Versailles, The Sun King, and All Things Golden

Last fall, my mom and I spent a glorious day exploring all things Louis. It was Mama's first time in France (really the first time anywhere in Europe) and I was looking forward to delighting in the...

Cruising 201 – Luxury Cruising

Ya know - I love it when my travel tips garner further discussion and more suggestions of how to navigate the ever-changing world of cruising. When I posted my Cruising 101 tips a few days ago, my...

Cruising 101 – Bella’s Cruise Tips

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about cruising and those little nuggets of advice that makes your cruise adventure go more smoothly. I’ve been asking my colleagues for their best cruise tips,...

The Best of 2018

Wow 2018 just flew by—like at warp speed!!! Here at Bella, we are already in full planning mode for 2019 travels and beyond—but I wanted to take a moment this morning, sit by the fire, sip some...

What does Luxury travel mean to you?

At Bella Travel Planning, we create custom, luxury travel experiences. When you hear the word "Luxury," what comes to mind?  What picture do you see?  What does luxury mean? More importantly, what...

Travel Insurance and Summer Travel

June first marks the start of hurricane season.   No one wants to experience a hurricane season like that of last summer and fall.  And no one wants to think that possibly it could happen...

Summer Beach Reads!

Is there anything better than a day at the beach with a great book?  We love a good beach read!  Thick, thin, heavy subjects, light-hearted reads--a great beach read just has to take us away and...

Halfway Around the Globe and Back, 2017

We had a busy (and fun!) year traveling halfway around the globe in 2017.   We like to travel independently, and our first trip was to Mexico.  In the Spring, we flew to Japan where we spent five...

From My Terrace along the Indian Ocean

Good morning Seychelles and Indian Ocean!! As I sit here on my private terrace this morning in front of the Indian Ocean hearing the resort wake up and the rich sounds of nature surrounds me, my...

Updated Cuba Travel Regulations

Cuba is hot Hot HOT!  With the appearance of cruise ships this past year, travel to Cuba has been easier than ever.  However, travel to Cuba is a fluid thing with requirements changing year to year....
New Colosseum Security Procedures in Rome.

New Colosseum Security Procedures in Rome.

Hello fellow travelers!  Travel always seems to give us reasons to practice our Yoga breathing!  It's time to put on your Patient Hat--especially when visiting Rome...and the Colosseum. Please be advised that due to new mandatory security regulations every visitor...

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The Importance of Time

The Importance of Time

There we were—in the Madrid Airport running to our gate—me in my Sparkly Italian Wedges and The Man in his not-so-fashionable black flip-flops—running. The Man looked at me and asked, “didn’t your travel agent know that an hour is not enough time to connect in...

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