Greece offers more than blue water beach vacations or ancient sites and museums chock full of antiquities. IFWTWA travel writers bring you in depth reviews and insights from their journey to help you decide where to focus your attention when visiting all that is modern and ancient Greece. 

A rear view of The Acropolis, Athens, Greece © Tom Talleur, Rovertreks

The International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) is thrilled to be visiting New Mexico this November 11-13, 2019. Conference attendees will be staying at the “casually elegant” historic La Fonda on the Plaza during the #ifwtwa2019 Conference. 

Opening in 1973, the Baros Maldives was only the third island destination resort in the Maldives. It’s gorgeous beauty and proximity to Male were among the primary reasons for it’s opening. Even though such history is fairly recent – things were significantly different back then. 

Travel Writer David Thompson on Baros Island, Maldives

It’s human nature to want to feel a part of something. That’s one of the main reasons people join clubs and organizations. When I made the transition from full-time nursing to full-time freelance travel writing, I realized that as exciting as my new life was, I wasn’t part of a team like I had been at the hospital. 

We asked for more workshops. IFWTWA gave us more than any conference in recent years. Here are 6 reasons for going to the 2019 International Food Wine & Travel Writers Conference and the first is: 

The Tri-Valley is home to nearly 60 wineries, a craft beer trail with 23 stops, the first ice cream trail, California’s largest premium outlet shopping center, a world-class mall, one-of-a-kind boutique shops, hiking and incredible restaurants. From beer & wine tastings, to Dim Sum brunch, regional lunch and dinners, and a tour of the Blackhawk Museum, our media trip participants came away with an inspiring, hands-on experience and stories to share with readers.

IFWTWA is the acronym for the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Assn^TM. Our members make up a global network of storytelling content creators: writers, bloggers, travel journalists, photojournalists, podcasters, videographers, radio and television hosts, who report on the travel and hospitality industry. 

When you are a guest in someone’s home, you try to be respectful. When you’re in the distinguished James Beard’s House, you are very respectful. It was nearly 7 p.m. and we were led into a plain brownstone with a simple plaque at the entrance stating it was the James Beard House.

Entering the Jame Beard House © M'Liss Hinshaw

Three-day development conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico offered by IFWTWA for experienced and novice food, wine and travel writers. Substantial savings on registration fees are available now for a short time. 

Vermont is best known for maple syrup, skiing, fall foliage, and Ben & Jerry’s. But, in the past decade agriculture and food as well as the craft beer movement have positioned Vermont as best in class for foodies and beer connoisseurs, with travelers from across the globe coming to Vermont to taste our award-winning double IPAs, cheeses, ice cream, and, well… just about everything is great in Vermont!  

Vermont Cheese Plank © Dana Freeman

This year, pour Mom what she really wants for Mother’s Day—a knockout Chardonnay from a winemaking family who knows their way around tasteful California wines. Honestly, I haven’t found many Chardonnays that I could rave about. That has all changed… and just in time for Mother’s Day!

Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Vineyard 2017 Chardonnay © Linda Kissam

Have you been on a cruise and ever wondered how all of that fine cuisine and afternoon teas are orchestrated? Join Deirdre on just that exploration with an Executive Chef aboard Oceania’s Marina Ship. She will give you a peek behind the kitchen door, and how Chef Alban’s love of cooking was born. She also explores all the 10+ dining venues, specialty restaurants, wine dinner programming and more! 

Martini Bar Cocktail Tasting aboard Oceania's Marina Ship

Nowhere in Greece offers the exotic story lines like Halkidiki. The region is the perfect combination of distinctive Greek culture, unspoiled landscapes, dazzling colors and mysterious fragrances.

Photo courtesy of Halkidiki tourism

Rest and relaxation aren’t the only things you get from vacation. If you aren’t careful, you could end up with a lot of debt. A recent survey by LearnVest of vacation-going Americans found 74% went into debt to bankroll their getaway, spending $1,108 on average for a single trip. Of those surveyed, most spent about 10% of their annual income on one trip, and most of them did not budget for the trip in advance.

8 Tips: #1, Determine Your Budget

Did you know Alaska is almost as large as the entire United States? Or that Juneau is just 2-hours from Seattle, is completely wheelchair accessible, thrives on "Juneau time," and the only way to get there is by air of ferry?  

Juneau Eagle Farts? Feed Your Mind & Bellies in Alaska

Marie-Annick Courtier is a native of Paris, France, a Wellness and Culinary coach, an author and Sommelier. A member of IFWTWA since 2016, Marie shares with us her inspiration for writing books, and her passion for healthy eating and coaching others. She has authored an impressive number of books, 13 to be exact. We are so pleased to have her share her insights with us and hope you enjoy getting to know Marie as much as we have. 

Marie-Annick Courtier, healthy eating and lifestyle coach surrounded by friends

Imagine a five-day immersion trip into the heart of Louisiana. A group of eight IFWTWA journalists toured the best Lafayette has to offer. The Southern spirit was ever present as they were absorbed into the Cajun and Louisiana Creole culture. 

Bayou Bromance © Elaine Masters, Trip Well Gal

We are so excited to announce the 2019 IFWTWA Annual Conference will be held November 11-13, 2019 at La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza^TM in the exciting and culturally rich city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. IFWTWA Conferences are open to both members, their guests and any interested parties wishing to explore becoming a travel writer or experienced writers looking for networking and educational opportunities. The Conference focuses on professional development, industry connections, exhibitors and sponsor brand exposure.

Santa Fe Botanical Garden - image courtesy of Santa Fe Tourism

IFWTWA is proud to give back to the food, wine and travel industries by selecting promising students preparing for employment in the tourism and hospitality industries to receive our Hospitality Education Scholarship (HES) Award. We are pleased to award the 2018 scholarship to Darelle Rancap, a student in the Olympic College Culinary Arts Program in Bremerton, Washington, USA.

Darelle consistently maintains high academic performance and has a passion for learning and succeeding in the culinary arts. She has taken on leadership and supervisory roles with new incoming students, and she has been involved with every culinary event in which the college has engaged, both on and off campus. Darelle excels at plating and artistic presentation of her food. She plans to complete her education in the culinary arts and continually progress in the workforce with the goal of becoming an executive chef. Chef Christopher Plemmons, Darelle’s advisor at Olympic College, has endorsed her for the HES Award. Darelle receives an IFWTWA Hospitality Education Scholarship Award Certificate and an award check with funds to assist with her educational expenses. Congratulations, Darelle!

The wine world has its share of eponymous regions; so famous, that just the mere murmur of their name evokes a sense of wonder.  Chateauneuf-du-Pape is one of those regions. The rich, bold and sensuous red wines that are created from this parcel of land in the south of France have been renowned for hundreds of years.