Meaningful Perspective: It's More Than Just The 9/11 Memorial and Museum; It's a Story of Individuals and Collective Memories

“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the hard may be; for without victory there is no survival.” 

-- Winston Churchill

We were honored and grateful to take a tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum with the Detective Lieutenant Commander of the Port Authority Police/FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force of New York and New Jersey, John Ryan.  He was the Commander for Recovery Operation Task Force in the New York, NY at the World Trade Center following 9/11.  This was one of the most moving tours we have ever received due to the touching stories and personal accounts provided by the commander.  This was our second visit to the site and nothing compares to experiencing it with his insight.

  

Let us take you through some of the exhibits we saw and give you some personal stories.  As we have said many times, we are fortunate in our quest to make meaningful travel happen, to have met some incredible individuals and John Ryan is one of them.  In this article we will discuss the following and these themes will recur throughout:

•  Why do we need a memorial dedicated to 9/11?
•  The story behind the design and building of the 9/11 Memorial which is what you will see outside
•  Then we will take you inside the 9/11 Museum and describe 11 artifacts that will reflect the physical destruction, human turmoil and ultimate victory. 

What comes to mind when YOU think of 9/11?

Is it the doomed image of an airplane crashing into a skyscraper? The remnants of two of the tallest buildings on earth mushrooming through lower Manhattan? Or the suggestions of conspiracy theories? Do you remember how the nation came together following that day? That the thousands of victims were from 91 countries? Whatever you may think, it is undeniable that 9/11 touched every one of our lives in its own way and it is hard to imagine, at times, how personal it was and continues to be for so many. Spending time at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum will give you the history and memories of that fateful day. Generally it is recommended that you spend 2 hours touring the museum but we recommend devoting half a day.

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Denali National Park and Preserve Tundra Wilderness Tour Is a Special Experience in Alaska Like No Other!

Denali Park Road is 92 miles long, parallels the Alaska Range and travels through low valleys and high mountain passes. It is the ONLY road in the park. Along its route, beautiful landscapes can be seen at every turn, and there are many opportunities to view Denali - if the normally cloudy skies permit. Wildlife can often be seen too, although sightings are not guaranteed - they are, after all, wild animals roaming an unfenced land.

There are two main types of buses in Denali - narrated trips (tour buses) and non-narrated trips (transit buses). In addition, a few free buses travel routes around the park entrance, connecting visitor centers and points of interest in the same area where visitors may drive their own vehicles. We opted for the Tundra Wilderness Tour, a 7-8 hour excursion into the park with a certified driver-naturalist. This tour provides in-depth information about the history of the park, while maintaining a keen eye in search of wildlife and photography opportunities. Chances to see wildlife are greater on this trip than on other tours.

Here's what we'll cover in this post!

• Pickup
• Inside the Park
• Course of Tour and Stops Along the Way
• Tips
• Bottom Line

Pickup

The bus came to our hotel to pick us up.  We were already briefed that this would be a rugged experience with the bus being a "nostalgic" school bus which is the only type available  Supposedly the rugged transportation is due to the nature of the roads and narrow passages that we would experience later in the day.  The pickup was prompt and it becomes clear that there are certain scheduled times to tour throughout the day. Remember, the days are long during the summer in Alaska, so even an afternoon departure means you will have daylight the whole tour.   We left the hotel about 1PM.

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NorthStar Trekking Helicopter Ride, Glacier Trek and Ice Climbing Shore Excursion from NCL Cruise in Juneau, Alaska

Glacier hiking is a surreal experience. You’ll never forget the satisfying crunch of ever-shifting ice underneath your crampons or the giddy feeling of drinking 100-year-old water from a glacial waterfall. Hands down, hiking a glacier is a must-do excursion in Alaska.

Before we departed on our Alaska Cruise and Land tour, we said to our friends "the one tour that you MUST do is the Helicopter and Glacier Walk!  There is nothing like it in the world! It is a bucket list item!"  We did a similar experience a few years before and felt strongly that this would be the most important experience for them.

What we will go over during this post:

•  Outfitting Equipment
•  Helicopter Ride
•  Glacier Trek
•  Ice Climbing 

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Review of the Alaska Animal Wildlife Conservation Center in Anchorage for Cruise Excursion or Independent Tour

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation, research, education, and animal care in Girdwood.  It is perfectly located along Seward Highway between the large Alaskan City of Anchorage and Whittier, a major cruise port for Alaska itineraries. Think about visiting on your own or as part of a guided tour.  We were part of a tour that dropped us off and we explored on our own.  

We had a couple of hours here and it was well worth the trip we saw black and brown bear, bison, caribou, moose, porcupine, wolves, deer, a bald eagle and owls just to name a few. The photographs we obtained were superb and overall this was an excellent introduction to the birds and animals of the region.

Getting There:

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located between Anchorage & Whittier, from Anchorage about a 2 hour drive- it's some of Alaska's most beautiful scenery you could imagine, with Glacier- topped mountains and waterways, you can see some wildlife- keep your eyes open.  If you are taking a cruise this is a great stop off on the way to or from the port at Whittier.   We opted for transportation to our cruise and the Center was a stopping point along the way.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALASKAN WILDLIFE CENTER INCLUDING TOURS, REVIEWS AND TICKET INFORMATION AT TRIPADVISOR BY CLICKING HERE. 

We found out that the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska Wildlife through education and quality animal care, The Center takes in orphaned and injured animals and provides them with refuge and spacious enclosures.  They are a smaller operation and we were hoping to get closer to the animals than we could during our time in Denali all while enjoying great views of the surrounding mountains.  Our time here didn't disappoint! Don't just drive through, take the time to walk (it will be around 1-2 miles of walking on uneven surfaces) and visit the various enclosures.

Here are some of the animals we saw:

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The Travel Bar Paella Experience in Barcelona Spain is an Evening of Tapas, Sangria, Food and New Friends

Learn how to make the ultimate seafood paella while savoring traditional Spanish tapas and sangria in a delightful hands-on workshop with the Travel Bar Paella Experience.  Cook with local hosts,  make a traditional recipe, and eat in an intimate setting with new friends. You'll have tapas, sangria, and cooking an awesome paella BUT the best part of the experience is that you will feel like you’re with friends that you’ve known for years.

Cooking may be one of your biggest hobbies, or could it be eating?  Either way, if food is your passion there are many reasons to take a cooking class on your next adventure:

• Learn about the culture

• Great food and beverages

• Experience local markets

• Learn practical cooking tips

• Meet other travelers

• Interact with locals

• Contribute to a person or family

• Preserve and support a culture

• Your souvenir will be how to make a tasty meal!

Of course everyone told us: "Why are you spending money on a paella class? Only tourists do that...". But did we have a fun night and meet new friends? You betcha!

1. Booking

We recommend going directly to Viator to Book. You can go directly to the Travel Bar website, but we didn't find the price offered to be any better. As we learned from booking shore excursions, sometimes booking directly is not always the best option and you may have better cancellation policies and recourse for failed tours by using a trusted company to book and to see what experiences are offered. Find a direct link to TripAdvisor again at the end of this post! There are several options for a Paella cooking experience in Barcelona, most of which include many things such as alcohol. We chose the experience that cost $43 per person with a 24 hour cancellation available at TripAdvisor. At the travel bar website, the same experience is the same price but you will have the option to pay only a deposit ahead at their website. There are other companies, such as the Paella Club, that have more expensive experiences with Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and wine tasting rather than Sangria. Their tours cost about $108 per person and we felt this wasn't necessary for us since we are not heavy drinkers!

2. Communication

In our opinion, it would have been nice to have some personal communication with Travel Bar about the meeting place and to confirm. None of that was provided. We have received communication from other tour companies immediately after booking with TripAdvisor. We are busy when we travel and it is easy to forget things or get confused in foreign countries. Read on to understand why this would be a nice touch, but hopefully our review will help you if you book this experience! As is typical with TripAdvisor, we were emailed reminders which is another reason to use them rather than booking directly.

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Lessons Learned Scheduling Shore Excursions: Your Guide to Scheduling Tours Online

What is the difference between a good tour company and a great tour company? Service and confirming the proper arrival location!  Check out our guide 

Experiences help us learn from our mistakes! Don’t get mad but understand what happened so you don’t let it happen again!  Hopefully you can learn from our mistakes too!

Courtesy of HBO

Recently we took a repositioning cruise on the Sky Princess to Sevilla. Knowing that there were some important locations for filming Game of Thrones in Spain we looked for tours to see the Alcazar (Dorne) and Dragon Pit. Since we are BIG Game of Thrones fans and had great experiences with other GOT tours, we scheduled a shore excursion with Sevilla4Real.com for us and 5 other passengers. Our itinerary said Seville (Cadiz), Spain and we told the company Seville.

Booking:

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A Day with Madeira Taxi Tours by Diogo is the Perfect Way to Get to Know a Spectacular Island

Luxury Travel Docs gives 5 stars to Madeira taxi tours by Diogo who offers a guided tour by a local host in Madeira, Portugal with food and wine tastings and Breathtaking views. 

LTD took a shore excursion sightseeing tour paired with first-class treatment, a local experience and incredible views.  It was a day we won’t forget. 

1. Booking

We recommend going directly to Diogo to see what experiences are offered. Other alternatives are to book on TripAdvisor.  Plans change and Diogo offers the same cancellation policy as TripAdvisor at their website but since there are multiple options of how to book, do what is most comfortable for you.  Find a direct link to Diogo's Facebook page at the end of this post!

2. Communication 

Within an hour after we booked our excursion on TripAdvisor, Diogo communicated with us letting us know he would meet us at the port of Funchal where our cruise ship would be docking.  We confirmed with him 24 hours before as he has a 24 hour cancellation time.  He was pleasant and gave us clear instructions of where to meeting him.

RxTIP:  Use T-Mobile for international travel because it provides unlimited data and text in many countries.  We were concerned that coverage would not be great on an island like Madeira, but coverage was awesome!

3. Meeting

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Paolo Scheffer of Lisbon Explorer Private Tours Provides One of the Best Tours We Have Ever Experienced

Lisbon Explorer Private Tours provides experiences for the Culturally Curious! Perfect for travelers, foodies and art lovers who want more than a mass tourism experience.  We are proud to award Paolo Scheffer the 2019 HEAT Award!  The HEAT award is given to those individuals or companies that demonstrate excellence in Healthy Excursions And Travel!

Using vibrant and knowledgeable scholars to share insider places for food, history and culture in Portugal Lisbon Explorer Private Tours gave one of the best tours we have ever experienced.

1. Booking

We were part of a small group tour arranged by a friend of ours.  Booking was done through the Lisbon Explorer website via email.  Our group specifically requested Paolo, who they had used before and fortunately he was available!  Communication was prompt and thorough.  About a 15% deposit was required prior to the tour with the balance and entry fees required in cash on the day of the tour.  This is a fair deposit amount and overall - though we won't repeat the charge here because fees can vary based on number of persons and type of tour - the fee was very reasonable.  Find a link at the end of this post to see our tour and start an inquiry to book!

The deposit could be made via PayPal which is one of our preferences.

RxTIP:  We prefer to use a credit card with PayPal payments and not link a bank account to our PayPal for added purchase protection and security.

2. Communication

Communication was prompt, easy to understand in English and thorough.  Descriptions of our meeting place and options for transfer to the location with a map from the cruise terminal were sent to us before the tour.  Lisbon Explorer even included a photo of the meeting place with an arrow indicating where our guide would meet us!

3. Meeting

Lisbon Explorer gave the option of a van transport for all of us to the meeting place for 45 euros total each way from and to the cruise terminal.  It was easy to walk back to the ship after the tour but this would be a good option for getting to the meeting place which was all uphill.  If you are fit, walking is an option - just allow about an hour.  We opted for taxis which was not as easy at the cruise terminal as it may seem.  There was no taxi stand, only taxis wishing to sell tours. So we had to flag down taxis and the drive there was slow in traffic.  The meeting place was Quiosque Principe Real and we were about 20 minutes late, but not to worry, our guide waited!

4. Guide

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Sea Saffron Provides an Incredible Tour Experience Ending with an Unforgettable View, Wine and Tapas in Valencia Spain

Luxury Travel Docs gives 5 stars to Sea Saffron who offers guided tours by local hosts in Valencia, Spain with Food and wine tastings and Breathtaking views. 

LTD took a shore excursion sightseeing tour paired with first-class treatment, tapas, wine tasting and incredible views. It was an experience we won’t forget. 

1. Booking

We recommend going directly to the Sea Saffron website to see what experiences are offered. Other alternatives are to book on TripAdvisor or Viator. Plans change and Sea Saffron offers the same cancellation policy as TripAdvisor at their website but since there are multiple options of how to book, do what is most comfortable for you.  Find a direct link to Sea Saffron at the end of this post!

2. Communication 

Our cruise ship changed times of docking before we embarked and Nick, our guide from Sea Saffron notified us of the new time to meet via text even before we were aware of the change! The fact that they were very informed of our circumstances was extremely reassuring to us! We preferred to change our communication to WhatsApp and Nick was prompt and thorough when answering our questions and providing instructions for meeting.

RxTIP:  Use T-Mobile for international travel because it provides unlimited data and text in many countries.

3. Meeting

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Make the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum a Destination When You Visit Saguaro National Park and Tucson, Arizona

Whether you are fascinated by the desert or not, don't miss visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum when you are near Tucson, Arizona.

Tucson is a unique city and the surrounding desert is famous for its dramatic beauty.  The dry sunny climate is perfect for people who prefer to see the world on two wheels or just want to experience a true Southwest flair!

As part of a week enjoying a Vermont Bicycle Tour of the Saguaro National Park and the Arizona Sonoran Desert, LTD had the pleasure of visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  This museum exceeded our expectations. A beautifully laid out complex, which does a wonderful job educating and honoring the Arizona Sonoran desert and surrounding areas. 

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Luxury Travel Docs Honors Keko Adventure Tours with the HEAT Award for Epitomizing Healthy Excursions And Travel

Luxury Travel Docs awards the HEAT award to Keko Adventure Tours on Kauai Island, Hawaii! The HEAT award is given to those individuals or companies that demonstrate excellence in Healthy Excursions And Travel!

The one thing we have always believed is that Hawaii has some of the friendliest and kindest people anywhere. LTD spent the day with Eben Manini and Ernesto Guerra of Keko Adventure Tours on Kauai island, Hawaii. Spending time with Eben and Ernesto clearly shows what healthy adventures are all about, but you probably wouldn't realize how meaningful their adventures have been.

Ernesto Guerra and Eben Manini of Keko Adventure Tours in front of Heiaus at Lydgate Park

Ernesto Guerra has a very meaningful story about how he founded Keko Adventure Tours that we would like to share with you.  Five years before we met him, he was a sales manager for one of the most successful car dealerships in the US. One day he opened one of those suspect emails from a cousin with a story about a boy who raised funds for others, he decided to follow the link and found out about Watercan Canada now called Wateraid. At the time they were looking for volunteers who wanted to raise funds and climb Mountain Kilimanjaro.  He sent his application, received a call back and started raising funds while promoting clean water and hygiene. When he talked to the director and owner of the car dealership about taking his 2 week vacation plus another 7 days, upper management said it was impossible and not to mention it again. This experience was unsettling because Ernesto was very moved by this cause and felt that he was not being afforded the same ability to fundraise and pursue his passions as others in the organization.  Of course this made him feel that he was only a number, and after 13 years as part of the organization, he quit his job to pursue his own passions and help those less fortunate than him. After climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, he continued to travel the world doing social development work with other organizations such as “TECHO,” building emergency homes for people leaving in squalid environments and “CEDO,” working with students at a school in Cambodia.  These travels were very meaningful to Ernesto and he decided that his future would involve giving back to others.

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Visit Normandy with the WW2 Museum Travel: Soldiers and Spies

Take a once-in-a-lifetime trip with Author Alex Kershaw, author of Avenue of Spies and The Bedford Boys, for a truly immersive experience that takes you back in time to many of the extraordinary places featured in his books, from the bloodiest sands in American history where the Bedford Boys landed, to the grand avenues of the “City of Lights.”

Visiting the American Cemetery in Normandy is a Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience

LTD recently visited Normandy, France which is a truly meaningful experience.  This tour will inspire you and be an experience you will never forget!

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LuxuryTravelDocs Gives 5 ⭐️ Stars to SpearHead-Tours.com for Your Visit to Normandy, France!

This Veterans Day Americans around the world will honor their fellow citizens who have served their country.

LTD had the honor of visiting American D-Day Normandy Sites with Florin Petre, owner of www.SpearHead-Tours.com.  The Normandy landings were the landing operations on Tuesday, June 6, 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II.  Enjoy our interview with Florin, and a view of our day together.  Wait for the end to understand how meaningful a day this was for us and every visitor to Normandy.  That is what it is all about...

Florin makes the day meaningful by including many stories about the INDIVIDUALS who participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy.  Here are a couple of the stories we heard and the souls whom we visited:

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Learn About Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland from LTD and Irishtourtickets.com

Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast

The Giant's Causeway lies at the foot of the basalt cliffs along the sea coast on the edge of the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland. It is made up of nearly 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. The dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland.  This striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity about 50–60 million years ago.

After a long day of touring the Game of Throne filming sites and hearing about Irish History and Mythology, visiting the Giant's Causeway was an excellent break to stretch our legs and get some private time and exercise.  This was our second visit to Giant's Causeway, which made it less overwhelming.  We knew where to go and were able to make the most of our 90 minute visit.  Hopefully our video and photos will help orient you for a future visit!

The assembly of basalt columns of cooled molten lava on the north Antrim coast is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of TripAdvisor’s 10 most dramatic landscapes on the planet. It’s also the scene of some of Ireland’s most exciting walking trails and paths, with easy paths, moderate strolls and more demanding hikes.

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LTD Gives 5 Stars ⭐️ to IrishTourTickets.com and Brian English for Game of Thrones Tour in Belfast, Ireland, UK

If you want to know where next year’s most in-demand travel destination, just look at the next few month’s releases of movies and TV shows.

The “set-jetting” trend—travelers seeking out destinations they’ve seen in movies and shows—seems to be having a bit of a moment, and tourism boards are scrambling to make the most of it. The Croatian island of Vis eagerly anticipated the so-called “Mamma Mia effect”; Game of Thrones has irrevocably changed tourism in the ancient Croatian city of Dubrovnik and Northern Ireland; and with the recent release of Crazy Rich Asians, the Singapore tourism board ramped up its efforts to lure set-jetters eager to experience the lavish lifestyle depicted in the film.

To understand this trend better LuxuryTravelDocs decided to enjoy a GAME OF THRONES, GIANT'S CAUSEWAY & BELFAST CITY TOUR in Northern Ireland and we booked it with IrishTourtickets.com.  Our guide was Brian English, who we recommend without reservation.  Brian is authentic and demonstrates an unparalleled enthusiasm to share his home, Irish history and mythology, and of course Game of Thrones experiences with you.

To hear from Brian and see photos of our visit watch the video below...

Scheduling the tour was easy online only a few days before our arrival.  Maria Braun answered our questions promptly and thoroughly over the email without delay!  What a pleasure when traveling internationally with limited WiFi and cellphone coverage.  Tickets were able to be purchased ahead via credit card and electronic vouchers were issued to show the guide on departure.  We were arriving to the cruise terminal in Belfast and pickup was punctual and on time!  Don't you hate when you have scheduled a tour and delays occur and you feel you have missed something?  We toured with around 20 persons total which was an excellent size and in retrospect, increased the enthusiasm.   The day was nearly 10 hours which flew by and went at a steady pace throughout the day.  Brian was full of stories to enthrall everyone from those who have never watched Game of Thrones (are there really any?) to the most avid fan.  Lunch was not included but we stopped at a great location with many options for lunch on our own.  Plenty of time for eating, whiskey or shopping was allowed.  Non-GOT activities during the day included visiting the Giant's Causeway for about 1.5 hours which allowed us to stretch our legs and get in some exercise, and then a tour of Belfast City which has a rich and intense history.  Brian had a long personal history within Belfast and his first hand knowledge of the turmoil and improved relationships within the city was amazing to hear!

LTD recommends Irishtourtickets.com and Brian English without hesitation!  To be complete, our only recommendation would be to use a bus with video monitors and play clips of the relevant episodes while onboard if possible.  This would make an outstanding tour even more outstanding!!

For more detailed recommendations about visiting more of Ireland, check out our guide to visiting Ireland!

Sport your Favorite GOT Tee Shirt at home or away! Click the link below to learn more.  Links like these help support our mission to give to charity!  Thank you so much!

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Vermont Bicycle Tours Cycling Prague to Vienna Review VBT Czesky Krumlov to Passau and Review of Altstadt Hotel

Vermont Bicycle Tours offers and Excellent Tour from Prague to Vienna.  This is an excellent Healthy and Meaningful Vacation!  

Here is our crossing from Czesky Krumlov to Passau which was one of the Highlights of the Itinerary!

We started with the morning train to Nova Pec.  The train is individual cars with drapes, much like in old movies.  It was comfortable and nostalgic.

After leaving Czesky Krumlov here are our Thoughts on the Czech Republic 

1. Locals eager to have you visit.

2. Most speak some English except elderly.

3. Food is inexpensive but not exceptionally tasty

4.  Beer is plentiful and inexpensive. 

5.  Wine is marginal.

6.  Bread is dry 

7.  Hotels have minimal amenities and space is limited.

8. Walking is safe

9. Prague is lovely.

We recommend Compression bags for the Active Vacation where changing hotels is regular.  This allows you to separate your clothes for easy access compared to packing cubes and pack more.  Click Below to View.

The route to Passau was a challenging bike ride.  We crossed the Czech Republic/Germany border where there are remnants of the "Iron Curtain".

Lunch was delicious in a biergarten.  The bread is much better in Germany.

The afternoon consisted of many hills and headwind. After only a few seconds after arrival in Passau we realized the Altstadt Hotel was 50 yards from where our Uniworld boat was parked 5 years earlier.

Room was spacious.  A vanity was present, but no air conditioning again. Why do European rooms not use Air Conditioning?  We discuss this in our review of Innsbruck Penz Hotel.  Rooms were noisy too with street noise from students and tourists was abundant.  There are many universities in passau so it is akin to staying in a college town.  Dinner at wagners was fair.  Breakfast at wagners was included and a beautiful view of the three rivers was beautiful with breakfast.

Rx fitness Tip:  

Run along the Inns river.  There are very few cobble stones with a beautiful view of churches and water.  It is 5 miles to the dam Roy trip from the point of the three rivers convergence.

We recommend dining at the Scharfrichterhaus Restaurant in Passau.  

http://scharfrichterhaus.de

The food is excellent with many gin, beer and wine choices from Germany and Austria we enjoyed an appetizer, entrees and drinks for 45 euros including the tip.  Outside or inside are both nice with jazz playing overhead.  Many locals were there.

We cycled to Schärding.  On the way don't forget to stop for a photo op.  One foot in Germany and one foot in Austria.

In Schärding, we recommend gelato at Eiscafè PUROGELATO on the square for 2.5 euro.  It is a nice break during a day of cycling.

Make Meaningful and Healthy Travel Happen!

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Visit Cesky Krumlov In the Heart of Southern Bohemia to Enjoy Medieval Architecture and Vltava River

Cesky Krumlov, in Bohemia’s deep south, is one of the most picturesque towns in Europe and a short bus ride from Prague 

A Unesco World Heritage Site with a stunning castle above the Vltava River, an old town square, Renaissance and baroque architecture, and hordes of tourists milling through the streets -- you should get out of the town as well to see the people!  Maybe do your own thing for entertainment! There are plenty of bars and riverside picnic spots – in summer the river a popular spot for backpackers. It can be a magical place in winter when the crowds are gone and the castle is blanketed in snow and we saw many photos of that.  We went in the heart of summer.

The bus to Cesky Krumlov was comfortable and took three hours.  This was followed by a walking tour of the town with Stanislaw.  Cesky krumlov is medieval town on the vlatava river. The castle complex is the second largest in Czech Republic.  The town below is full of quaint shops and dining on the river.  Many tourists and locals enjoy the warm weather.  Kayakers and swimmers dot the water and the sound of the river is Mesmerizing.   Tour the castle gardens and grounds for free.  There is a Small fee to enter the castle and tower, but this isn't anything special.  There is a nice terrace half way up to the gardens where beer is about $1 and views of the town are phenomenal.

You will need a power converter for your international trip. Our favorite is the Unidapt for its ability to connect a larger number of electronics at once!  Click the photo below for more information.

Review of Hotel Bellevue

To Check other reviews of the Bellevue Hotel, rates and book at TripAdvisor Click Here!!

The hotel in Cesky Krumlov was not to my standards.  Small room with no air conditioning and little storage.  We asked for a fan immediately.  Beds were comfortable but without air it was hot and noisy with the windows open, so it didn't matter how comfortable they were. The tub was slippery and shower head small.  L'occitaine products were lovely, but overall we do not recommend the Hotel Bellevue except for its location.

Welcome to vbt dinner included champagne, salmon with grain and cheeses followed by a meal of trout, turkey or fried mushrooms at Svejk right below the Castle.  The meal was fair.  The appetizers with champagne were much better.  Fish in Czech Republic is whole with head and bones.  Be prepared.

http://www.svejkck.cz

Get out of the town and enjoy this fascinating culture and cycling is a great way to do that!  

Cycling the following day was warm and through the country side - 30 miles.  Swans and horses were seen everywhere.  Lunch was at a local farm.  This was the best meal we had in all of Czech Republic.  Schnitzel, fresh vegetables, home made soup and vegetable dip, spinach strudel and fried zucchini.  The best was apple strudel, coffee and plum liquor for dessert.  Peter demonstrated the 1950s tractor for us.  They had a lovely outside bedroom for hot summer nights.  The house was interesting and reminded us of an early 20th century motif.

Dinner by the river is a great view and there are several choices!

Dinner at the riverside hotel cafe Laibon was fair.  We enjoyed a good salad with sheeps cheese (feta) and olives and a Chardonnay from Moravia and pork ribs and beer. This was the best wine thus far. The waiter was a bit pushy and we found this unappealing.  The meal cost $45 with a tip.  We paid in euros.  Ask if credit cards are accepted first, but if you pay in cash ask if euros are accepted.  Czechs will convert to euros if you want, but ask ahead of time and be prepared to not receive change.  Tipping is customarily 10%.

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