Search results

In amongst Netherlands, France, and Germany, we felt as if Belgium was an unspoken gem that did not receive the hype that it deserved.

My son was studying his Spring semester of college in Amsterdam and we wanted to go visit for Spring Break. We had a limited amount of time (given we also had a senior in high school) and we wanted/needed a trip that took us to places we have never seen (I had been to Europe before, but my youngest son/husband had not), made the best use of our time with our son studying abroad (we wanted to go places with him he had not been), and where we didn't need multiple wardrobes (to cut down on packing). It was quite a planning challenge! But, my husband was up for the task and everything I am sharing he planned - it was nothing short of perfect!

Seeing some of the highlights of Central Europe by combining city trips with hiking in the Tatra Mountains.

My friend suggested going long ago, so we started to plan the trip even before Covid, but Covid came, and it was postponed until then. This is an unusual trip for me, not the type of trip I would do on my own. It was the best opportunity to test my resilience!

We chose this trip because, even though we’re Turkish, we had never explored Istanbul properly — not this deeply, not this widely, and definitely not at this speed. Istanbul is a city so big, so multicultural, and so full of history that it feels like its own country, and we wanted to finally experience it through the eyes of curious travelers rather than locals passing through.

It was also the perfect chance for a girls’ trip, full of long walks, nonstop exploring, hidden corners, museums, parks, seaside neighborhoods, and all the chaotic beauty that makes Istanbul unforgettable.