Melanie Goodwin's Travel Blog

European Christmas Markets: River Cruise or Do It Yourself? 🎄

An unforgettable Danube Christmas market river cruise inspired this post, which weighs the ease and cost of cruising against a DIY rail-and-hotel alternative, with Strasbourg and Nuremberg as must-see stops and practical planning tips.

Christmas Markets Without the Flight to Europe: A Canadian Holiday Getaway 🎄🇨🇦

Trade Europe for a Canadian Christmas adventure by weaving Québec City’s German Christmas Market, Montréal’s Great Christmas Market and Christmas Village, and Toronto’s Distillery Winter Village into a twinkling, multi-city holiday getaway filled with historic streets, festive foods and magical lights.

The Best European Cities to Use as a Base for Easy Train Trips! 🚂

Master the art of European train travel by basing yourself in a few well-connected hubs—Cologne, Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, and Brussels—and enjoy easy, day-trip access to nearby cities without constant hotel changes.

Italy Tested and Approved!

Explore cobblestone-friendly, stylish comfort with Italy-tested footwear picks from LifeStride, Vionic, and Charleston Shoe Company, plus practical tips to break them in early and pack two pairs for your trip.

Land Tours: Is a Guided Tour Right for You? A Look at Collette

Exploring escorted land tours, this post compares Collette with other brands, explains what’s included in a typical itinerary, and shows how Collette’s Best of Italy demonstrates the stress-free appeal of having hotels, transport, guides and admissions handled so travelers can enjoy bucket-list destinations plus unexpected gems.

Galway, Ireland: Weir traditional Irish spirit comes alive!

Galway on Ireland’s west coast blends lively pubs, traditional music, colorful streets and dramatic Atlantic scenery into a compact, welcoming base for a 2–3 night visit, where highlights like the Latin Quarter, Quay Street, Spanish Arch, Galway Cathedral and Eyre Square sit alongside easy day trips to the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara and the Aran Islands.

🇮🇹 Want to save BIG on attractions in Rome? Here’s one of my favorite travel tips!

Save big on Rome's top attractions by booking directly through official sites, as I demonstrate with the Colosseum Full Experience (€24 for Underground, Arena Floor, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill) and a tip that one traveler can even get in free.

The Best of Italy with Collette

Collette’s Best of Italy tour exceeded my expectations, pairing Florence’s artful, walkable charm with seamless logistics in Venice and Rome, reshaping my view of guided group travel and sparking plans to become Collette-certified and to return for a 2028 Southern Italy and Sicily trip.

🌸 Japan During Cherry Blossom Season: A Bucket List Dream!

Experience Japan’s cherry blossom season with guided land or cruise itineraries spanning Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Mount Fuji, and more, featuring Shinkansen thrills, ancient temples, exquisite cuisine, and unforgettable sakura views.

Bucket List Series: African Safari

Embark on an unforgettable African safari that puts the Big Five—lion, leopard, and elephant—in dramatic focus—from elephants at watering holes and lions roaring at sunset to the Great Migration—while enjoying luxury lodges, all-inclusive camps, or even an African cruise.

The Spectacular Norwegian Fjords

Norway's fjords unfold glacier-carved cliffs, cascading waterfalls, UNESCO-listed beauty, and a suite of iconic experiences—from the Flåm Railway and fjord cruises to hikes to Pulpit Rock and kayaking—alongside Viking history, charming villages, and seasonal spectacles like the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights.

Fresh off utopia of the seas!

Dive into an unforgettable sea voyage as we unravel the enticing world of luxury cruises aboard Utopia of the Seas - from exquisite cuisines, top-notch entertainment, to capturing the perfection at sea.