a river cruise where one can see some of our world’s most historic sites.  Buildings dating back to the early middle ages and towns that speak a thousand stories.  My husband and I decided to take a 7-night AMAWaterways river cruise down the Danube from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary.
Prior to the cruise, we decided to tour Prague in the Czech Republic on our own.  We stayed at the Augustine Hotel, a Luxury Collection hotel that was originally built as a monastery in 1284 AD.  The eclectic hotel decorated with hints of Czech Cubism is ideally located in the quiet Malá Strana neighborhood, just below the magnificent Prague Castle and less than a 10 minute walk to the famous Charles Bridge.  Most of the monastery was converted to a luxurious hotel, however 4 monks still keep residence on the property.  Our room was located at the front of the hotel.  If you keep the windows open you can hear the electric street car; however the windows are triple-pane glass and when closed, you can enjoy a good night’s sleep. (Some rooms have a view of Prague Castle or the inside courtyard/sundial garden). The king-sized bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was enormous and luxurious. The marble bathroom had heated floors and heated towel racks (we had three), plus a large soaking tub . . . a perfect solution for a day’s end of cobblestone walking. The hotel sales manager, Pavla gave us the grand tour of the hotel, including other rooms and suites, the downstairs multi-function room (once the monk’s private brewery) is used for private events and receptions, and the hotel’s hip “Refectory” bar offers the delicious St. Thomas Beer (this beer can only be purchased at the Augustine and is a must for beer lovers).  Next door,  just on the other side of the bar’s wall is the beautiful and ornate St. Thomas Church, part of the Augustinian monastery.  The ceiling frescoes are beautiful!

Do you like gardens? Art? Edible plants? …Social statements?

All the above? Well, dig up your old bucket list and add this to the top.

Chelsea is home to the annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show – a stunning collection of individually designed gardens that resides in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London.  Organized by the Royal Horticultural Society, the Chelsea Flower Show has been produced every year since 1913, except for some gaps during the two world wars. The Great Pavilion of the Royal Hospital is roughly 11,775 square meters, and holds thousands of plants organized into eclectic and thought-provoking exhibits designed to induce diverse thinking, zen-like vibes, and simply awe among its beholders.

When you enter into the Pavilion, you enter into a lush world of unique floral lands. Take a walk through the ‘Feel Good Gardens’ where five mini-habitats await to tantalize your five senses. Meander through the ‘Show Gardens’ where designers show off their most enchanting and grandiose planterpieces. Entice your mind with the unconventional ‘Fresh Gardens’, ridden with provocative designs that highlight social issues. Whatever your flora fancy, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is sure to plant it.

Imagine stepping off of an airplane onto silky white sand beaches, greeted by warm and welcoming Fijian locals. You are escorted to your Villa, where chilled champagne awaits next to a King-sized bed adorned with rose petals. Step outside onto your private deck, and wade into your personal infinity pool overlooking the South Pacific waters, soaking in the reverie that surrounds you.

Alas, this is not a dream.

This is reality for the guests of Namale All-Inclusive Resort and Spa, situated in Savusavu on the Northern Island of Vanua Levu, a one-hour scenic flight from Nadi. Namale’s adults-only, all-inclusive package including alcoholic beverages, motor sports and activities, world-class cuisine and spa access is designed to transport you into a tropical nirvana.

Namale is situated on 525 acres of virtually untouched lush tropical flora, and offers indulgence for every variety of traveler. For the adventurer, motor sports and other sport activities are included in your stay, so take advantage of Namale’s tennis courts, indoor bowling alley and entertainment center, 9-hole golf course, horseback riding, kayaking, SUP, and bountiful hiking trails. For the sophisticated foodie, enjoy dining at Namale’s two world class restaurants, or experience private dining outside on the beach, under a waterfall, or in a candlelit cave.