Mykonos: A Private Tour, a Hidden Cat Sanctuary, and Why Having a Plan on a Busy Port Day Changes Everything
I have been to Mykonos multiple times. I love it. And I was worried that a port day there on the busiest day of the month at that port was going to feel like retreading old ground in a crowd. It did not. A private tour with a guide named Fotis took us to a hidden cat sanctuary, a bakery owned by his friend, and every non-tourist corner of an island I thought I already knew. Then I got my septum pierced, none of my cards worked, and we ended up at a bar called Duck making a friend we are still following on Instagram.
Chania, Crete: Freddo Cappuccinos, a Pork Platter, and the Best Port Shopping of the Trip
Chania was our first port of call on the Disney Dream's Greek Isles itinerary, and I went in with a head start — a TikToker who lives there and gives local recommendations. What followed was the best port shopping of the cruise, a pork platter at a local restaurant that I am still thinking about, Freddo Cappuccinos next to a turtle pond, and a reminder that Crete is worth more than a port day.
Disney Cruise Line in Europe: An Honest Look at the Ship Experience
I have been on multiple Disney cruises and cruised Greece multiple times. This was my first time combining the two — a nine-night sailing on the Disney Dream through the Greek Isles and Malta. I am a Disney adult and a travel advisor who sells DCL, and I want to give you the honest version: what worked, what did not, two active volcanoes on the same morning, and who I actually think this cruise is right for.
Lake Garda: A Castle Wedding, Hugo Spritzes, and a Town That Felt Like a Fairy Tale
The entire reason we went on this three-week European trip was a wedding — my friend Hannah, who I met on the Disney College Program in 2010, was getting married in a castle on Lake Garda. I showed up. What followed was one of the most beautiful stops of the trip: a bilingual ceremony on a cliff with the Dolomites behind it, a bride and groom arriving by boat, the best lasagna I ate in all of Italy, and a drink called the Hugo spritz that I have been ordering ever since.
Verona: Wine, Castle Views, and Why This Was One of My Favorite Stops in Italy
Verona was a logistical stop — the closest train connection to where we needed to be for a wedding at Lake Garda. It turned into one of my favorite destinations of the entire three-week trip. A river bar with a castle view for 35 euros, a wine tour in the Valpolicella region, and an Amarone risotto I am still thinking about. Here is what two days in Verona actually looked like.
Two Days in Venice: A Private Island, Three Islands, and the Best Dessert of the Entire Trip
Venice was not a city I was desperate to visit — it was more of a "I should probably go before it's underwater" situation. I went in with neutral expectations and came out liking it more than I thought I would. A private island hotel, three outer islands, a 86-year-old lacemaker, and a dessert at Harry's Bar that I am still thinking about. Here is what two days in Venice actually looked like.
Dublin Surprised Me (And I Think It'll Surprise You Too)
Dublin is one of those cities that sneaks up on you. I went in with almost no expectations and came out genuinely charmed — by the people, the food and drink scene, and the kind of walkable, unhurried energy that makes a city easy to love. Two nights was not enough. Here is everything I wish I had known before we went.
London for First-Timers: What a Travel Advisor Wants You to Know Before You Go
Two trips to London and counting. A travel advisor breaks down neighborhoods, the Tube, free museums, currency, day trips, and everything first-time visitors need to know before they go.
Paris for First-Timers: What a Travel Advisor Wants You to Know Before You Go
I have been to Paris twice and I leave for my third trip next month. Here is what I actually want first-time visitors to know before they go.