by Dawnielle Jacobson | Jan 11, 2019 | news
Chicago Travel Show This Weekend
Looking for some weekend plans? David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe will be participating in the Chicago Travel & Adventure Show THIS WEEKEND at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center – and we have 150 FREE TICKETS to give away!
Simply follow this link and enter promo code: VIPDMEE on the ticket selection screen to unlock the free-ticket option.
Come on out and meet us face-to-face this weekend. Plus, watch cultural performances, taste cuisine from around the world, see and meet your favorite travel celebrities, explore the world under one roof, and so much more!
Saturday, January 12: 10:00am-5:00pm
Sunday, January 13: 11:00am-4:00pm
We are looking forward to seeing you this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center!
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2019 Tours
Head over to davidmcguffin.com to check out our 2019 tour line-up, which now features a chart to help you choose the best vacation that’s right for you.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Dec 14, 2018 | news
Christmas Markets 2019
Are you feeling the stress of that last-minute shopping and wishing you could just get away? Why not join us next year on our Christmas Markets Tour! Travel through a European winter wonderland and get all your holiday shopping done at the outdoor Christmas markets, which feature unique decorations, beautifully handcrafted arts, and endless opportunities to sample great food, glüwein, punch, and spiced drinks. As a bonus, you’ll soak in all the great sights in Salzburg, Schwangau, Rothenburg, Munich, Nürnberg, and more without having to fight throngs of tourists.
Check out the itinerary and sign up for our 2019 tour today.
Want to see more? Watch my 60-second video about the Christmas market in the Munich Airport.
Follow us on Facebook and YouTube for more videos from David’s travels.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Sep 28, 2018 | news
Christmas Markets Tour
This December, explore Germany and Austria in the offseason, avoid the crowds and enjoy the magic of snow-covered landscapes and bright Christmas markets.
Sign up by October 1 to receive a $100 discount on the tour, plus single travelers will receive $200 off the single room supplement.
Check out the itinerary and sign up here.
More Ways to Save
Calendar Photo Submissions
The deadline to submit photos for the 2019 calendar is October 15. If your photo is chosen you will receive $100 off your next Exploring Europe vacation.
Scrapbook Contest
It’s that time of year again! Enter the virtual scrapbook contest and you could win a free seat on any 2019 David McGuffin tour. A virtual scrapbook is a great way to share your tour experiences, and making a website is easier than you might think. So, get out those digital photos and travel journals and show off your memories! The deadline to enter is February 5, 2019.
Here’s a post that will help you get started with choosing a website builder (scroll down for a review of eight of the most popular), then head over to our website to see the rules and enter the contest.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Sep 21, 2018 | news
Christmas Markets Tour
Flights are selling at record low prices from the USA to Munich for the first week of December. These roundtrip fares to Munich are selling, right now, from $505. Check out the price on: Rome2Rio, Orbitz or at your favorite air carrier’s website. Find a fare and snag it, then join me and Charlotte for our Christmas Markets tour in December.
You’ll need to depart the USA on Saturday, 12/1/18 to arrive at the Munich Airport (MUC) the next morning (12/2/18). We will pick you up at the airport and whisk you away to Salzburg to begin the tour! Schedule your return flight for Sunday, 12/9/18.
To sweeten the pot, I will add an early Christmas bonus to all who sign up right away. Join my tour and pay your deposit by October 1, 2018, and receive a $100 discount on the tour. Currently, my Christmas Markets Tour is selling for $3189 per person. If you are a single traveler, I’ll reduce the single room supplement to $359, a $200 savings off of the advertised price.
Christmas Markets pop up all over Central Europe during the first weeks of December. These outdoor markets feature unique decorations, beautifully handcrafted arts, and endless opportunities to sample some great food and countless varieties of glüwein, punch, and spiced drinks, served piping hot in souvenir mugs.
But there is more to this tour than snow-sprinkled markets! You’ll enjoy visiting many destinations that, during the busy tourist season, are packed shoulder-to-shoulder with sweaty tourists. Traveling off-season means easy access to the castles and sights in Salzburg, Schwangau, Rothenburg, Munich, Nürnberg, and more. There has never been a better time to visit Europe’s winter wonderland destinations.
All our tours are designed for strictly small groups ranging from 6 to 18 travelers. This means we can travel off the beaten path and under the big bus tour radar and experience Europe on a unique and personal level. Eating well is also a priority, and you’ll get your fair share of fine food sourced locally by excellent chefs. I’ve spent years poking around Europe’s nooks and crannies looking for unique restaurants, clean hotels with character and cozy B&Bs. Our tours include all tips and gratuities to drivers, local guides, and your tour leader. Finally, we’ll never nickel and dime you with extras and add-ons. The advertised price is the price you pay.
So, what are you waiting for? Why not take a vacation to Europe in December? Head over to my website to sign up today.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Sep 1, 2018 | news
Best of Italy, October 14-27
Take $500 off when you sign up now.
Visit the essential tourist sites and classic destinations in Rome and Florence, take in the Mediterranean coast and experience a classic hilltown. Then head to Venice and Lake Como, and cap off your trip with a visit to Milan. Here are just a few of the highlights on this tour:
- Experience the life of the Popes at the Vatican Museum
- Take in the most famous gladiatorial arena at the Colosseum
- Hike through vineyards or catch some sun along the Mediterranean
- Sample local wine and cuisine in Volterra
- Marvel at Michelangelo’s David
- Walk the halls that once belonged to the powerful Medici family
- Float down the canals of Venice in a gondola
- Have a coffee in the famous St. Mark’s Square
- Take a cruise on beautiful Lake Como
- Visit the iconic Duomo of Milan
- See da Vinci’s Last Supper
- And more!
See the full itinerary and sign up for an upcoming tour here.
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Christmas Markets Tour
Have you started planning your Christmas vacation? Why not join David on his Christmas Markets tour! Christmas Markets pop up all over Central Europe during the first weeks of December. These outdoor markets feature unique decorations, beautifully handcrafted arts, and endless opportunities to sample some great food and countless varieties of glüwein, punch, and spiced drinks, served piping hot in souvenir mugs.
But there is more to this tour than snow-sprinkled markets! You’ll enjoy visiting many destinations that, during the busy tourist season, are packed shoulder-to-shoulder with sweaty tourists. Traveling off-season means easy access to the castles and sights in Salzburg, Schwangau, Rothenburg, Munich, Nürnberg, and more. There has never been a better time to visit Europe’s winter wonderland destinations. Sign up here.
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Scrapbook Contest
It’s that time of year again! Enter the virtual scrapbook contest and you could win a free seat on any 2019 David McGuffin tour. A virtual scrapbook is a great way to share your tour experiences, and making a website is easier than you might think. So, get out those digital photos and travel journals and show off your memories!
Here’s a post that will help you get started with choosing a website builder (scroll down for a review of eight of the most popular), then head over to our website to see the rules and enter the contest.
The deadline to enter is February 5, 2019.
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Calendar Photo Submissions
Dust off those albums (or flash drives)! Send us your best Exploring Europe photo and it could be included in the 2019 calendar. If your photo is chosen you will receive $100 off your next Exploring Europe vacation!
The deadline to submit photos is October 15.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Aug 17, 2018 | news
Wines of Tuscany: White Wine
To cap off my blog series about the wines of Tuscany, let’s talk about the white wine choices. Tuscany is most famous for its red wine, but there are a few whites that stand out as well. Many people think that all Italians drink only red wine, this could not be farther from the truth. In fact, Italians, and especially those in Tuscany, prefer to drink red wine when eating fatty foods and heavy cheeses. If they’re simply going to sit around and drink, it will be a glass of white wine, a beer or another refreshing nonalcoholic beverage. So, let’s take a look at some of the popular white wines of Tuscany.
VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO is a DOCG wine produced from the Vernaccia grape grown in the vicinity of San Gimignano. Many experts agree that this is the oldest grape variety in Italy. It has shown up in historical records dating back to 1276, and Dante mentions Vernaccia as a contributing factor to Pope Martin IV’s gluttony in his Inferno (loosely translated as “he ate pickled eels in vernaccia”). According to DOCG regulations, Vernaccia di San Gimignano must contain at least 90% Vernaccia. Vintners may add up to 10% of other approved white grape varieties. In order to achieve riserva status, it must be aged at least 12 months. The wine is crisp with lots of acidity and laced with tart apple and citrus flavors. Serve it chilled. It makes a good easy-drinking and refreshing wine for everyday use or to drink on a hot summer’s day.
VERMENTINO is a grape variety which is usually grown near the seaside. The resulting wine offers a crisp feel on the tongue with floral and fruity flavors. It often possesses some salty undertones, especially from the grapes grown at the seaside. This is another very drinkable wine that pairs well with fresh fish, roasted vegetables or goat cheese.
Other White Wines
There are some other less-important white wine grapes grown in Tuscany but for me, the two mentioned above stand out above all others. Of course, other regions of Italy produce some very good white wines, mostly based on the Trebbiano grape. Most notable are Orvieto Classico (Umbria) and Soave (Verona).
I can’t end my discussion about white wine without mentioning my favorite Italian region of Liguria. Located along the mountainous seaside are five little villages known as the Cinque Terre. Only here will you find their wine: Cinque Terre DOC. This wine must contain at least 40% of the local Bosco grape, but may also contain up to 40% of both Vermentino and Albarola. The final 20% can contain white varieties approved by the local wine consortium. You can’t find this wine outside the Cinque Terre! So, even if you don’t like wine, go there and give this unique crisp and dry wine a try!
If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.
Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.
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Calendar Photo Submissions
Dust off those albums (or flash drives)! Send us your best Exploring Europe photo and it could be included in the 2019 calendar. If your photo is chosen you will receive $100 off your next Exploring Europe vacation! The deadline to submit photos is October 15.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
