The Gilded Horizon
a travel blog
Discover The Gilded Horizon, Sunkissed Bliss Travel's blog offering expert travel tips, industry insights, and captivating stories from around the globe. Whether you're seeking trending destinations for 2025, family-friendly adventures, or luxury group travel ideas, our articles provide inspiration and guidance to elevate your journeys. Join us as we explore the world, sharing experiences and advice to make your travels unforgettable.

Discover the Magic of Family Travel in Portugal
Experience the magic of Porto through the eyes of young travelers. This breathtaking view of the Duoro River from a charming Porto balcony captures the essence of family adventure—where vibrant city life meets serene river views. Perfect for families seeking unforgettable moments in Portugal, Porto offers both relaxation and exploration in every corner.

Explore These Destinations Best Seen by Water
Some places are simply meant to be explored by boat, where the journey is just as breathtaking as the destination itself. From the sun-drenched islands of the Mediterranean to the dramatic fjords of Norway, cruising allows you to effortlessly visit stunning ports, all while unpacking once and skipping the airport shuffle. Sunkissed Bliss Travel can guide you to the perfect cruise line, itinerary, and even the ideal stateroom for your needs — plus, we’ll help you book at just the right time for the best value.

5 Summer 2025 Destinations to Explore in 10 Days or Less
If you’re already overwhelmed by the idea of summer planning, relax—I’ve got you covered with five destinations that are perfect for a 10-day (or less!) escape with children or without them. The best part? You won’t need a car to explore them. Whether you prefer land, river, or sea, these spots are easy to navigate, family-friendly, and packed with adventure.

Trending Destinations to Explore in 2025: Beyond the Usual Favorites
With 2025 on the horizon, travel trends are shifting towards destinations that offer both richness of culture and authenticity of experience. This year, Sunkissed Bliss Travel has handpicked some top spots that are set to enchant travelers. While Italy remains a beloved classic, it's wise to avoid it in 2025 due to the Pope's Jubilee—a significant event expected to draw millions to Rome and nearby regions. Instead, consider these alluring alternatives that promise captivating journeys without the crowds.

Wow-worthy Alternatives to Popular Destinations
Overcrowding is becoming a problem in the world's most popular destinations across southern Europe in destinations like Italy, Greece, France, and Spain. Crowds coupled with surging heat waves in recent summers can ruin a vacation, no matter how carefully you plan it. This has spawned a trend in alternative destination travel. But even the alternatives are starting to feel strained. Fortunately, Meredith has some exceptional recommendations for alternative destinations that will fill your European cup of wanderlust.

The Inimitable Charm of Ireland
There’s a special place in my heart for Ireland. Ever since I was a child, I wanted to visit and see if what everyone says is really true. Are the hills that green? Are the cliffs that steep? Are the towns charming and the people that friendly? Does Guinness taste better over there? (Spoiler alert: yes, it does.) I didn’t have my feet on Irish soil for very long when I knew that everything I’d heard about Ireland was not hyperbole. If anything, all the praise you hear for the Emerald Isle doesn’t even scratch the surface. I’m a firm believer that Ireland should be on everyone’s destination punch card.

International Travel with Children
Showing our children the world and providing them with authentic experiences is the best gift we can give them. Giving our young ones the space to explore, interact, and learn about people and places different from their own – situations that make them slightly uncomfortable – but expand their tolerance, increase their compassion, and expose them to the real-world is more important than any textbook or honors class. The earlier you can travel with your children, the better, but it can be very intimidating. Do not fear though. With the help of a trusted travel advisor, you can offload the stress of planning and managing a family vacation to us. We have the knowledge, connections, and experience to guide you down a path to joyful travel moments.

River Cruising
River Cruising is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to experience Europe, and more recently Asia, Africa, and South America. Commonly stereotyped as a vacation for retirees, river cruises are for people of all ages. Sure, there are specific cruise lines that cater to the baby boomers, but when you work with Sunkissed Bliss Travel, we can point you in the right direction based on your preferences. There are even options for river cruising with kids. Here are some benefits to river cruising:

A Quick Guide to the Greek Isles
The Greek Isles are one of the most popular destinations in Europe right now – and for good reason. Turquoise waters, craggy coastlines, rich history, exquisitely prepared fresh food, and that European island vibe make the Greek Isles impossible to hate. But there are so many of them! Here is a quick guide to help point you to the right Isle for you.

ETIAS
Are you planning European travel in 2024? There’s been a lot of inaccurate information and unnecessary hype in the media about Europe’s new travel authorization requirement. Here’s everything you need to know to ensure smooth entry into Europe for 2024 and beyond.