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.

02Mar

Sip, Stroll & Gelato: The Perfect Tuscany Day Trip from Florence

Professor Steve Solosky | Italy, San Gimignano, Tenuta Torciano, wine tasting, Tuscany | Italy Travel Destination Guide |

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.

26Feb

Paris’s Most Lavish and Expensive Sunday Brunches

Professor Steve Solosky | Paris brunch, Expensive Paris Restaurants | Paris and France Travel Guide |

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.”

20Feb

Innsbruck in 48 Hours: Alps, Palaces & a Tyrolean Night You’ll Brag About

Professor Steve Solosky | Innsbruck, Tyrol, Gundolf | Austria & Bavaria Travel Guide |

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.

16Feb

The Smarter Way to Travel: Skip-the-Line City Passes That Save Time and Hassle

Professor Steve Solosky | Paris Museum Pass, Firenze Card, Bergen Card, Vienna City Card | General Travel Tips & Advice |

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.

10Feb

Unpack Once in Italy: 14 Nights in Seaside Sperlonga, Plus Rome, Pompeii & Ponza

Professor Steve Solosky | Sperlonga, Italy, To Italy With Love, June Morocco | Italy Travel Destination Guide |

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.

07Feb

More (Almost) Useless Facts About Flying

Professor Steve Solosky | Flying, Flying Facts, Funny, William Shatner | Airfare Tips & Flight Deals |

Discover almost useless but endlessly entertaining facts about flying, from the William Shatner seat to hidden cabin triangles, quirky airline traditions, and surprising safety details most travelers never notice.

02Feb

Never Lose Your Luggage Again: Why Traveling Professor Travelers Love Apple AirTags

Professor Steve Solosky | Air Tag, Luggage Tracker, Travel Product | Best Travel Product Reviews and Recommendations |

Apple AirTag gives Traveling Professor travelers peace of mind by tracking luggage in real time. Ideal for international flights, rail journeys, and cruises, this small device helps prevent lost bags and reduces travel stress on every tour.

01Feb

Travel Insurance Recommendations For Traveling Professor Travelers

Professor Steve Solosky | Travel Insurance, Medical Coverage, Annual Insurance, Trip Cancellation | Travel Insurance Tips |

Travel insurance doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn the difference between medical and emergency evacuation coverage versus trip cancellation insurance, why annual policies are often a better value, and how much protection travelers really need.

28Jan

Say Goodbye to Long Lines at the Airport: How Touchless ID Is Making Travel Easier

Professor Steve Solosky | Touchless ID, Airport Lines, Flying | General Travel Tips & Advice |

Touchless ID uses facial recognition to speed up airport security, boarding, and customs. Learn how this technology works, how to access it, and why it makes travel easier and less stressful for Traveling Professor travelers.

24Jan

Why You Need to River Cruise With The Traveling Professor

Professor Steve Solosky | River Cruise, Tulip Time, Christmas Markets | River Cruises and Small Ship Cruise Guide |

Discover why European river cruising is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore Europe. Sail with The Traveling Professor, unpack once, dock in historic city centers, and experience our Tulip Time and Christmas Markets river cruises in comfort and style.

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.

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

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Who Writes the Small Group Tour Blog?

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