A river cruise may be one of the most convenient and economical ways to explore Burgundy and Provence for those of a certain age.

"Paris is my home," says Balwinder Prabhakar, explaining her emigration from India to France, after falling in love and marrying a Parisian some 22 years ago....

Finding the intimacy of a yacht on a large ship

As soon as we stepped out of the taxi at the port in Barcelona to embark on our Mediterranean cruise, Vishesh, the stately head butler of the Yacht Club on the MSC Divina, greeted us warmly by name. He led...

Many luxury travelers are skeptical about taking cruise vacations. They associate cruises with mediocre, calorific buffet food; cramped, ill-designed cabins; hoards of people with lines at every turn; not being able to get off the beaten path; and being nickeled and dimed for extras. If you are cruise avoidant, a...

Sharing costs with friends or family can make these opulent villas more affordable for a special vacation.

The island of Jamaica is a popular tourist destination because of its tropical climate, craggy coastline with white sandy beaches, lush tree and ground vegetation, verdant golf courses, zesty foods paired with reggae...

Douglas Ward is the author of the just-released Berlitz 2013 Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships (now in its 28th edition), an invaluable resource to anyone planning a cruise. Ward also serves as president of the Maritime Evaluations Group, an American company that has published yearly reports cards on some...

After a wait of several minutes, the doors of a no-frills construction elevator open precisely at noon. We enter the metal-framed box that scales the outside rear of the Royal Opera House (Kungliga Operan) of Stockholm, transporting us from the street to our rooftop destination, The Electrolux Cube.

At the...

How you can help rebuild Emilia Romagna after last year's devastating earthquake

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake and series of aftershocks rattled Emilia Romagna on May 20, 2012, killing 29 and leaving almost 15,000 people homeless. The quake damaged churches and historic...

It's never easy to end a relationship with a needy friend. You can only try your best.

QUESTION

Hi Irene,

For the past year I have been trying to muddle through a less-than-satisfactory friendship with someone I once considered my best friend, trying to patch things up,...

A passenger boarding Le Boreal is instantly immersed in French language, culture and cuisine, beginning with the welcome from the ship's captain and his officers, all of whom hail from France. Shipboard announcements and lectures are routinely delivered in both French and English. Even the mandatory muster drill on the...

The 201-room Nobis Hotel, which opened in 2010, is centrally located on Norrmalmstorg Square in downtown Stockholm. Its address has assumed an infamous role in history and culture: The term Stockholm Syndrome, coined in 1973, is used to describe a psychological phenomenon that occurred within these walls.

The ground floor...

A stay at a bed-and-breakfast (B&B) isn't the same as staying at a large, anonymous hotel. The owners of a B&B have graciously opened their home to you as a guest, and you're likely to have a far more personal experience. While most travelers are familiar with the "rules" when...

QUESTION

Dear Irene,

I am so happy I have come across this blog and your book, Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend. It is nice to know there is a place to go for understanding and support when female friendships go awry.

I,...

This Hudson Valley gem is a perfect weekend base for exploring Saugerties and the surrounding region.

One of the most memorable parts of any stay at the Diamond Mill Hotel & Tavern in Saugerties (Ulster County), New York is the breathtaking view from your room. In fact, each of the...

QUESTION

Hi Irene,

I find your blog very interesting and often moving. Sometimes my own circumstances mirror those of others who write to you. I'm 63, retired, happily married and count my blessings. But despite a lot of effort, time, thought and, might I add, money, I have completely failed...

When people complain of having no friends, the conventional advice is often the same -- join a group. But some people are joiners and others aren't. There are alternative ways for non-joiners to meet new people, although it may take some effort to discover them.

QUESTION

Hi...

QUESTION

Hi,

Glad to find this site. About two years ago I had so many friends that it was great. It was at my last job. But then, hundreds of us got laid off/fired. Only a handful of folks kept their jobs. It was a wonderful company and...

If you speak to travel aficionados, you may get the impression that the world is divided into two camps: cruisers and non-cruisers. Cruising devotees expound on the relaxation, convenience and economy of cruising--coveting more sea days, more ports, and longer cruises. Non-cruisers typically bash the big boats, grimy ports, on-board...

For the 50 years leading up to the Civil War, steamboats ruled the Mississippi River and its tributaries to the east and west, carrying passengers, produce, sugar, cotton and livestock while weaving through the nation's heartland and touching the shores of 10 states from Minnesota to Louisiana.

By the time...

In June, the stately colonial homes and more modest cottages of Edgartown are equally resplendent with lush green flowering plants and shrubs. The freshly painted white picket fences scream out to passersby that a new season has begun. Of course, low enough to hop over, they are intended for eye-appeal...

QUESTION

Hi Irene,

I'm 37 years old but when I was 18, my best friend and I met this friendly guy whom we both liked, but he liked me more. He and I kept our relationship quiet for a while but at a party, my best friend saw us together....