July 21, 2026 Cheers Reader ~ The easiest time to judge a travel company is when everything goes right. I pay much closer attention when it doesn't. Last week, while sailing the Danube with Riverside Luxury Cruises, unusually low water levels meant our ship couldn't make it to Budapest. I wanted to see how Riverside would handle it. Instead of losing a day to logistics, we spent the day exploring Hungary before arriving in Budapest. We visited the magnificent Pannonhalma Archabbey, wandered...

June 30, 2026 Cheers Reader ~ Japan is one of those destinations that stays with you. The food, the temples, the gardens, the quiet rituals, the sense of order and beauty — it all feels deeply considered. And in autumn, with cooler weather and a softer seasonal atmosphere, it becomes an especially beautiful time to travel. Japan is also a destination where planning really matters. Hotels, trains, luggage transfers, guides, timing, and the question of how to see enough without making the trip...

June 16, 2026 Cheers Reader ~ Some cities are exactly what you expect. Berlin wasn't. I expected a city defined by its history. What I found instead was a city energized by it. Of course, the reminders are everywhere. Memorials, museums, preserved sites, and moments that force you to stop and reflect. Berlin doesn't shy away from its past, nor should it. What surprised me was everything else. The creativity. The art. The striking mix of old and new architecture. The independent shops and...