Jeff Greif, Author at Travel Squire

Nikko, Japan: City of Zen

You’re in Tokyo and pumped up on all the adrenaline the city has to offer; but don’t forget about getting outside the locus. Consider a day trip to Nikko. Passengers depart from Tokyo’s Asakusa station via the Tobu Railway, and the smooth, Limited Express train journey takes just under two … Read more

My City: Toronto with Lisa Graziotto

Toronto is a fascinating destination, a hybrid city that is Canada’s most visited destination. It’s a center of big-ticket events and attractions, top notch restaurants, music, architecture, culture, festivals and pro sports including the Toronto Blue Jays. We chatted with artist and resident Lisa Graziotto, a born and bred Canadian, … Read more

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo: A Place of Cultural Immersion

Many hotels serve as a respite from the bustling cities they serve—a place to relax and recharge. Located in the heart of Japan’s capital city, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo certainly provides a place to relax while surrounding you with a bounty of cultural experiences. It begins with … Read more

6 US Distilleries You Can Visit

Who doesn’t enjoy a few sips of a fine spirit now and then? If you’re looking for a deeper connection with one of the favorites, check out these six U.S. distilleries that you can visit. From rum to moonshine to bourbon, these distilleries offer tours with benefits … you get … Read more

Paris with Le Cordon Bleu Chef Guillaume Siegler

Paris is one of the world’s most alluring destinations. So, when I recently met up with Le Cordon Bleu, Paris’ Chef Guillaume Siegler, to ask him a few questions about his adopted home from a resident’s point of view, I was not surprised by his responses. With a tenure at … Read more

A room filled with furniture and a table in a restaurant

American Airlines Ups Dining Ante

When was the last time you had a great dinner in an airport lounge? Some airlines offer free snacks and small plates in their lounges as well as food for purchase but now American Airlines has upped their game. Last week the carrier broke out of the mold by opening … Read more

The Squire’s Tips For Spending Your Tax Refund

Are you the average American?

Why? The average American will get a tax refund in the amount of just under $3,000.

Travel is one of the best ways possible to spend that refund.

Travel Squire’s Editor-in-Chief (me) just appeared on TV station WCIU Chicago’s You & Me, and shared some ideas on what can be done with that cash back from the IRS. Although I discussed Chicago-centric ideas for that money, here are ways you can take advantage of them on a national level.

$250 Tax Return—Stay Close to Home

My suggestion: Make yours a “staycation” with CityPASS. CityPASS ticket booklets provide substantial savings along with speedy entry into some of the top attractions in twelve destinations in North America. This is a wonderful way to see important sights that you may not have visited in awhile such as Willis Tower or the Art Institute of Chicago.

CityPASS is available in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, NYC, Philly, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto.

Check out CityPASS website for more www.citypass.com

$1,000 Tax Return—Cruise for a Cause

My suggestion: Get to Miami and take a Fathom Cruise to Cuba and the Dominican Republic. You can take an authentic “cruise for good” by booking with Fathom before they discontinue at the end of May.

Volunteer to teach English, pour concrete floors, make water filters, all the while meeting local residents. This is a fantastic way to give back with your tax dollars, as well as being a life changing experience.

Check out the Fathom site: www.fathom.org

$3,000 Tax Return Splurge

Go to Europe via Iceland on WOW Airlines. This new airline carrier, which launched in 2012, offers low fares to European destinations from seven gateway cities in the USA. Chicago flights commence July 12, as WOW’s eighth US gateway. Currently airfares to Europe start below $400 during peak summer season with destinations like Paris, Milan, London, Bristol, Cork, Edinburgh and Warsaw, Poland.

WOW fares do not include either checked or carry-on luggage so you’ll need to account for those when planning your budget for this trip of a lifetime.

Check out WOW airlines site: www.wowair.com

Attention all average Americans: Spend those tax refunds on travel.

Check out my segment from today’s “You and Me” show on WCIU Chicago.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDxSBznzuO8[/embedyt]

The Shilla Hotel, Seoul

Seoul is one of the most vibrant cities in Asia but very different from other cities there as it is sprawling with many neighborhoods spread out from one another. It is much like Los Angeles with mountains all around. Taking a taxi from one area to another involves going through … Read more

Thompson Hotel, Chicago

Traveling frequently to Chicago for business, I seem to be forever in search of a hotel that pampers the business traveler and offers unique amenities on site so if free time arises I can kick back and enjoy my surroundings. I recently discovered that The Thompson Hotel fits the bill … Read more

The Essential Guide to Skiing the Rockies

Weather you are new to skiing or a seasoned pro, the expansive terrain and powder of the Canadian Rockies and Western Mountains offer something for every skillset. Here we have charted some of the best ski resorts and mountains with everything from bunny slopes to the most intense verticals. Mt. … Read more

Travel Squire Announces the Hot 28 Destinations for 2016

From far flung places to urban spaces, our editors have narrowed down our list of the most intriguing places to take your next journey in 2016, places you should add to your “dream list.” The Top 28 Hot Destinations for 2016 offers visually pleasing sights and some very interesting things … Read more

Power to Go

If you’re anything like me, then you travel with all your gadgets. Have you ever been away from home and discovered that your electronic devices just weren’t getting enough power? You check-in to your hotel and as you’re unpacking you notice there aren’t enough outlets to charge your phones, iPad, … Read more

The Redbury Hollywood

The Redbury Bordello Chic on Hollywood and Vine What is the most famous intersection in Los Angeles? The answer of course is the legendary Hollywood and Vine. Once again these avenues are making history all over again as the location of the The Redbury. The Redbury is where bordello chic meets … Read more

The Regent Beijing

China’s capital is a noisy, fast paced metropolis, the city’s energy pulling you in as soon as you arrive. The sensations of the lights, smells and action in the streets can easily exhaust anyone visiting for either business or pleasure. It’s nice to know that there is a hotel like … Read more

St. Petersburg, Russia’s Intellectual City

Many of you know something about St. Petersburg but few of you know its secrets. Moscow’s little sister but perhaps Russia’s real capital at least in terms of culture, it’s a city that exudes the feeling of the artists, writers and poets that made it great. After years under Communist … Read more