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product review

Planning, Tips and Deals

When in Rome … or Tuscany, or Quebec, or France

Catherine Sweeney
August 15, 2015
4 Comments
When in Rome … or Tuscany, or Quebec, or France

By Catherine Sweeney — It can be a challenge finding the right connections when traveling internationally. Over the past several months, the XCOM Global Mobile Hotspot has become my go-to wireless connectivity solution when traveling outside of the United States.

product review, tips
Destinations

Our French Connection: XCOM Global Mobile Hotspot

Catherine Sweeney
March 29, 2015
21 Comments
Our French Connection: XCOM Global Mobile Hotspot

Before heading off to France in December, Mr. TWS and I considered the options for staying connected while we were away. More than needing phone coverage, we’d need plenty of internet access for browsing the web and posting to social media. We decided to try the XCOM Global Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot for the 10 days we’d be in Paris and Provence.

france, product review

About Catherine Sweeney

Catherine Sweeney is a travel enthusiast with a lifelong passion for going places. A weekend getaway, an international journey, a cross-country road trip, or a local jaunt — they’re all on her radar. And it’s all made extra special when she’s enjoying the finer things in life with Mr. TWS, her husband and co-blogger. Get inspired as they share photos and stories highlighting the best of destinations, food, wine, history, culture and the arts.

Thank you, Getting on Travel!

Traveling with Sweeney, Best Baby Boomer Travel Blogs 2022, Getting on Travel

2018 NATJA Silver Award Winner

Recent Posts

  • Fascinated by Istanbul on a Viking Cruise
  • The Allure of Italy in Liguria and Tuscany
  • Indulging the Senses on the Mediterranean Coast of France
  • Capturing the Essence of Catalonia on a Coastal Journey
  • Breathe, Relax, Contemplate at the Japanese Friendship Garden

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Istanbul is a fascinating city and we are so glad Istanbul is a fascinating city and we are so glad we chose a pre-cruise extension here before our @vikingcruises Ancient Mediterranean Treasures cruise. These are just a few highlights. Read more in our latest blog post. Link in bio! #myvikingstory #vikingcruises #shoreexcursions #istanbul #visitistanbul #türkiye #turkeytravel #travelgram #turkeycruise #bluemosque #basilicacistern #bosphoruscruise #istanbulferry #goistanbul
The allure of Italy — as seen in these photos of The allure of Italy — as seen in these photos of Tuscany during the last two days of our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour. Just published on the blog is the third post in our series about the tour that took us along the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, France, and Italy. Link in bio. #catherinexcollette #gocollette #mediterraneantour #guidedtravel #tuscany #sangimignano #italytravel #beautifuldestinations #travelgram #loveitaly #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1
A walk through the winding alleyways of Genoa, Ita A walk through the winding alleyways of Genoa, Italy's old town with @gocollette will give you plenty of opportunities to see and taste traditional Genoese foods — sweet and savory. You’ll see fresh fruit and vegetables, focaccia, panissa (bread made with chickpeas), brioche, fresh fish (lots of sardines), fresh pasta and sauces, candies and other sweets, and more. #foodiefriday travel inspiration and another hint of what’s coming soon on the blog. #catherinexcollette #gocollette #mediterraneanfood #genoa #genova #italytravel #guidedtravel #foodiesofinstagram #visitgenoa #travelblogger #deliciousfoods #instagood
Pretty as a picture … that’s Portofino, Italy. Pretty as a picture … that’s Portofino, Italy. On our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour we took a boat from Santa Margherita Ligure to this beautiful town on the Ligurian coast. A hint of what’s coming soon on the blog. #catherinexcollette #gocollette #portofino #liguria #italy #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1 #mediterraneantrip #visititaly #beautifuldestinations #travelgram #lovetotravel #italianriviera #prettyplaces
Viking ocean cruises tip for #foodiefriday — be Viking ocean cruises tip for #foodiefriday — be sure to make a reservation for dinner at The Chef’s Table as soon as it is possible after you book your cruise. It’s a wonderful culinary experience tasting chef-inspired menus (which change during the cruise) paired with carefully-selected wines. On our recent journey on the @vikingcruises Sea, we enjoyed a “Voyage to Korean Cuisine” that introduced us to delicious new flavors. A sample of our dinner from top left: - Amuse Bouche with eel, octopus, and egg custard (out of my usual comfort zone, but tasty) - Me with one of the fine wines 🍷 - Healthy “Ocean Party” appetizer with crab meat, scallop, and more goodies - Korean soup pot — very spicy! - BBQ marinated beef short ribs — my favorite - Kimchi fried rice - Matcha cheescake and yuzu ice cream for dessert - Glass of Madeira #myvikingstory #vikingsea #chefstable #cruisetravel #cruise #cruisedining #koreanfood #chefinspired #diningatsea #vikingcruises #ifwtwa1 #foodiefriday #travelblogger
The Palace of Knossos in Heraklion on the Greek is The Palace of Knossos in Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete. Loved our tour of this archaeological treasure of ancient Minoan civilization during our @vikingcruises shore excursion. #ifwtwa #traveltuesday #myvikingstory #minoancivilization #palaceofknossos #crete #greecetravel #visitcrete #heraklioncrete #travelgram #ifwtwa1 #myvikingstory #shoreexcursion #archaeology #travelblogger
A full day on the Greek island of Rhodes included A full day on the Greek island of Rhodes included a visit to the charming village of Lindos and the Acropolis at its top. Just a few pics for now, but you know there’ll be more to come about our @vikingcruises Ancient Mediterranean Treasures cruise that is going by way too quickly! #myvikingstory #cruisetravel #greekisland #rhodes #lindosgreece #travelgram #shoreexcursions #ifwtwa1
What a way to end the day! Mr TWS and I are relaxi What a way to end the day! Mr TWS and I are relaxing in the @vikingcruises Sea Explorer’s Lounge where we caught this sunset. We visited the ancient ruins of Ephesus in Turkey today. On our way to Rhodes … #myvikingstory #vikingcruises #sailingtheaegean #sunsetonthesea #cruisetravel #vikingsea #travelblogger
Did you know that Istanbul is in both Europe and A Did you know that Istanbul is in both Europe and Asia? It was so cool to take the ferry to visit the Asian side — first time I’ve set foot on Asian soil! Bustling area with lots of cafes, pastry shops and more. Great way to enjoy free time on our @vikingcruises Ancient Mediterranean Treasures #cruise. #myvikingstory #istanbul #turkey #ifwtwa1 #shoreexcursions #travellingthroughtheworld #travelblogger #goistanbul
Free time tip while exploring Istanbul @vikingcrui Free time tip while exploring Istanbul @vikingcruises. After touring the amazing landmarks of Istanbul take the funicular F1 to the Taksim neighborhood up a hillside on the European side of the city. Cool area, bustling with locals on streets and the square. Lots of colorful character and delicious aromas. #myvikingstory #istanbul #freetimeinport #turkeytravel #goistanbul
Hey, @vikingcruises! We’re back on board the Sea Hey, @vikingcruises! We’re back on board the Sea. Loved our Mediterranean Odyssey cruise two years ago on the same great ship and now we’re back on board to sail from Istanbul to Athens. Cheers! #winewednesday #cruisetravel #cruise #exploretheworld #ontheship #myvikingstory
Art among the columns of the ancient cistern benea Art among the columns of the ancient cistern beneath Istanbul. Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) is a large water reservoir built in the 6th century. The now nearly empty cistern can be toured and is a must- see in Istanbul. The contemporary sculptures among the 336 columns is a striking exhibition. This was part of our pre-cruise excursion of our upcoming @vikingcruises Ancient Mediterranean Treasures cruise. There’s much more to share soon. #myvikingstory #istanbul #turkey #basilicacistern #sculptures #shoreexcursion #artappreciation #istanbultourism #visitturkiye #travelblogger #goistanbul
How cool to make my own perfume at @fragonardparfu How cool to make my own perfume at @fragonardparfumeurofficiel in Grasse, France with @gocollette! I think my scent fit me perfectly. The floral part of the ingredients was lilacs — in my version, the lilac fragrance was very subtle. Have you ever made your own fragrance? New post coming soon about our time on the French Riviera on the Collette Mediterranean Coastal Journey small group tour. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #france #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1 #explorefrance #fragonardparfumeur #grasse #parfumeur #perfumelovers #travel #lovetotravel
Catalonia on my mind … some of the highlights of Catalonia on my mind … some of the highlights of Barcelona and Costa Brava from our Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour with @gocollette: . Strolling around Eixample and the Gothic Quarter . Cable car up Montjuic for castle and Barcelona views . Visiting Gaudi’s Casa Batllo and Sagrada Familia . Sea view hotel on the coast . Dali museum in Figueres . Tour of Girona These and more in latest blog post “Best of Barcelona and Costa Brava (link in bio). #gocollette #catherinexcollette #catalonia #visitcostabrava #barcelonatrip #visitspain #catalunyagram #traveltheworld #guidedtravel #collettetours #ifwtwa1
A day in Paso Robles wine country — #winewednesd A day in Paso Robles wine country — #winewednesday pics from a great day of wine tasting with friends at @sculpterra @mcpricemyerswines and @daouvineyards we also loved the art at Sculpterra and spectacular views at Daou. Cheers, all! #california #pasorobleswinecountry #art #sculpture #wineandart #ifwtwa1
Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia — one of the Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia — one of the highlights of Barcelona and Costa Brava on our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour. Work began in 1882, and the project was taken over by Gaudi in 1883 until his death in 1926, with other architects continuing with his plan. Although it has been said that the work will be complete in 2026, locals we talked to don’t think that will be the case. Link in bio to new blog post. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #barcelona #spain #catalonia #travelblogger #guidedtravel #mediterranean #spaintravel #gaudi #architecture #sagradafamilia #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1
Can you see yourself spending some time here on a Can you see yourself spending some time here on a hot summer day? A summer place to dream about … the charming seaside villages of the Costa Brava region of Spain. We had a lovely walk between the popular beach holiday towns of Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc with @gocollette and imagined ourselves staying in one of the apartments overlooking the harbor and Mediterranean Sea. 🏝️🏖️☀️🌊 #gocollette #catherinexcollette #mediterranean #beachlife #coastalliving #seasidetown #travelblogger #costabrava #visitcostabrava #summerdays #ifwtwa1
Happy Monday! Starting my week with a look back to Happy Monday! Starting my week with a look back to awaking to this lovely sunrise over the Mediterranean in the Costa Brava region of Spain. This was during the first part of our coastal journey with @gocollette. Post coming soon! #catherinexcollette #gocollette #mediterran #spaintravel #sunriselover #visitcostabrava #travelgram #mondaymorning #lovetotravel
Imagine yourself on the French Riviera and follow Imagine yourself on the French Riviera and follow the sun! 🌞 I loved taking in the sights and vibes on our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey. These scenes include Monaco, Nice, Èze, and sights along the way. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #mediterraneantour #followthesun #coastaljourney #europeantravel #travelgram #frenchriviera #mediterraneanvibes #traveltuesday #ifwtwa1
Some of our favorite dishes of our @gocollette Med Some of our favorite dishes of our @gocollette Mediterranean Coastal Journey tour for #foodiefriday -- penne strascicate in Florence; sliced tuna tartare in Marseille; scallops in Barcelona, Spain; mussels in creamy garlic sauce in Marseille; beef ravioli in Nice (my personal favorite!); panisse (chickpea) fritters in Marseille; cheese-filled focaccia in Recco, Italy; chicken croquettes in Figueres, Spain. Follow along for more specialties we loved, too. . . #gocollette #catherinexcollette #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneantour #foodiegrams #ifwtwa1 #favoritefoods #travelforfood
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