by Jan Mauer | Mar 29, 2018 | European Travel, Luxury Travel, Travel Tips
Christmas at Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, France Many people opt to not travel during major holidays for a variety of reasons. However, when clients ask me, “Are holidays a good time to travel?” I give them these five reasons why a holiday away makes PERFECT sense: 1. Use Fewer Vacation Days Extending a holiday that most people already have off minimizes the amount of time needed off from work. You’ll automatically get more bang for your buck. Now you can save those valuable vacation days for another getaway! 2. Step Away from the Hustle Bustle Kick back with a pool-side resort vacation – and take the stress out of holiday planning. Holidays can be a source of major stress for families (especially moms) as they juggle preparations, strong personalities of relatives, coordinate meals, shop for gifts and more. A luxury getaway helps them put the “pause” on all the planning. Sure, there’s preparation involved, but when the major decision of the day is deciding between the beach or the pool, it doesn’t seem too terribly taxing. Plus…I’m here to help with the planning and preparation…you just pack and go! 3. Create New Memories to Share Forever Make wonderful new memories to share with your family! Wake up early to watch the sun rise over the horizon. Visit a volcano. Explore the local music scene. Try new foods. Visiting a new destination can awaken the possibilities and a sense of adventure in any traveler. Sharing a unique, common experience is one of the best ways to strengthen bonds and create memories that you will cherish forever! 4. Leave... by Jan Mauer | Mar 16, 2018 | European Travel, Luxury Travel, Travel Tips
I am often asked, “What are the things you need to know before you visit Italy?” Italy is, by far, the European country requested the most by my clients. In fact, over 46 million tourists visit this amazing country every year. They come from all over the world, for many different reasons, and many will return again and again for that magic that only Italy can deliver. Italians are very kind, outgoing, family-centric and extremely patient (unless they are driving!). The Italians realize how blessed they are to be the safe-keepers of some of history’s most magnificent relics and art treasures, and they are happy to share them. However, there are a few things that most Italians want Americans to know before we arrive in their country. Here is my list of the 10 Things You Need to Know before You Visit Italy: 1. Slow Down: You will NOT see it all! When in Italy, slow down to enjoy the experience. Trust me, the reason that the 46 million tourists descent upon Italy each year is because there is so much beauty to see and experience: culture, art, vineyards, food, museums, and the amazing people. A lifetime isn’t even enough time! So, slow down, take it all in, appreciate what you DO see…and then plan to return! 2. Dress more conservatively than you do at home. Miniskirts, short-shorts (they are for the beach only, in my opinion), halter tops and saggy jeans will not live up to the classic fashion taste of Italians. You don’t have to be formal and uncomfortable. You just have to appear neat, put-together and... by Jan Mauer | Mar 9, 2018 | International Flights, Luxury Travel, Romance Travel and Honeymoons, Travel Tips
This couple missed their flights – but not all was lost. Like a lot of dramatic stories, this one starts with a couple in love. They’d just gotten hitched and were set to depart the next morning on their dream honeymoon to Bali. With their travel agent, a colleague of mine, they had planned for six months to make sure this was the trip of a lifetime. A stunning blue lagoon in Bali. For these honeymooning clients, she had booked ten incredible nights divided between the beach and a culturally-rich main city, complete with a private driver, 5-star resorts, VIP access to special honeymoon perks, and exciting excursions. For the honeymooners, this was not only a dream trip that represented a ton of planning time; it also was a significant financial investment for which they had worked and saved for months. Imagine their agent’s shock when she got a call on the morning of their departure: they’d uncharacteristically overslept and missed their flights to Indonesia. People think that the perks of hiring a travel agent begin and end with the planning, but that’s not true at all. The real benefit of hiring an agent is something you discover when an emergency arises and you’ve got to figure out what the heck to do. This travel agent saved the day! Their travel agent immediately moved into action. Here’s what she did: 1. She re-booked them on different flights that would get them to Indonesia as soon as possible without costing them another small fortune. Instead of paying $6,000 for new flights on the same carriers and through the same destination,... by Jan Mauer | Mar 5, 2018 | Luxury Destinations, Luxury Travel, South Pacific Tahiti, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips
Ever feel yourself stuck in a vacationing rut? Maybe you try out different places, but they all kind of seem the same. Maybe you find the planning exhausting. Maybe you stress out over small things so that your energy gets sapped. Maybe you cram too many things into too little time, and you come back more tired than when you left. Maybe you bring work with you, even when you say you’re not going to, so that you wind up giving away precious vacationing hours to your job. I’m going to be bold and say: This is not what a vacation should feel like. Here are five tips for a stress-free, relaxing vacation. Trust me — you’ll never regret taking these on. Pick something to do every day that gives you a burst of activity. 1. Move a little bit every day you’re on holiday, especially if your job is the kind that has you sitting at a desk all day long. This isn’t about working out; it’s just about doing what your body and brain want you to do, which is move around a little. Lounging is great — there should definitely be time for lounging — but only lounging for days on end has an ironic de-energizing effect on the body. (It’s part of why desk work can be insanely exhausting, even though you technically didn’t do anything physical all day long.) Whatever your level of mobility or fitness, pick something to do every day that gives you a burst of activity: walking, swimming in the ocean, going for a bike ride, playing with your kids, doing... 
