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Travel Reviews, Rants, Advice & Other Dispatches from the Champagne Aisle

Welcome to my corner of the internet where travel isn’t always filtered, the opinions are very much my own, and yes—sometimes the Wi-Fi still doesn’t work, even at the $1,200-a-night resort.

This blog is part postcard, part journal, part gentle (and not-so-gentle) rant space.

And because I’m a former history teacher with opinions (and zero chill when it comes to disinformation), don’t be surprised if a post about Tuscan villas is followed by something on political hypocrisy, historical context, or why it’s time to start reading beyond the headlines.

This is where travel meets the rest of life—with humor, honesty, and the occasional eye-roll.

If you’re into luxury with a wink—and a few strong opinions—you’re in the right place.

Honest reviews of hotels, destinations, and experiences—because not everything that looks good on Instagram is worth your PTO

Practical travel advice that balances smart strategy with a love for the good life

Personal reflections on travel as a way of living, connecting, and sometimes just escaping

Occasional spicy takes on travel trends, tourist behavior, and why some people should not be allowed in business class

The Latest

  • NYC With Marius: Trip Report

    One of our favorite parts of having Marius join our family this year has been sharing our passion for travel with him. With Boston, Florida,…

  • The Luxury Collection New York: Review

    Andrew and Matt took me to New York City and we stayed at the Luxury Collection (LC) Hotel. The LC is a 5-star hotel and…

  • Upcoming Trip: NYC With Marius

    We are excited to take Marius to New York City! Marius made it very clear pretty soon after he arrived that he hoped he would…

  • My Favorite Airport Lounges

    Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to airport lounges. Now that Matt and I are sober and are not particularly big eaters our…

  • The State of Miles and Points in 2025

    A year and a half ago I wrote an introduction to miles and points post and discussed how Matt and I make it look so…

  • 96 Hours in Paris: An Itinerary

    96 Hours in Paris: An Itinerary I recently wrote a similar post about Barcelona and it was very popular so I thought I would do…

  • Sky Princess Review

    Reviewing cruises is challenging as they are floating cities. Activities and amenities appeal to different kinds of people. For example, the quality of the casino…

  • When Refundable Flights Are Worth It

    Originally this was going to be in my email list, but since I do not directly offer flight booking services, I thought it made more…

  • Review: Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale

    The Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale is one of the older luxury hotels located along the beach. When it was built the options in the area…

  • Princess Cruise with Marius

    The purpose of my trip diaries is mostly to serve as a photo dump for me and a list of restaurants and activities we did…

  • Vacationing with Marius

    Family Vacation With Marius! Somehow Marius has been a member of our family for 7 months and we could not be any more lucky to…

  • 96 Hours in Barcelona: An Itinerary

    My best friend and client are going to Barcelona this summer and I thought I would put together my 4 perfect days in Barcelona. Please…