--- title: The Avanti Traveler | Mike Dodd description: "My background is over 30 years in the airline industry; almost entirely with TWA and Austrian Airlines, but give me train travel in Europe any day.\nI have been accused of being a Francophile, and to that I say; guilty as charged.\nHowever I firmly believe that every country has something to offer prospective travelers; unique cultures, traditional customs, and (sometimes hidden) charm.\nIt's an exhilarating rush to step off in a new town, or finally reaching that long-awaited historic site.\nAnd I hope I never lose that feeling.\nWorking for Avanti the past few years has further energized my passion for discovering what lies around that bend, and getting out of your comfort zone where nothing is familiar.\nTo quote Aldous Huxley \"Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.\"" image: https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Blog%20-%20Face%20to%20a%20Name%20-%20Gina%20-%20Header%204-Feb-05-2024-02-58-24-0264-AM.jpg --- [![Avanti Destinations Logo](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Avanti-Logo-Color-4.png?width=100&height=63&name=Avanti-Logo-Color-4.png "Avanti Destinations Logo")](http://www.avantidestinations.com) [![Avanti Destinations Logo](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Avanti-Logo-Color-4.png?width=100&height=63&name=Avanti-Logo-Color-4.png "Avanti Destinations Logo")](http://www.avantidestinations.com) - [The Avanti Traveler](https://info.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler) - [Blog Homepage](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler) - [Avanti Podcast](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/avanti-podcast/the-avanti-podcast) - [Avanti Destinations](https://www.avantidestinations.com/home) - [Subscribe Now](https://share.hsforms.com/1FoJwsgeZQ366rRMQXb1RJQ158jk) search - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 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I have been accused of being a Francophile, and to that I say; guilty as charged. However I firmly believe that every country has something to offer prospective travelers; unique cultures, traditional customs, and (sometimes hidden) charm. It's an exhilarating rush to step off in a new town, or finally reaching that long-awaited historic site. And I hope I never lose that feeling. Working for Avanti the past few years has further energized my passion for discovering what lies around that bend, and getting out of your comfort zone where nothing is familiar. To quote Aldous Huxley "Once a year, go someplace you've never been before." [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_072.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/postcards-from-vienna) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Postcards From Vienna](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/postcards-from-vienna) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) March 21 2018 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_071.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/postcards-from-paris-) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Postcards from Paris](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/postcards-from-paris-) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) March 12 2018 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_070.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/let-the-party-begin-europe-events-in-2018-) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Let's Get the Party Started! Europe Events in 2018](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/let-the-party-begin-europe-events-in-2018-) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) February 21 2018 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_061.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/piedmont-or-piemonte) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Piedmont or Piemonte?](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/piedmont-or-piemonte) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) October 23 2017 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_050.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/a-taste-of-paris) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [A Taste of Paris](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/a-taste-of-paris) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) September 5 2017 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_049.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/reading-between-the-lines) [Branding](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/branding) ### [Reading Between the Lines](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/reading-between-the-lines) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) August 23 2017 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_038-1.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/christmas-in-july) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Christmas in July](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/christmas-in-july) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) July 10 2017 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_039.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/europes-best-kept-secret) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Europe's Best Kept Secret](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/europes-best-kept-secret) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) June 28 2017 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_037.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/get-off-the-boat-post-cruising-in-scandinavia) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Get Off the Boat: Post-Cruising in Scandinavia](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/get-off-the-boat-post-cruising-in-scandinavia) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) June 22 2017 [![image](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hubfs/Avanti_BlogPost_HeroImage_036.jpg)](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/get-off-the-boat-pre-cruising-in-scandinavia) [Europe](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/tag/europe) ### [Get off the Boat: Pre-Cruising in Scandinavia](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/blog/get-off-the-boat-pre-cruising-in-scandinavia) by [Mike Dodd](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd) June 20 2017 [1](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler) [2](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd/page/2) [3](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler/author/mike-dodd/page/3) [![Avanti Destinations Logo](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Avanti-Logo-Color-4.png?width=100&height=63&name=Avanti-Logo-Color-4.png "Avanti Destinations Logo")](http://www.avantidestinations.com) - [The Avanti Traveler](https://info.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler) - [Blog Homepage](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/the-avanti-traveler) - [Avanti Podcast](https://blog.avantidestinations.com/avanti-podcast/the-avanti-podcast) - [Avanti Destinations](https://www.avantidestinations.com/home) - [Subscribe Now](https://share.hsforms.com/1FoJwsgeZQ366rRMQXb1RJQ158jk) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/travel_avanti/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AvantiDestinations/) [Follow us on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@avantidestinations) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/avanti-destinations)