Saltwater Travel Company

Compare European Christmas markets by river cruise or land tour, from market evenings and costs to Alpine towns and Krampus events.

The Big Island gave us waterfalls, lush rainforest, sea turtles, delicious food, and an unforgettable nighttime manta ray tour. It also gave me a few lessons about planning a trip here—starting with the fact that this island deserves its name. We arrived on October 19, and while we narrowly missed a volcanic eruption, there was still so much to enjoy. Here’s what I loved, what surprised me, and what I’d do differently next time.

By Lori Crittenden, Owner of Saltwater Travel Company Your vacation time is valuable. Planning it shouldn’t require weeks of research, dozens of browser tabs, and evenings spent figuring out how to get from one place to the next. I’m Lori Crittenden, owner of Saltwater Travel Company, a boutique travel agency based in Lincoln, California. I help busy professionals, couples, and groups plan custom European vacations, ocean and river cruises, all-inclusive getaways, and shared adventures. My...