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Bardessono Spa, Yountville, CA The Oriental Spa, Mandarin Oriental Singapore The
Bathhouse Driving
the Beach Koh Yao Noi Community Ecotourism Club, Thailand Fairmont Sonoma Mission Spa, CA Anantara
Elephant Camp Doi
Tung Coffee Two Bunch Palms Spa, Desert Hot Springs, CA The Spa, The Peninsula Chicago Chitwa
Chitwa Games Le Touessrok's Givenchy Spa, Mauritius Ananda Spa-in-the Himalayas, India Vanyavilas
Tigers Dublin Historical Walking Tour Dreamcatcher,
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Last year The Barge Lady, AKA Ellen Sack, was forced to visit nine hotel barges on the Canal du Midi in southwestern France. Oh the horror! Twenty-four hours from the moment she left her Chicago
office, she was nibbling on real Roquefort and frozen grapes, sipping a
crisp Muscat dessert wine and chatting with old friends on Emma,
their country-house-style barge. After she’d visited Algeria to
check in with its owner Oliver, she was forced to overnight on the
ultra-deluxe Roi Soleil to watch the chef in his open kitchen
prepare her twice-baked cheese soufflés, rack of lamb and a trio of
homemade sorbets. Never mind the plethora wine meticulously selected for
each course she had to taste. Oh, dear! Now this might sound like a-tough-job-but-somebody’s-got-to-do-it, but really, I think it’s what makes Ellen being such a useful resource on European barging—and makes up for those Chicago winters.
Ellen’s head start, however, is not what made her the go-to agent on European barging. She made it her business to know each barge she represents—its owners, staff, strengths and weaknesses. And none of this "Oh, they’re all nice" stuff for Ellen. She’s not afraid to tell you what she thinks. Personally, I don’t use many travel agents given how much research I do on my own, but when it came to this, new-to-me world of barging, I was stymied. How did choose between barges, never mind canals? How could I get good value for money? Avoid crummy food? Have easy access from Paris? I needed help and I needed it fast. Gorgeous pictures of barging abound on the internet, but Ellen’s site was thorough and right up front, she says she’s opinionated. I liked that.
Ellen and I hit it off right away. She inquired about my interests and requirements, listened to my response and suggested a barge. After more research, I’m addicted to it, I decided she was spot on. That’s how my college roommate and I got to spent a flat-out delightful week floating through Burgundy on Luciole. Ellen certainly gets my nod. And should you, like me, dream of cruising through your golden years, not to worry. The barge lady junior, AKA, Ellen’s daughter, Caroline Sack Klein has joined the firm. She answers her own phone, too. Kate Crawford October, 2010 LINKS WITH ATTITUDE Barge
Lady Cruises on the
web.
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