Travel Squire | Luxury Travel Magazine

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 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

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

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

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]

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

Following the Red Thread in Hannover

“Why would you want to go there? There’s nothing to see!” This was the usual reaction after I announced my plans to travel to Hannover in northern Germany. Truth be told, it wasn’t on my bucket list of must-see cities either, but a good friend kept inviting me and I … Read more

5 Things to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Cruise

Every year millions of people choose to cruise for their vacation. And why not? You unpack once, someone else does the “driving” and you get to explore fascinating ports of call every day. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best one for you? Very … Read more

History Hopping in Ireland, Part Two

Driving Ireland’s snaking country roads is both a challenge and a thrill. You just never know what you’ll uncover. We had already traversed hundreds of miles and crossed several counties; the awe inspiring 7 estates we toured only fueled the fire to discover more of Ireland’s storied past. We were … Read more

Rock of Cashel Ireland's Castles & Country Houses

Ireland’s Castles & Country Houses – Part One

Rock of Cashel I was feeling a wee bit peckish after the early morning arrival of the six hour flight to Dublin from New York so we decided to stop for breakfast on the way to Cashel Rock. At a quaint spot called Over the Bakery near this ancient site, … Read more

Puri Mas Beach Resort, Lombok, Indonesia

“Dancing with the Stars” on the Indonesian island of Lombok? Not quite, but the weekly evening dance and cultural performances at Puri Mas Beach Resort often include a delightful adaptation, with young local dancers. They’re taught through a “giving back” social dance program by the boutique hotel’s Dutch owner, a … Read more

The Real Foods of Tuscany

There is no such thing as Italian food. The country is made up of twenty regions with distinct characteristics. Every town, every village makes the same dish in vastly different ways, just like they speak different dialects and wear different traditional costumes. Tuscany is arguably most famous for Chianti and … Read more

Mardi Gras in Lake Charles Louisiana

“Hey mister throw me something” is what you’ll hear along the routes of any one of the nine Mardi Gras parades in Lark Charles, Louisiana. That “something” will be ropes of brightly colored beads that people, dressed in the regalia of their Krewe, toss from their floats. New Orleans is … Read more