MEDITERRANEAN SECRETS

No surprises here- the best (and sometimes only) way to see much of the Mediterranean is by sea. Travel expert Lindsey Epperly brings you some of her favorite cruising grounds . BY LINDSEY EPPERLY

A vacation is a handcrafted opportunity to create your fondest memories and fulfill your most elaborate dreams. It’s also a chance for good friends to bond even further. During their two-week European cruise vacation last year, Jack and Anne Wright, Gary and Patty Parrish, and Henry and Pat Barfield discovered that traveling as a group makes for a memorable adventure.

After their 2009 cruise from Venice to the Greek Isles, the six friends were longing to go back and explore the western side of the Mediterranean. When they came to me with this request, I booked them on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas out of Barcelona.

As a pre-cruise option, they decided to take a road trip from Barcelona to Mont Blanc, getting the most out of the European vacation.

The Wrights and Parrishs left a few days before the cruise to rent a car for the thousand-mile journey. Their drive took them through narrow back roads and to little-known spots, such as Cadaques, Spain, an artsy town that once attracted and inspired painter Salvador Dalí.

After spending the night in Montpelier, France, the couples continued their journey, stopping for the afternoon to admire Annecy, France. Often referred to as the “Venice of the Alps,” Annecy combines the best of both worlds with a winding canal and mountainous backdrop. The group loves veering away from tourist attractions to visit smaller towns where they can see the true culture of a country.

Once on board the Voyager of the Seas, they called me to rave about their giant balcony, an extra perk that I love to provide for my clients.

Not all balconies are created equal and it takes an insider’s knowledge to select the best!.
While the ship stopped at Naples, the couples took a private tour of the Amalfi Coast where they could see breathtaking cliffs lining the sea. “It’s definitely too risky to drive the coast on your own,” Henry told me, explaining that the area was best seen while in the hands of an experienced driver. Having your travel advisor arrange a trusted driver and tour guide allows you to completely relax and fully enjoy the sights.

Another perk of having a guide: when the couples went sightseeing in Rome and Vatican City, they were able to skip the long lines at the Vatican by taking a guided shore excursion. As I’ve learned, sometimes the lines at the Vatican can wrap around
the building, so a private tour saves time and allows travelers to see much more of the history and art within the City’s walls.

Their stop in Florence turned out to be a collective favorite. Instead of exploring the center of Italian art, the couples opted for a guided tour to the Cinque Terre, a stretch of five coastal villages along the Italian Riviera.

Before returning home they found one last hidden gem: the city of Collioure, France. “We instantly fell in love with this place,” said Anne, who described the community as a quiet and authentic French experience. “We spent the night here before heading back to Barcelona for our flight home,” she said. For her, it was the perfect ending to a great trip.
“Now what do you recommend for the Baltic?” Anne asked me once they returned home. It’s always a good sign when one vacation leads to dreams of the next big adventure!

Lindsey Epperly is a luxury travel consultant at Columbus Travel. She enjoys working closely with clients to prepare custom-fit vacation itineraries. To find out more about Lindsey’s travel planning and request a trip, visit her personal planning site at www.lindseyepperly.com. For more on Columbus Travel, visit www.columbustvl.com