by Dawnielle Jacobson | Aug 28, 2015 | news
AUGUST 28, 2015
Discounts on all Remaining 2015 Tours
As we gear up for the exciting new lineup of tours in 2016, this year’s remaining tours have been discounted. Here is your chance to visit Ireland or Italy, or join the Christmas Markets Tour in Germany and Austria. The fall is the perfect time to travel: you beat the summer heat and you don’t have to contend with busloads of tourists.
Check out the remaining 2015 tours.
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David’s Video Series Showcases the Best of Italy Tour
Follow David as he visits all of the destinations on his Best of Italy tour. In this eight-part video series (complete with blooper reel), get an in-depth look at the tour and see what it’s like to travel with David. The videos are available here.
Join David on the upcoming Best of Italy tour in October.
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Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Aug 26, 2015 | Destinations, news
“David McGuffin Explores” Video Series – Spotlight on Italy
Italy has it all: good wine, great food, generous hospitality, mountains and beaches, small towns and big cities. Join David on a virtual tour of one of his most popular destinations in a six-part video series, David McGuffin Explores. If you’ve ever wondered what traveling on an Exploring Europe trip is like, this is your chance to find out.
Catch these videos and more on David’s YouTube channel. You can subscribe to get updates when new videos are posted. A new video is released every week.
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Nearly all of David’s Italy tours go through Rome, a city steeped in 2,500 years of history. In this video, David takes you through the highlights of his two-day stay in Rome. Explore Ancient Rome on Day 1. Walk in the footsteps of Julius Caesar and visit the Colosseum and other ancient ruins. On Day 2, enjoy a visit to Vatican City. Marvel at St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. And of course, no Exploring Europe tour would be complete without a great dining experience to end the day. Head to Piazza Navona and one of David’s favorite restaurants.
Watch the video here.
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As David makes his way from Rome to the Cinque Terre, learn a little bit about train travel—a fast and convenient way to get around Italy. David shares tips for a stress-free travel experience and talks about the advantages of traveling by train.
Watch the video here.
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The Cinque Terre is made up of five villages spread along the Mediterranean coast. Hear some of David’s tips for exploring the region. Join him on a hike up to the monastery in Monterosso. Then hop a train to Vernazza and soak in the sun on the beach. See Manarola’s unique harbor and take a stroll through the vineyards. Finally, experience daily life in Riomaggiore and grab a relaxing dinner.
Watch the video here.
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Volterra is David’s favorite small town in all of Italy. Learn about the Etruscans on a tour with Annie, an American who fell in love with Tuscany, and see some of the oldest walls in the world. Volterra was once the only place where alabaster was available. Visit Georgio’s shop and watch him make an alabaster bowl. Afterwards, sit in on a wine tasting and end the evening with a mouth-watering meal at the Ristorante del Duca.
Watch the video here.
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Ride along with David as he takes the scenic route to Florence and stops at a vineyard in the Chianti region. Admire Florence from afar at San Miniato al Monte, a vantage point that is little-known to tourists. Then take a trip to the market to barter for a belt. Experience the city’s vast art collection with Paola, a local guide who brings a fresh perspective to Michelangelo’s famous statue of David and the works in the Uffizi Gallery. Finally, enjoy an evening stroll through the streets of Florence once all of the tourists have gone.
Watch the video here.
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Venice is unlike any other city in the world. The city blocks are separated by canals and the “subway” system is actually a network of boats. Tour Saint Mark’s Basilica with Roberta, a native Venetian, and learn about the city’s battle to stay afloat. Then head off the beaten path with David to get a feel for the lived-in part of Venice as he visits Sant’Elena. End your tour with a couple of David’s “must-do” attractions: take a ride in a gondola and spend a few hours at a café on Piazza San Marco.
Watch the video here.
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The town of Bellagio on Lake Como is the perfect place to enjoy this beautiful lake and the surrounding mountains. Here you can tour the neighboring villas, explore countless little shops, or stop at a wine cellar to sample products from the local vineyards.
Milan is the final destination on the Best of Italy tour. Take a tour of the city, stop at the Cathedral and still have plenty of time to explore the shopping district.
Watch the video here.
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Of course, no tour to Europe would be complete without sharing a few laughs with David!
Watch the video here.
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Join David on a Best of Italy tour and experience these great sights firsthand!
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Aug 21, 2015 | news
AUGUST 21, 2015
Christmas Markets Tour
Have you started planning your Christmas vacation? Why not join David on his Christmas Markets tour! This tour centers on outdoor Christmas markets in Austria and Germany. You will also visit many tourist destinations, and travelling in the off-season means you don’t have to fight the crowds.
Hear a first-hand account of this tour from Cora Bartholomew on her award-winning website The Whole Wide World is Mine for which Cora won a free trip to Europe in this year’s digital scrapbook contest. There’s still time to enter to win next year’s grand prize! See details here.
Sign up for the Christmas Markets tour today!
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Jul 10, 2015 | news
JULY 10, 2015
Did You Know?
David offers lots of discount opportunities to tour alumni through various competitions and just for traveling with him. You could even win a free trip! Here are some of the ways to take advantage of your former Exploring Europe experiences to make new memories.
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2016 Online Tour Album Scrapbook Contest
Are your tour photos just sitting in some forgotten folder on your hard drive? Are your printed photos slowly yellowing with age? Why not get all those photos together and make a scrapbook that will withstand the test of time! A scrapbook website is a great way to share your tour experiences with friends and family, and you could even win a free trip to Europe! Join David’s 2016 online tour album scrapbook contest and you could be off to Europe again before you know it! First prize wins a free seat on any 2016 David McGuffin tour. Second and third prizes win gift certificates to put towards travel. See last year’s winners and get some inspiration here. The deadline to enter is February 5, 2016.
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2016 Calendar Photo Submissions
Do you have a great photo that you want to share with others? Send us your best Exploring Europe photo and it could be included in next year’s calendar. It could be the inspiration that pulls someone through the dreary winter months or announces the arrival of summer. If your photo is included you will receive $100 off your next Exploring Europe vacation! The deadline to submit photos is September 1.
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Discounts Just for Being a Tour Alumni
If you don’t want to work for your discount, all you have to do is travel! For each Exploring Europe tour that you take with David, you can get $50 off the next one!
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“David McGuffin Explores” Video Series
The next two videos are out! Explore the five little villages in the Cinque Terre and visit the hilltop town of Volterra.
In the Cinque Terre, join David on a hike up to the monastery in Monterosso, hop a train to Vernazza and soak in the sun on the beach, see Manarola’s unique harbor and take a stroll through the vineyards, and experience daily life in Riomaggiore. Watch David McGuffin Explores the Cinque Terre.
Then join David in Volterra, his favorite small town in all of Italy. Learn about the Etruscans, watch the making of an alabaster bowl, sit in on a wine tasting and experience a mouth-watering meal at the Ristorante del Duca. Watch David McGuffin Explores Volterra.
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Ireland and Italy Tours Available this Fall
There’s still time to travel with David this year, and you won’t have to fight the summer tourists.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Jun 26, 2015 | news
Italy has it all: good wine, great food, generous hospitality, mountains and beaches, small towns and big cities. Join David on a virtual tour of one of his most popular destinations in a six-part video series, David McGuffin Explores. If you’ve ever wondered what traveling on an Exploring Europe trip is like, this is your chance to find out. Catch all the videos on David’s YouTube channel, and subscribe to get updates when new videos are posted. A new video is released every week.
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David McGuffin Explores: Rome!
Nearly all of David’s Italy tours go through Rome, a city steeped in 2,500 years of history. In this video, David takes you through the highlights on his two-day stay in Rome. Explore Ancient Rome on Day 1. Walk in the footsteps of Julius Caesar and visit the Colosseum and other ancient ruins. On Day 2, enjoy a visit to Vatican City. Marvel at St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. And of course, no Exploring Europe tour would be complete without a great dining experience to end the day. Head to Piazza Navona and one of David’s favorite restaurants. Watch the video here.
Want more than just a virtual experience? Join David on a trip to Italy this fall! See tour options here.
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David McGuffin Explores: Train Travel!
As David makes his way from Rome to the Cinque Terre, learn a little bit about train travel—a fast and convenient way to get around Italy. David shares tips for a stress-free travel experience and talks about the advantages of traveling by train. Watch the video here.
Experience train travel in Italy firsthand on an Exploring Europe trip this fall!
Your Adventure Starts Here!
