I love America. I really, really do. But honestly, American tourists can be so obnoxious in foreign countries! I really noticed this while living in Italy, often regarding food. Here is a selection of the more egregious offenses – feel free to share your own experiences in the comments section.

Prepare to drool. The experts in luxury adventure are expanding their offering from international tours with the launch of A&K Villas. Under the premise of “where friendships flourish,” A&K’s new Web site allows users to browse drop dead gorgeous rental homes in various European regions including Spain/Portugal, Greece, France and Italy.

Miles of lush vineyards, bathed in the warm, yellow light that Tuscany is famous for. Throw in a medieval castle in the heart of the Chianti Region and a relaxed, peasant culture, and you find yourself in Gaiole. Forbes magazine has named the little town the most idyllic European place to live in 2008. I think that is an understatement.

If you are traveling to a new city, there are alternate ways to see the sites and, I encourage jogging on vacation for active travelers (and both Self and Real Simple magazines agree with me!).

Generally, August isn’t the best time of year to visit Italy. Stores and restaurants are closed, while more than half the country’s population goes on holiday. The tourist crowds are oppressive. And it’s hot. Really hot. But twice a year, on July 2 and August 16th, the wonderful people of Siena host a fantastic event: the Palio.