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This morning my aunt posted that it was St. Catherine of Siena day.  This had me reflecting on the time I spent in the Tuscan medieval hillside town where she was born.  I have to say, getting into the town was an event in itself.  The year was 2018 and I was backpacking on my first trip through Italy… Europe for that matter. I remember leaving Rome at sunrise on the public bus.  Yes, I am one of those people who takes local transportation when I am traveling. I always feel like it adds authenticity to a trip. It is normally a fairly easy and fun experience. In this case, the bus ride and everything that went with it turned out to be one of the hardest parts of the trip to figure out.  I thought I had planned out every detail and researched everything, but to know that a bus had the ending location (Milan) and not the next location (Siena) on the top of it in flashing lights was lost in translation.  If I had a video of me and the man that tried so hard to explain to me in Italian how buses worked, I would post it for a daily laugh.  It didn’t make it better that everything was written in Italian and my Italian consisted of “thank you”, “please”, “bathroom”, “police”, and “wine”. “Vino de la casa rosso por favor” was my go-to phrase to be exact. But I digress, so as the man explained it for the third time (maybe the tenth) it finally hit me that I better just get on the bus that he was pointing. I warily asked the bus driver “Siena” and he nodded yes.  I honestly didn’t know where I was going to end up but hey, I was there for an adventure.  After we got to the Siena bus station (did I mention my husband was there and he wanted to fire me as his free tour guide), we had to figure out how to pick up the rental car and park outside of Siena.  What I failed to realize was you had to catch a bus into a hill town… with exact euro change (insert my manic laugh here).  So, after a morning of public bus travel, speaking in broken Italian, wanting to throw my google translator out of a window, trials, tribulations, and pure luck I arrived in Siena.  I will say it is a charming town, so full of history with the  Siena Cathedral, Piazza del Campo, and home to the Palio (horse race).  Just being there was incredible knowing how many times I had seen that spot in a movie or in a picture.  I think that is one of the big reasons I love to travel… to see, feel, taste, touch, and smell a place for myself.  To take your dreams and turn them into a reality is truly a self satisfying experience. 

Would I go through it all again just to spend part of a day in Siena?  Yes-I loved every experience that day gave me and I would not trade those memories (good and bad) for anything. If I ever have the opportunity to go back, I will not go there on my own especially if I only had a short time to spend there.  I just feel like it would be so much work for so little time.  However, I would absolutely recommend it as part of a day stop on a tour where you are letting someone else take care of all those little details!

Some of my personal photos from the day.

Growing up and living in the south our winters are laughable. We get cold fronts and cold snaps.  The possibility of snow closes the state down in an emergency.  Our toboggans and hills are cardboard boxes on the levee.  Seriously- you cannot make this up.  It is not that I do not love where I live, but the lack of winter activities sometimes gets me down.  I start dreaming of a White Christmas, snow skiing, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade in NYC, kissing under the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, drinking hot chocolate after ice skating,  sleigh rides through the mountains, soaking in a Jacuzzi during a blizzard with a fireplace crackling in the background. 

Why dream of a White Christmas when you can experience one?  Contact me today for a personalized quote.

5 Reasons you should give your graduate (or self) the gift of travel

As school starts back I was caught up in thinking back to when I graduated a million years ago.  I was seriously thinking about what I got for graduation.  You want the epiphany?  I do not remember anything but cash.  I cannot remember what I even bought with that said cash.  No this isn’t a complaint of the generosity of those giving gifts.  It just seems that I was unaware that there was more that I could have done with what I received.  So if I could go back I would tell myself this…

1.  Stop looking at pictures, videos, and movies from all over the world and start exploring your world.  You can not smell or taste pictures.  ” Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times” Asian Proverb

Bakery in Siena, Italy

2.  You can get money back, but you will never get time back to do the things you dream about doing. We are never guaranteed anything in this life… I am learning at this stage in life, the time is now! Remember, the goal is to die with memories not dreams.

London, England

3.  Travel forces you to think for yourself to a degree.  You have lived most of your life with people telling you what to do, where to go, and when to do it.  With travel comes freedom and choices. 

Switzerland

4.  You become more adaptive.  There is nothing like trying to overcome a language barrier, trying to count change with a Euro, or reading train schedules.  All while functioning on a 6 hour time change. 

5.  Step outside of your everyday life.  Learn about the many cultures and people of this world.  It is quite strange to meet people and realize for yourself that everyone to a degree is the same.  You no longer listen to what people say, but learn to forge opinions based on personal experience.  I feel this is probably one of the most important one of all.  It leads to a greater love and understanding for all of humanity. 

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

So whether is it across the country or half way around the world gift your graduate (or self) an experience they or you will remember for a lifetime! 

  • Contact me today for a free consultation for trip planning.

Sometimes it is hard to describe the way I love to travel to people.  I want to experience authentic and responsible travel.  I want to know that where I am going is safe and secure, while not worrying about all the logistics.  When I learned that there are Adventure companies that pour as much money into the local economy as possible I was sold. Adventure travel is a great way to fully experience a location by immersing yourself in local cultures and activities. There are so many types of adventure travel to choose from no matter your age or level of fitness.

Types of tours I can help you book:

Classic– somewhere between backpacking and independent.

18-to-thirty-something’s– fast paced and affordable, designed for young travelers.

National Geographic Journeys– a collection of unique National Geographic tours designed to take you deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. They offer more inclusions, greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and the freedom to roam, all within the structure and security of travelling in a small group.

National Geographic Family Journeys – trips for adventure-loving families in search of a meaningful way to discover the world together.

Wellness Tours- recharge the body and nourish the mind, the perfect balance of awe-inspiring destinations, rejuvenating activities, and healthy food experiences, helping you return home feeling even better than when you left.

Active tours- adventures that get you closer to the destination by letting you hike, bike, and multi-sport your way through it.

Marine tours- tour the rivers and oceans of the world aboard small ships, exclusive yachts, and catamarans. Includes places like the arctic, Antarctica, and Galapagos.

Local Living tours– Unpack once at a central home base-a Tuscan farmhouse, a rustic lodge in the Amazon jungle- and discover how the locals live.

Adventure travel also has Rail tours, Private travel, and Group travel.

Do you have a graduating senior in high school or college that would love to backpack through Europe.  I can help you create the perfect graduation gift for them. Do you need some down time in mediation, love trekking through the mountains, or have every wanted to stay with a local family and learn the culture in depth- I have the perfect destination in mind for you. Are you ready to cruise down the Amazon River or ride a camel in the desert? I have that covered. Life is so short- are you ready to create meaningful memories with your children that will last a lifetime?  Then now is time to start booking your next big adventure with me! Please contact me for more information or a quote today!

3 reasons to only book with a Sandals and Beaches Certified Specialist

This past week I decided to take my business to the next level so I signed up to be a Certified Sandals Specialist.  Was I able to book Sandals through various suppliers including directly with Sandals?  Yes!  But a certified specialist?  Sadly I was not… During my training I learned only 10% of travel agents selling Sandals are specialist.  I was shocked… As the day progressed I realized what sets a regular travel agent selling Sandals and one that attended a workshop apart.

1.  Access-

Training with Sandals you get to know people on a personal level.  You get personal access to General Managers, wedding planners, and others that work at the resorts themselves.  I also have private access to names, numbers, and emails to the resorts should the need arise.

2.  Dedication-

I made it my mission to become a Certified Sandals Specialist to better myself for my clients and their vacations they entrust me with booking.  As a travel agent,  I attend classes so that I can become more knowledgeable to help benefit you. You can spend hours looking through countless resorts, endless information, and spend time second guessing your choices, or you can contact me and let me help you narrow it down to a couple that fit your personal travel style.

3.  Training-

Sandals specialist training is an intensive day of learning.  I studied every aspect of the Sandals and Beaches company.  I spent an enormous amount of time learning about every single resort, all of the offerings, and highlights of those resorts. I have a huge binder that I have put together with every offering of each of the resorts that will give you your perfect match.

As of this week I can officially and (legally) declare “I am a Sandals Certified Specialist” with all of the knowledge that a specialist brings with it.   I am confident I can put together the perfect all-inclusive vacation package for you, your family, or your group.  I can also help you put together your perfect dream wedding, honeymoon, or even to retie the knot.  Let me help you make wonderful memories that will last a lifetime!

For more information or a consultation contact us today!

Top 3 reasons to use me as your Travel Agent

In a world where the internet is at your fingertips, booking your own trip is as easy as ever… or so it would seem.  Travel is actually more complicated than ever.  There are millions of choices you have as a traveler.  Where do you go, where do you stay, and what do you do while you are there? Information overload is real.  I have experienced it myself as I put together and narrow down the perfect vacation. I could list a ton of reasons you should use a travel agent, but I want to keep it simple… these are my top 3 reasons you should choose me as your personal travel agent.

1.  TIME and $-

You know those long wait times as you try and get answers to questions about your lodging or location?  Those are gone!  Or when you call a company 10 times,get 10 different people, and have to reexplain your story. All you have to do text or message me and I will take care of all those things.  When you call me you are not speaking to an automated computer with wait times, you are speaking to a human and you do not have to dial 0.  I bring value to your trip- I have experience with the inside track on specials and promotions.  I work hard to see what is available for you and the most beneficial time to take you trip.   We both know time is money!!!

2.  Problem Solving-

I can not count the times when I have had someone call me because they are generally overloaded with what to do, how to do it, or even where to begin… I can be your guide for your vacation needs from beginning to end. I can navigate you through things like passports, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) applications, Global Entry, packing tips, avoiding foreign transaction fees, navigating local transportation, and international calling. I have personal contacts in the travel industry that I can go to if the need arises. Another factor that many discount is problems that arise before or during a vacation. Let’s face it, no one thinks they are going to have problems and when they do arise who do you call? Who can you turn to or depend on to answer their phone at 4 am because you have been rerouted through the Paris airport on another flight and your original boarding pass is no longer useful? I will help you! Part of my job is to help you resolve your travel situation(s).

3.  Personalization-

A large business doesn’t keep you up to date or advise you on the best tours and activities that would interest you- I do! I have seen firsthand as one of my clients was the only person who was able to ascend to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris while the rest of the tour group only got to go to the second floor.  Another set of clients wanted to finish out their PADI open water certification in Belize and I worked with a local dive shop in Ambergris Caye, Belize to make sure they were in the right class and received their certificates day one of their vacation.   Are you an avid runner, art history buff, hiker?  I will work hard to match extra things for you on vacation to make it authentic.  Large companies do not ask about your dreams- I will help you make them a reality! All you have to do is message me!