Melissa Rhodes - Simple Luxuries Travel

09/03/2026

I am very pro-splurge.

I am also very anti-spending money just because somebody on the internet told you it was mandatory.

Those are not the same thing.

There are trips where I’ll happily pay more for the room, the seat, the experience, or the convenience.

There are others where I will hermetically seal my wallet and say, “Absolutely not.”

Victoria & Albert’s always lands firmly in the yes, take my money category.

What’s your travel splurge that is worth it every time?

07/27/2026

The pace is the point.
Unpack once, wake up somewhere new, and see more without feeling like you raced through all of it.
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07/24/2026

Christmas markets this year? Somehow, yes.
A rare last-minute Viking sailing is still available—and the Summer Sale ends July 31.
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07/22/2026

Let’s see if we would be compatible Europe travel buddies:

Which one sounds most like you?

🏨 Stay in one city and really settle in
Hello, we all know the best local spots take a second to find.

🚆 City-hop by train
Riding a train, eating cheese, drinking wine — my Meg Ryan moment awaits.

🚢 River cruise and unpack once
The serene floating princess moment, plus delicious pastries in multiple countries. Yum.

🚗 Road trip through the countryside
Sure... roundabouts, rental rules, and the lingering trauma of trying to drive in Paris. And yes, Paris made this born-and-raised New Yorker cry.

I can see the appeal of all of them.

But I am absolutely judging the suitcase logistics.

What would you pick?

07/22/2026

Unpacking once and seeing Europe is criminally underrated. There is a time and place for city-hopping. I am not anti-train, anti-cobblestone, or anti-dramatically staring out a window with a coffee.

But there is also something deeply civilized about settling into your cabin and letting the scenery change around you.

No dragging luggage from hotel to hotel.
No repacking every other morning.
No wondering if the next charming historic hotel has an elevator or just “character.”
No panicking over whether you left your favorite jacket in that last hotel.

That is one of the reasons river cruising works so well.

You still get beautiful towns, historic cities, food, wine, views, tours, and those little “wait, I’m actually in Europe” moments.

But the hotel moves with you.

And honestly?

That sounds suspiciously like vacation.

07/22/2026

River cruising didn’t change—we did.
The ships did not get faster or louder. We simply started appreciating a vacation that lets us slow down.
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07/22/2026

Cruise people, choose your fighter:

🌊 Sea day
Sleep in, slow breakfast, pool deck, book, nap, drink, repeat.
or
🗺️ Port adventure
Up early, off the ship, exploring somewhere new, snacks count as culture.

Which one are you picking?

07/21/2026

Not every cruise ship is trying to be the same vacation — and that is great news.

Some ships are basically floating activity cities: waterparks, nightlife, escape rooms, and a daily schedule that looks like it was assembled by someone with a clipboard and a caffeine problem.

Others are more about the food, the view, the space, or finding a lovely place to sit with a drink where no one asks you to do the Electric Slide.

That is why “I found a good cruise deal” is only the beginning of the conversation.

Good deal for who?

Because the wrong ship type can make a good deal a bad choice.

The ship is not just how you get there.

It is a huge part of the vacation.

Pick the one that matches the trip you actually want.

07/21/2026

Private islands and beach clubs are not all the same thing.

And yes, that matters when you are choosing a cruise.

One “beach day” might mean an easy, family-friendly island stop with characters, lunch, chairs, and ocean time.

Another might mean a more grown-up beach club vibe with pools, cocktails, music, upgraded spaces, and a very different kind of energy.

Neither is automatically better.

But they are different.

The right choice depends on what you want that day to feel like:
🌴easy and included,
🌴quiet and calm,
🌴kid-friendly,
🌴high-energy,
🌴or a more upgraded beach/resort experience.

This is why the itinerary matters. Because “beach day” can mean a whole lot of different things

07/20/2026

Ready to start planning your next Universal Orlando vacation?
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