The Talking Suitcase

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Foodies Guide to the Norwegian Spirit Cruise Ship with all Restaurants on the Norwegian Spirit

March 28, 2018 by Dana Zeliff Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

The Norwegian Spirit cruise ship offered a variety of dining options. Regardless of your mood or the hour, you’ll find tasty offerings around the ship. There were 5 complementary venues in addition to the buffet, 5 specialty restaurants including sushi, a café and room service. With Freestyle cruising, you choose where and when you want to dine.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Cruising, NCL

Norwegian Spirit Cruise Reviews: 10-Day Canary Islands, Spain & Morocco from Barcelona

March 22, 2018 by Dana Zeliff 11 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

In February we took our 2nd cruise with NCL, this time on the Norwegian Spirit, out of Barcelona.  The Norwegian Spirit is the oldest and smallest ship in NCL’s fleet.  But what she lacked in size, she made up for in quality of service. The staff was truly excellent with smiles and great service during the entire cruise.  We booked this cruise solely for the itinerary.  But alas, Mother Nature had other ideas.  Even with the itinerary changes it was still a great experience. I hardly saw my kids the entire 10 days! (But that’s not what made it great!) If you’re thinking of sailing, keep reading to see our extensive Norwegian Spirit cruise reviews.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Cruising, NCL

Family Friendly Day Trips from Marrakech, Morocco

March 12, 2018 by Dana Zeliff 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Nestled in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, Marrakech is a lively city bursting with vendors, locals and tourists. One of the great things about staying in Marrakech is the ease of getting to other destinations within Morocco. Marrakech has an abundance of accommodation options and dining choices to suite all budgets making it a great home base for your exploration. It’s easy to stay within the city and venture out to experience more of Morocco each day. But where to go? Below I share our family friendly day trips from Marrakech.

We took two private full-day tours during our visit to Marrakech.  The first was to the port city of Essaouira and another was to the Atlas Mountains. I highly recommend both tours, but I would change up the Atlas Mountains trip to see the famous Ouzoud waterfalls.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Destinations, Morocco, Africa Tagged With: Marrakech

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Discount Tickets Plus Tampa Coupons 2019

March 1, 2018 by Dana Zeliff Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Busch Gardens has changed everything for the 2018 season except for single day tickets. There are now three membership options – basic, unlimited and premier.  See the benefits HERE to deterine which membership level is best fo you. I’ve rounded up all the Busch Gardens Williamsburg discount tickets information plus all the Tampa Bay Area Busch Gardens Discounts. For active duty military, there is also a great new Busch Garden military discount.

There are a ton of discount tickets for Busch Gardens available to suite all budgets.  Make sure to order online to get the best price and to save time at the gate!

The standard Williamsburg single day admission = $90 for ages 3+. 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: US Travel, Virginia, Travel Budget Tips, Florida, Destinations

Travel to Normandy, France & Teach Kids the Importance of D-Day

February 26, 2018 by Dana Zeliff Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

You can’t visit Northern France and not take time to reflect on the history and sacrifices made during the Battle of Normandy. Codenamed Operation Overlord, 156,000 American, Canadian and British forces landed on five beaches of the heavily fortified Normandy coast on  June 6, 1944. During the October school holiday, we decided to travel to Normandy, France and let the kids learn more about the importance of D-Day than they could ever get from their history books.

It was difficult to stand on the beautiful beaches of the French coast and imagine the Allies landing along this stretch of pristine sand.  Walking along the shoreline after visiting the museums, bunkers and cemeteries helped put the battle into perspective.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: France, Europe Travel with Kids, Destinations Tagged With: Normandy France

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Dana. Planning a great trip shouldn't mean spending endless evenings scrolling travel forums, watching videos, and sorting through conflicting opinions online.

I've spent years exploring the world with my husband and our two kids, and those experiences shape how I help clients plan their own vacations. Together, we've visited 48 countries across four continents and spent nearly four years living in France.

Whether you're planning a European itinerary, a cruise vacation, an all-inclusive resort stay, or a family getaway, I'll help you sort through the options and create a trip that works for your travel style, interests, and budget. Read More…

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