Travel smarter in Belgium, Czech Republic & France: Tips for Solo & Groups

Join me as we explore some of the highlights of beercationing in Europe. Ruth Berman of Bon Beer Voyage will share her tips for Belgium and France travel. And Wesley Springer will discuss travel to the lager locations in the Czech Republic.

What You Will Learn about Traveling to Belgium, France & Czech:

Recommendations for Traveling on your own or with a group


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Ruth Berman:Bon Beer Voyage

Dr. Ruth Berman is the CEO and BBB (Brains Beyond the Beer) of Bon Beer Voyage, the award-winning international beercation company for Craft Beer Enthusiasts. Bon Beer Voyage was created by Ruth and her husband, Mike Arra, over a decade ago as the beer lover’s casual but exclusive version of elite wine tours.  They offer high-quality, small group, gourmet Beercations in the US and abroad, providing their guests with one-of-kind experiences, locally guided sightseeing, great food, brewery insider visits, and VIP beer tastings.

Always finding people the most interesting part of any tour or vacation, Ruth has created a number of co-hosted tours over the years with folks like Beer Advocate’s Jason and Todd Alstrom and Bob Sylvester of Saint Somewhere Brewing. In October of 2023, Pete Slosberg, creator of Pete’s Wicked Ales, will be co-hosting a Beer and Chocolate Lover’s Belgium Beercation Cruise with Bon Beer Voyage.

Ruth’s keen interest and focus on Belgium have also led to strategic partnerships over the years with organizations such as Palm Breweries, VisitFlanders, and Brussels Airlines. Her strong connections in the industry and country have allowed Ruth to create the insider experiences for guests that Bon Beer Voyage is known for.  Ruth is also a Certified Tour Director, Licensed Tour Guide, Iatan Accredited Travel Agent, and Cicerone Program Certified Beer Server.  She has been a speaker and panel member on beer tourism at various conferences and events, has served as a beer expert for USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Beer awards and is a member of the Pink Boots Society, the Florida Brewer’s Guild, North American Guild of Beer Writers and The World Food Travel Association.

Wesley Springer

Owner/Founder of Paths Less Travelled, LLC

Wes Springer is the owner/founder and driving engine behind Paths Less Travelled, LLC, an expert in regard to Czech Republic & an avid beer and wine enthusiast.

He has been visiting Czech Republic for over 15 years, built a home there, and created an international travel company to ensure that his wife’s culture was shared with others, but most importantly to their now 5-year-old triplets and possibly the lineage that may follow.

As a supporting member of the Florida Brewers Guild, National Tour Association and a true lover of traditional Czech pilsner and pale lager beers, he has made sure to integrate beer as a cornerstone of Paths Less Travelled’s offerings by crafting and delivering a recurring 6 Day / 6 Night “Czech Breweries, Castles, & Countryside Tour” exploring multiple regions throughout the country.  Guests experience the many varieties of Svetly Lezak (Pale Lager) beers as well as Czech Republic’s rich culture and history while exploring how beer has literally shaped the country that is the birthplace of Pilsner & Pale Lager beers and has drunk more beer per capita than any country in the world for over 30 years.

He has additionally worked with Czech Brewmasters, the Czech Dept of Agriculture, as well an American Brewer and International Beer Judge to co-create a certificated curriculum for advanced brewers to go to the source to learn the history, theory, technology, processes, and application of brewing process through an intense and hands-on course that covers everything traditional Czech Pilsner / Pale Lager from sourcing to pouring to even include economics of brewing.  It includes visiting hop fields & malt floors, brewing in an actual Czech brewery with an English-speaking Czech brewmaster, visiting multiple sites to see various applications or layouts of equipment/technology, troubleshooting off-tastes, and even visiting the very birthplace of Pilsner beer (Plzen, Czech Republic), visiting Lukr faucets, touring the underground to visit the private wells of the 13 different families who were originally bestowed brewing rights, and visiting the birthplace, brewery, and home of the original Pilsner, Pilsner Urquell!

Exploring European Beer Tourism - Tips for Your Next Beercation