 Travel appeals to our senses—hearing the crash of ocean waves, seeing the twinkling lights of a city skyline, feeling a cool mountain breeze on your face. Judging from the popularity of food-related hashtags and social media posts, many travelers especially love to indulge their sense of taste. Travel food and dining experiences are often the most memorable parts of a trip. Are you planning a trip for your favorite food buddies? Want to add some extra flavor to your next getaway? Here are a few ideas sure to tempt anyone’s travel taste buds. EXOTIC EXPLORATION
The world offers an endless variety of ingredients and cooking styles. Specialized foodie tours make it easy to explore vibrant destinations like Thailand, Morocco, Peru, and more. Options include guided visits through local markets and street fairs, unique dining experiences, and hands-on cooking lessons. WINE AND DINE Sail through some of the world’s top wine regions on a luxurious European river cruise. Wine-focused itineraries feature expert lectures, tastings, and culinary pairings. Or plan a custom self-drive tour along New Zealand’s wine trail or through California’s Napa Valley. HOP(S) ON BOARD River cruises are also a great way to explore beer-producing regions in countries like Germany and Amsterdam. You can include tours of local breweries, visits to malt factories and hops fields, and of course, plenty of tastings. And what beer lover wouldn’t enjoy a pub crawl through Dublin or London? SPICE IT UP If an entirely food-themed trip isn’t your style, you can still add a pinch of culinary adventure to your next vacation. Try a food-themed shore excursion to experience local specialties in cruise ports across the globe. Take a break from the beaches of Jamaica, Costa Rica, or the Dominican Republic to tour a local coffee plantation or distillery. The possibilities are endless… and delicious. Are you hungry for your next travel adventure? Matt Travel can craft a menu of tempting travel food options!  Many travelers look forward to their annual spring break trip, summer vacation, or holiday travels. With kids off from school, these times usually work well for families and those with busy schedules. That also means that these are among the busiest travel times of the year, or what we in the travel industry call peak season. Peak travel times can be the only option for some travelers, but those with more flexibility in their schedule should consider traveling during non-peak times to take advantage of these benefits!  LOWER COSTS Most travelers have a vacation fund or a budget planned for their vacation. Travel agents strive to work within their clients’ budgets to plan their ideal trip and maximize their vacation value. This can be tricky during some peak season times of the year when flights are at their priciest and occupancy is nearly full. One of the benefits of traveling during non-peak travel times is that travel costs are usually lower. This means a traveler’s budget can go farther. Perhaps they will be able to add an extra night to their stay, upgrade their room or cabin, fly first-class or include some activities that they didn’t consider before.
 WHEN ARE NON-PEAK TRAVEL TIMES?
Peak and non-peak travel times can vary from destination to destination and from year to year as holidays fall on different days. It’s important to know the local school calendars, when wedding season is in your area, and when holidays and three-day weekends will fall in the coming year. For travel from mid-January through February is slower, though three-day weekends can be a bit busier than other travel times during these months. Early May can also provide some great options for early summer travel without some of the peak travel prices. Most destinations are very busy from mid-May through mid-September, but things slow down once again for October and early November before holiday travel leads to busier destinations.  Matt attending the river cruise expo in Budapest - March 2022 A wine cruise offers the hospitality of traveling with a group of like-minded people with a variety of private events, dinners and tastings scheduled aboard the ship and on land. Keep reading to discover three of the best reasons to book a fall wine cruise!
1. See Europe’s breathtaking landscapes illuminated in vibrant autumn colors. 2. Visit renowned sites and wineries as the locals do, amid less crowds. 3. Save on airfare, as prices are typically reduced during fall. Cruise through highly acclaimed European wine regions, from Austria’s UNESCO-designated Wachau Valley to Germany’s Rheingau and Moselle regions, to France’s celebrated Bordeaux region and beyond. Expert Wine Hosts You’ll be accompanied throughout your cruise by a dedicated Wine Host from a North American winery who will lead tastings and provide trips to private cellars and historic vineyards. You will also enjoy carefully curated food and wine pairing dinners. Are you interested in booking a fall wine cruise? Click here to learn more about river cruising. Contact me today so we can get started planning the perfect wine cruise designed specifically for you!  As professional travel advisors, we use our vast experience to help you explore, relax and reconnect on your vacations. For those looking to reconnect with the one they love, the hotels, resorts and tour operators listed here can help you do just that. Set in some of the most dazzling destinations around the world, these properties from SELECT Hotels & Resorts — an exclusive program that includes the world’s finest hotels, resorts and villas — shower you with exclusive perks and privileges when you book them through Matt Travel. AT SELECT HOTELS & RESORTS, YOU'LL RECEIVE ALL THESE BONUS AMENITIES AND MORE:
COMBINE THESE BONUS AMENITIES WITH THESE SPECIAL OFFERS FROM THE FEATURED HOTEL PARTNERS:  21c MUSEUM HOTEL CHICAGO Located just steps from the famous Magnificent Mile shopping district in River North Chicago, contemporary art surrounds and inspires you at 21c Museum Hotel Chicago. Discover a new kind of cultural and travel experience in the Windy City with this multi-venue museum and 297-room boutique hotel featuring 106 suites. A welcoming sanctuary from the art and activity that fills the 21c galleries and downtown Chicago, the romantic rooms are the perfect place to rest, refresh and reconnect. Also included when you book through Matt Travel — these SELECT amenities:
 FAIRMONT KEA LANI, MAUI Discover the essence of Maui at Fairmont Kea Lani, Hawaii's only all-suite and villa luxury oceanfront resort. Imagine an island oasis where blue skies, golden sand beaches and an abundance of tropical blooms create a vibrant retreat. With six dining venues featuring four bars, three swimming pools (including an adults-only tranquility pool), authentic Hawaiian cultural activities and comprehensive fitness and wellness programming, Fairmont Kea Lani is the ideal place to re-energize and reconnect with loved ones. Also included when you book through Matt Travel — these SELECT amenities:
 HYATT HOTELS & RESORTS From iconic cities of the world to sunny white-sand beaches and beyond, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts around the globe provide the perfect settings for your romantic getaway. Choose the excitement of Nashville or the legendary European cities of Amsterdam and Prague. For the ultimate escape, select destinations like Hawaii or Cambodia. Or enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe or the Pacific Coast. Wherever you set your course, you’ll be sure to share memorable experiences that will last a lifetime. Also included when you book through Matt Travel — these SELECT amenities:
 IHG HOTELS & RESORTS Wherever your travels take you, elevate the experience. As one of the world’s largest luxury and lifestyle hotel brands, IHG offers unparalleled service and stay experiences in the world’s most premium destinations. With 17 brands across 6,000 destinations around the world, they have multiple properties to choose from no matter where you wish to spend your romantic getaway.
Also included when you book through Matt Travel — these SELECT amenities:
 Have you seen the 2023 Culinary Collection brochure? We have featured more departures and shore events and added new suppliers to the program who have really stepped up their offers.
AmaWaterways is offering a shopping trip to a local market with the ship’s chef along with a Chef’s dinner made with ingredients from the market. Newly added Windstar is offering an array of benefits from their James Beard Culinary themed cruises, including a chef-hosted dinner with a guest chef, a wine pairing event, cooking demos and recipe cards to take home as well as $100 per person shipboard credit. Click the link for some culinary destination inspiration!  If Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter on February 2, there’s no need to grumble…sunny skies and sandy beaches are just a quick plane ride away! If you haven’t started planning yet, put down that snow shovel and make your reservations for a spring break escape with these money-saving tips in mind.
Spring break travel can pack a punch, but it doesn’t have to be painful on the wallet. The key is organization, planning ahead, and maximizing your budget in creative ways…all aspects of travel a professional travel agent can help you with!  Cross posting this blog from my friends at KHM. Travelers are compelled to explore the world because they love connecting with another culture through the food, history, and art of a place. This is especially true for travelers who want to visit Europe. These uniquely European experiences will have you wanting to hop across the Pond again and again.  FOR THE FOOD Food is one of the most interactive and sensory ways to experience a destination’s culture. It’s also one of the most often talked about parts of our vacations. We connect with the aspiration to eat Neopolitan pizza in Italy, croissants in France, and fish and chips in England. Even if you don’t call yourselves “foodies” you’ll most likely want to try some local specialties.  HISTORY INSPIRES Whenever Americans visit Europe, we marvel at the age of their buildings and cities. The idea that you may stay in a hotel built in the 1700s or stroll along cobblestones laid down by the Roman Empire is novel for us. The rich history of Europe is one of the reasons many of us are inspired to visit, and why we often make visiting historic landmarks and museums a priority when traveling.  APPRECIATING THE ARTS
Much like history, the experiencing the arts is an important part of understanding the culture of a place. While Europe is filled with incredible works, like the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David, museums are only the tip of the iceberg. Architecture, music, and theater performances are among the many forms art takes. While everyone’s experiences are different, we all find ways to connect with destinations and cultures through meaningful moments. For some, that’s sipping a coffee and or trying a new dish. Others find joy in connecting with the past through history. Others strive to sink into the moment through performances and art.  Matt sailing on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady for New Year's 2023 There's a lot to remember before heading out on your next adventure. That's why I always use a checklist to remind myself of all the things I need to pack before I embark on my next trip. Keep reading to discover the three must-have items you need while traveling!
Click here for a handy packing list to make sure you are prepared for all of your traveling needs! After all the packing is done and just before I head to the airport, I double-check to make sure I have these three things on me. Without these items, I may not even make it to my destination, or at a minimum, my traveling experience will be considerably more difficult. If all I have are these three things, I'll be able to get by and can always purchase anything else I need. #1. Don't forget your passport If you're traveling internationally, you won't even make it on the plane without your passport. Even if you somehow manage to slip through all the check points and make it to your destination, they’ll put you on the next flight home as soon as you land. I've seen it happen a number of times. The traveler who forgets their passport has to go back home to get it, no exceptions. Their travel plans are delayed, plus they incur stiff fees from the airline to re-book their airfare. Bonus Tip: Make sure your passport doesn't expire until six months after the date you return home, or they might not let you go abroad. #2. Don't forget your money/credit card I was pickpocketed while traveling once. They took my wallet with all my money and credit cards. They were so talented that I didn't even realize it until the next day! The worst part? I was only halfway through my month-long journey. I begged my parents to send money via Western Union at each new city I went to so I didn't have to come home early. Thankfully, they agreed, but it was quite the process. The time difference between us was about 10 hours, which made communication while traveling extremely difficult. I wasn't sure how much money I needed for the rest of the trip and typos in my name made it difficult to collect the cash. All-in-all, lesson learned: do not forget your money or credit cards while traveling! #3. Don't forget your phone With the world’s shift from paper to digital almost complete, your most important travel information is now on your phone. Plus, your family and friends expect to hear from you frequently while you travel to make sure you're alive and well. We've grown so dependent on our smart phones, it's hard to travel without them. To top it off, many of us no longer use a physical camera; it's now just an app on our phone. Can you imagine traveling to all these beautiful sites and not being able to take pictures of any of your food? Lame! Before you leave for your next trip, double-check to make sure you didn't forget your three most important travel items: your passport, money and phone.  Check out this guide on how to best use a travel advisor to plan your next vacation! Click the button below
 Will you be hitting the slopes soon? The right clothing, gear, and accessories can make or break your skiing or snowboarding experience. Airline luggage limits and fees can quickly turn packing your bags into a double black diamond challenge. These ski vacation packing tips will help you arrive with everything you need to enjoy your winter getaway.
PLAN AHEAD Avoid last-minute packing. You need time to analyze which items you already have and whether they’re still in good condition, to purchase (or borrow) anything you still need, and to test any new gear before your big trip. MAKE A LIST Replacing forgotten items can be pricey in resort shops. Use a packing list to remember all the essential gear, après ski apparel, and accessories. Don’t forget sun protection for your skin, lips, and eyes! UNDERSTAND AIRLINE POLICIES Carefully review the luggage allowance included with your ticket, including size, weight, and quantity for checked and carry-on bags. Some airlines have specific policies for transporting sports equipment, including coverage limitations for lost or damaged items. COMPARE BYO VS. RENTAL OPTIONS Renting equipment at your destination may be a practical alternative to the cost and complications of transporting your skis or snowboard. Compare on-site choices with using a local ski shop or rental company, which often offer delivery. LAYER LIKE A PRO When it comes to choosing clothing layers, think quality over quantity. The right fabrics will keep you warm and dry, without weighing you—or your luggage—down. Save space in your suitcase by carrying your bulky ski coat on your flights. What are your must-pack items for a winter sports adventure? |
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California Seller of Travel Registration # 2089491-50. Registration as a seller of travel in California does not constitute the state's approval. Agent is not a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. Florida Seller of Travel Registration # ST37113. Hawaii Seller of Travel License # TAR 7231. Washington Seller of Travel UBI # 602 775122.
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