Hand Crafted Travel

02/26/2026

As you may know I don't open my tours to the public very often — most of my trips are private, purpose-built for specific clients. But I currently have two seats available on an upcoming Portugal tour.

The group is small by design — six passengers maximum — which means unhurried mornings, tables at restaurants that don't accommodate buses, and the kind of trip where everyone actually gets to know each other. Portugal is the destination right now for a reason: stunning scenery, extraordinary food and wine, warm locals, and prices that still make you feel like you've discovered a secret.

If you've been thinking about Portugal this might be your moment. More details here:

This guided tour of Portugal is small by design — six passengers maximum — which means unhurried mornings, tables at restaurants that don't accommodate buses, and the kind of trip where everyone actually gets to know each other. Portugal is the destination right now for a reason: stunning scener...

11/11/2025

Last stop on our last tour of the year. Scenes from our days exploring the Eternal City.

I’ve spent more time in Rome than just about any place in Europe, with more than 80 visits over the past 30+ years. Its actually the first place I visited on my very first trip to Europe more than 40 years ago, arriving after an air traffic controllers strike, a refueling diversion to Edinburgh, a flight on Kenya Airlines, and a wild late night taxi ride from the airport to the city center…but that’s a tale for another time.

11/08/2025

Along with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, another benefit of traveling later in the year is getting to experience the olive harvest. We visited a small olive oil mill near Montalcino to witness the entire production process, and tasted fresh, unfiltered olive oil. It was spicy!

11/07/2025

You just never know what you’ll come across when traveling…

In Vancouver earlier this year I arrived during an Anime convention, to hundreds of people dressed as their favorite characters (human and otherwise).

It was Déjà vu when I arrived in Lucca during the annual Comics and Games convention.

11/06/2025

After the Italian Riviera we’re off to fabulous Florence. We made a quick stop in Carrara for a look at the marble quarries, then plunged into the birthplace of the Renaissance.

11/03/2025

A great day in the villages of the Cinque Terre. Traveling late in the year the crowds were definitely less than they were when I was here in the spring.

10/29/2025

Rain dripping off Renaissance balconies, crowds huddled under archways, and St. Mark’s Square transformed into the world’s most magnificent puddle – this is Venice doing its moody, atmospheric thing.

We spent the morning in St. Mark’s Basilica, where Byzantine gold mosaics glitter regardless of weather – though the acqua alta-proof walkways were a hint that Venice is quite used to getting its feet wet.

Then shuffled into the Doge’s Palace, where gilded ceilings and Tintoretto masterpieces are infinitely more impressive than a soggy map.

Turns out, rainy Venice has its own magic. Fewer tourists, dramatic skies, and the sound of water literally everywhere. Just invest in decent shoes and embrace it.

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10/28/2025

When in Italy…

10/28/2025

Verona is one of my favorite stops in northern Italy, whether for an afternoon or – preferably – for a few days. This city doesn’t try too hard, which is exactly why it works. Sure, everyone’s here for the Romeo and Juliet balcony (spoiler: it’s mobbed and underwhelming), but stick around and you’ll find a city that’s got Roman ruins, world-class wine bars, and approximately zero tourists elbowing you out of the way at aperitivo hour.

The amphitheater in Piazza Bra is genuinely jaw-dropping—imagine the Colosseum’s cooler, better-preserved cousin. Wander across the river to Ponte Pietra for sunset views that’ll make you forget all about that overrated balcony. And please, do yourself a favor: order a bottle of local Valpolicella, grab a table at an osteria in the backstreets, and just… exist for a while.

Verona’s the kind of place that rewards slow mornings and long lunches. Less touristy than Venice, less frantic than Florence, but every bit as charming.

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10/24/2025

We kicked off our last tour of the year with a three-day stay at a grand, 19th century hotel on Lake Garda. Spenta day cruising across Lake Garda’s impossibly blue waters, wind in my non-existent hair and not a single regret about skipping the crowded shoreline roads. Glided past lemon groves and pastel villages clinging to the mountainside before docking at Sirmione—basically a medieval castle dropped onto a narrow peninsula.

Wandered the cobbled streets, treated myself to gelato while perched on ancient ramparts watching boats bob below. The thermal springs give the whole peninsula a slightly sulfuric smell, which sounds terrible but somehow adds to the charm.

Back on the water for a lazy afternoon ride back to the hotel. Lake Garda from a boat? Peak Italian living. No roads, no timetables, just water and sunshine and the occasional Aperol spritz.

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10/22/2025

We finished off our France tour with four days in Provence. Using Saint-Rémy as a base we visited the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard, and the beautifully preserved Roman theater at Orange followed by wine tasting at Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Another day was spent in the villages of the Luberon, with a visit to the Cistercian abbey at Senanque.

Wednesday is market day in Saint-Rémy, one of the best outdoor markets in France. We also visited the monastery/psychiatric hospital where Van Gogh spent a year receiving treatment, as well as the artist village of Les Baux.