Vacation Inspirations: Amsterdam

The Best January Travel Destinations

The start of a New Year is a great time to travel, and Travel and Leisure’s list of the best places to visit in January is the perfect place to find some inspiration for your first trip of 2020. Try a trip to Cartagena Columbia and explore the ancient walls of Cartagena’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The colonial architecture in Cartagena is also amazing, as are the restaurants and festivals. Cartagena hosts plenty of great events in January including the Hay Festival, the Fried Food Festival and the Cartagena International Music Festival. If you prefer a more tropical destination Barbados also makes Travel and Leisure’s list of January’s best places to travel; there you can enjoy 80 degree waters, pink sand beaches, and phenomenal arts and culture. Spend a day browsing artifacts at the Barbados Museum, a former British military prison, or visit St. Nicholas Abbey, a rare Jacobean-style mansion built in 1660. Another one of Travel and Leisure’s recommended options during the first month of the New Year is Amsterdam, the eighth annual Amsterdam Light Festival will be happening through January 19th, and National Tulip Day is on January 18th, a holiday that marks the start of tulip season, celebrated with a huge event at Dam Square. Other Amsterdam highlights include the cities many great museums and wide variety of restaurants, many of which serve local specialties such as stroopwafels, oliebollen, and poffertjes. Stay stateside and enjoy one of the world’s best January destinations with a trip to sunny Key West Florida. The nightlife is amazing, you can visit the Ernest Hemmingway House and Museum, and the cities spectacular dining scene will be front and center at the Key West Food & Wine Festival, beginning on January 26. Contact the Vacation Inspirations member services department today to inquire about travel packages to any of Travel and Leisure’s recommended destinations; we can also customize an itinerary for you and your family. You can read Travel and Leisure’s full list of the best places to travel in January at their website, <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/best-places-travel-january">https://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/best-places-travel-january</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visit Amsterdam with Vacation Inspirations </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cartagena Columbia </td></tr>
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The Best January Travel Destinations

The start of a New Year is a great time to travel, and Travel and Leisure’s list of the best places to visit in January is the perfect place...

6:37 PM

Visit Amersterdam Netherlands with Vacation Inspirations

Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a fantastic vacation destination - let Vacation Inspirations plan the ultimate Amsterdam vacation for you and your family. From the Van Gogh Museum to Dam Square to the Heineken Experience and more, Amsterdam has it all. Choose from luxury hotels, fantastic condo style suites and premium boutique properties. Call today for a customized itinerary, or learn more about this capital city at<br />
<a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-netherlands/amsterdam/top-things-to-do/a/poi/360839" target="_blank"> https://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-netherlands/amsterdam/top-things-to-do/a/poi/360839 </a><br />
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Visit Amersterdam Netherlands with Vacation Inspirations

Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a fantastic vacation destination - let Vacation Inspirations plan the ultimate Amsterdam vacation for you an...

3:32 PM

Travel Blog with Vacation Inspirations Connie Maher

River Cruising with Avalon Waterways<br />
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I attended a travel conference in March on Avalon’s
beautiful Illumination. The ship was awesome and the food delicious. The bed in
my stateroom faced wall to wall windows, which opened, and looked out onto the
river. The bathroom was oversize with plenty of storage room in cabinets below
the sink. I cannot say enough good things about the crew and the service, from
the captain on down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div>
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We started in Brussels with a tour of that beautiful city.
The main square is literally that, and on all sides lined with beautiful
buildings, many of them starting out as Guild Houses. </div>
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From Brussels we went to Ghent and Bruges, called the Venice
of the north because of all it’s canals. Those are both medieval cities that
have been lovingly preserved and they are two of the most charming places I
have ever been. Our guides were excellent, giving us an overview of the history
up until modern times. The joke became that whoever was against France, the
Belgium’s chose as their ally. We also learned that Belgium is very dependent
on the Germany economy and consider it the strongest country in the EU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If you go to Belgium, and I highly recommend
that you do, you will fall in love with it. I could have spent weeks there.</div>
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From Belgium we crossed over to the Netherlands and our stops
included Willemstad. There we saw the still preserved German bunkers from
WWII.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It was a very eerie feeling being
there and thinking about that terrible was. But the windmills were everywhere
and they were enchanting.</div>
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The Kukenhof gardens were next and although we were a little
early for most of the tulip beds, there were huge greenhouses with all of the
varieties of flowers that are featured there. I can understand why people
return there year after year.</div>
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The biggest surprise of the trip was Rotterdam. Most of the
old city was destroyed by bombing during WWII and has been rebuilt with the
most amazing modern architecture. I wouldn’t’ have thought myself such a big
fan but this city really is the best of the best. </div>
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We reluctantly left our ship in Amsterdam for the flight
home. This trip was one that I will remember fondly for years.</div>
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Next month I will be aboard Royal Caribbean’s new Quantum of
the Seas. I can’t wait to report back to you on this amazing ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Another travel conference, this time with
most of our vendors represented onboard. I will have a lot to tell you.</div>
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Then in May, we will have a report on Vikings new sea ship
and it’s itinerary through Scandinavia and Russia.</div>
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Til then, happy travels!</div>
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Connie Maher, Vacation Inspirations Director of Travel Services</div>
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P.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Would you like
to share one of your travel experiences with us? We’d be delighted to hear from
you. Just send an email to <a href="mailto:travelservicesmanager@gmail.com">travelservicesmanager@gmail.com</a>.</div>