Jim Bast Travel Advisor Dream Vacations

01/11/2025

10/14/2024

Breathless Moments: Princeville Golf Course Sunset Tour

On the north side of the Hawaiian island of Kauai sits the planned vacation community of Princeville. This area is breathtakingly beautiful as lush green mountains plunge to the ocean. The Princeville community is built around the Makai Golf Course recognized as one of the best Public Golf Courses in the United States. So, when I heard that they offered a Sunset Golf Course Tour I thought I’d check it out.
Makai is the Hawaiian word for “to the sea” and the golf course has a spectacular setting with holes perched on cliffs hundreds of feet about the Pacific Ocean all framed by the volcanic ridges in the distance. Space on the tour is limited but we were able to reserve a spot by calling the club house the morning of the tour. There is only 1 tour each evening and the start time varies based upon the time of sunset. All participates meet at the club house 15 minutes before start time. You are welcome to bring whatever snacks or beverages you wish (each cart has a small cooler) or you can buy items at the club house. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours.

The tour guide is one of the club pros. He gives you a run down of the flora and fauna in the area. He points out the Hawaiian Goose or Nene. It’s the rarest goose in the world but is all over the place in Princeville. The course offers many striking vistas and photo ops but the highlight is the Par 3 seventh hole which is one of the most stunning locations in the world to witness the sunset.

The cost of the tour is $120 for 1 car with 2 people.

05/19/2024

Breathless Moments: Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein is the fairytale castle you see on nearly every travel poster for Germany. Set in the Bavarian Alps about 2 hours from Munich it is one of the most visited attractions in Germany. Prior to my visit I had read a lot of reviews saying it was kind of contrived and hardly worth the tour. So I had my guard up and was ready to be underwhelmed. But I must say from my point of view it was well worth the time and fully qualifies as a Breathless Moment.
We were in Munich a couple of days as a leadup to our Danube cruise. We elected to do the trip as part of a full day tour with local tour company Mentor Reisen. It is possible to reach Neuschwanstein on your own using a combination of trains and busses but Mentor provides a much more relaxing experience with a English-speaking guide. Most importantly, getting tickets for the castle tour can be tricky with required time slots and advanced pickup times. Mentor eliminates all that, you just buy your tickets on the bus (cash only) and have a guaranteed time.
Now its true that the castle is not medieval but was built king Ludwig II in the 1800s and, was still under construction when he died, so no one ever really lived there. That said the place is really cool. First off, the setting is Spectacular. I guess if you’re King you can choose the best building site. The castle sits high atop a hill with views across a beautiful valley with mountain lakes and the snowcapped Alps on the horizon. The best view of the castle is from Mary’s Bridge. The bridge is named for Ludwig’s mother (Queen Mary) and crosses 270 feet above a gorge uphill from the castle. You can reach the bridge by hiking up an access road but be warned it is very steep. There is a shuttle bus for a fee that drops you off above the bridge from which you can walk down to the bridge and ultimately the castle.
Up close the castle truly is imposing and you have to wonder how they pulled this off even in the 1800s. Inside it is clear Ludwig was trying to make it look very medieval. I snapped a quick picture of the throne room even though pictures inside the castle are strongly discouraged. Views from the castle to the valley are awesome. But be forewarned the castle tour has lots of stairs and considering how much you had to walk to get there you will get a workout.
The little village below has several good restaurants and is at least pleasant with a number of places to sit to take in the ambiance. My Mentor tour included a visit to another of Ludwig's palaces Linderhof which I’ll save for a later posting. To contact Mentor Reisen for tour information see www.mentor-reisen.de.

02/21/2024

Breathless Moments: Ostia Antica

Rome, the Eternal City. For most Americans planning a trip to Europe, Rome is at the top of the list and for good reason. There are many iconic sites in Rome. But I’d like to recommend one you’ve probably never heard of; Ostia Antica.

During the Roman Empire when Rome was the capital of the Western World, Ostia Antica was Rome’s port on the Mediterranean Sea. (Rome is actually 15 miles inland). Much of the trade destine for the capital by sea went through Ostia. As Rome declined Osita was pretty much deserted and consigned to be forgotten.

The benign neglect turned out to be a windfall as the town was left to be “discovered” in the late 20th century pretty much intact. There are Temples and Baths, a full Roman Theater, Stables, even a residential area where multi room houses are clearly visible. One building has some of the original frescos showing that was an eating establishment. There is an area called the Square of Guilds were trading took place. Mosaics on its floor attest to the type of trade. All of this allows the visitor to stroll through a Roman town much as it was over two thousand years ago. And with a fraction of the crowds, you’ll inevitably encounter at the top sights in Rome.

Ostia is relatively easy to reach by commuter rail if you want to do this on your own. It takes about 45 minutes. Then I would allow at least ½ a day although you could easily spend a day there.

01/31/2024

Breathless Moments: Delphi
Delphi is a mystical place. Set high in the mountains about a 3-hour drive northeast of Athens it makes for a good day trip. If you do choose to rent a car and drive yourself, as we did, be aware that nearly all the road signs are in Greek.
There is a small but interesting museum adjacent to the ruins. A guide is helpful which can be arranged locally. Just down the road is the town of Delphi for lunch or a drink.
In ancient Greece, Delphi was thought to be the Oracle of Apollo. The priestess would enter a trance from which she could foretell the future. The setting, a bit removed from the crowds of Athens, allows one to feel some of that mystery today.

01/23/2024

Breathless Moments: Lisbon Segway Tour

Lisbon is a beautiful city. Built on hills that slope to Targus river which forms one of the best harbors on this side of the Atlantic the city is crowned by imposing Castelo de S. Jorge. To me Lisbon feels a lot like San Francisco. It even has cable cars. Most of the medieval city was destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. The “Old Town” that remains is the neighborhood of Alfama.

We found that a Segway Tour was the prefect way to explore Alfama’s labyrinth of steep narrow streets. If you’ve never used a Segway it takes some getting used to. Our guides were both encouraging and patient and within about 15 minutes everybody was ready to go. Jeanette opted for the more stable large wheel version. Then we spent the next 2 hours zipping around the narrow walkways while our guides pointed out the sites. All without breaking a sweat.

01/14/2024

Breathless Moments: Santorini
Santorini is widely regarded as the most spectacular of the Greek isles. Santorini is built on the rim of what remains of a volcano that collapsed into the sea. If you’re lucky enough to spend a few nights on this beautiful island, consider accommodations in the town of Imerovigli, just a short taxi ride from the main port of Fira. Here buildings cling to the side of the caldera with a thousand-foot drop to the turquoise blue waters below. Most Inns are small and many have rooms that are literally craved out of the side of the mountain.
Many tourists visit on a cruise but if you can stay a few days there is much to see. Its a walkers paradise with with the Fira to Oia walk; there are many good restaurants and of course the views never get old.

01/05/2024

If you've ever considered an Alaskan Cruise we have a unique opportunity. For the first time Princess will be offering a tour of the Katmai National Park paired with a 7-night Southbound cruise through the inside passage. This tour is a Princess exclusive which includes two nights in Anchorage, where guests have the chance to embark on an intimate bear-watching experience at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. See a part of Alaska most cruisers never see. For more information
https://travefy.com/website/7gfb2jyxujfrnnq3gdrx6n-ywtar32qsq6u5q2

12/31/2023

Breathless Moments: Palace of Knossos

Crete is the largest of Greek Islands. It’s a pity that it is frequently left off of island hopping tours. Rugged and full of history by virtue of its location right in the middle of the Mediterranean there is plenty to see in Crete. Here the Minoan civilization flourished more than 4000 years ago. For a glimpse back into the Minoan civilization visit the Grand Place of Knossos. Greek mythology states that this was the home of Minotaur, a terrifying half man, half bull creature.
The Palace was partially restored starting in the early 1900s by a man named Arthur Evans. His restoration has been the source of some controversy because Evans restored the Palace based on what he "thought" it would have looked like and in doing so may have altered it. I personally feel that it adds to the experience and gives the visitor a better sense of what it would have been like almost 4000 years ago even if we're not sure its completely accurate. For the Purest there are other Minoan sites in Crete less than an hour from Knossos that have been left as excavated allowing one to have both experiences.
Knossos is right outside Heraklion, the largest city in Crete. You can reach Heraklion either by flight or ferry. There are many other beautiful beaches and historical sites on Crete so you could easily spend 3 - 6 days there.