Auckland, New Zealand is a really pleasant city. There’s nothing spectacular about Auckland. It’s not the worlds most beautiful city. It’s not the most exciting city on Earth. There’s nothing that screams out at you that you can’t miss. But Auckland, New Zealand is a really pleasant city to be in because it’s just that…pleasant. […]
Why You Should Visit Tauranga, New Zealand
February 2, 2016 by 12 Comments
I have been to New Zealand numerous times and actually spent a few months in 2003. However, until my recent cruise with Azamara Club Cruises I had never heard of Tauranga. Apparently, Tauranga is the 4th most populous “city” in New Zealand as many people have fled Auckland because of the sky-high real estate prices […]
Hobbiton is one of the Coolest Things in New Zealand
February 1, 2016 by 12 Comments
I have never seen any of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies. I have never seen any of ‘The Hobbit’ movies. I have never read any of the books either. I don’t like science fiction or fantasy. That said, I went to the Hobbiton movie set as a special day and night time tour excursion […]
Picton, New Zealand and the Surrounding Area is Worth a Look
January 29, 2016 by 4 Comments
Picton, New Zealand is a cute little town. That’s really the best way to describe it. Of course, Picton is also a very important port town that connects the South Island to Wellington and the North island of New Zealand. Picton itself is also the gateway to both the Marlborough wine region and the beautiful […]
A Daytrip to Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand
January 28, 2016 by 8 Comments
Cape Kidnappers is a place that sounds made up. In fact, in actually looks like a place that’s made up as well! However, I can assure you it is a real place and it is a beautiful place even when the weather doesn’t cooperate with you! As an excursion from the Azamara Quest, I did […]
What to do if You Get Food Poisoning While Traveling
January 27, 2016 by 14 Comments
On my recent trip to Kenya I became very ill, very quickly. It turned out I got food poisoning or some type of bacterial infection that caused me to become very ill. I was so ill that I literally couldn’t move for about 30 hours and lost about 10 pounds in one day. This was […]
Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
January 26, 2016 by 12 Comments
Dunedin, New Zealand is unlike most settlements in Australia and New Zealand as it was settled by Scottish as opposed to English immigrants. Originally they were going to name it New Edinburgh but settled on Dunedin; which is actually a derivation of Edinburgh’s Gaelic name. Today, Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula are teeming with life […]
The Masai Mara in Kenya
January 25, 2016 by 16 Comments
The Masai Mara in Kenya is one of the worlds greatest places to go on safari. The lush plains are home to millions of animals and provide for a beautiful setting for photos. On my recent trip to Kenya, after staying at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, I was fortunate to stay at the […]
My 2016 New York Times Travel Show Experience
January 11, 2016 by 14 Comments
The New York Times Travel Show is the most prestigious travel show in the United States. I have been fortunate to speak at it multiple times and this year I actually spoke in the large seminar room with about 500 people in attendance about how I traveled to every country in the world. What made […]
