stories to feed your wonderlust
Tacchino Fest
Italy expert Nina Bernardo shares how her 30-year Thanksgiving tradition in Rome blends American roots with Italian hospitality, food, and friendship.
Rebuilding the Village
From an East German village to journeys abroad, Christoph reflects on how travel rebuilds the village—where strangers meet and belonging begins.
A Solar Encore
The Northern Lights aren’t just seen, they’re felt. And if you haven’t yet witnessed this polar ballet for yourself, 2026 might be your last best chance.
Heiva i Tahiti
Each July, Heiva transforms Tahiti into a living stage of dance, chant, and tradition—a powerful expression of Polynesian heritage.
Slovenia’s Secrets
“We’ve just returned from leading a 12-day tour of our homeland, Slovenia, and we can honestly say, it left an imprint on all of us. We knew it would be a special journey, but we hadn’t expected it to be quite so moving—for us and for our guests.” Tina and Sašo reflect on what makes Slovenia Europe’s best kept secret.
Azores Travel Guide
When we set out for the Azores, we expected the “Hawaii of Europe:” volcanic landscapes, dramatic coastlines, and lush green hills. What we found was something far more layered: a chain of islands with a rhythm all their own, shaped by their volcanic heart and Atlantic soul. Here’s everything we saw, tasted, and learned along the way.
More than Markets
With Christmas season in full swing, Germany is aglow with holiday spirit. The air is heavy with spiced Glühwein and smoky bratwurst. Wooden stalls adorned with evergreen garlands glow under the twinkle of fairy lights. Friends and families huddle over steaming drinks, sharing laughter and stories. It’s a celebration of togetherness wrapped in the warmth and Gemütlichkeit of the season—a magic we savored to the very last drop (or was that the Glühwein?) on our recent detour.
The Dark Side of Christmas
Growing up in East Germany, Christmas wasn’t all sugar and spice. Alongside St. Nikolaus—the beloved bringer of treats—we also had Knecht Ruprecht, his dark, switch-carrying companion. To children, Ruprecht wasn’t just a name but a warning. Known across regions as Black Peter, Schmutzli, or Krampus, he was the shadow to St. Nikolaus’s light, the enforcer who made sure German children stayed on their best behavior.
Commemorating D-Day
June 6, 1944 – 80 years ago, the greatest amphibious invasion in history unfolded on the beaches of Normandy. It was here that extraordinary courage paved the way for the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany. While the sacrifices of that day are well-documented, Dressler Detours embarked on a uniquely profound journey to honor these heroes, made even more meaningful by the young learners who joined us.
Who Was Romania’s Real Count Dracula?
Who was Romania’s real Count Dracula? The truth may be more macabre than the legend! Dracula is a character woven into Romania’s history as both hero and shadow, embodying the mystery and allure of this land.
Solar Maximum 2025
Why Finland could boast the best seats in the house for Northern Lights viewing in 2025.
Cloud Forests to Coral Reefs
Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise that calls out to those who crave the perfect blend of relaxation, excitement, and ecological exploration. With its lush rain forests, misty cloud forests, active volcanoes, and pristine beaches, Costa Rica offers a bit of everything, but it’s the pura vida, or pure lifestyle, that animates the heart of this country.
Strawberries & Landmines
“What was it like to grow up in East Germany?”
I get that question all the time. Just the other day a close friend sheepishly confessed to me, “I am somewhat confused about this inner-German wall you talk about. I always wonder, if The Wall separated East and West Berlin, why didn’t people just walk around it? You’re telling me it extended all along the East-West border? And you lived right next to it? What was that like?”
Celebrating 100 Years in French Polynesia
This month we collectively turned 100, celebrating our 50th birthdays the first week of August. We chose to observe this auspicious event in French Polynesia. This remote French territory in the South Pacific is reputed for its luxury overwater bungalows and paradise-perfect beaches, but we had a hunch there’s more to it than that.
Conquering Carry-On Only Packing
As former tour guides, we were accustomed to living out of carry-on suitcases for long stretches. We understand how daunting it can be to compile the perfect carry-on composition for international travel.
Delphi’s timeless call
When you visit Delphi for the first time—or the twentieth—the site’s natural beauty steals your breath, and you appreciate just how much of an aesthete Apollo was to select that particular hillside as the location of his most significant oracle.
sicily’s aeolian islands
Dotting the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily lay the Aeolian archipelago, a strand of seven volcanic islands cast amid expansive blue waters, white sands, and volcanic pumice.
aeolian islands in myth
Aeolus was the god and keeper of the winds who resided on the floating island of Aeolia. He helped Odysseus on his journey home from the Trojan War, warmly welcoming him and his crew and offering them hospitality for a month.
The cyclops & nobody
Polyphemus was one of the Cyclopes, a race of one-eyed giants, sons of Poseidon, the god of the sea and earthquakes. He lived in a cave at the base of Mt. Etna on the island of Sicily where he tended to his sheep.
D-day turns 80
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, American forces faced some of the most intense and challenging conditions at Omaha Beach. The beach was heavily fortified with German defenses, including bunkers, artillery, machine-gun nests, barbed wire and mines.

