Right now, all of us are in the midst of the holiday bustle. Which is to say, we are all right at that point when we wonder why we do this every year and why can’t we all just go to the beach for a week?! So we thought this would be a good time to talk about holiday travel… pros, cons, tips, and tricks for making holiday travel the best decisions you have ever made. And remember, we are not talking about that trip to Ohio to see grandma. We are talking true vacations over the holidays. Learn the truth about “deals” over the holidays, when to plan that holiday getaway, and where should you not go?
Do you travel on holidays? Let us know!
We book trips for a lot of families of all shapes and sizes. Whether you have one kid or six, travel presents some challenges that you might not experience when traveling with only adults. Although travel is exciting and varied, there are also some slow lulls in the process. Tonight, we thought we would share some of our tips for how to keep your kids occupied during these slower moments. Car Bingo, anyone? Smartphone apps? Let us know your strategy for kid boredom by dropping us a line
We are so excited to have reached fifty episodes and we wanted to do something really special for this landmark occasion. We often talk about the “bucket list…” quite literally, “Things I want to do before I kick the bucket.” Perhaps a bit morbid, but we all truly believe that life is short and you must enjoy as many experiences as you can while you are here. And we are in the business of helping you do that. Do you have a bucket list? I think we all have a few items in our head that we would like to do one day, but how many of us really have a list written down of the experiences we really must do before we move on? How do you create that list? Do you just ask friends and family? Do you research? Or do you just watch the world around you and decide on things to do? All are great options. This week, we want to talk about some of our bucket list items and get you started on your own lists.
This week, we are taking on the important and fascinating topic of Travel Protection! You might call it travel insurance, trip coverage, or some other variation, but at it’s core, it is an insurance policy specifically designed to protect your vacation. It may seem a bit dry, but before you skip this podcast, please give this a try. It’s a topic that we hate to talk about because no one wants things to go wrong on their trip, but that we also love to talk about because trip protection can truly help you bounce back from vacation woes and get your trip back on track.
Have you ever had to use trip protection (we hope not!)
Like Linus and his blanket…each traveler has something that is essential to make a trip comfortable. We’re talking about the ESSENTIAL non-essential item that we take on various vacation types with us that is a must pack item. From Pepsi to…lipstick, it’s something that you don’t NEED, but having it makes your vacation so much better, at least for you!
What do you find you need on your vacation that is mandatory – but might make another traveler go, “Say, WHAT?”
We love your feedback, and we’d love to hear what is your essential non-essential!
All the planning, discussion and excitement leading up to your trip is good for your soul! Research shows that a great deal of the benefit we get from vacations comes from the anticipation of the vacation. But what about coming back home again? How do you get the most benefit from your vacation and avoid the crash and burn from coming back to reality? We can’t promise a truly scientific approach to this, but we do have some advice and thoughts on easing the transition back into reality.
Let us know what tricks work for you, and what you think of this episode!
Hilton Head Island is the second largest barrier island on the East Coast of the USA, at the southernmost tip of South Carolina just before you cross into Savannah, Georgia. It’s a lush, green, natural state island, rich in history, and offers 20+ world-class gold courses, exemplary dining with 150+ non-chain restaurants, 100+ miles of bike trails, 12 miles of beautiful beaches – and more!
We are joined by special guest, Ellen Lam, who is the Sales Manager for Leisure and Business Travel at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa. Elizabeth and Andy of Outlander Travel were fortunate enough to visit this property along with several other magnificent Hilton Head properties a few weeks ago and are excited about Ellen’s knowledge of the area – listen in and learn all about this terrific island destination.
Have you visited Hilton Head? What do you enjoy most about the island? Let us know!
aimee@outlandertravel.com
andy@outlandertravel.com
elizabeth@outlandertravel.com
robin@outlandertravel.com
sandy@outlandertravel.com
Teens are known for being lots of things… moody, aloof, rebellious, and even super busy with frantic school, work and volunteer commitments. So of course they need a vacation too! So what sorts of vacations do teens want? What are they most interested in seeing? Do they really want to travel with their parents? Let’s talk through this and see what we can suggest for traveling with your favorite teenager.
*All-inclusive resorts
*Disney
*Europe
*Hawaii
*Alaska
*National parks
Have you traveled with teens? Where did you go and how was the vacation? Let us know!
It seems all travel is designed for couples, or families, or groups. But there are many of us who want to travel alone for a variety of reasons. And believe it or not, many people DO travel alone. Travel is a perfect way to “find yourself” while exploring the world around you. Listen as we explore some hurdles to solo travel and how to overcome them for an enjoyable travel experience. Topics include the pros and cons such as:
*Timing – go when YOU want… not when your companion can go
*Freedom – explore the things you want to see… no compromising!
*Flexibility – Change your mind about your trip mid-way… again… no compromising. Sleep when you want. Party when you want.
*Agility – Easy to jump on a train, plane, bike, etc.
*Loneliness (group travel, group excursions)
*Cost (single supplements)
*Safety (solo cruising or groups)
Do you travel solo – or do you dream of taking a trip by yourself? Please leave a comment to let us know!
We all love movies. And we all love travel! So what better topic could there be than a combination of the two? Have you ever been inspired to travel somewhere after seeing it on the big screen? There are so many ways to incorporate your favorite movie into your next vacation. Let’s take a look at a few!
*Locations for the James Bond series
*Austria – The Sound of Music
*Tunisia – Star Wars
*New Zealand – The Hobbit
*Paris and the Eiffel Tower (so many movies!)
*London (European Vacation, anyone?)
*Hollywood! (Pretty Woman – Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA)
*Seattle (Sleepless in…)
*New York City (Elf, Spiderman, When Harry Met Sally)
*North Carolina (the mountains, WIlmington)
*New England (Mystic Pizza)
Have you ever loved a movie so much that you traveled to the location? Let us know!
