by Jan Mauer | Oct 18, 2018 | European Travel, Luxury Destinations, Luxury Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Romance Travel and Honeymoons, Small Group Tours, South Pacific Tahiti, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips
There are, of course, thousands of possible trips out there. There are plenty of great trips to choose from — and then there are trips that are great for you and your fellow travelers. Being honest about what you want and need, and getting to know your own personal travel profile can save you from the but-it-looked-great-on-paper trip disappointment. Here are a few simple things that can help you better understand your unique and personal travel profile. Find Out What Is Your Ideal Getaway Matsumoto Castle in Japan is a stunning and exotic travel destination. 1. Make a quick list of the twenty most fun memories you have of trips you’ve taken in your lifetime. Notice if there are any themes. While you don’t necessarily need (or even want) each vacation to be a carbon copy of things you’ve already done, you can use those larger themes to guide your planning of future trips. That way, if you decide to step out a little from your comfort zone, you’ll at least have a solid idea of what makes the most meaningful moments for you. Is it time with friends or family? A certain type of weather or geography? Certain activities? Quiet time? When you can build some of these elements into your travel, you’re more likely to come home energized and restored. Do stunning views help you to relax? 2. What do you like to do to relax, unwind, have fun, or re-energize when you’re not on vacation? Do you like to be still or active? Quiet or surrounded by crowds? Scheduled or free-form and spontaneous? Simplicity or luxury?... by Jan Mauer | Apr 13, 2018 | European Travel, International Flights, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Travel Tips
Planning for your dream vacation can be so exciting—choosing where you’re going to stay, what you’ll see, which shows you’ll take in, and imagining the amazing food you’ll eat. But what about all your travel documents? Are they in order? When you find yourself asking, “Which travel documents do I need for my international trip,” here’s the complete list of items, plus practical tips on how to keep these documents organized, safe, and accessible. Your passport is the most important travel document you possess. Your passport. This is the big one. Make sure it hasn’t expired and is will not expire within 6 months of your travel period. And don’t forget passports for your kid(s)! Any visas that can be acquired in advance, including those for countries you’ll only be traveling through. If you can’t get a visa in advance, bring the letter from the consulate stating that your visa will be granted upon your arrival (the UAE and Oman are two countries that don’t issue visas outside their countries, for example). A copy of the picture page of your passport, and extra passport photos. Your airline miles card A copy of your itinerary Originals and paper copies of your tickets (plane, train, bus, etc.) and confirmation numbers (hotel reservations, car rental, etc.) and all contact info for these companies. Travel insurance card and accompanying information Bring physical guidebooks, or save them to your Kindle. Guidebooks for the countries you are visiting and maps of your driving route — plus discreet city maps if you’ll be exploring a new city. Your international driver’s license if you plan to drive... by Jan Mauer | Jan 12, 2018 | African Safari, European Travel, International Flights, Luxury Destinations, Luxury Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Romance Travel and Honeymoons, Small Group Tours, South Pacific Tahiti, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips
Historically, January is a great time to plan a trip. In fact, it’s typically the busiest month of the year for travel professionals. This is because families and friends get together over the holidays and discuss their travel dreams for the upcoming year. Have you thought about your travel plans for the year yet? I’m here to help you weed through your choices and save you hours of time researching on the Internet. If I haven’t been there myself, I know someone who has. Further, I have direct lines to people who can add value and extra amenities, thereby elevating your trip from something special to something truly extraordinary. We are trained to cut through the slick advertising and fake reviews so that your dream vacation doesn’t descend into a nightmare. After all, there is a good reason why the people in those Booking.com commercials always look so relieved when they walk into a nice hotel room! Don’t leave something so important to chance. With my family on a dive trip in Cozumel in 2013. It is proven that travel builds and strengthens family bonds in ways that nothing else can. I can tell you first-hand that experiencing a foreign country with your children, whether they are adults or still in primary school, is worth more than any lessons they’ll glean from school. My son and I still reminisce about our amazing family ski vacations in Crested Butte, Colorado and scuba dive trips in Cozumel, Mexico that have made lasting memories. The most important thing is my child will remember those stories and hopefully share them with his own... by Jan Mauer | Dec 5, 2017 | African Safari, European Travel, International Flights, Luxury Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Romance Travel and Honeymoons, Small Group Tours, South Pacific Tahiti, Travel Tips
Almost all travelers have a Nightmare Luggage story. You spent a lot of money on a fancy brand-name bag that broke on the first leg of the trip. You skimped on the price and got exactly what you paid for. The bag that you thought would be comfortable and versatile turned out to be neither as you dragged it over the cobblestones of Florence or hefted it on aching shoulders through the crowded, narrow streets of Kathmandu. Choosing the wrong luggage can waste precious travel time and energy, and can cause a lot of aches and pains. Choosing the right luggage will free you up to enjoy your trip without any unnecessary aggravation. To help you pick the best possible bag for your next adventure, here are five simple questions you can ask yourself to help select the bag that is best for you. Malibu Bay is the most lightweight collection from Ricardo Beverly Hills, combining durable materials and easy mobility. What are the baggage restrictions and limits of all the airlines with which I will be traveling? Some countries have more restrictive guidelines that are more stringently enforced. Smaller airlines in Europe, for example, require smaller and lighter bags than those in the US. Make sure you know what the requirements will be so you don’t get stuck having to pay hefty fines or finding new luggage at the last minute. I am always happy to answer your questions regarding airline baggage restrictions, and will advise you on the requirements of all the airlines with which you will be flying. Am I an over-packer or a shopper? If... by Jan Mauer | Nov 16, 2017 | African Safari, European Travel, Luxury Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Romance Travel and Honeymoons, Small Group Tours, South Pacific Tahiti, Travel Adventures
It’s hard to beat the once-in-a-lifetime experience of riding across a Greek island on a motorbike. We know that travel comes with a host of unparalleled benefits: You get to spend time with people you love, seeing new things and trying new things; you get to relax away from the pressures of work and everyday life, realizing dreams you may have had for years. As it turns out, studies show that travel is the best way to spend your money. Of all the things you can buy, the experience of traveling gives you, by far, the most bang for your buck. All these great elements of travel have been proven to make people happier. And even more than that, every part of the travel experience — before, during, and after — is more satisfying, more enjoyable, and has longer-lasting positive effects than buying material things. In 2003, Thomas Gilovich published his landmark study called, “To Do or to Have? That Is the Question” – a study that, more than a decade on, continues to influence social psychology and the debate about of what brings us true contentment. Gilovich looked at how economic choices affect well-being, and analyzed the differences between experiential and material purchases on human happiness. His unexpected discovery has changed the way we look at our buying habits: Across the board, doing things makes people substantially happier than having things. Travel gives you the opportunity to spend time with people you love, forging memories that will last a lifetime. The reason for this is that we get to live and then re-live the joys of our experiences.... by Jan Mauer | Nov 7, 2017 | African Safari, European Travel, Luxury Travel, Ocean Cruises, River Cruises, Romance Travel and Honeymoons, Small Group Tours, South Pacific Tahiti, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips
These days, anyone can book their own trip using various resources that are great for people with a lot of time and a sense of adventure – as well as a willingness to accept some risks. But how many travelers personally know the staff at resorts in desirable locations, such as Tahiti? How many people feel comfortable calling around to different destinations in hopes of finding useful, honest travel suggestions to help them plan their international trips? In their often exceedingly busy lives, travelers rarely have the time, energy or know-how to do this. Booking a quality vacation with custom-tailored services is not straight-forward for individuals. In fact, Google research has identified that it can take 32 visits to 10 different sites to buy a single airline ticket. And this doesn’t include searching for transport and accommodations. And even if you do the legwork, checking reviews, and confirming travel plans before your arrival, it is nearly impossible to ensure that everything will be as stress-free as it should be during your highly-anticipated vacation. This is one of the reasons my clients – and many other travelers – continue to ask for the assistance of travel consultants when planning their trips. Below are the top five reasons why I believe you should use a travel advisor to plan your vacation or honeymoon: 1. A professional travel planner is your personal advocate. All of the moving parts that comprise an international trip virtually guarantee that something will go wrong. When you’re in a foreign country, often with limited cell service, it is critical that you have a dedicated supporter in America... 
