Mexico: Perception vs. Reality

Travel to Mexico should not be overlooked!�
While the media makes it difficult to overcome perceptions, it is important to remember that  Mexico is a huge country with many diverse regions and  cultures.   

 Mexico is the 14th largest country in the world;
 It covers almost 2 million square kilometers;
 Mexico’s population of approximately 103 million makes it the 11th   most populous country in the [...]

Italy, thinking with your stomach

You know how they say, don’t go to the supermarket hungry, otherwise you’ll end up buying a ton of food?
Well, I’ve got my own piece of advice for those of you out there researching an escorted tour – eat something before you start reading about Collette’s Italy packages.
If not (if you throw caution to the [...]

A Toast to Wine Tours

We’ve all heard it; drinking a glass of red wine daily promotes good health. Though I’ve never needed an excuse to enjoy a glass of wine, having it validated makes it taste even better!
Travelers continue to search for tours with a wine component. There are many places to learn about wine making and its subtle [...]

Food on Tour

Experiencing local cuisine is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a destination. We hear from Collette passengers all the time who tell us that exploring the gastronomy of different countries were some of the highlights they remembered most fondly about their trip.
Cuisine rooted in history   Food and wine shared among loved ones [...]

Falling in love with Turkey

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This post is by guest blogger Allison Villasenor, Collette’s senior project manager, who recently returned from Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures Classical Turkey, a tour she rode with 36 other passengers. Allison has been with Collette since 2003 and this was her first time to Turkey…but hopefully not her last.
As I boarded the plane for Istanbul [...]

Epicurean Journeys

While experiencing a foreign land means taking in the sights and smells, many travelers prefer to couple their experience by truly savoring local flavors. It’s Discovering a destination through food is just about the best way to experience the world.
They say that the senses are closely linked to memory. It’s no wonder the smell of [...]

Snack Attack

Whether less than enticed about on-board offerings or simply looking to keep refueled throughout your travels, it’s a smart idea to stash a few healthy go-to snacks in your satchel when on the go. Plus, many domestic flights have greatly scaled back or even eliminated food service, so it’s best to be prepared. First, keep [...]

Turkey that won’t make you drowsy

Congratulations to Istanbul! The Turkish city has been designated the 2010 European Capital of Culture, a title bestowed by the European Union, which designates a European Capital of Culture to recognize a city’s cultural development and history.
It’s no surprise that Istanbul was recognized with this esteemed acclaim. With a number of must-see sites like the [...]

Serious case of NOLA on the brain

Last year I fell in love with the city of music: New Orleans. I attended its annual Jazz & Heritage Festival. I’m thinking about New Orleans not because of football (though GO SAINTS!), but because it’s cold. It’s about 30° F in Providence, and I’ve come across pictures from my trip last year. Staring back [...]

Growing Up Italian

I recently read a book called Growing Up Italian by Dr. Ed Iannuccilli and it brought back a lot of great memories for me. My dad was an Italian born in the USA, but his parents came from a little village/paese in Italy called “Foggia” near Naples.�
Growing up we’d trudge to my grandmother’s (who we [...]