Feb 22, 2011

Home vs. Hotel (Part I)

An Interview w/ Lara Dunston of Grantourismo

By Lisa T. Bergren

Note: This is Part One of my interview with Lara Dunston of Grantourismo. Part Two of our Grantourismo interview follows as a separate post.

I’ve been following travel writer Lara Dunston and her photographer hubby, Terence Carter, since I heard they were going on a tour ’round the world, in partnership with HomeAway Holiday-Rentals. I was fantasizing about doing the exact same thing with my family, and love villas and apartments, so I was instantly engaged. The stories they posted on Grantourismo made me feel like I was along for the ride, and I figured they’d found out even more about rental homes that would be valuable for families like us, whether we were looking for a week away or longer. What follows is our chat… Continue reading

Feb 22, 2011

Home vs. Hotel (Part II)

More family travel chit chat w/ Lara of Grantourismo

By Lisa T. Bergren

NOTE: This is a continuation of my interview with Lara Dunston of Grantourismo. Read Part One of our interview if you’d like to know more!

Lisa: Talk to me about scouting out local grocery stores and tricks you’ve learned about getting what you want when you don’t speak the language.

Lara: You’d assume that all property owners would have a folder of information in the apartment that lists the nearest supermarket or market, but not all do. Continue reading

Jan 15, 2011

The Luxury of Time

The Ultimate Form of Travel

By Lisa T. Bergren

I’m one of Those Travelers who tries to get a feel for a new place on a taster menu—in a lot of succulent bites. But we’ve returned to a few spots that have captured us the most and not spent time lost in maps or itineraries, but rather feasted on genuinely abiding in that unique intersection of longitude and latitude. Such experiences leave us pleasantly full. Continue reading

Jul 22, 2010

Comfort of the Known

The Family Lake Home in Montana

By Lisa T. Bergren

Return to the place you loved or go someplace new? What is the value, the power of each? I’ve been contemplating this, of late. Because I’m drawn to both the Exploration of the New and the Comfort of the Known. Each has its charms; there are so many places in the world I want to see (check out our web site’s name) that it’s very hard for me to return to a location I’ve already been. Continue reading

Apr 11, 2010

Traveling with an Older Generation

Tips for Families on Trips with Seniors

By Lisa T. Bergren

Traveling with seniors? Over the years, we’ve enjoyed our trips with our parents, loving the shared experiences and memories. But as we all get older, it’s gotten a bit more complicated. Here are some tips I’ve compiled in regard to traveling with seniors:

1. Don’t over-schedule the trip Continue reading