Americans love fake experiences. We love authentic fake food at fast food outlets, authentic fake socializing online via Facebook and Twitter, authentic fake Rain Forests at shopping malls, authentic fake politicians who pretend to govern, authentic fake travel writers who…wait…scratch that last item. To paraphrase the great P.T. Barnum –“No one ever went broke by over-estimating America’s appetite for authentic fake travel experiences.” Which leads me to today’s subject…ORLANDO!

This year the Hilton World …

Long before I became a travel agent, I was always seen by my friends and family as a culinary enthusiast.  I see food as an essential cultural element, alongside art, literature, music, holidays, and customs.  Culinary travel has now become an area of specialization for my agency that I am very passionate about.

With so many travelers interested in visiting China and other popular destinations in Asia, I thought I would share a little about …

2005 became the first time my family coined the saying, “If you build it, we will be a tourist!” We had received a wedding announcement earlier in that year from the first grandchild, my niece. She was getting married in Kalona, IA. My wife, my then three year old daughter and I were living in Glendale, AZ at the time had never once set foot in Iowa, much less knew where Kalona was located in …

Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in.

Travelhoppers is a new venture for an old group of friends.  Most of the writers that form our initial group of contributors have worked with me on previous travel projects, and apparently the fact that I’m a bit of a serial criminal entrepreneur doesn’t fool bother them a bit. That’s fine, I’ll take my friends where I can find them.

That goes for the …

An increasing number of couples are choosing destination weddings over traditional “white gown and rehearsal dinner” weddings. Destination weddings provide a fun opportunity to reunite family and friends in a truly amazing setting or to celebrate a private ceremony in an unforgettable locale. With destination weddings representing approximately ten percent of all weddings, it is easier to find more cruise lines and resorts offering robust and attractively priced packages especially designed for wedding parties.

But …

If you are like most who have never been to Hawaii, the state’s islands blend into a mass of unpronounceable vowels and indistinct images of a tropical paradise. The geography of the islands is not difficult, however, and all it takes is one trip to make visitors long to become experts. So if you have never been, or if you have only been to one island, this introduction should whet your appetite and familiarize you …