Lindsey Markwood Magic

12/23/2025

12/19/2025

I send many of my clients to the beautiful coasts of the Mediterranean every year. Some on private yachts, others onboard larger cruises, and the rest a land trip combining a few different coastal cities. And yes, those trips are bucket list destinations.

But for those who have "done the coast" or are simply looking for a change of pace (and temperature), I want to introduce you to the European Mountain Summer.

It is a completely different energy. It’s not about seeing as much as possible. Instead, it is about slowing down in some of the most spectacular scenery on earth.

Here are some ideas for this summer. And yes, summer 2026 is around the corner in the travel world.

The Swiss Twist: In Gstaad, summer means hiking to a private picnic spot with a curated "fondue backpack" or catching a match at the beach volleyball tournament. It is polished, precise, and incredibly relaxing.

Chamonix Culture: This is a great spot for those who love music and more specially jazz music. The Chamonix Jazz Festival (July 20-25, 2026) combined with boutique shopping and glacier views offers a sophisticated alternative to the beach clubs.

The Other Italian Food Scene: Yes, we all love a seaside pasta, but the Dolomites also offer Michelin starred dining, but in a high altitude. It is a culinary focused side of Italy with a touch of coziness and a rustic atmosphere that many miss.

Slovenia’s Secret: For a quieter, luxury experience, Lake Bohinj in the Julian Alps can be the perfect spot to unplug completely.

Whether you crave the salty air of the Adriatic or the fresh breeze of the Alps, Summer 2026 is booking now.

Looking forward to planning your mountain European vacation soon!

12/17/2025

Croatia is currently one of the most sought after destinations in Europe, but something to consider is that how you see it matters just as much as where you go.

The "quintessential" experience looks different for everyone. No two vacations I plan are exactly the same. For some travelers they love the privacy and changing horizons each day on a private yacht charter. For others, it is the culinary and architectural immersion of a luxury land tour that is perfect for them.

My advice? Don’t feel like you have to choose.

I build itineraries that seamlessly blend both worlds. Imagine spending three days exploring coastal vineyards and ancient walls by land, followed by four days of island-hopping on your own crewed yacht.

Take a peek at the possibilities waiting for you in our latest curated guide.

Be enchanted on the Adriatic

12/12/2025

I was reading the industry news this morning and saw something that made me smile. (side note: that happens a lot). I digress.

Avalon Waterways just announced they are adding significantly more Christmas Market sailings for 2026 because the demand is simply that high.

It got me thinking about why these specific trips are resonating so much with us right now. We spend so many years creating the magic for everyone else. We do the shopping, the wrapping, the cooking, and the hosting. It is wonderful, but it is also exhausting.
A river cruise offers the complete opposite experience.
Imagine stepping onto a boutique ship that feels more like a floating hotel (but it comes with entertainment onboard). You unpack your bags exactly one time.

Instead of going online to Amazon searching for hours like everybody else, you are docked right in the heart of a medieval village in Germany or Austria where you can find unique homemade items.

Instead of cooking a massive dinner, you are walking through a town square that looks like a living snow globe, holding a warm mug of mulled wine (which is delicious if you ask me), and smelling all the freshly baked goods.

Then you walk back to your ship, warm up, and have a gourmet dinner served to you while castles and the peace of the river drift by.

It is not just a vacation. It is permission to let someone else handle the holiday magic for a change and it is wonderful.

If you have ever thought about skipping the holiday stress to see the lights on the Danube or the Rhine, 2026 looks like it will be an incredible year to do it.

Tell me in the comments: What is your favorite holiday tradition that you would never want to give up? (Or is there one you would happily trade for a week on the river?)

12/12/2025

What do you enjoy the most about being on vacation?

12/11/2025

If 2026 is a milestone year for you (like a big anniversary, a major birthday ending with a zero, or somebody in your family is graduating), please know that you are not alone! My second biggest request right now is for European adventures for milestone celebrations.

I continue to see a shift away from stuff and more toward experiences. Travelers are looking for memories with their loved ones like cooking classes in Italy, learning about art at the Louvre, sunsets in the Greek Isles, or the sense of awe taking in the beauty of the castles and cathedrals.

Pro Tip: Land based trips to Europe require more lead time than the Caribbean. However, ocean and river cruises should both be booked as soon as possible. If you are dreaming of a romantic Rhine river cruise, fresh croissants in Paris, or having tea in London this summer, we need to start talking about that now.

Who is celebrating something big in 2026 or 2027? Tell me what it is in the comments!

📷: Uniworld River cruise ship on the Danube River.

12/10/2025

I am getting more excited by the minute. Viking just sent over the latest details for my upcoming sailing on the Viking Ve in March 2026 before the ASTA river cruise expo!

I’ll be embarking in Amsterdam along with two of my good TA friends. I cannot wait to share my experiences through Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, and Dordrecht.

I’m taking this trip to experience the ship first-hand so I can help you plan the perfect river journey with confidence AND to get to know the Viking brand even better than I already do.

👇Tell me below: What is ONE question you’ve always had about river cruising that I can answer for you while I am onboard?

Whether it’s about the stateroom storage, the dining options, or just what the vibe is really like, etc. Let me know in the comments and I will find out.

12/02/2025

Happiness is when I press "send" on a proposal, knowing that I have hidden a few surprises inside that are going to make my clients’ day (or maybe week!)

I was finalizing a multi-city European itinerary, and I remembered a small comment the mom made about her daughter’s unique passion. It was not the main focus of the trip, but I knew I could make it special.

So I did what I do best. I did some digging and found two incredible "hidden gems" in Europe that cater exactly to that interest. What I love the most, these are not places you find on a generic "Top 10" list. They are perfect just for this family. Eeek! (Can you see me smiling over here?)

That is the best part of my job: taking the things you love and weaving them into your journey and make it truly unique for you and your travel party.

Tell me: When you travel, do you stick to the main sights, or do you like hunting for hidden gems related to your hobbies? Or maybe it is a bit of both.

Happy Travel Tuesday Markwood Magic travelers.

12/02/2025

What are you hoping to get on "travel tuesday"? New luggage? Booking that river cruise on the Danube you have been dreaming about (with Markwood Magic's help of course)? New travel purse? That trip to Iceland that is on the TOP of your bucket list (oh, and I have some awesome suppliers for Iceland)? Deciding that next year for Thanksgiving we should do a group cruise in the Caribbean (love this idea..like a lot)? So I want to know. What is on your mind for Travel Tuesday?

11/29/2025

Budapest still holds my top spot for best city in Europe to visit! I have been twice. Once with my husband as a pre-river cruise stay (we cruised on Riverside Mozart) and once with some of my TA friends as a post-river cruise stay (we cruised on Emerald Luna). Both were fantastic stays and I would 100% do it again.

11/22/2025

Its been a busy month of booking couples cruises. Just this week I booked a HONEYMOON cruise with Royal Caribbean this winter that includes a stop in Belize, a couple cruise's out of TEXAS also with Royal Caribbean, and a friends group out San Juan onboard Virgin Voyage. Each of these cabins had at least one person who was a repeat traveler which makes my heart so happy.

11/10/2025

What is that one city that you could visit over and over and over again?