In the past six months, one dear friend and one close associate have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Both had important trips planned—and both had to cancel because of the physical effects of the disease.
In the past ten months, two women I know have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
These were people making plans and assuming, as most of us do, that there would be plenty of tomorrows. . .
Read MoreSomething rather exciting is happening next week, and I’d like to share it with you.
The Joy of Travel will be attending a. . .
Read MoreTwenty years ago, people often came to a travel agent because they needed someone to make reservations.
Today, you can make a reservation from your phone while standing in line for coffee. But a reservation is not the same thing as a thoughtfully designed journey. . .
Read MoreAfter 21 years as a travel advisor, I have learned that the best trip is rarely the one with the longest itinerary, the most famous attractions, or the lowest price.
It is the trip that feels right for the person taking it. . .
Read MoreSometimes the most unforgettable way to experience a familiar destination is to stop asking, “What am I supposed to see?” and begin asking, “What do I truly want to understand?”
Read MoreWe all have that trip.
The African safari. The European river cruise. The journey to Antarctica, the South Pacific or wherever your imagination wanders when you should be doing something more productive.
Then reality taps you on the shoulder and asks, “Exactly how are we paying for this?” . . .
Read MoreFor years, the word luxury made us think of marble hotel lobbies, white-glove service, turn-down chocolates, and someone magically appearing to fluff your pillows.
Don't get me wrong...those things are nice.
But I don't think that's what today's travelers are really searching for. . .
Read MoreSome travelers dream of spending their days lounging on a beach with a good book and ocean views. Others want to wake up before sunrise to search for lions on an African safari.
That's why we don't believe in one-size-fits-all vacations.
Read MoreIt’s the confidence we pass down.
The curiosity we model.
The courage we quietly teach the people we love.
My parents gave me . . .
Read MoreThere’s a certain kind of traveler I’ve always admired.
Not the one trying to collect passport stamps like trophies.
Not the one chasing the most expensive suite or the trendiest destination. . .
There’s a word I hear often in travel these days that never quite fits me: influencer.
I understand the role influencers play in today’s world. Many create beautiful content, inspire people to explore, and share helpful ideas. But that isn’t . . .
Read MoreThere’s no denying that everyday life feels more expensive right now.
When a simple trip to the grocery store costs noticeably more than it did a year ago, it changes the way people think about every purchase. Gas prices affect shipping. Shipping affects food. Food affects restaurants. Utilities rise. Almost everything we touch in daily life feels connected to the same ripple effect.
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