Often times, we get stuck in the busy game of life. A whole year passes by and we barely
even notice. At some point, we have all felt burned out, whether it’s a stressful career,
hectic family life or you simply need a break from reality. My solution? Travel! It's
important to take time away from the day-to-day to indulge in a vacation, reflect, and
most importantly, have some fun!

You don't have to go far if long-distance travel makes you anxious. If Italy or Japan are
too far for comfort, California Wine Country and Las Vegas are great places to
explore near the west coast. If you're on the east coast and love whiskey, the Kentucky
Bourbon Trail might be right up your alley! If you love food as much as I do, check out this BBQ road-trip. You may also want to consider a river cruise on the Mississippi or even a Caribbean cruise out of Florida. Your travel
options are limitless!

I've helped travelers plan hundreds of trips and vacations throughout the years as a
certified travel advisor. I love helping my clients create long-lasting memories from all
around the world! Click here for some of my favorite travel itineraries. I hope it
inspires you to enrich your life with experiences this year and for years to come. Now,
let’s get traveling!

We put together this Digital Guide to help you plan your next family vacation. Whether you have a family with young kids, tweens, teens or a multi-gen extended family with grandparents, this guide can be used as a resource for to explore the broad range of family vacations available and identify what vacation type best fits what you are looking for.

Inside you’ll find overviews on family vacations featuring:

• All Inclusive Travel
• Cruising
• Theme Parks
• Adventure Travel​

Are you a planner or do you prefer spontaneity? Do you make to-do lists to tackle each day or do you take things as they come? Does having a color-coded calendar system bring you joy or make you anxious? Many of us rely on itineraries and plans to bring order to our daily lives. Others see planning as too much work and not enough fun.

When it comes to travel, a little planning goes a long way. That’s why the professional expertise and experience of a Travel Advisor is a must.

I’ve worked with both types of clients, the planners and the spontaneous types. They both want a vacation that checks all of their boxes, and it usually starts with what’s on their bucket lis​​t.

Speaking of which, when was the last time you revisited your travel bucket list? If it’s been a while or you don’t yet have a bucket​​ list, ask yourself these questions to get started: 

• Which destinations have you always wanted to see?
• What experiences have you dreamed of?
• Which places have you been that you want to revisit?

Your bucket list can be as long as you want. Once you’ve put all your ideas down, go back and star or circle the top three to five items on it that are your top priorities. Then, set a goal for when you’d like to cross off that experience!

Click here for a handy worksheet to help you create your bucket list!

I’d love to see what you come up with. Maybe you’ve always wanted to do a sunset horseback ride along the beach in Puerto Vallarta. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to take a river cruise through Burgundy & Provence and taste local wines. The options are endless and as a certified travel advisor, I’m here to help make them happen.
​
Let’s start planning now, so you can make it a reality in the future! I’m currently planning trips for 2022 and 2023! Not sure which of your bucket list items are doable right now, or when you want to travel? I can help you understand your options so that you can feel safe, comfortable and prepared with your future travel plans.

Here’s to shortening your bucket list so you can add even more to it later!

As fall returns and we usher in increased schedules and routines, now is a great time for relaxation. Discover seven properties below with featured wellness and spa offers. From Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, or Arizona, SELECT has a stay to satisfy your wellness needs and capture some moments of zen.

Whether you are an experienced traveler or first-time cruiser, river cruising appeals to a wide range of travelers with cultural engagement, culinary exploration and authentic moments. This guide encourages you to explore the broad range of experiences river cruising offers and to identify the river and cruise line that best fits what you are looking for.
 
Inside the guide, you will find an overview on River Cruising with helpful details on:
​

• Why You’ll Lover River Cruising
• Ocean vs River Cruising
• Rivers of the World
• River Cruise Partners

​I love creating new traditions, so when I first started traveling, I came up with three ways to create lasting memories from my traveling endeavors.

Travel Tradition No. 1: Save a Bill
Whenever I am traveling, I always keep the lowest denomination paper currency and take it home with me. One day, I found a double-sided clear frame and decided to get crafty. I laid the bills I had collected throughout my travels inside the frame and hung it on my wall. If you visit my home, you can take it off the wall and check out the backside of the bills too! It’s a super simple and fun way to remember your trip.

Travel Tradition No. 2: Discover New Music
When I travel, I appreciate listening to local music, so when I hear a song I like, I purchase one of the musician’s albums. I try to find contemporary, classic and traditional folk music. When friends visit me, we'll talk about my travels, eat some traditional foods from the place I visited and play music from the area to set the mood. Collecting music is a fantastic travel tradition!
​
Travel Tradition No. 3: Buy Art
​I'm not looking for anything fancy. In fact, I typically prefer something sold by local street artists. I've purchased small sculptures, ceramics, freshly created paintings and wooden carvings during my travels. Whenever I look at a piece of art I've brought back home, it reminds me of where I was, the person who created it and how I felt at the time.
​
Consider implementing these three travel traditions or start your own traditions the next time you travel. Creating traditions is a terrific way to build long-lasting memories and makes it easier to take a trip down memory lane.

I love discovering ways to do things more efficiently. In fact, in another lifetime, I was a business analyst where part of my job was to help my co-workers work smarter.  Read on to learn about my two favorite travel apps that help me travel with ease. 

A+ Gallery
For those who want organized photos, but don't want to spend the time actually organizing them, this is the travel app for you. It automatically sorts your photos by time and location. It also includes a map view! Simply explore the map as your photos pop into view. Not only can you search for photos by date and location, but you can also search by color. Plus, it includes a feature that allows you to hide an album from prying eyes. If you love to take photos when traveling, this app will become your new best friend.

Learn more about this incredible travel app here.

Hopper
With airfare constantly fluctuating, it's hard to know when to buy your ticket to get the best rate. You can check one moment and by the next moment, the rate has already increased. Hopper has a data science team mining through trillions of archived flight records to spot trends and predict when you should book your flight to get the best rate possible. It also has a 95 percent accuracy rate! If you are traveling while on a budget, this travel app is perfect for you!

​Download it here.

If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talk to your healthcare professional or visit the CDC website for expert medical guidance. An amazing 97% of physicians offered to be vaccinated have done so.

Not sure where to get vaccinated? Visit this site for local options. 

Of course, our expertise is in travel, not medicine. When you are ready to travel, we are here to help you sort out the various entry restrictions and requirements for vaccinated (and non-vaccinated) travelers, cancellation and refund policies and safe travel protocols. This wonderful world is a pure joy to explore, we hope you take every opportunity to do so.

​Luxury Travel Offers from Matt Travel