Le Cordon Bleu London

Mon Dieu, I’ve Poached a Lobster

A Le Cordon Bleu Cooking Class Experience First, a small confession:  I’m not great in the kitchen. I can make a mean apple pie (provided I use a ready-made crust), and my husband calls me the “Soup Queen” (really, I just toss things in a pot and add chicken stock), but … Read more

Paris France

Paris Fashion Week Agenda

Every spring and fall, the global fashion hive congregates in Paris and Milan for a much hyped week or so of runway shows, parties, dinners, and celebrity sightings. In the Paris phase of the circuit it’s tough to score access to the shows unless you’re a bona fide fashion editor … Read more

Chalice Sculpture at Cathedral Square with earthquake damaged building in background

Christchurch New Zealand Rising from the Ashes

If you’re traveling to New Zealand’s South Island, chances are you’ll be passing through Christchurch, its biggest town. Well-known for its English heritage and beautiful gardens, the city of around 350,000 locals was a favorite tourist destination until February 22, 2011, at 12.51 pm local time when a 6.3 magnitude … 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

Chihuly: Red Reeds on Logs at New York Botanical Garden 2017 - TravelSquire

Chihuly at New York Botanical Garden: Dazzling Glass

As I walk the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden, I admire a towering white tree. Bursts of fire-engine red emanate from its center, the tree’s slender white branches curling like Medusa as they reach for the sky. But this rare, glorious tree, situated on 250 acres of garden … Read more

A group of people on a cutting board

On the Inside Track with Le Cordon Bleu

“A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.” You’ve picked forest mushrooms, enjoyed Arctic berries, and sampled Mediterranean … Read more

Stand Up Paddle Boarding in Keauhou Bay

Outdoor Adventures on the Island of Hawaii

Posh resorts and idyllic beaches are the primary draw for people visiting the Island of Hawaii, but possibly not on the radar is its breadth of outdoor adventure possibilities that set this island apart. Active volcanos, black sand beaches, lava reefs and lush rainforests deliver remarkable diversity. Nearly twice as … Read more

Snow Hike: This is what 47 inches of snow looks like when you are in them.

Adventure Travel in Québec Maritime

What did I know about Quebec in winter? Not much. I knew it would be cold and there’d be snow. Combined, that made running the obstacle course at La Forêt de Maître Corbeau that much harder. I sweated through three layers of clothing, I strained, I swore. But I finished!  … Read more

Santa Barbaras Mission Architecture

Santa Barbara & The Santa Ynez Valley

Beaches, upscale food and wine joints and modern lodging only begin to describe Santa Barbara, California.  Formerly a haven for surfers and touted for its perfect blend of Spanish Mission Style architecture, today there’s a mini-fascination with this “American Riviera” situated in Malibu’s backyard. The charming community along California’s Central … Read more

Experiential travel with Le Cordon Bleu

Experiential Travel with Le Cordon Bleu

  Travel shouldn’t just be about seeing the sights. Today’s modern travelers know they can have a deeper connection with a destination and sometimes that’s life-changing.  If you’re headed on a European getaway that includes Paris or London or thinking of finally seeing Canada’s awesome capital of Ottawa, why not … Read more

Travel apps you need to download

Travel Apps You Need to Download

Since when does anyone leave home without their phone? It’s probably the most important thing in your possession when you travel, too. It’s more than an invaluable tool. Your smart phone is your connection to important social media happenings. You don’t want to miss out on who did what while … Read more

cruise ship, cruising, fathom

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.

 

 

 

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Buenos Aires First Gay Subway Station

Buenos Aires Plays Its Gay Trump Card

Step aside, Spain.  Monday, March 20th, marked the opening of the newly inaugurated Carlos Jáuregui subway station in Buenos Aires. So, what’s the big deal?  In another giant step forward for gay awareness, the station, formerly the “Santa Fe” stop on the H line, is the first in the world … Read more

S Bars NYC Kitano FeatureTerrace Empire State Building Night

New York’s Best Rooftop Bars

Now that it’s officially spring, rooftop season is about to take off. Temperatures across the country are climbing into the 60’s and the forecast for the coming week in NYC looks promising. While New York City is no stranger to rooftop bars, it’s a clever idea to discover the best … Read more