Take your sweetheart on a trip--or treat yourself to one!

Welcome to part two of the Super Size Newsletter! Above is a photo from our amazing sunrise experience at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. In an upcoming newsletter, I'll share more of our experiences on the Mekong. We had a wonderful group of smart and engaged travelers who genuinely enjoyed each other's company. I daresay that's true of all MV Small Group Trips.

For now, read on for capsule descriptions of four upcoming SGTs to Europe, stretching from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. 

Of Myths and Moussaka: Four spots remain on our private Greek odyssey. We’ll spend the first two weeks of September 2024 in Santorini, Crete, and Athens. The agenda is widely varied and we will delve into the array of history, culture, gastronomy, and natural beauty that Greece has to offer. Reserve your place before we hit the maximum of twelve guests!

Irish Country Idyll #2: Normally, I don’t offer the same destination for Small Group Trips until a suitable time (five or even ten years) has passed. It’s extremely rare. But by popular demand, I am putting the final touches on another trip to Ireland very much like the last one--including the swell manor house! 

But this time we’ll have a special guest traveling with us, Texas artist Dalynn Montgomery. Dalynn specializes in watercolor painting and the practice of urban sketching (on-location sketching of your surroundings). The scenery of this area—from the epic coastal views to the man-made creations of cute villages or the local pub—present ample opportunity for photography or casual art making, should you feel inspired. And of course, our artist-in-residence will be on hand to offer advice and tips if you like. 

But don't worry, you'll still have a fabulous time on this trip even if you never touch any art supplies while we are in Ireland--that aspect is purely a bonus for those who are so inclined. This trip will take place over the second half of May 2025, and I will be releasing the brochure and accepting bookings very soon. If you missed the 2023 edition and would like to have first dibs on this trip, let me know and you’ll be on the sneak peek list.

Gems of Southeast Europe: Travel from Bucharest to Budapest aboard the Queen of the Danube, the AmaMagna. We will start with several days in Bucharest and Transylvania, followed by visits to Rousse and Vidin, Bulgaria; Golubac, Belgrade, and Novi Sad, Serbia; Vukovar, Croatia; and finally Mohács and Pécs, Hungary. I am also working on an exclusive Mon Voyage post-cruise extension, which will include several days in Budapest along with a tour of the wine regions of Upper Hungary and Tokaj. 

If you missed last year's newsletter showcasing the AmaMagna, read it here. 

June of 2025 may have sounded like a long way off in 2023, but this trip is now just over a year away and current promotions end soon. Pricing has been inching up since I booked my group space last summer, so take advantage of these lower cruise fares before the end of March. I also have several coupons on hand for an additional 5% discount, available on a first come, first served basis. I will not have access to these coupons again before the 2025 cruise.

Christmas Markets on the Rhine: This fun trip will include Thanksgiving week 2025, so it’s a great opportunity to bring the family along and let someone else do the cooking. Or maybe you just want to get away from your family at the holidays. No judgment! 

Leave those holiday stresses at home and enjoy the festive atmosphere of the world’s most renowned Christmas Markets, from Colmar and Strasbourg to Heidelberg and Cologne. It’s not just the shopping—it’s strolling around, sampling the delectable food, your hands around a warm mug of  aromatic spiced wine, taking in the local music performances, just the whole nine yards. Note that these are in addition to a full menu of normal excursions on the itinerary, so you'll have plenty of options, depending on whether you're feeling like Cindy Lou Who or The Grinch on any given day. 

And the way that AmaWaterways decorates the ships for Christmas—oh, my goodness, I watched it unfold during my November Danube cruise last year (the week BEFORE the Christmas market cruises started) and it made me as giddy as a child. 

In this case, too, current early booking promotions are set to expire at the end of March. Many Christmas Market dates for 2024 are already selling out, so I booked my group for November 2025. Again, regarding my 5% coupons--I have a few on hand that I was able to buy on my Mekong cruise, but when they're gone, they're gone.

Don’t forget, my 2024 private trip planning book is filling up, so snag your spot now before I run out of space. You don’t want to be a Last-Minute Larry and find yourself subject to higher Skip the Line planning fees (and that's if I can even accept any last-minute trips)! 

Sending you lots of love on this Valentines Day--