Staff Adventures: Touring America’s Canyonlands with Tauck

Last year one of our brilliant agents here at AffordableTours.com went on a trip with Tauck to explore America’s terrains. He came back with an amazing recount of his adventures. Read below to see how his trip went!

Touring America’s Canyonlands with Tauck
Written by Robert Blair, AffordableTours.com Travel Consultant

If you’ve ever wanted to travel to see wondrous landmarks just outside your back door, consider a journey into America’s Canyonlands with Tauck. With lavish accommodations and dining experiences in Phoenix and Las Vegas, plus incredible, iconic natural wonders, this escorted tour is an excellent introduction to the best of the U.S. Southwest.

Our first stop on our 8-day itinerary was Sedona, Arizona, known for its scenic red rock vistas and rich history. This beautiful area has long been an inspiration for artists; we enjoyed its great shopping and restaurants. We ended our first full day of touring at the majestic Grand Canyon. From the top of the North Rim, I enjoyed watching the sun set and seeing the layers of rock change colors before my eyes.

After breakfast overlooking the rim the next morning, our tour group learned how millions of years of weather events created the magical scenery. We boarded our motorcoach to head north through sacred Navajo Indian territory, where our guide explained many Navajo traditions and cultures. By this point, I had taken over 300 photographs! I was able to immediately share my photos online thanks to complimentary wi-fi on our motorcoach.

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A Taste of The Carnival Magic Experience

I was as excited as a kid the night before Christmas. I had never even stepped foot on a cruise ship let alone sailed on one. So when my best friend Dawn and I got the chance to tour the new Carnival Magic ship, we jumped at it! An overnight experience aboard this amazing ship was certain to be a fun event for us.

Driving towards the cruise ship and loading terminal where from a distance I could hold up two fingers sideways and make the ship look only an inch or so tall, I felt my heart thumping because I had heard story after story about how awesome it is on these cruise ships. Yes, I was super excited.Continue reading

Touring East Africa to Tanzania & Kenya

Hello friends,

I’m pleased to provide my observations and remarks about a previous tour to Tanzania and Kenya.

To begin, words from Karen Blixen, from Out of Africa

“There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne —bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive.”

So very true, those words.  I’ve been blessed with an abundance of travel experiences….to Libya and Italy at age 16, living in Europe for 6 years during my 20s, and the opportunity to visit 5 continents during my 25+ years in the travel industry. None of my previous travels prepared me for the pure joy of Africa.

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The South of France and Paris Part 2

…And we’re back to talk more about my latest trip to the South of France! Read Part 1 if you missed it!

Finally, another rarely visited area by non-French folk is a little treat called the Viduct des Arts. This was my first visit here, and it was joyous, including the walk upstairs on the Promenade Plantee! To get here, go to Metro Bastille. Find the HUGE new Opera house when you come out of the metro station. Walk down the right side of the new Opera house (you’ll see a sign pointing to the Viduct des Arts), and shortly, you’ll be strolling along the shops with the Promenade above you. There are a couple of entrances with elevators to the Promenade to avoid the two steep staircases! The history:

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The South of France and Paris Part 1

Friends,

I’ve just returned from two memorable weeks in France, one of my favorite countries, and Paris is definitely my favorite city in the world. I’ve been visiting France for 35 (yikes) years, and after this 12th visit, I’d like to share with you some observations and suggestions from this recent experience in a 2-part blog post. I’ll share my stops, my favorite must-sees, and my secret-off-the-beaten-path wonders to explore!

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