Laurie's light travel travel tips

I'm a sucker for romance, especially when the press release includes some of my favorite destinations. By far, Rome remains the most memorable city I have ever visited, for several unromantic reasons -- the ruins, the lasagne, the language among them. I had not thought of romance because I went there alone, but that is a kind of romance, sì ? HotelwithTub (great name) crunched the numbers and shares its top 50 cities for the newly married. (In my view, these "honeymoon" destinations also double as great spots for singles, but then I'm biased.) Here are the key findings: 1. Rome is the Most Romantic Destination in 2026 With 1,613 swoonworthy restaurants and 1,328 romantic hotels, the Eternal City earns the highest Romantic Score (66) and stands as the world’s most romantic destination in 2026. 2. London Leads Global Date-Night Culture With 2,173 romantic restaurants and more than 12,800 romance-related hashtags, Blighty achieves a Romantic Score of 63, ranks #...

Travelling to Europe is but a dream for many, yet it needn't be. And too many people flock to organized tours when a solo journey offers deeper rewards. How else will you be asked for directions in French when you have decided, spur of the moment, to walk from the 10th arrondissement all the way to Musée d'Orsay? And in this moment overhear how the natives actually pronounce "oui" (it's more like "weh!"). You will need some tips, though, and lodging is always a good start. In that spirit I offer two hotels across the pond - one in Paris and one in Vienna: Hotel De L'avre 21, rue de l'Avre, near Gare de Montparnasse train station. E-mail: hotel.delavre@wanadoo.fr; Phone: 1-866-599-6674. Cozy, out-of-the-way yet accessible to La Tour Eiffel, I highly recommend this boutique hotel for anyone on a budget or just fans of courtyards and quiet breakfasts outdoors. Une chambre-double-sur-rue (a room for two on or facing the street) is about 164...