Small Group Travel Blog: Expert Travel Tips, Destination Guides & Tour Advice

Welcome to the Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor travel blog, featuring expert travel tips, destination guides, cruise advice, airfare strategies, packing suggestions, and first-hand insights from more than 17 years of planning small group tours.

Since 2009, we have helped solo travelers, couples, and friends enjoy adults-only small group tours and luxury river cruises with quality hotels, expert local guides, thoughtful pacing, and personal service.

Explore articles on Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Peru, Newfoundland, Paris, Normandy, Santa Fe, Canada, Italy, and AmaWaterways river cruises — then view our current Small Group Tours and River Cruises.

Archive by author: Professor Steve SoloskyReturn
Discover the 2028 Douro River Cruise in Portugal with Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor. Enjoy Porto, vineyard landscapes, wine tastings, scenic sailing, and a relaxed luxury small group experience through the beautiful Douro Valley.
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Want to pay less for a luxury river cruise without giving up a thing? Here is how savvy travelers book the same AmaWaterways experience, often saving 20% or more through The Traveling Professor.
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Visit Rouen, Dinan, and Honfleur for Gothic landmarks, medieval streets, harbor charm, memorable meals, and elegant stays. This Traveling Professor guide highlights the best things to see, where to stay, and where to enjoy a special meal.
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Learn how buying an extra empty airline seat can make long flights more comfortable without the high cost of first class. This smart travel hack gives couples and solo travelers more space, more comfort, and often significant savings.
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Four timeless classics—Roman Holiday, To Catch a Thief, Kon-Tiki, and The Wizard of Oz—capture travel’s magic through romance, Riviera glamour, true adventure, and fantasy. They spark wanderlust, celebrate iconic destinations, and even connect to our Traveling Professor visit to Oslo’s Kon-Tiki Museum.
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Escape Florence for a perfect Tuscan day: learn wine tasting at Tenuta Torciano, enjoy local appetizers, then wander medieval San Gimignano for towers, views, Vernaccia, and a can’t-miss finale—gelato at famous Gelateria Dondoli.
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Paris Sunday brunch, Traveling Professor–style: go big, go palace, and pretend calories don’t exist in France. Think champagne, oysters, lobster Benedict, and desserts that deserve their own museum ticket—at prices that make your credit card whisper, “Magnifique… but ouch.”
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48 hours in Innsbruck is the sweet spot. Stay central, use the Innsbruck Card, ride the Nordkette cable car, and mix imperial history with Alpine views—then top it off with the lively Gundolf Family Tyrolean Evening that brings everyone together.
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Discover how city passes like the Paris Museum Pass, Bergen Card, Firenze Card, and Vienna Pass can save time, reduce ticket hassles, and add value with skip-the-line admissions and, when included, local transportation—ideal for smart small group touring.
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Travel with June Morrocco on an intimate 4–14 person Italy tour featuring 14 nights in seaside Sperlonga. Enjoy day trips to Rome, Pompeii, Gaeta, Fondi, Ponza Island, and Ninfa Gardens—plus wineries, festivals, sunsets, and unforgettable local experiences.
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Who Writes the Small Group Tour Blog?

Professor Steve Solosky, The Traveling Professor, is the founder of Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, operating since 2009. A former college professor and author of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris, Steve has planned and led small group tours throughout Europe, Canada, South America, and beyond. His travel expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, WCBS Radio, and The New York Times Travel Show.

Each article is written or reviewed from the perspective of a working tour operator who plans real itineraries, works with local guides and hotels, and helps travelers prepare for successful small group trips.

Receive destination ideas, travel tips, early tour announcements, and special offers from Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor.

Since 2009 | IATA Accredited | JourneyWoman Partner | AmaWaterways Certified Advisor | Google Reviews | NTA Member