Winter Travel Ideas: Ski Season, Europe Travel Updates {Discovery Dispatch}
- Jody Holman
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Originally published in December 2024 and reviewed for accuracy in September 2026. The original language has been preserved except where logistical or factual information has changed.
An Insider's Guide to Where to Eat, Stay & Stray
Greetings, Fellow Wanderlusters,
What a whirlwind year it's been for Viewfinder Travel! As I sit here reflecting on the past months, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Starting this business has been equal parts chin-rubbing challenge and pure joy.
To my incredible network of friends, family, and early supporters: you are the wind beneath the wings of this fledgling travel company. Your referrals, connections, and unwavering belief have been nothing short of magical. This year, I've been fortunate enough to scout breathtaking destinations from Africa to Europe for personal and business reasons, each trip reminding me why I fell in love with travel in the first place.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. As I enjoy a few holiday weeks with my boys at home, I will be daydreaming of where to adventure next. I hope you will, too. Until our next dispatch, enjoy some downtime.
Blue skies and tailwinds to you for wherever 2025 may take you.
Keep wandering and wondering,
Your Travel Architect,
Jody
Welcome to Discovery Dispatch—your passport to secrets that span from ancient alleys and family hideaways to gourmet gems and eye-popping art. Each edition brings a fresh batch of insider finds and stories, all curated to delight history buffs, food and wine aficionados, art lovers, and family adventurers alike.
Winter Travel Inspiration
🌈 Travel Horizons: 2025 Trends Unveiled
Buckle up, wanderlusters—2025's travel landscape is looking like a choose-your-own-adventure novel!
The “SKI” movement (Spending Kids' Inheritance) is in full swing, with boomers proving that retirement isn't about slowing down, but turning up the adventure dial.
“Soft travel” is gaining momentum—think gentle, restorative journeys that prioritize peace over pace.
Historical heritage trips are having a moment, with travelers diving deep into meaningful experiences like exploring Civil War and Japanese internment camp sites, transforming travel into a powerful form of remembrance and understanding.
Solo travelers are ruling the roost, with cruise lines and travel companies finally acknowledging that single doesn't mean solitary—luxury boats are now reserving cabins specifically for independent adventurers.
On the logistics front, airlines are expanding their horizons literally and figuratively: United launched its Newark–Marrakech route, while Delta began connecting JFK to Catania, Sicily, making those bucket-list destinations more accessible than ever.
🛫 Travel Tips & Treasures
Update: ETIAS did not begin in early 2025 and is not yet accepting applications. It is expected to launch during the last quarter of 2026, cost €20, and remain valid for up to three years or until the associated passport expires. The separate UK ETA is currently required for eligible American travelers, costs £20, and remains valid for two years or until the associated passport expires. REAL ID requirements for domestic air travel took effect May 7, 2025. For Schengen travel, passports generally must remain valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date, although six months remains a prudent recommendation.
Attention globetrotters! If Europe is calling, a few important travel requirements are changing:
ETIAS: ETIAS is expected to begin during the last quarter of 2026. Once implemented, the application will cost €20 and remain valid for up to three years or until the associated passport expires. No applications are currently being accepted. Check the official European Union ETIAS website rather than using a third-party application site.
UK travel: Eligible American travelers need a separate UK Electronic Travel Authorization. It currently costs £20 and remains valid for two years or until the associated passport expires. Apply through the official UK government website.
Passport tips: For travel within the Schengen Area, passports generally must remain valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure date. Six months remains a prudent recommendation, particularly when visiting several countries. Passports issued to children under 16 are valid for five years.
REAL ID: REAL ID requirements for domestic air travel took effect May 7, 2025. Review accepted identification on the official TSA REAL ID page.
🍷 Culinary Corner: Looking for Ideas for a Christmas Dinner Showstopper?
Ever heard of Tournedos Rossini? Legend has it that the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini requested a special dish featuring his favorite ingredients—filet mignon, foie gras, and truffle. This luxurious combination became known as Tournedos Rossini, a perfect winter treat.
Sommelier's suggestion: Pair it with a rich Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a truly regal experience.
🏛️ Historical Whispers: Notre-Dame's Underground Secrets
During the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral, an astonishing find was made: sarcophagi buried beneath its floors. Unearthed were two lead coffins, one believed to have belonged to the Renaissance poet Joachim du Bellay, nicknamed the “Horseman,” who died in 1560, and another belonging to Antoine de la Porte, a patron and canon of Notre-Dame. These ancient relics add another layer of historical intrigue to an already iconic site.
🐢 Family Adventures: Your Scientific Odyssey in the Galápagos
Imagine turning your family vacation into a real-world conservation mission that is part National Geographic documentary, part epic adventure! Picture your kids kayaking alongside researchers, learning about sea turtle research, and participating in conservation activities where the program allows—on a transformative journey where your family becomes the scientists, explorers, and environmental heroes.
Conservation-focused programs vary in price, minimum age, and level of participation, so the specifics depend on the expedition. Families traveling during peak holiday and summer periods should plan well in advance. The Galápagos is a year-round destination, with different seasons offering different conditions and wildlife experiences.
The side effects? Raised environmental consciousness, unexpected scientific passion, and children who suddenly find marine biology more fascinating than their social media feeds.
🎨 Art & Inspiration: The Allure of Tamara de Lempicka
Update: The Tamara de Lempicka exhibition at the de Young closed on Tam February 9, 2025.
I visited the exceptional Tamara de Lempicka exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. The curation was outstanding, and the exhibition brilliantly mapped Lempicka's life against world events, offering a rich, multidimensional view of an artist who captured the essence of her era. If you appreciate bold Art Deco styles and compelling personal stories, this is an exceptional exhibition.
Stays & Strays
🌋 Hotel Highlight: Kona Village, Where Hawaiian Heritage Meets Luxe Revival
Kona Village, reborn after a decade of silence, has emerged from the 2011 tsunami's aftermath as a Rosewood property. It is truly an escape, a hideaway on the sacred shores of Kahuwai Bay on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. This enchanting place, where my family spent over 20 glorious years of annual getaways, retains much of its nostalgic charm.
Picture freestanding hale (traditional Hawaiian bungalows) with thatched roofs, Pacific Rim-to-table delights, and spa treatments that could melt away any stress. While the magic of Kona Village remains, it has evolved into a more exclusive, hard-to-get-into paradise—reflective of its high-end allure (and yes, the price tag to match). It is a place where history, culture, and natural beauty unite, offering a retreat that feels both timeless and luxuriously new.
Preferred benefits may be available when booked through Viewfinder Travel and will be confirmed for your stay.
The lagoons and guest rooms at Kona Village Kona. Village hales Totem pole at Kona Village
Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort. © Holman Photography 2024
Destination Spotlight: Salzburg's Hidden Corners
Dive into the enchanting world of Salzburg's Old Town! Viewfinder’s latest blog post explores the historical nooks and elegant corners of this musical city. Uncover centuries of stories, architectural marvels, and the subtle magic that makes Salzburg more than just Mozart's hometown.
Did you know? The iron signs hanging above the storefronts of Salzburg's Old Town are more than mere shop decorations, they are an open-air museum of medieval marketing that tells the story of the city's artisan heritage. Long before neon signs, these elaborate, hand-forged metalwork signs were the Yelp reviews of their day, using visual symbols to identify the businesses and trades behind each doorway.
Salzburg rooftops and church 
Sound of Music Mansion Salzburg 
Church interior Salzburg 
Salzburg's Old town from the hill
Old Town, Salzburg, Austria. © Holman Photography 2024
Ready to Build Your Trip?
Whether you are dreaming about Europe, the Galápagos, Hawaiʻi, or a winter escape, I can help shape the trip around your interests, your pace, and the way you like to travel.
And your referrals are always appreciated—there is no higher compliment.
About the Author
Jody Holman is a travel advisor and the founder of Viewfinder Travel. She designs thoughtful, highly personalized journeys informed by firsthand travel, trusted global partners, and a photographer’s eye for place. She writes about travel the way she lives it: observant, realistic, and always with an eye toward making the experience feel human.
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