History 101

World's worst trip?

Bad choice of destination? Poor accommodations?

No amenities? Unfriendly people?

Our miserable unwilling traveler had, however, just one good thing.

An enormous stomach for the unexpected.

And so it was, he ended up making the most famous trip in human history.

Colombia. El Dorado at Last.
Colombia is the new “it” spot. Sophisticated. Savvy. And largely undiscovered. Conde Nast named it a Destination to Watch last year. In fact, Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, GQ, and Bon Appetit are all going gaga over Colombia’s recent transformation...   Read More

Chianti. A crash course.
Thank Cosimo III de’Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, for Chianti. This Italian red was first produced in the 13th century as a white wine, though little is known about its early incarnation. In 1716, Cosimo declared...  Read More

Spotlight on jetlag.
Researchers across the board agree: Exposure to light is one of the best ways to fight jet lag. Light shifts your body’s clock, winding you up, while darkness slows you down...  Read More

Presidential pasta.
During his stint in Europe, Thomas Jefferson fell in love with more than just the Palladian architecture on which he later based his design for Monticello. He also fell hard… for pasta. Who can blame him?  Read More

Remarkable Burma
Join our Asia expert on a journey through Burma (Myanmar) to see what will change and what might endure. Scholar, author, and teacher, Alex Kerr has lived in Asia for nearly 50 years. As you can see, he knows the country inside and out..  Read More

Passionate Chile.
“Love is so short. Forgetting is so long,” wrote Chilean poet and Noble Laureate Pablo Neruda. In Chile, prepare to fall fast. Her wild beauty and undeniable energy will shake you to your core. Indeed, a journey here is not easily forgotten.   Read More

Breaking bread in Paris.
Though abundant and inexpensive, the perfect baguette is like a hidden treasure. "If the baguette is engaging in appearance, if it emits a bewitching bouquet of aromas, if it's crusty and sings to me under my caress, if I suspect that it will be a sumptuous treat, then I will...  Read More

Slang from Down Under.
If you have been flat out like a lizard drinking, no need throw a wobbly. Maybe it’s time to go exploring 50Ks south of Woop Woop. Aside from their unmistakable twang (they call it Strine), the Aussies have plenty of idioms and...  Read More

Russia: one magnificent voyage.
Two of the world’s great cities, an exquisite cruise through the countryside, and an opportunity to witness what few other travelers get to see. Experience Russia at her finest: spectacular cathedrals, museums with collections beyond imagination, and pristine...  Read More

The Middle East: a primer.
Oil. Arab Spring. Empires. Desert. Impressions aside, when contemplating the Middle East, understand that there is no singular definition of the region. Spanning parts of North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southwest Asia, the Middle East is a mosaic of cultures, histories...  Read More

Wine: going global
Robert Parker, renowned wine authority, predicts that in the next couple of years wine production will get even more global, with more quality wines originating from rather unusual places. This week, Crusoe explores a few burgeoning wine producers...   Read More

A curator's look inside Ireland's great houses.
If you think you’ve seen Ireland in all her glory, think again. Although R. Crusoe’s managing director David Weber has visited Ireland many times, he and his wife, Patty, immediately signed on for this extraordinary journey...  Read More

Travel: a happy pill.
It’s no surprise that traveling makes people happy. But is time away from home actually crucial to a person’s overall happiness? In fact, it’s more important than you think...  Read More

France in Technicolor
Where better to witness the vivid reds, striking golds, and rich oranges of autumn than aboard a luxurious barge in France? Reserve a cabin aboard the Hirondelle or Napoléon or book a full charter on a select barge for travel on 27 October 2013, and enjoy 30 percent off...   Read More

Mekong, the Mother River
Called the Mother of Water, the mighty Mekong River nourishes the land and her people along an enormous swath of Asia––from China’s Yunnan province to Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. As it meanders through Southeast Asia, the continent’s seventh longest river forms brief borders between Burma and Laos and then...  Read More

Savoring Eastern Europe
Spices. They’re more than just ingredients in your tried-and-true recipes. Spices have sent explorers to uncharted waters. Kings to war. Artists to their easels and artisans to their workshops. Each region has its preferred spices. This week, we take a look at those that are most...  Read More

The family, afloat
As if a leisurely cruise through the French waterways with the entire brood doesn't sound appealing enough...  Read More

Embeya, a Crusoe favorite
Although we at R. Crusoe travel all over the world, we found a particular restaurant in our hometown of Chicago to be especially worldly and innovative—just the kind of place we look for on the road...  Read More

London, fit for a queen.
No matter where you’re headed in Europe (or beyond), consider adding a stay in a Belgravia Suite at the magnificent Goring Hotel in London. Book four nights in the Goring’s Belgravia Suite, and R. Crusoe will arrange...   Read More

Italy's infinite possibilities
Il bel paese (the beautiful country), Italy captures the heart, stimulates the mind, and ignites the senses. Indeed, she has drawn many a sophisticated traveler over the millennia. Is it her deep-rooted history? Her Renaissance art or Roman architecture? Her edgy fashion or unforgettable food? You tell us...  Read More

Gizmos, gadgets, and gear
Imagine your life without modern conveniences (don’t worry, you don’t have to). R. Crusoe’s intrepid staff has found some up-to-the-minute accessories that you might want alongside you on your next journey...  Read More

Marrakech: An embarassment of riches.
During his first visit to Morocco in 1966, Yves Saint-Laurent fell in love with Marrakech. Eventually, he would make this imperial city his second home (and purchase and restore the city’s historic Majorelle Gardens). “When I discovered Marrakesh, it was an extraordinary shock,” said Saint-Laurent. “The city taught me color...   Read More

Straight from the traveler's mouth.
“The trip you arranged exceeded all my expectations,” raved one of our travelers in an email we received last week. Maggie M. just returned home from a Crusoe Hosted Journey to India, and she was absolutely delighted with the experience...  Read More

Bits and bytes from Europe
Considering a hop across the Atlantic? Before your next excursion to Europe and the Old World, here are some of the latest happenings (in and around) a few of our favorite European destinations.   Read More

A new year dawns.
Just as Americans finally pack away the champagne flutes till next 31 December, our counterparts in Asia are preparing for the Lunar New Year, which falls on 10 February 2013. This is the Year of the Water Snake, and it will be feted by an estimated 1.5 billion Asians...   Read More

Letter from Johannesburg.
R. Crusoe & Son senior tour consultant Jane Franklin recently returned from a journey to South Africa. Here, she elaborates on her time in and around the city of Johannesburg. I was born and raised in Rhodesia, now called Zimbabwe. My dad was assistant commissioner for the British South African Police...  Read More

A gift from the heart.
“Passion is universal humanity. Without it religion, history, romance and art would be useless.” —Honoré de Balzac Consider life without romance, without passion. Sad. Predictable. Beige. Bleak. Better yet, don’t even go there...  Read More

France at your fingertips.
As you watched “Les Misérables,” did Hugh Jackman’s velvet voice make you dream the dream of France? Could any of us in the audience resist the urge to get to Paris immediately? Relax. R. Crusoe has several approaches to France, all of which can include time in Paris, the magical, incomparable...   Read More

Taking the brood abroad.
Some of the most rewarding, innovative journeys we’ve planned over the years have been those for families and extended families. Crusoe has, for instance, sent a budding ballerina (and her parents) behind-the-scenes at the...  Read More

Borneo revealed.
If Borneo is on your radar (and it should be), now is the time to arrange your journey there. R. Crusoe & Son, in partnership with Orion Expedition Cruises, introduces a special offer that ought to get...  Read More

Upcoming Hosted Journeys
When considering next year’s R. Crusoe & Son Hosted Journeys, we wanted to get input from our travelers. It was important that we determine where you might want to go. So this autumn, we sent out a Hosted Journeys survey. Thank you for your overwhelming response. The results are in...  Read More

Undiscovered Europe
Announcing a new Private Jet Journey: Beyond the Age of Empires. We have reserved several spots for Crusoe travelers looking to penetrate the lesser known corners of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Eastern Bloc. In September 2013, gather in...  Read More

Hosted Programs
One signature of an R. Crusoe tour is going “behind-the-scenes” to see what other travelers do not. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes at another exotic location: the inner sanctum of our downtown Chicago offices…   Read More

Kaiserschmarrn, dessert of the emperor.
Kaiserschmarrn, literally the emperor’s mishmash, is an Austrian dessert first served to Kaiser Franz Joseph I around the turn of the 20th century. The emperor’s chef invented the dish, but Franz Joseph’s wife, Empress Elizabeth (known as Sisi), didn’t...  Read More

Bhutan Birding.
Those of you who love birds know who you are. (Count R. Crusoe in.) One bird that gets any ornithologist grabbing for a pair of binoculars? The Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), sometimes called...  Read More

Air Travel.
Sometimes, when we can’t get on the road for an adventure, we head for one of our favorite specialty shops in Chicago, The Spice House, to get a whiff of the faraway lands we love. Last week, we dropped by The Spice House for a “trip” to Vietnam and found...   Read More

Multifarious South Africa.
There are only a handful of destination around the world where you can easily divide your time between untouched wilderness and utter civilization. Our favorite destination in this category? South Africa. We head to South Africa when we want a...  Read More

Our latest travel journal.
R. Crusoe's most recent travel journal, 48 unusual journeys, should have recently arrived in your mailbox. Put aside a bit of time to meander its pages. You'll find some entertaining Crusoe travelers' tales as well as a terrific assortment of...  Read More

Letter from East Africa.
Jonathan Scott, longtime friend of R. Crusoe & Son, is the consummate Renaissance Man--writer, artist, journalist, television host, naturalist, award-winning photographer. And now, host of an...  Read More

Burgundy: a primer.
Burgundy, located in eastern France between historic Dijon and the foodie capital of Lyon, is one of the world’s most famous wine regions. The most common wine produced here? Reds wine made from Pinot Noir grapes and...  Read More

Mendelssohn’s Scotch symphony.
In 1829, Felix Mendelssohn traveled to Scotland. Accompanied by Sir Walter Scott, he visited the key sites, including Holyrood, where Mary Queen of Scots fell  Read More

Jodhpur sings the blues.
Why are so many houses painted blue in the city of Jodhpur, India?  Read More

Overcoming jet lag
Jet lag is always tricky. You don’t want to “miss” a single day of your journey to fatigue, crankiness, or five dull senses trying to function in the wrong time zone. NASA to the rescue. Last weekend, New York Times reporter Stephanie Rosenbloom gleaned some advice from the fatigue management team at NASA...  Read More

Great grapes.
“Wine rejoices the heart of man, and joy is the mother of all virtues,” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote in 1771. If, like us, you find a glass of wine the perfect complement to an exceptional day of travel, read on...  Read More

Marco Polo.
Scholars of world history still debate whether Marco Polo did, indeed, make it all the way to China before he penned his fascinating treatise, The Travels of Marco Polo, in the late 12th century. One thing is certain...  Read More

Making roads.
Years ago, when R. Crusoe first began taking travelers into Bhutan, a stunning kingdom tucked into the Himalayas, there was a single paved road that allowed vehicles to access only a very few towns. This was, in fact...  Read More

Generation gap.
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that as baby boomers head toward retirement, they’re choosing to travel with their children and grandchildren. Indeed, 37 percent of grandparents who can afford it took a vacation last year with grandchildren, up 9 percent from the previous year, and a whopping 78 percent of these trips included...  Read More

Medical records that travel with you.
When you’re on the road, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your latest medical information—medications, allergies, illnesses, even emergency contacts—are a call away, in an emergency? Here’s a frightening statistic...  Read More

Goodbye, Lonesome George.
It is with great sadness that R. Crusoe announces the unexpected passing of George de la Pinta on 24 June 2012. Known as Lonesome George to the many travelers who have visited the Galapagos Islands, the giant...  Read More

Masters-minded
Time to revisit the famous paintings you studied during your undergraduate years. No visit to Western Europe is complete without at least some time in the museums that, over the centuries, have gathered the most...  Read More

Cruising for less.
One of the absolute delights of travel is sharing new experiences (and new scenery) with those you love. R. Crusoe and our travel partner, Sea Cloud Cruises, would like to help you arrange travel with friends—at tremendous savings for both you and your circle...   Read More

Royal Real Estate
It’s good to be king. Or queen. Or a very dear friend of the court—whatever gets you the most square footage. Never mind who they were built for; yesterday’s palaces are by and large no longer residences of the rich and royal. Instead, they’ve been morphed into museums, government buildings, even top-shelf hotels and resorts...   Read More

Bird-brained.
Sometimes you’ve just got to spend time with a flamingo. Not the kind that graces the front lawn next door to your great-aunt Mildred. We mean the living, breathing, preening kind. Herewith, the top flamingo-sighting spots around the globe. Don’t forget your binoculars...  Read More

Top 10 sacred sites around the globe.
You don’t have to be a believer—in anything but man’s exquisite imagination—to be awestruck by sights around the world that were created to honor a particular religion. Just go, and let the spirit behind the monuments...  Read More

Paris, with our compliments
“The sweetness and generosity and politeness and humanity of the French had shown me how lovely life can be if one takes the time to be friendly.” —Julia Child, from My Life in France   Read More

10 top toppers.
America, unlike many other countries, is not a land of hat-wearers. We do don them for special occasions, for celebrations and the like, or as a shout-out to our favorite sports team. But no headgear stands out as truly all-American...  Read More

Letter from Burma.
There are certain moments in the history of a country that will never come again—and now is that time in Myanmar. I remember when I visited Moscow in January 1991 with a group of Japanese religious leaders invited by Gorbachev. We were taken...  Read More

Suds appeal.
Naz dravi! Slainte! Prost! That’s Czech, Irish Gaelic, and German for “cheers!” These three nations win the world’s per capita beer-drinking contest. The most recent figures available show the Czech Republic in the lead (Czechs quaff 8.5 bottles per person per week), followed by...   Read More

Barge in.
Imagine you’ve found the perfect luxurious country inn. Now, imagine touring through exquisite countryside and taking that beloved hotel with you as you go...   Read More

A home in Tuscany.
There's a reason why people who love Italy think that Tuscany is Italy. And who could blame them? The Tuscan hills burst with...  Read More

Hosted Journeys 2013
18: That's the maximum number of travelers invited to join each of Crusoe's hosted Journeys in 2013. In November 2013, Alex Kerr, a leading expert in pan-Asian culture, hosts a journey to...  Read More

Coming soon...
R. Crusoe’s next travel journal, 7 unusual journeys, is on its way. Look for your copy to arrive by mail next week. This special issue highlights three Hosted Journeys as well as Private Jet Journeys departing in...  Read More

Where the Wild Things Are.
“It had to be predators. The plains were alive with the tension that only they could impart. The blond grass-heads seemed almost to rustle with anticipation. A lone wildebeest galloped away... The sound of...  Read More

The nose knows.
One of the delights of travel is discovering (or rediscovering) native flavors. On a recent tour, for example, we alighted at a lunch spot in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City. The waiter arrived with steaming bowls of...  Read More

La Passeggiata: a how-to
The temperature climbs in Italy, and the evenings grow longer, which means it’s time once again for la passeggiata, a beloved ritual in Italian villages, town, and cities. As evening approaches, the locals step out of their houses to participate in a stroll along specific popular routes around their...   Read More

Hiking Kilimanjaro
Last year, Jean and her friend, Amy, cooked up an out-of-the-ordinary adventure. It would revolve around summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, in East Africa. “The trip came out of a discussion at a prom party about...   Read More

Burma at full tilt
In October 2012, R. Crusoe takes off on another hosted journey, this one to Burma (aka Myanmar). Our timing couldn’t be better...  Read More

Underground Destinations
Sometimes you’ve just got to go subterranean. R. Crusoe has 9 favorite underground destinations we want to share. These are worlds unto themselves, some excavated, others left as they are, and most with plenty of room to move as you explore what lies hidden below...   Read More

The Floriade
Once every 10 years, the Netherlands hosts the Floriade...  Read More

The Danube
Perhaps you’ve heard the Roman maxim, “Whoever controls the Danube controls Europe.” It explains why ancient remains are plentiful along this mighty river that stretches from...  Read More

Fictional travels.
Some of our favorite travelers are not flesh and blood—they’re the delightful creations of others’ imaginations. But their experiences—and those of their creators—embody what we long for: a chance to...  Read More

Lost in Translation
In the German language, there is a word, gemütlichkeit, that doesn’t translate perfectly into a single word of English. Coziness, friendliness, and camaraderie are close. (For the adventurous enough to...  Read More

Schussing through security.
In case you thought your frequent flyer status really wasn’t worth the trouble, think again. The TSA announced last week that eligible airline passengers who register in advance at globalentry.gov will be able to cruise through special security lines without having to...  Read More

Ancient Way of Life
The number of places on Earth where people live as they have for centuries is astonishingly small. Add another criterion—traditional communities with a thoroughly civilized, luxury hotel nearby—and the list shrinks. It’s infinitesimal, really...  Read More

Single Artist Museums
We love art, and it’s always a part of what we seek out when we’re on the road. But let’s face it: Much as we love them, too many hours in one of the world’s goliaths—the Louvre, the British Museum, the Metropolitan—can give us a bad case of museumitis...  Read More

Bhutan
I first encountered Bhutan about 10 years ago. I found myself 35,000 feet above it, flying from Katmandu to Chengdu, China, when I glanced out the window and spotted terrain unlike any I had seen before. The contrast of vast sweeping valleys and magnificent Himalayan peaks took my breath away. I asked the flight crew our location and learned...  Read More

Shop Global.
When curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art decided to overhaul their Islamic art galleries, they chose a traditional stucco carver from Morocco to hand-finish the stunning Moroccan Courtyard. And why not? Moroccan artisans have been honing their...   Read More

Blast to the Past.
Are white-gloved butlers an extinct species? Not at the Alvear Palace hotel, legendary crossroads in the swish Buenos Aires neighborhood of Recoleta. Sometimes travel is about more...   Read More

Ice Cream: The Scoop!
While on the road, take note: not every morsel of street food should be avoided. Ice cream, for example. Don't miss the simple, childish thrill in taking that first frozen bite.  Read More

Cruising in Papua New Guinea
"Why do you want to cruise to Papua New Guinea?" So an R. Crusoe & Son traveler asked me on a recent journey. My name is Cheryl Sturm, and I’m R. Crusoe’s vice president of marketing and development. Papua New Guinea isn’t on everyone’s travel wish list, and—to be perfectly honest—I’m not the world’s best cruiser...   Read More

Eight Exceptional Museums
Renowned architect Renzo Piano said it best. “A museum is a place where one should lose one’s head.” Here at R. Crusoe & Son, we’d like to share with you a list of our most favorite museums around the globe.  Read More

The Perfect Pair
When we travel, we love to take in a city by lingering in a local café. It’s the ideal time to make friends, sample the cuisine, and of course, drink the wine. Here are our seven favorite wine destinations around the world. And since the perfect pairing can bring out even the most the subtle nuances of wine, we’re accompanying this with a blog on our favorite cheeses.   Read More

Home Away from Home
There are a few independent hotels we cherish around the globe, places that embody the quintessence of their respective cities. Some are family owned, others historic–but all of them leave you knowing you had the most authentic visit possible.   Read More

Celebrating Summer in Style
The longer days of summer are calling. Will you answer with work days, summer camps for the kids, and afternoons at the pool? Or will you indulge your wanderlust and answer the call with an unusual journey of your own?  Read More

Leave the Minivan Behind
Although all parents need and deserve relaxing time alone, one of our younger R. Crusoe employees is here to discuss how traveling the world with your children can enhance their lives – and yours. Here, she discusses how her own early travel experiences helped shape her views of the world, and how they helped her see her parents more clearly.   Read More

Think Bigger Than Godiva
Do the obligatory flowers and chocolates seem like an acceptable but still ho-hum way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Plan a trip to one of R. Crusoe’s top-five romantic destinations. These places are bound to inspire your adventures – in travel, and in love...  Read More

Thoughts on Burma.
With pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi just released from house arrest in Myanmar, I thought this would be the perfect time to write to you about something close to my heart...  Read More

Amsterdam Museum Update
If you find yourself in the wonderful city of Amsterdam (and you should), head for one of the newest cultural hubs there, the Hermitage Amsterdam, opened in June 2009. We just came back from a visit and saw...  Read More

5 Favorite December Destinations
Have you procrastinated about carving out leisure time during this hectic month? R. Crusoe & Son to the rescue. Allow us to help you plan a December holiday with...  Read More

R. Crusoe's Top 12 Architectural Wonders
Every so often, our staff gets together to knock heads and exchange ideas. Where is the best art in the world? What city boasts the greatest markets? Who can claim the most incredible natural wonder...  Read More

The Scent of a Memory
Have you ever gotten a whiff of a particular scent and been instantly transported back in time? Our sense of smell is powerful, capable of bringing back memories...  Read More

Marrakech, Morocco: Flowers & Food
Yves St. Laurent kept a home in Marrakech that drew international attention from architectural and couture magazines for its exotic, relaxed style...  Read More

A Warm Spot for Antarctica
Antarctica is the world’s coldest, windiest, iciest, driest continent. Yet it is teeming with life: penguins, seals, whales…   Read More

Tips for River Cruising
Expert Journey Advisor has been reminiscing this week about our favorite journeys. On any list we make, river cruising floats to the top.   Read More

Indochina, Revealed
Indochina is one of our absolute favorite destinations. Expert Journey Advisor offers a few nostalgic tips for your first—or next—visit to Vietnam…  Read More

Step Back in Time in Japan
Want to forget about the 21st century for a while? If so, plan some time in a Japanese ryokan, a traditional inn that preserves the keenest sense of old Japan for all to experience. To enter a ryokan is to enter a world of...   Read More

Agra, Beyond the Taj Mahal
With a population of more than a billion, it’s no wonder that India shows you more of everything. In the city of Agra...  Read More

Dropping in on Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown
Bound for New Zealand? Lucky you. So many travelers allow New Zealand to languish for years on their must-see list in the 'someday' category, yet virtually everyone who returns says it easily...  Read More

Shopping in Beijing
Expert Journey Advisor has a particular fondness for the Panjiayuan Antiques Market in central Beijing, not far from the Temple of Heaven. Its warren of stalls attracts both locals and tourists who come to...  Read More

Old Standard: Antalya, Turkey
Antalya is Turkey’s fastest growing city, so it’s no wonder that...  Read More

How to Get Even More From a Normandy Visit
Cabourg is one of Normandy’s smaller resort towns. It is much quieter than most and worth adding to your itinerary, if you have a day. Marcel Proust was a...  Read More

Traveling to Iran
With the appropriate precautions, Americans can travel safely to Iran. Going with an organized group...  Read More

When in Prague...
Eating late can still be difficult in Eastern Europe, but...  Read More

Where to Eat?
When R. Crusoe chooses restaurants on our journeys, we follow specific criteria. Since travelers on our Strictly Private Journeys usually choose their own restaurants on the spot, we thought you might find...  Read More

Gratitude
My job is enviable: I have the fortunate task traveling around the world, working with a marvelous staff to develop unusual journeys, and creating the travel journal that tells you all about them...  Read More