Bella Adventures

09/17/2026

This November, the Paris Opera brings Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung back to the Opéra Bastille — a full four-opera cycle staged by Calixto Bieito and conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado, running November 6 through 22.

For anyone planning a trip around it:
— Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung each run on their own schedule within the festival window
— A companion exhibition, "The Ring Revolution," runs at the Palais Garnier through February, tracing the cultural history behind the tetralogy
— A series of talks with the artistic team is held at venues across the city throughout November

It's a rare opportunity to experience the complete Ring cycle in one of the world's great opera houses — and a wonderful anchor for a longer Paris stay built around music, art, and the season's first cool evenings. If this sounds like your kind of trip, I'd love to help you build it: [email protected]

09/15/2026

Viking's Castles, Vineyards & Villages has long been one of my favorite river itineraries to recommend, and it's back on the 2027 calendar sailing between Amsterdam and Nuremberg.

Seven nights along the Rhine and Main rivers, threading through some of Europe's most storied riverside towns — with the pace only a river cruise can offer, where the scenery changes by the hour and you're never far from your next remarkable stop.

The route:
— Amsterdam, Netherlands — 17th-century canal houses and world-class museums
— Kinderdijk, Netherlands — a UNESCO-listed landscape of 19 windmills
— Cologne, Germany — the soaring Gothic spires of Cologne Cathedral
— Koblenz, Germany — Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, reached by cable car above the Rhine Valley
— Wertheim, Germany — half-timbered villages in the Franconian countryside
— Würzburg, Germany — the Baroque Prince-Bishop's Palace and its frescoed ceilings
— Bamberg, Germany — fairy-tale medieval streets along the Regnitz River
— Nuremberg, Germany — medieval lanes and the Imperial Castle

If castles, vineyards, and villages sound like your kind of week, let's talk through the 2027 sailing dates. [email protected]

09/11/2026

After thirty-five years of travel, I've learned exactly what deserves a spot in my bag — and I've never been one to overpack. But even a light packer spends years hunting for the right gear to make it effortless.

First up in this bag: the Halfday Garment Duffel, and it's the reason packing light doesn't mean giving anything up. It's a simple idea, done really well. Zip the bag one way and it's a garment bag — your suits and dresses hang on reinforced loops and land at your destination wrinkle-free. Zip it the other way and it becomes a duffel, with room for three to four days of clothes, shoes, and toiletries. It's carry-on sized, so there's no checked bag, no baggage claim, no standing around wondering if your suitcase made the connection.

If you've ever wished you could pack for a week in a bag this size, this is the one. It's $128, comes in a handful of great colors, and it's on the Bella Adventures store now!
https://www.bellaadventures.com/the-travel-store

09/10/2026

Traveling internationally is one of life's great pleasures — and the best trips are the ones where the details were handled long before takeoff. Passports, visas, phone plans, payment notifications, what goes in the carry-on versus the suitcase — it adds up, and it's easy to miss something in the last-minute shuffle.

So I put together our full Travel Checklist — the same one I walk my own clients through — covering:
— Travel documents and entry requirements
— Planning essentials (time zones, phone plans, travel advisories)
— What belongs in your carry-on
— Currency and payment prep

Want a copy? Like this post and comment "CHECKLIST" below. I'll send you a link to join our newsletter, and the full checklist will be in your inbox shortly after.
Questions before then?

Reach out anytime at [email protected] — we'd love to be part of your next adventure.

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