(42 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Ted Blank

Woodbury, MN
Tailor-Made Journeys

You understand that extraordinary vacations aren’t simply a function of dollars and cents, and you know that they certainly aren’t just pulled off the shelf. 

Journeys of a lifetime are carefully designed with imagination, creativity, atten...
Learn more about me.

Experience Authentic France by Luxury Canal Barge

A Luxury Canal Barge Moored in France
A Luxury Canal Barge Moored in France

Luxury cruises by hotel barge along the quiet canals of France and Europe offer the very best way to discover the country's beauty, history, culinary delights, and wines. 


Barges operate primarily along the network of canals and small waterways that meander through the countryside.  Luxury barges are truly floating boutique hotels, featuring deluxe accommodations, private chefs creating gourmet cuisine, personal tour guides, and a high level of personal service.  Most barges can accommodate six to twelve passengers in luxury, either as a full boat charter or a single cabin booking..


As your captain navigates the boat from mooring to mooring, you'll have the opportunity to relax onboard and savor ambiance as well as venture further afield on private shore excursions to vineyards, historic sites, local attractions, farmer's markets, and much more! 


As a Luxury Hotel Barge Specialist, I am one of only a handful of travel agents in the United States to have experienced this amazing travel experience.  I've personally inspected nearly 30 barges, meeting their owners, enjoying their cuisine, and discovering the countryside on their shore excursions. 


Contact me to learn more about the unique benefits hotel barging and to begin planning your voyage!

My Travel Albums

Barging in Burgundy
Hotel barge Luciolle on the Canal du Nivernais
Exploring Southern France by Luxury Barge
Comfortable accommodations on a French hotel barge
Views of Portugal
Alcobaca Monastery in Portugal
By Barge Along the Nivernais Canal in France
Canal barging is an authentic French experience
An Introduction to French Canal Barge Cruising
Dining room on a French Canal Barge
Seeking the Harmony of Terroir
Dining with a view
A Day in Strasbourg, France
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Strasbourg

My Travel Stories

An Introduction to French Canal Barge Cruising

A relaxing cruise along France’s hidden waterways is a unique way of discovering the authentic France, away from the crowds and at a civilized pace.  Originally built to move cargo before the advent of the railroad, France’s inland canals today are peaceful, serene passages through the countryside...Read more.

See more travel stories

My Reviews

139 of 218 people found this review helpful
Un-Belizeable Vacation!
Ted listened to what we wanted in a vacation and gave us a few options to choose from with different price points to meet our needs.

Our trip and itinerary was laid out perfectly . Everything went smooth and we had a very relaxing get away without any worries. Ted thought of everything. The resorts were fabulous, our excursions were personal - no big crowds and our experience was priceless.

As a seasoned traveler himself, Ted knows the ins and outs of how to get an exceptional vacation that is worth every penny.

I am a believer that you get what you pay for and I will not take another vacation without Ted's assistance.

If you are planning a vacation, contact Ted. You will be glad you did!

By  Jenny V.  from  Forest Lake, MN
Traveled to  Belize ~ Central America
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Ted Blank responded:
It was a pleasure to help you plan your trip, and I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time!

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75 of 121 people found this review helpful
An amazing scenic and gastronomic experience
I’d give him more stars if it was possible. Ted has the unusual combination of being detail oriented as well as an easy going unflappable personality. The best travel pro we have worked with in years! On our AmaWatwrways cruise from Amsterdam to Basel Switzerland everything was about as perfect as possible. We had a wonderful cruise manager who ensured everyone had an amazing experience! And the food was like eating in a five star restaurant every night.
By  Tim&Nan  from  Edina, MN
Traveled to  Basel ~ Switzerland ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Ted Blank responded:
It was a pleasure to work with you, and I'm grateful that you enjoyed the river cruise as well as the Swiss adventure!

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82 of 136 people found this review helpful
So much fun we didn't want to come home!
Ted was always proactive and on top of everything. He willingly and ably met our every travel request finding us great hotels, transfers, rail tickets, guides and air fares.
By  Rebecca  from  Ft Collins, CO
Traveled to  Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Ted Blank responded:
It was a delight to work with you, and I look forward to helping with your next voyage!

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62 of 97 people found this review helpful
Great Adventure Down Under
Ted was very responsive to our requests for a trip to New Zealand and Australia that included 8 flights, a car rental, and numerous hotels. The itinerary packet we received from Ted before we left was comprehensive and invaluable to make our adventure run smoothly. Everything went off without a hitch which is unusual with a complicated trip so far away from home. New Zealand is stunningly beautiful and our Australian visit included adventurous scuba diving and a home visit in the Outback. Ted helped us make it happen.
By  Karen  from  Fergus Falls
Traveled to  New Zealand ~ Australia & New Zealand
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Ted Blank responded:
It was a pleasure to help you plan your trip, and I'm glad you had such a great time!

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113 of 199 people found this review helpful
Ted made our trip happen!
We were referred to Ted through friends. Initially, I was nervous to reach out to Ted because I've never worked with a travel agent before. He was easy to reach and very friendly. He made our fears of traveling disappear! He met with us several times to go over details and help us plan our time in each country or city that we would be in! He made our trip that we dreamed about, a reality! Btw we traveled all of Ireland and Northern Ireland, London and Paris!
By  Kayla  from  Lindstrom, MN
Traveled to  Ireland ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Ted Blank responded:
It was a pleasure working with you, and I look forward to helping you plan your next overseas trip!

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Go to my main profile

Destination Expert:

  • Europe
  • France
  • Burgundy
  • Carcassonne
  • Beaujolais

Travel Specialist:

  • River Cruises
  • Luxury Cruises
  • Small Ship Cruises
  • European Culture
  • Culinary & Foodie

Top Travel Partners:

  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  • Viking
  • Oceania Cruises
  • Silversea
  • Cunard®

Certifications/Awards:

  • ILTM Cannes Hosted Advisor
  • CruiseWorld Hosted Advisor
  • Luxury Travel Advisor's Ultra Summit Hosted
  • Princess Cruises Commodore
  • Sandals Resorts Certified Specialist

Languages I Speak:

  • English
  • French

Industry Affiliations:

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