Hand Crafted Travel
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02/26/2026
As you may know I don't open my tours to the public very often — most of my trips are private, purpose-built for specific clients. But I currently have two seats available on an upcoming Portugal tour.
The group is small by design — six passengers maximum — which means unhurried mornings, tables at restaurants that don't accommodate buses, and the kind of trip where everyone actually gets to know each other. Portugal is the destination right now for a reason: stunning scenery, extraordinary food and wine, warm locals, and prices that still make you feel like you've discovered a secret.
If you've been thinking about Portugal this might be your moment. More details here:
Taste of Portugal 2026 This guided tour of Portugal is small by design — six passengers maximum — which means unhurried mornings, tables at restaurants that don't accommodate buses, and the kind of trip where everyone actually gets to know each other. Portugal is the destination right now for a reason: stunning scener...
11/11/2025
Last stop on our last tour of the year. Scenes from our days exploring the Eternal City.
I’ve spent more time in Rome than just about any place in Europe, with more than 80 visits over the past 30+ years. Its actually the first place I visited on my very first trip to Europe more than 40 years ago, arriving after an air traffic controllers strike, a refueling diversion to Edinburgh, a flight on Kenya Airlines, and a wild late night taxi ride from the airport to the city center…but that’s a tale for another time.
Along with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, another benefit of traveling later in the year is getting to experience the olive harvest. We visited a small olive oil mill near Montalcino to witness the entire production process, and tasted fresh, unfiltered olive oil. It was spicy!
Rain dripping off Renaissance balconies, crowds huddled under archways, and St. Mark’s Square transformed into the world’s most magnificent puddle – this is Venice doing its moody, atmospheric thing.
We spent the morning in St. Mark’s Basilica, where Byzantine gold mosaics glitter regardless of weather – though the acqua alta-proof walkways were a hint that Venice is quite used to getting its feet wet.
Then shuffled into the Doge’s Palace, where gilded ceilings and Tintoretto masterpieces are infinitely more impressive than a soggy map.
Turns out, rainy Venice has its own magic. Fewer tourists, dramatic skies, and the sound of water literally everywhere. Just invest in decent shoes and embrace it.
10/22/2025
We finished off our France tour with four days in Provence. Using Saint-Rémy as a base we visited the Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard, and the beautifully preserved Roman theater at Orange followed by wine tasting at Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Another day was spent in the villages of the Luberon, with a visit to the Cistercian abbey at Senanque.
Wednesday is market day in Saint-Rémy, one of the best outdoor markets in France. We also visited the monastery/psychiatric hospital where Van Gogh spent a year receiving treatment, as well as the artist village of Les Baux.
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