Bella Adventures

09/07/2026

Going for Good: Friends of Fondation de France

We're highlighting a new addition to our Going for Good page, Friends of Fondation de France, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been building bridges between French and American philanthropy since 2000.

A few things worth knowing:
— They help U.S. donors make tax-deductible gifts to causes across France
— They currently support more than 200 nonprofit partners as those organizations grow their fundraising presence in the U.S.
— Their work reflects decades of on-the-ground relationships, not one-off giving campaigns

For travelers who want their trip to include more than sightseeing, we can help build an itinerary around organizations like this one, a visit, an introduction, or simply information on how to give.

Learn more on our Going for Good page
https://www.bellaadventures.com/going-for-good/friends-of-fondation-de-france

09/04/2026

What if the way you travel could actually make a difference?

Travel has always been about discovery—but today, it can be so much more. It can be a way to connect deeper, give back, and leave a destination better than you found it.

This is the idea behind Going For Good by Bella Adventures

We explore how intentional travel choices—from where you stay to who you support—can transform your journey into something truly meaningful.

It’s not just about where you go… it’s about how you go.

https://www.bellaadventures.com/going-for-good

09/02/2026

Strasbourg doesn't just celebrate Christmas — it invented the modern idea of it.

Known as the "Capital of Christmas," this market dates back to 1570, and each winter it transforms the city's historic center into something closer to a storybook than a shopping trip.
Wander through and you'll find:

— Over 300 wooden chalets tucked among half-timbered houses and cathedral squares
— Artisanal gifts and seasonal treats around every corner
— Streets strung with lights connecting one market square to the next
— A towering Christmas tree crowning Place Kléber

It's a full immersion into Alsatian holiday tradition — French and German influences woven into one deeply festive atmosphere. Whether you're thinking a quick winter getaway or a full Alsace holiday itinerary, I'd love to help you build it.

Reach out anytime at [email protected].

08/31/2026

Built across fourteen islands and laced together by water and light, Stockholm is one of those cities that rewards unhurried exploration. Wander from the cobblestones of Gamla Stan into Södermalm's design shops and cafés, and the city's character starts to reveal itself — considered, quietly confident, never in a rush to impress.

That unhurried quality runs through everything here, including two things I always point travelers toward. The first is the city's design sensibility — Scandinavian minimalism done right, with honest materials, light-filled interiors, and a real harmony between form and function. The second is fika, the Swedish tradition of pausing for coffee and something sweet, less a coffee break than a small daily ritual of connection.

A few things worth knowing before you go:
— Best time to visit: late spring through early autumn (May–September), when daylight lingers well into the evening
— Don't miss: Gamla Stan's old town, Södermalm's design shops and galleries, and time set aside for at least one proper fika
— Good to know: Stockholm is highly walkable, with many of its best experiences concentrated in a compact, easy-to-navigate center

If Stockholm is calling, I'd love to help you plan a visit that does it justice. Reach out at [email protected] or send me a message here.

08/28/2026

One of the questions I get most from clients planning ambitious trips: "What happens if something goes wrong far from home?"

It's a fair question — and one most travel insurance policies answer poorly. Standard policies typically transport you only to the nearest acceptable facility, not necessarily one you'd choose, and not necessarily in your home country. That's the gap MedJet was built to close.

Here's what a MedJet membership actually provides:
— Hospital-to-hospital medical transport if you're hospitalized 150+ miles from home, domestic or international
— Transfer to the home-country hospital you select — not the nearest one
— Coverage regardless of medical necessity, decided between you and your physician
— No monetary limits, no claim forms, all-expenses-paid transport
— 24/7 assistance, arranged bedside to bedside

For anyone who travels frequently, travels solo, or simply wants to close the gap that standard travel insurance leaves open, this is a layer of protection worth understanding. I recommend it to clients regularly, and I'm glad to talk through whether it makes sense for your travel plans.

Reach out anytime at [email protected] — happy to answer questions.

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08/26/2026

A few weeks ago, a free weekend in Paris turned into a scramble I'd happily do again: chasing down a single ticket to *La Traviata* at the Arena di Verona — one of the oldest and most spectacular open-air opera venues in the world — on opening weekend of the summer season. I found one. Center section, row 18, on the aisle.

It's the kind of trip that only comes together with the right approach, and it's exactly the kind of travel Bella Adventures specializes in. Our clients attend the Olympics, Wimbledon, Grand Prix races, La Tomatina, the Venice Carnival, and more — and there's real strategy behind securing a seat at events like these once dates are set and demand is high.

On the blog this week, I'm sharing our research order for booking major event travel:
— Flights and trains first — expect premium pricing near the event, and consider airports a little further out
— Accommodations next — vetted marketplaces or a hotel brand you trust, especially when locals are renting out their homes
— The ticket last, once you know what you're working with

- Plus notes on ground transportation, securing your itinerary early, and why Cancel For Any Reason insurance is worth considering for high-stakes event travel.

Read the full playbook on the blog, or reach out directly — we'd love to help you plan your next one.

A few weeks ago, I got lucky. Traveling to Verona in northern Italy to visit the most iconic, outdoor, and definitely one of the oldest venues in the world to see fully staged, magnificently produced operas, the Arena of Verona, has long been on my bucket list. Despite crisscrossing Europe dozens of

08/24/2026

Paris has no shortage of beautiful hotels. Very few of them are also living history.

Cour des Vosges occupies a 17th-century private mansion — the former Hôtel de Montbrun — set directly on Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris. Henry IV commissioned the square in the early 1600s as an engagement gift for his son, Louis XIII, and it has anchored the Marais ever since.

The hotel itself holds just twelve rooms and suites, which is part of what makes it so remarkable. This isn't a property built for scale — it's built for intimacy. A few details worth knowing:
— Original hand-painted beam ceilings, some reaching nearly five meters high
— Centuries-old terracotta floors, carefully preserved rather than replaced
— A design pairing of Louis XIII-era architecture with 1970s-inspired furnishings
— An art collection curated by gallerist Amélie du Chalard, woven throughout the property
— A private Roman bath and an intimate tea room downstairs

It's the kind of property that rewards curiosity — the kind of stay where the building itself is part of the experience, not just the backdrop for it.

If you're planning a trip to Paris and want a base that feels less like a hotel and more like stepping into someone's beautifully layered private residence, I'd love to help you plan it.

Reach out anytime at [email protected].

08/23/2026

Viking has just launched a new itinerary through Scandinavia, and it's one I've been waiting to see on the calendar: Scandinavian Discovery, an 8-day sail from Oslo to Stockholm, running in 2027.

This route was clearly designed by someone who understands that the Baltic rewards patience. Rather than rushing between capitals, it lingers in the places most itineraries skip past — and it gives Stockholm, the region's most layered city, a full overnight to be properly explored.

The route:
— Oslo, Norway — home to Edvard Munch and a coastline of quiet fjords
— Gothenburg, Sweden — maritime history and the sweeping Älvsborg Bridge
— Copenhagen, Denmark — Amalienborg Palace, colorful waterfront rowhouses, and the Little Mermaid
— Karlskrona, Sweden — a UNESCO-listed naval town most travelers never make it to
— Gotland (Visby), Sweden — a medieval walled city on Sweden's largest island
— Mariehamn, Åland Islands — an archipelago of 6,700 islands, best explored by land or sea
— Stockholm, Sweden — an overnight stay, with time enough for Gamla Stan's 13th-century streets and beyond

Four countries. Six guided tours. Eight days that move at the pace this region deserves.

If you've been thinking about the Baltic — or know it's time to put a proper Scandinavian sail on the calendar — reach out and let's talk through 2027 dates. [email protected]

08/20/2026

Autumn in the Lake District takes on a different rhythm this year. From October 23 through November 20, the Cumbria Dark Skies Festival transforms the region into one of the best places in England to experience a truly dark night sky — no city glow, no light pollution, just the Milky Way overhead.

The festival program includes:
— Guided stargazing walks across the fells
— Night-time canoeing on Coniston Water
— Dark sky photography sessions for all skill levels
— Astronomy talks and moonlit outdoor experiences

I can build a trip around it — a cosy fell-side base, evenings timed to the clearest skies, and dinners that make the cold nights feel worth it.

If a quieter, starlit escape sounds like your kind of autumn, reach out and I'll help you plan it: [email protected]

08/07/2026

Don't Skip Verona

Why Verona, you ask? Let's start with Arena di Verona — a 1st-century open-air amphitheater that still hosts some of the most breathtaking opera experiences on the planet — then add in the medieval and Renaissance architecture built during the Della Scala era, the frescoed buildings ringing Piazza delle Erbe, and Castelvecchio's fortress walls. Even the streets tell a story: much of Verona is paved in pink limestone and marble, fossilized sea creatures included, so every walk becomes a small excavation.

And then there's the w**e. Verona is the gateway to Valpolicella, which means Amarone and Ripasso are never far from your glass.

Opera season runs mid-June through early September, and if you can plan around it, do — opera fan or not, it's an experience unlike anything else. We stay at Vista Verona, we always spend more than we mean to on Amarone at Bottega Vini, and between performances at the Arena, we're usually wandering Palazzo Maffei or catching a Spritz on a boat around Lake Garda. That's simply how we like to do Verona — yours might look different, and that's exactly the point.
It's the perfect time to start planning for the 2027 opera season — reach out and let's build your Verona itinerary together.

📧 [email protected]