Tobias Sweijen and Katarina Bagherian are the founders of Swaphouse, a free home-swapping platform helping people travel more affordably by exchanging homes with others around the world. Tobias is a product manager with a background in digital products, growth and user experience, while Katarina is a product, UX and customer insights leader who helps founders and teams build products people truly need. Together, they started Swaphouse after experiencing first-hand how difficult and expensive it is to find accommodation that was both affordable and suitable for longer, more flexible stays. What […]

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The wind hit the ridge hard enough that I leaned forward to keep my balance. Ahead of me, a narrow path followed the crest of the mountain like a thread pulled tight between two regions of Italy. On one side lay Tuscany. On the other, Emilia-Romagna. As the clouds shifted, a deep blue circle suddenly appeared below the ridge: Lago Scaffaiolo. At that moment it was hard to believe I was still in Tuscany. Most travelers imagine Tuscany as vineyards, medieval villages, and leisurely afternoons tasting wine in the Val […]

The post Tuscany Above the Clouds: A Guide to the Glacial Lakes and Ridges of the Northern Apennines appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

When most travelers dream of Tuscany, their minds immediately drift to the Val d’Orcia: sun-drenched rolling hills, neat rows of cypress trees, and sprawling vineyards. It is a beautiful image, a classic “Renaissance” landscape that has been manicured by human hands for centuries. But as a professional hiking guide living in this region, I know it is only half the story. If you travel just a short distance north of the famous art cities like Florence or Pistoia, the landscape undergoes a radical transformation. The vineyards disappear, the horizon rises, […]

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The Hunter Valley is a bit of a legend in Australia. As our oldest wine region, it carries a certain weight. But for a first-time visitor, it can be… overwhelming. On my first trip years ago, I made the classic mistake: I bounced between the three giant, famous wineries you see on every billboard, tasted the same two styles of wine, and left feeling like I’d missed something. I had. The real soul of the Hunter isn’t on the main road. It’s tucked down dusty driveways, in small tin sheds, […]

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The lush, picturesque Valle de Guadalupe in Ensenada, Baja California, has come into its own as one of the leading wine destinations on both sides of the border. The valley is located 80 miles from San Diego, California, making it easily accessible by car to Southern California locals and visitors who want a taste of Wine Country–with an international twist! One of the premier winery destinations in this region is the El Cielo Resort. Tuscany in Baja California If you have ever visited Tuscany, Italy, the moment you enter the […]

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Tuscany is a historic Italian province which showcases the very best of Italian culture, architecture, food, and wine. Its strategic location on the West coast has meant that it has been colonised many times under many rulers, first by the Roman empire in 351 BC to the Napoleonic empire in 1808. As a small and visually stunning Italian province, which is easily accessible by car, Tuscany makes an ideal destination for keen tourists and has an abundance of historical monuments, picturesque plazas, and traditional Italian food to explore. Here are […]

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National Oyster Day is August 5th and what a better place to celebrate than in Providence, Rhode Island?! With a renowned culinary scene, seafood lovers can enjoy the best of the best at multiple bars and restaurants serving up the freshest oysters. Here are some of the top places to get affordable oysters in Providence, Rhode Island – Cheers! Mill’s Tavern (101 North Main St.) Take a seat at the bar for Half Price Happy Hour everyday from 5:00PM-6:30PM and enjoy oysters on the half shell paired with a crisp […]

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I’m lucky enough to have lived in Tuscany for several years. During my time in the Chianti region, I consumed hundreds of biscotti made by professional bakers and family members alike. If you’re not familiar with these baked goods, you’re missing a delectable treat. In Italian, biscotti means twice-baked and they literally are twice-baked cookies. This biscuit originated in the Tuscan city of Prato but they are now popular all over Italy and far beyond. There’s even a National Biscotti Day celebrated annually on September 29th. These oblong, nut-filled biscuits are […]

The post Aspen Meadows Resort a Dolce Resort: The World’s Best Biscotti Are In Aspen, Colorado appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

As a wine enthusiast, I seek to sample wines from lesser-known regions. While I appreciate the supple richness and velvety texture of a Pomerol from Bordeaux and the complex fruit concentrations of Southern Tuscany’s great Brunello di Montalcino, it’s the pours from destinations that are not yet written on the wine lover’s map that really get my palate going. I recently visited Switzerland’s Lake Geneva Region. It’s a gorgeous part of one the most stunning countries in the world. This French-speaking swath is full of Gallic joie de vivre and […]

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The concept of taking a road trip sounds carefree and largely based on serendipity. But after rearranging your schedule and marking time on your calendar, the realization sets in that you need a planned itinerary and well equipped vehicle to get you to the most scenic routes and can’t-miss sights. It helps to have comfort and navigational assistance like you get in Chevy’s 2019 Equinox. I recently tried it out on a coastal road trip to Portland Maine and found that sitting in the driver’s seat places you in command […]

The post Chevy’s 2019 Equinox Gets Me to Portland Maine’s Growing Artisan Food & Beverage Scene appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Though frequently called the Tuscany of the North of Italy, the Oltrepò Pavese in Lombardy, only 40 miles south of Milan, is fairly unknown abroad. Tourists pass the area closely when travelling to the real Tuscany, to Umbria or further south. This is a pity as the Oltrepò really offers something worthwhile for almost every tourist, especially food and wine lovers. The area offers smooth hills, medieval villages and castles, panoramic views, authentic Italian food and local wines. The Oltrepò happens to be the largest wine producing area of Lombardy […]

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Online shoppers don’t need to wait until the days after Thanksgiving to save big. Cyber Summer deals are available today for 24 hours only — 19 select hotels and resorts are offering exclusive summer savings to celebrate the first official day of summer. Starting at midnight EST travelers will find discounted rates averaging 35% and up to 50% in savings. So whether you want to visit Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean or South Florida, it’s not too late to plan your trip. While you must book your stay today, travel dates […]

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After 600 years, the Antinori Family, arguably Italy’s most well-known wine family opened their newest estate winery to the public in early 2013 (by appointment). The cellar is located about 25 minutes from Florence and 30 minutes from Siena. While this is a large winery (67,000 square feet), its physical footprint is barely seen because the entire winery and parking facilities are located underground and are built into the side of a hill. The winery is a testament to the family’s heritage; they are one of the world’s oldest continuously […]

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The vines of Burgundy, Tuscany and Napa Valley produce some of the world’s most polished pours. While you can use many superlatives to describe these oenophile’s Disneyland, it’s a stretch of the imagination to describe any of these famed wine-producing regions as undiscovered. While Myanmar is no threat to Bordeaux as the next global grape deity, I was surprised that any wine at all is being produced here. The pagoda-laden landscape may not seem like a natural fit for vineyards, but pioneering vintners are experimenting with wine producing. I had […]

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“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” -Bilbo Baggins, Fellowship of the Ring I never wanted to go backpacking. I had no interest in staying in hostels. An introvert by nature, I found the peace and privacy of a hotel room necessary, not only for the enjoyment of the trip, but for my mental sanity. Then the cheapskate side of me spoke up. I had a trip […]

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