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Blog

Feeling Burned Out? Time For A Vacation!

11/1/2022

Comments

 
Picture
Jason exploring Osaka April, 2017
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!
Comments

Bucket List Dreams: Why You Need A Travel Advisor

10/1/2022

Comments

 
Picture
Matt in Perast, June 2021
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!
Comments

My Three Travel Traditions

9/1/2022

Comments

 
Picture
Matt visiting Dubrovnik, June 2021
​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.
Comments

My Two Favorite Travel Apps

8/1/2022

Comments

 
Picture
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.
Comments

On The Road Again

5/1/2022

Comments

 
Picture
Europe is one of my favorite international travel destinations. Some of my all-time favorite cities to visit are Paris, Rome and Barcelona. But the best thing about traveling to Europe is being able to explore the smaller, picturesque towns all over the continent. Click here to see a collection of some of my favorite photos I’ve taken while traveling throughout Europe! 
​
I wish more people took the time to travel internationally. Did you know that only 42 percent of Americans have a passport? Surprising, right?  When I discovered that less than half of Americans have passports, I knew I needed to do something to change that. 

If you book an international travel package with me whether it’s for 2022 or 2023 dates, I'll pay your passport fees!

​Already have a passport? I'll pay for your Global Entry, which includes TSA pre-check! This means you'll be able to get through TSA and customs lines in the U.S. faster. Traveling made easy!

Let me help you plan an unforgettable international travel experience sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

Contact me today for more details on how to get your passport or Global Entry for free! Don’t be shy, I’m here to help! 
Comments

The Secret to Traveling At Little-To-No Cost

4/1/2022

Comments

 
Picture
What if I told you there’s a way you could travel for free, and it doesn't involve credit cards or tracking rewards points? Plus, you get to travel with your friends! There's a little secret to traveling for free I’ve discovered as a travel advisor, and I'd like to share it with you: all you have to do is get a small group of friends together and your costs are covered.

Work with me to come up with your ideal itinerary. Let's say it's a cruise. You get nine friends to go on the same cruise, and you'll go for FREE! If you get 10 couples in your group, you'll get a FREE CABIN for you and your guest.

This is just one example. Requirements and rewards vary. Contact me to put together a travel plan that suits you!

There will always be some costs such as taxes and flights, but overall, this is the cheapest way you'll find to travel.
​
Contact me now to let me plan your group trip! Let’s get traveling!
Click here for more details
Comments

Feeling Burned Out? Time For A Vacation!

11/1/2021

Comments

 
Picture
​Jason exploring Osaka April, 2017
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!
Comments

Bucket List Dreams: Why You Need A Travel Advisor

10/5/2021

Comments

 
Picture
Matt in Perast, June 2021
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!
Comments

My Three Travel Traditions

9/2/2021

Comments

 
Picture
Matt visiting Dubrovnik, June 2021
​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.
Comments

My Two Favorite Travel Apps

7/19/2021

Comments

 
Picture
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.
Comments
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