I hear from people every day how much they want to travel again. They want nothing more than to escape the monotony of their hometown, explore a new destination, dive into exciting cultures or simply relax at a resort. Good news: I'm here to help guide you to available travel options.

As a travel professional, I get insider information from colleagues and travel companies every day. So, I know which countries are currently welcoming visitors, which resorts provide you with both safety and indulgences, and how to take advantage of flexible deposits and cancellation policies.

That’s my job — to be your go-to, trusted resource about everything travel. Today I'm focusing on Mexico, where thousands of Americans have traveled to enjoy the beaches, resorts and culture over the past few months. If you haven't heard, I moved to Puerto Vallarta a few weeks ago and am loving it. In November I plan on visiting Playa del Carmen.

I'm ready when you are to help plan your trip to Mexico or beyond. Now, more than ever, having a trusted travel advisor by your side is invaluable. Don’t just take my word for it — here’s what some of my recent clients had to say about my service. 

TAKING FLIGHT – THE STATE OF AIR TRAVEL

Even though airlines have reduced the number of flights and seats in response to current travel restrictions, they are still taking off daily and landing in many of the destinations you want to be in. Each airline is instituting its own level of safety protocols, which may include:

• Required facemasks for all passengers while they board and during the flight
• Masked employees and plexiglass partitions at airport counters
• Pre-flight temperature checks and health questionnaires
• Numerous hand sanitizer stations
• Spaced seating onboard and at gates
• Enhanced air filtration systems installed in cabins
• Strict cleaning between flights

ALL-INCLUSIVE ESCAPES WITH ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES

Each resort chain is going above and beyond to ensure that your stay exceeds expectations, in both luxury and cleanliness. Discover how two all-inclusive all-stars have implemented enhanced safety measures, and see which locations are currently open.

Click here to read more...

WORK FROM PARADISE

Replace your virtual background with actual paradise. 

If your work from anywhere or distance learning situation needs a change of scenery, consider taking an extended break at an all-inclusive resort or temporarily move to an island paradise.

Click here to read more...

Look out for future posts on how I'm doing in Puerto Vallarta. Until then, feel free to contact me about any travel questions you have.
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I spend a lot of my time talking about travel. Over the last few months, the conversations I’ve had about travel have been hopeful and full of dreams for future trips. In fact, one of my favorite questions to ask is, “where in the world would you go?”

Hearing the responses is so fun: Cancun, Italy, Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Nepal… the list of places sparking our wanderlust goes on and on. Those of us who love the experience of travel often have a list like this in our heads all the time, and it’s only gotten longer as we’ve had more time to dream about destinations over the last few months.
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I turned this question around on myself and asked, “where in the world would I like to go?” I asked my partner, and it became a larger question. Where in the world would we like to live? What I find even more interesting than asking “where” is asking “why.” Why do you want to go? 

For me the answer to this became yet another question. I was living in one of the most expensive places in the world. If both my partner and I could work from anywhere in the world, why did we remain in Silicon Valley where we grew up? We couldn’t find an answer to this question that satisfied us, so we picked up and left. A month and a half later we sold our house and now we’re living in Puerto Vallarta! We’ll stay here for at least four months. After that, I’ll be asking more questions again. =)

This isn't my first time living abroad. I joined the Peace Corps after college and lived in Europe for two years. It was actually my first time abroad and it was an incredible journey. You can read all about that experience here. Ever since then, I've dreamed of living abroad again.

I’d love to hear your where AND your why for your next trip or long-term stay. Many travel partners I work with are offering special discounts for long-term stays so reach out if you have questions. 

When it comes to travel dreams, I want to help you make them a reality.

Complimentary room upgrades, late checkouts and free nights — hotel loyalty programs can have some spectacular perks. Of course, these programs are designed to reward frequent guests — road warriors are often the beneficiaries of executive lounge access and complimentary breakfasts — but what about those of us who spend more nights at home than in a hotel? Don’t dismiss the benefits of these programs just because you’re an occasional traveler.

Rule Number One: Whether you’re staying for two nights or 20, always enroll in your hotel’s loyalty program. Enrollment is free, easy and often comes with its own set of perks, such as complimentary Wi-Fi and late checkout. These alone are worth the effort. 

Rule Number Two: Do your research. These days, large hotel chains often incorporate many smaller brands. Marriott, for example, now includes 32 mini-brands, including W Hotels and Ritz-Carlton. Hyatt’s extensive portfolio, meanwhile, includes Andaz and Thompson Hotels, among many others. Knowing which brands share a common loyalty program will enable you to earn points faster.

Rule Number Three: Even if you don’t travel enough to earn elite status, your rewards can still be valuable. Don’t have enough points for a suite upgrade or free night? You can still use them for other things such as dining, movies and lounge access. Many programs also allow you to pool or transfer points to friends or family members, which is an easy way to reap big rewards faster.

​​There are two questions I keep hearing again and again from my devoted cruise clients:

1. When will cruising start again?
2. How will the experience be different?

Unfortunately, no one knows the full answers yet, even the top cruise executives. The members of the Cruise Line International Association have voluntarily suspended U.S. cruise operations until October 31, 2020. A few cruise lines have a small number of sailings for November and December scheduled to depart as of right now.

Whenever cruising officially resumes, your safety will be paramount. Expect some changes to help ensure the health and safety of everyone on board, such as pre-boarding testing, social distancing measures and procedures to handle infected passengers. To develop and implement plans that work for all passengers and crew, cruise lines have been working with the world’s foremost epidemiologists, virologists and public health and risk management experts. In addition, cruise lines are communicating with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which ultimately decides whether ocean-going cruise ships can sail in U.S. waters.

I have some clients who are putting down deposits for cruises in 2021 and 2022; in fact, a number of cruise lines report their bookings for next year are outpacing booking activity at the same time in 2019. Expect availability to be slim for 2021 cruise dates and possibly 2022 as well. I am here to answer any and all questions you may have about 2021 and 2022 itineraries, the numerous special offers that are currently available, travel restrictions and cancellation policies.

If you are ready to travel soon, Mexico and some of the Caribbean islands are welcoming visitors now for land based travel. In fact, as I write this I am in Puerto Vallarta for an extended stay. I'm surprised how similar the policies are here as they were back in San Jose. My colleagues who have traveled to these destinations recently have been beaming about the safety precautions in place at various airports and all-inclusive resorts.

Please contact me for more information and all your questions!

Spyware, malware, ransomware, data breaches and identity theft — cyberattacks are on the rise, and they’re only becoming more sophisticated. Every email, every public Wi-Fi network, every free charging station is a potentially catastrophic encounter, and business travelers are particularly vulnerable.

With such potentially devastating consequences, how do you protect yourself? Staying up-to-date with cybersecurity best practices is essential. Here are our top tips for keeping your data safe while traveling.

Simple Tips:

• Never expect privacy when traveling. Always assume that any information you send electronically can be intercepted and whatever digital information you have on your smartphone, tablet or laptop is at risk of being stolen.
• Avoid bringing unnecessary electronics with you; especially those containing sensitive information.
• Never leave your electronics unattended — that includes not leaving them in a hotel room safe.

 Advanced Tips: 

• If you do have to bring electronics with you, make sure they are encrypted, up to date, have antivirus/antimalware software installed and the firewall is enabled.
• Subscribe to a reputable VPN service to keep your connection secure for when you do need to connect to the internet.
• When it comes to digital security and traveling, a large dose of paranoia is very healthy.

I want to offer you some updates on the current and future travel landscape. Like me, you’ve probably had to adjust to concepts like remote work, distance learning and online grocery orders. Hopefully you’ve been letting your mind wander with memories of past travel moments and dreaming of your next exciting journey. 
 
If travel is on your mind, I’m sure you have a lot of questions. I want you to remind that I am here to help.

BOOKED TRAVEL
If you have a vacation or other travel plans currently booked you can reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I am here to help guide you as the process of travel and, in some cases, the requirements for entry have changed, and they continue to evolve. Let my expertise give you the confidence you need to make good decisions and prepare for your upcoming trips.

CANCELED TRAVEL + FUTURE TRAVEL CREDITS
If you had existing travel canceled and have a future travel credit or future cruise credit — whether it was booked through my agency or not — I can help you navigate your choices and get the most from your credit by maximizing all available promotions. Plus, I take care of all the logistics for you, so there’s no need to spend hours on hold with the airline, cruise line, hotel or tour operator trying to connect with a real person.

FUTURE TRAVEL
Many of you are feeling stuck at home and have started thinking about your next vacation. Maybe you missed out on spring break, your summer travel plans have been impacted or all this down time just has you dreaming of your next adventure. Wherever your travel heart stands, I'm here to help and am ready when you are.
 
Travel to many parts of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe is starting to re-open for summer and fall travel, and there are some great promotions for Winter 2020, Holiday Season and 2021 travel with attractive and low-risk deposit and payment policies.  A road trip around the U.S. is an ideal way to get out of the house and explore while social distancing.

We are all global explorers, and it has been hard for us to sit back and watch as travel has come to a virtual standstill over the past few months. But, as we’ve seen time and again, the travel industry will adapt and come out stronger. Our airline, cruise line, hotel and resort partners are currently implementing new procedures to make their products and experiences safer to enjoy with more flexible booking and cancellation policies in order to regain your trust.
 
Our ability to assist you during these uncertain times is one of the reasons we are by your side as your trusted travel advisors. If you need help, are ready to start planning or just want to talk travel, please contact me at matt@matt.travel.

​I hope this message finds you safe, healthy and looking forward to a brighter future.

With all kinds of travel information at your fingertips on the Internet, why would you need to work with a Travel Advisor? The great thing about the Internet is it gives you tons of information. The bad thing about the Internet is it gives you tons of information. A good Travel Advisor sorts through it all to help you make brilliant travel decisions whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, a family, or with a group. In addition, here are three other reasons how Travel Advisors make planning your next trip a breeze.

• Personalized Planning and Expert Guidance
  • As a Travel Advisor, I don’t just provide answers. I ask questions too! I want to get to know you, your vacation style, and preferences so I can make tailored recommendations for your trip. My primary goal is to exceed your expectations and if something goes wrong, I’ll be available to assist you.
  • ​My clients always get me when they call as opposed to a random help desk person. Plus, they never wait on hold endlessly. They can call me, text me, email me, Facebook message me, etc.
  • Everybody loves an insider! Being well connected within the industry and as a frequent traveler myself I'm always ready to recommend interesting things to do, unique places to visit, and amazing restaurants to eat at.
  • I design vacation packages with my client's precise needs and desires at heart. We work together until they are 100% satisfied with their travel plans. If they come across a vacation package on the Internet that looks interesting, they send it my way and I help ensure it's reputable and has a high level of value.
• I have clout in the industry
  • I personally contact the manager of the accommodations where my clients are staying to confirm reservations and request complimentary extra’s. There is no guarantee, but I’ve seen this result in room upgrades, gift baskets, bottles of alcohol, chocolates, etc. About 80% of my clients say they've received upgrades because I'm their Travel Advisor.
  • Since I have clout, that means my clients have clout. This helps ensure my clients have the best experience. Not only am I a member of Travel Leaders Network, my host agency is well known and has built strong relationships within the travel industry.
• Most importantly, I care
  • Whether you are planning a road trip around the country, need a secluded private cabin, or want to stay in a private house near the beach, I'm invested in your happiness.
  • Good Travels Advisor certified - Good Travels Advisors are trained in the basics of good travel giving and volunteering.
  • I'm a member of Pledge 1%. This means I donate 1% of my time to volunteer for worthy causes and give 1% of my revenue to charity.​

I am here to take the hassle and guesswork out of your vacation and ensure you make the most of your time away from home. The service I provide helps ensure my clients travel investment creates wonderful experiences and lasting memories. This is just the start of my philosophy in crafting meaningful journeys.

Click here to read what my clients think about my service!

If you have questions about my services or are looking to plan your next getaway, feel free to contact me!

​Recently, I connected with Lisa Redmon of Redmon Wines. We spoke about St. Helena, the heart of Napa Valley, and her hometown for 50 years. I fell in love with St. Helena 12 years ago when I first visited. I was surprised to learn about so many experiences I never knew about in this beautiful quaint town in America's most famous wine region. She said she'd love to share her insider knowledge with all of you. I invited her on Travel Radio Podcast to sit down and talk about exclusive wine tastings, the best way to get around town, food, and other must-do experiences.

Enjoy the video or audio versions below!