This was my first coach tour and it was with Insight Vacations.  Upon arrival at Rome airport we were met by our tour guide for the week Jackie.  She assisted us in getting our baggage and then escorted us to the coach.

During the transfer to our hotel,  she gave us a safety and information session about the bus which I thought was very imformative. Upon arrival at the hotel she had our check-in completed so we were able to freshen up after our overnight flight.  If you arrive at the hotel before 3PM and the hotel doesn't have the room ready for you then you can leave your bags in a locked room.   

We began our exploring by walk down to the Spanish Steps and explore some of the area. We found a local restaurant and had our first Italian Pizza. It was a good way to begin the week of fantastic food!  That evening we ate a restaurant across the street from the hotel that was really nice.  The next day we were met by a local guide (which Insight uses in most towns)who took us on a walking tour of Rome. We tossed a coin in the Trevi Fountain and I had my first Gelato (and it wasn't the last one!!)  Saw the Pantheon, was an amazing building and lots of history. Then we headed to the Colosseum. Our guide gave us a great tour. 

We visited the Vatican with the VIP skip the line option. I would highly recommend this to anyone as the lines get extremely long.  Got to see the Sistine Chapel and our passes allowed us to walk up the Bramante Staircase that  is closed to the general public. This gives you a fantastic view from the top and beautiful views. Next on the tour was to visit St Peter's Basilica.

Our next night was in Orvieto which is a beautiful hilltop town. We had the afternoon free to walk around the town and do some shopping. For the evening meal we got to dine at Zeppelin Restaurant where Chef Lorenzo did a cooking demonstration of homemade pasta.

We then continued on to Assisi which is  so peaceful with stunning views. Our local guide did a walking tour and we seen the Basilica of St Francis. In Perugia, we visited the last weaver workshop in the world with Marta. She is a recipient of the TreadRight Foundation grant. She showed us how she is preserving the ancient craft of weaving.  

We then continued on to Siena were we walked the narrow streets and viewed the  Piazza del Duomo .   San Gimignano is were we stayed for 2 nights had such stunning views of the city was just unbelievable and  breathtaking. We were treated to the best Gelato from Sergio who is the master Gelato Maker in Italy.   

We visited Florence and had a walking tour with the opportunity to shop in the local shops to purchase some leather products.   We did a wine tasting tour at the former residence of Nicola Machiavelli with beautiful views of the olive gardens.  It was fantastic view of the Tuscany area.

We returned to Rome for our last night and was given time to explore and say good bye to Jackie our tour guide.  She went above and beyond in everything that we did. 

I had a amazing time with Insight Vacations and I would highly recommend it to my clients. This gives you the hassle free way of seeing the country without having to deal with the driving & parking which was just crazy in Italy!!  Their coaches have lots of legroom with all the aisle seats have moveable armrests for extra room.  There is USB ports for charging and free wifi  on the coach.     

I had the opportunity to visit China on a 10 day tour with On The Go Tours.  I landed in Shanghai.  Our group  had a beautiful sunset cruise on the Huangpu River and you could see the gorgeous skyscrapers and the Bund of Shanghai.  

While visiting Suzhou we had the opportunity to cruise on the canals and pretty waterways to see the classic gardens.  I got to  visited the Silk factory which was really interesting and watching the employees make the silk items.

The group then took the overnight train from Shanghai to Xi'an.  That was really an adventure!!

While in Xi'an, we visited the famous Terracotta Warrior archaeological site that has over 7000 clay warriors standing in Military formation in excavated pits.  I got the opportunity to do a bike ride on the top of the 9 mile City Wall. 

We then took the high speed train to Luoyang. Train speed was 300km/hour.

Shaolin Kung Fu Temple was our next stop at the foothills of the Songshan Mountains.  The Shaolin monks devote there time to practicing Chan Buddhism and martial arts.  We had the privilege to learn Kung Fu from a monk.

We explored the UNESCO listed 6th Century Longman Caves etched into the cliffs on the Yi River.  There are over 100,000 statues and images of Buddha carved.  

We then took the high speed train again to Beijing.

We explored the heart of Beijing which included the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City.  Once you enter through the Gate of Heavenly Peace we had a guided tour of this old city within a city.  A fantastic lunch was served at a local family home and then we got to view their home.     Next stop, was a Chinese Acrobatic performance.   Supper was followed by Peking Duck (which I really enjoyed) at a local city restaurant.

This was the day that I have been waiting for to climb "The Great Wall". It was built in the Ming Dynasty and is a 6 meter wide pathway that makes a formidable defense but then followed the highest contours of a steep range of hills.    So I am now able to make this completed on my Bucket List.

We then visited a Jade Carving Centre to learn about the ornamental rock and its importance in Chinese culture.  

In Beijing, we visited the Pearl Market to do some shopping and experience all about the bartering!!   That was an adventure in its self but I did manage to get some good deals before it was time to head home.  

This was an experience of a lifetime for me. The tour operator was Goway Travel. I spent 10 amazing days exploring a small portion of Australia, starting out in Brisbane to Fraser Island to Cairns to Port Douglas and Sydney.

Visited the Australia Zoo so I got to hold a koala and feed the kangaroos/wallabies. Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and doing a helicopter ride over the reef was a fantastic opportunity. Went hiking through rainforests, and swimming in crystal clear lakes and streams. Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge was a fantastic adventure.

That was a large area and a  lot of things to do in 10 days but I enjoyed every moment of it.

The accommodations and wonderful food along with the friendly Australian people was fantastic.  I am so glad that I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful country.

I had the opportunity to explore the 7  Oasis properties while in Mexico .

We were hosted for 5 nights at the Pyramid at Grand Oasis and for  2 nights at Grand Oasis Tulum, Mayan Riviera.  There are 7 properties in Mexico and  are located in Cancun and Mayan Riviera

. These hotels offer a variety of  dining  and entertainment to suit everyone  (singles to families) and the location of the resorts are in an excellent location.

This is a beautiful resort - small adults only 18+ resort. Location is only a 15 minutes from Montego Bay Airport. It had a very modern feel to it with extremely friendly staff.  The rooms with very bright and colorful.  There were many food choices from a  buffet to 3 a la carte restaurants.  Another feature of this resort is that you access to the Riu Montego Bay which is located next door with is a large family friendly resort. The beach is small but never had a problem getting a lounger.  Also there were water activities available next door. The excursion that I did while staying here was Dunn's River Falls.  This is a must to do while in Jamaica and is approx. a 90 minute drive.   Also Club Mobay arrival and departure lounge is a must as this airport is getting extremely busy.