Eileen's Escapes, LLC

08/31/2026

🏖️ Happy National Beach Day! 🏖️

There’s just something about a beach day that resets the soul. Warm sunshine, turquoise water, palm trees swaying, and absolutely nowhere you need to be except right where you are. ☀️🌊

And when that beach happens to be on Disney’s private island in The Bahamas? Even better.

Castaway Cay was one of the stops on my Disney Wish cruise last week. From family beaches and snorkeling to bike rides, water activities, and the adults-only Serenity Bay, there’s a little slice of paradise for everyone.

Of course, the hardest part of a Castaway Cay day is hearing that dreaded sentence:

“It’s time to head back to the ship.” 😭😂

So in honor of National Beach Day, tell me…

🌞 What beach would you LOVE to have your toes in the sand at right now?

Mine? I wouldn’t mind being right back here. 💙

08/27/2026

There are regular churros and and then there are MICKEY CHURROS AT SEA. 🐭✨

What’s the quickest way to make someone ridiculously happy? Take a churro, make it Mickey-shaped, and serve it to them on a Disney cruise. 🚢

It’s the little things, people. 😂

And yes, Mickey Churro Day absolutely deserves to be celebrated. Consider this my official participation. 🙋‍♀️

Follow me for more Disney Cruise tips!

08/23/2026

POV: My passport watching me book another flight like, “Girl…we JUST got home.” 😂✈️

At this point, unpacking is really just an unnecessary middle step.

Follow along to see where I’m going.

08/22/2026

Let’s talk about French pharmacies. If you know, you KNOW. 🫣

Last month in Paris, I popped into Pharmacie Monge Notre Dame and clearly lost all sense of restraint. 😂 French pharmacies are almost an attraction all their own. You’ll find shelves filled with French skincare, sunscreens, hair care, beauty products and everyday health items, including brands and formulations you may not commonly see back home.

☀️ The sun and I are frenemies so my main mission was to get all the good sunscreen. Did you know European sunscreens are widely considered superior than US ones because the EU regulates them as cosmetics rather than drugs? This means the formulations have more advanced UV filters that offer better sun protection.

And the prices are so GOOD! We’re talking half off or more for equivalent products you would pay for in the US. Plus Pharmacie Monge had many items on sale too. Savings!!

PRO TIP: Don’t forget your passport if you’re planning on a big shopping haul. Eligible purchases that meet the minimum required amount at a participating retailer may qualify for a VAT refund. The store will need your passport information to prepare the tax-free paperwork, so don’t leave it back at the hotel. Because saving a little money on your French pharmacy haul obviously means you can buy more French pharmacy products. That’s just travel math. 🤑

💚 So next time you find yourself in France, look for the GREEN CROSS! You’ll see these glowing green pharmacy signs all over. And you don’t have to visit a famous pharmacy or a particular store to experience a French pharmacy. See the green cross? Go on in!

Need travel planning help for Paris? Let’s talk. [email protected]

Now tell me: Have you ever done a French pharmacy haul? And what’s the ONE product you’d tell me I absolutely need to buy next time?

08/16/2026

It’s National Relaxation Day, and while I love a great sightseeing itinerary, not every minute of a vacation needs to be filled.

Sometimes the best part of a trip is the morning with nowhere to be.
📖 Reading by the pool
🌊 Sitting by the ocean listening to the waves
☕ Lingering over coffee with a beautiful view
💆‍♀️ Booking the spa treatment
😴 Taking that glorious afternoon nap

We spend so much of everyday life rushing from one thing to the next. Your vacation doesn’t have to feel the same way.

So today’s travel reminder: Leave a little room in the itinerary for absolutely nothing. You might be surprised how much you enjoy it. ❤️

08/10/2026

📚✨ Happy Book Lovers Day! ✨📚

There are bookstores and then there are bookstores that feel like a destination all their own.

Last time I was in Paris I missed out on visiting the legendary Shakespeare and Company⁠ bookshop, so it was one of my must-dos on this trip. Tucked along the Seine directly across from Notre-Dame, you’ll usually find a line of book lovers and travelers alike waiting to wander through the various book rooms.

Since 1951, this iconic shop has welcomed writers to actually sleep among the books. Known as “Tumbleweeds,” more than 30,000 writers and artists have stayed there over the years. Three things are asked of each Tumbleweed: read a book a day, help at the shop for a few hours a day, and produce a one-page autobiography. How wonderfully Parisian is that?! 🇫🇷

PRO TIP: And if you visit, don’t miss the special Shakespeare and Company bookshop stamp! The shop offers its signature stamp for books purchased there, turning an ordinary book into the BEST Paris souvenir. Of course, I couldn’t leave without buying a book (and their famous tote bag). Now every time I open my copy of The Midnight Train I can reminisce about my trip to Paris! 📖

This is exactly why I love travel so much. Sometimes the best souvenirs aren’t things you simply bring home. They’re things that bring you back. ❤️

Have you ever heard of Shakespeare and Company? It’s even been featured in a couple of films.

08/09/2026

08/07/2026

I’m grateful when I have the opportunity to share my perspective in travel industry publications, and this topic couldn’t be more relevant right now. (Link to article in comments)

If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably seen stories about unusually low water levels on parts of the Rhine and Danube. While some itineraries have been adjusted this summer, it’s important to remember that river cruise lines have extensive contingency plans in place. These include ship swaps, modified routes, and alternative transportation, all designed to keep your vacation moving while prioritizing safety and the guest experience.

Having just returned from my own European river cruise, I experienced once again why I love this style of travel so much. These journeys are about so much more than the ship. They’re about wandering through storybook villages, meeting locals, tasting incredible food and wine, and enjoying the heart of Europe. Even when Mother Nature throws a curveball, the destination and the experience are still worth it.

That’s why working with a knowledgeable travel advisor matters. When situations like this arise, I’m here to help set expectations, answer questions, and guide my clients every step of the way.

Ready to see what makes river cruising so special? Let’s chat about planning your own unforgettable journey through Europe.
[email protected]

07/22/2026

🚫 Stop putting your phone directly in the TSA bin.

Those bins aren’t cleaned between every traveler. Before your phone landed there, it could have held loose change, dirty shoes, used tissues… even a dropped pacifier. 😳

Instead, place your phone inside your carry-on, backpack, or jacket pocket before sending it through the scanner. It’s cleaner, more secure, and one less thing to juggle on the other side.