• Underwater cycling on aqua bikes. Perched on a white seat, you descend slowly as the hydraulic platform of the pontoon boat you ride out to the spot lowers us into the waves – the warm, tropical waters gradually creeping up to your bikini tops. Once in the water, spot the coral gardens looming ahead – tree-like elk horn corals and cauliflower corals, dappled by shafts of sunlight piercing through the blue. Your guides, point out a starfish 30 centimeters (1 foot) in diameter, a parrot fish hovering over an undulating welcome mat of hot-pink anemone, and what looks suspiciously like a shark shooting out from under a craggy outcrop and disappearing into the murk.
• Aqua safari via helmet dive. This enterprise involves donning a cubed yellow-and-white helmet that keeps your head completely dry as you descend a ladder to the sandy ocean floor. Feet clad in rubbery boots, walk in slow motion through craggy outcrops of coral and lengths of seaweed fluttering in the currents, feeling like a puppet as you carefully lift one foot and then the other, hands buoyed and bobbing at waist level.
• Snorkeling in Bora Bora’s coral reefs. Bora Bora’s famed coral reef, which encircles the island and is accessible within 15 minutes by speedboat, has some of the best snorkeling in the world. Home to approximately 700 species of tropical fish, Coral Garden is our first stop, followed by a few other choice locations known to the crew. Slipping into the water, our guide coaxes curious moray eels from their hiding places and points out the distinctive diamond shapes of manta and eagle rays gliding through the blue.  You won't believe the feel of the manta rays and how exciting it is to swim with them.
  
• Island cruises and fresh seafood. Learn that Bora Bora’s outer ring of reef and motu (small reef islets) makes its calm lagoon waters ideal for exploration by kayak or paddle board, and private boat tours abound. You can book a 23-foot Jeanneau Cap Camarat motorboat, a trimaran, a catamaran, a pontoon boat or an aluminum Quintrex boat perfect for a small group, and most excursions include a picnic on a private beach.  This was definitely my favorite!!!  We chartered a small yacht and were treated to the most relaxing day I could ever imagine, ate barbequed fish fresh from the side of the boat, and our hosts sang the sweetest tunes while dancing to show their gratitude to us for visiting. 
  
• Swimming with sharks. Saving the biggest thrill for last. Adventurous streak notwithstanding, you get the willies at the idea of being a few meters away from sharks in a feeding frenzy, then you can opt for a purely observational excursion. Even so, there’s something about dipping into cooler, deeper water and being surrounded by dozens of these sleek, mysterious animals that makes your breath catch in your throat. When you immediately spot a large lemon shark below striped continuously by the black and gray bodies of reef sharks cruising above it. As I take a deep breath and dive down, I see another, and another. You are enmeshed within a sliding grid of curving, muscular bodies. Exhilarating right?   This absolutely FREAKED me out, but I did it-conquer your fears right?  I was definitely making sure I saw the black tipped tail.

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• ITALY is ALWAYS a DELICOUS Idea
  
  Who's ready for a visit to ITALY? It's always a great time to go to Italy!!   
   
  WARNING:  You will have an urgent desire to visit ITALY  soon . . . and when you do, we would LOVE to plan every detail for you (including free time, of course).  Keep reading if bespoke ITALY speaks to you, making an ITALY trip even more MAGICAL.
   
  Earlier this month, I was delighted to travel through Italy's #Veneto region.  The Veneto is the region that houses Venice--brimming with delizioso dishes. Renaissance villas, undiscovered lakes and Alpine views . . . 
  
   
  If you mention FOOD to Italians, they'll wax poetically about grandma's Sunday suppers.  Sooner or later, they'll also tell you "Visit Veneto".  They're right.  From pumpkin risotto to hand-carved cheese wheels.  I was treated to a bounty of flavors here.
   
  The Veneto is a land of slow food, famous for dishes that took centuries to perfect:
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  Cheese, aged up to 20 months!
• Prosciutto cured for up to 2 years
• Bubbly prosecco grown on green hills
• Red wine, made like the Romans did
• Risotto with local cheese and slow broth
  
  
    
  During my tour, I went behind-the-scenes (and you can too) where they make these foods the old-fashioned way. I tasted time-tested recipes, listening as locals explained the artistry behind their products.  Outside of Venice --often overlooked by tourists - lies the Valpolicella wine region (my fav).  Green hills, ancient vineyards and millennia of wine know-how fuse in this one place.
   
   
   
   
  In Valpolicella, you can taste amarone wine -- a varietal first perfected by the Ancient Romans.  That's right, this wine has been in production for century after century . . . not just a generation or two.  The grapes are left on the vine long after others have been plucked.  In fact, the wine is only made once the grapes are well on their way to becoming raisins.  The result?  A wine that is rich and robust.
   
   
   

Once you've toured the Veneto's wine region, you can head to the nearby Lake Garda for an unforgettable lunch.  The water here -- let me tell you --lies somewhere between blue and green, a shimmering gem crowned in Renaissance villas.  From the shores of Garda,you can board a private boat.  With your local captain, you'll explore local towns and hidden coves -- experiencing Italy, not as a tourist, but as an Italian might.

This was one stunning area.  Why be a tourist when you can explore the ITALY you didn't even know existed?

Since it is the mission of  VIP Travel Experience to take you BEYOND the highlights for bespoke or unique EXPERIENCES, stay tuned for more little secrets of Italy.  

I can't wait to share more of Veneto with you, it was an honor to explore this gorgeous region of Italy and find more little secrets to share with you!

• Sneak into to see a private art collection (not open to the public)

• A private, personalized excursion with a local tour guide to take you to the most interesting sites of Veneto to discover the mom and pop restaurants and Renaissance areas you've always to see, or some you may not have heard of.
  

• An unforgettable, simply magical night in a Castle.

• A Michelin dinner that reminded me of the waltz
• Private driver through gorgeous Veneto countryside.  You will absolutely LOVE it and feel like you stepped back in time  

So depending on how much time you have and how far you want to stray from Venice, Rome, Florence . . .  don't miss out on the many little hidden gems of Italy.

• Click here for more inspiration and ideas for a travel inspired life. 

Would you rather go TO a country, or THROUGH a country?

1. It is as close to hassle-free as you can get. There are no lines to get on or off the boat and, when you arrive at your next stop, you can usually walk right off and be immersed in your destination. Europe grew up along its rivers, so there are some very charming and interesting small towns and big cities to explore. Very few ports require bus transfers, which makes it easy to come and go at your leisure. (And I personally LOVE the option of using bikes from the ship to bike around town).  The trip can be totally all-inclusive, depending on the cruise line and ship you have chosen. I had the great pleasure to experience a 7-day cruise on the Rhone River last March with AMA River Cruises and my bill at check-out was $50, to cover a massage I splurged on. And those of you who know me, know that I had at least a couple glasses of wine  during the awesome week (Ahem!)...AMA even includes first class shore excursions in every port, airport transfers, and Wi-Fi.   Some of the cruise lines even have butlers which you are not allowed to tip . . . imagine your coffee being delivered or breakfast every morning while you are admiring the beauty of castles and vineyards from your stateroom!
   
   I am a HUGE fan of independent travel, but this is definitely a great choice for the convenience!!  Imagine that you see multiple villages or countries but you only UNPACK once!!!  You can shower and dine while in route to your next village or country.  I never tired of seeing the variety & beauty as we cruised down the Rhone River.
   
   
2. The boats are smaller and more intimate (100-170 passengers) so you can actually get to know your fellow guests and not feel like you are being herded along like cattle...You may eat with whom you choose each evening and have a choice of a few onboard dining venues for variety.   We especially enjoyed the experience at the Chef's Table Restaurant (3 tables).  AMA Waterways is the only river cruise to be part of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs, a culinary society. 
3. Being on the river, there are no waves, so seasickness is not an issue.   Also, most cruises include transferring through a series of “locks” to accommodate the changes in elevation, which most people find super interesting to watch. (I was so geeked out with this pastime that I was usually late to dinner because I couldn't miss one of them).  You can literally touch the walls of the locks from your balcony as you pass through! Evening entertainment can be a little sparse, not the lively entertainment of an ocean cruise, but there is always live music in the lounge (I can neither confirm, nor deny that someone hijacked the mic and jam box to really LIVEN the crowd), lots of movies and entertainment on your in-cabin TVs and most cruise lines bring on local entertainers in some ports, such as an OomPah band in Passau Germany or Gypsy dancers in Budapest. (Personally, I preferred this low key, authentic entertainment).  Plus, there are informative talks on the ports-of-call and cocktails with your newly-made friends from around the world.  We even had wine tastings and wine class on board.
    
   The price tag of a River Cruise can cause a little bit of “sticker shock”, but when you figure out everything you are getting for the cost, it becomes much more manageable, and quite a good value. Viking River Cruises is the most well-known of the River Cruise lines because they spend boatloads (literally) of money on television and print advertising, and they have done a lot to introduce travelers to the River Cruise concept. However, there are many other River Cruise lines with higher customer satisfaction rates and more complimentary inclusions just waiting to show you the time of your lives as well. A travel agent who specializes in European River cruising (like me!) and who has actually experienced a cruise and has relationships with the sales reps from all the different lines can be incredibly valuable in helping you sort through all of the options and find the perfect fit!
   
   River cruising is also a great option for small groups of friends, family or even work colleagues who would like to travel together ....whenever I book a River Cruise, I always ask if there is anyone who might want to join you on the trip....most times at least 1 or 2 additional couples come forward! Who would you like to sip champagne with as you cruise through the incredible Wachau Valley in Austria’s wine country?
   
   
   So, if you think you are finished with the hairy chest contests and waiting in line with 3998 of your new best friends on the Ocean cruise megaships, why not give River Cruising a try? 96% of first time River Cruisers say they would recommend the experience to a friend!  VIP Travel Experience is authorized to sell all the lines and we would love to help match you (and your friends) to the perfect experience! Get on board the “civilized” River Cruise movement! I know I am already planning my next one!   
   
   But don't take just my word for it, DISNEY even chose AMA Waterways to host their Adventures by Disney cruises.  AND we all know the high standards Disney imposes.
    
   Click here for more inspiration and ideas for a travel inspired life.