Why bother with out-of-the-way airports, overbooked flights, taxis or expensive downtown parking? Take a train ride instead! Trains go right where you want to go, delivering you from the heart of one city to the heart of another. What could be more convenient? Save yourself the aggravation and give yourself more time for your business or fun things to do with the family. If you're looking for a new adventure, an exciting and different way to travel is by train. Train travel is increasingly attractive to travelers who want comfort and convenience, but are also budget-conscious. Plus, a scenic train ride can even be a vacation in itself. Need more reasons to take the train? 

1. Trains are an increasingly cost-effective alternative to planes, particularly if you’re going a relatively short distance or wanting to venture into areas of the US that you'd otherwise not see. 
2. Train fares tend to be the same day after day on any particular route, whether it’s Monday or Saturday, April or August, two months in advance or two days before departure.
3. Amtrak allows you to bring 200 pounds of luggage — plus personal items — for free. Try bringing that on a plane!
4. There’s something refreshingly traditional about taking a train, particularly if you’re traveling over a long, multi-night route. The days of silverware and fine china in coach class may be long gone in the airline industry, but on overnight trains you’ll still find dining cars with full-service meals and uniformed wait staff. During the day, many train travelers choose to read books, play cards or simply enjoy the scenery rushing by.
5.  Rather than cramming yourself into an ever-shrinking airplane seat or squinting at road signs trying to figure out where to make your next turn, why not relax on a train? It’s one of the least stressful forms of transportation out there: someone else does the driving, you’ll have more legroom than you would on an airplane and you’ll be able to move around at will — not just when the captain turns the seatbelt sign off.

There are many train journeys you can take across the United States with stops in exciting cities, historic landmarks, and national parks along the way. Hit the rails and travel through 46 states by train with access to over 500 destinations from coast to coast on America’s national passenger rail network, Amtrak! 

If you are looking for a weekend getaway, Amtrak tours are the perfect way to get a taste of a region. These packages last just a few days and include fantastic destinations like Chicago, Toronto, New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles and even national parks and Niagara Falls! 

Why not experience the beauty of the great American West aboard the Southwest Chief, departing from Chicago and traveling through New Mexico and Arizona. Venture to the country’s perennially popular national parks, including Grand Canyon, Glacier and Yellowstone, via the railroad. Amtrak vacations aboard the California Zephyr offer a cross-country expedition from the Midwest to San Francisco. You even have the option to explore the historic and exciting destinations of the East Coast with a train trip aboard Amtrak’s Acela or Adirondack. Best of all, you can choose between different travel styles for your Amtrak train trips, including independent and escorted journeys.

Amtrak has train tours that travel to many beautiful destinations in the United States. These include trips to National Parks, California, Canada, Midwestern United States, Northwestern United States, Southern United States and Western United States. 

A fun Amtrak adventure is a roundtrip Grand Canyon Getaway visiting Williams, AZ along the way. This 6 day 3 destination includes 3 nights' hotel accommodations, roundtrip service in Coach accommodations on the Grand Canyon railway, a Grand Canyon Freedom Tour and 2 meals included. 

If you're closer than Chicago, This trip is also available to start from Williams, Arizona! If you're looking for a shorter train trip, this is the trip for you. Save yourself the trouble and stay in Arizona by booking this 4 day 2 destination train journey to the Grand Canyon! This trip also includes 3 nights' hotel accommodations, roundtrip service in Coach accommodations on the Grand Canyon Railway, a Grand Canyon freedom tour and 2 meals included! 

What better way to  experience the Grand Canyon than in a luxury train ride? There are more ways to explore Grand Canyon with different beginning destinations. Book a session with me to learn more! 

If you're looking for the ultimate train experience, the Grand Rail Experience on Amtrak is for you. This 14 day 5 destination train journey includes hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours of Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles, California, and sightseeing tours of both New Orleans, Louisiana and Washington DC. 

This trip comes with 7 nights' hotel accommodations, and 7 nights onboard Amtrak! It also come with roundtrip Coach accommodations from Chicago to Seattle; Seattle to Los Angeles; Los Angeles to New Orleans; New Orleans to Washington, DC; and Washington DC to Chicago onboard the Empire Builder®, Coast Starlight®, Sunset Limited®, Crescent®, and Capitol Limited® along with many choices for accommodation options.

Once on board, sit back and relax as you head west to begin your around-the-country adventure on the one and only Amtrak tour! 

Ready to start planning? Book a complimentary planning session. 

Ready to start planning your next cycling tour? Book a Complimentary Adventure Travel Planning Session.

Visiting a national park is not only for good health and great scenery, it offers the chance to be active if you take advantage of the many hiking, walking, kayaking and other active travel opportunities that are available.

The National Park system provides plenty of opportunity for a variety of vacations and tours. Well over 250,000,000 people visit these sites every year. From educational tours, back-to-nature experiences to relaxing seaside vacations, the plethora of opportunities for recreation at the National Parks is endless. Recreational activities available vary from park to park and season to season. At many parks, you can hike miles and miles of trails and paths on your own or participate an interpretive hike with a ranger; bike; swim; visit the visitor centers and museums and partake in events and interactive displays; ski; fish, and in some, even hunt. And of course, you can always just relax and enjoy the scenery!

At many parks there are special natural attractions to visit and watch. No one would visit Yellowstone National Park without watching Old Faithful erupt at least once!

Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park are known as winter wonderlands with wildlife viewing opportunities, geysers and other thermal features shrouded in mist and fog, and majestic snow-capped mountains, lakes, rivers, and streams laid out before you.

​Enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Elk Refuge and see more than 5,000 elk when they migrate to a lower elevation during the winter near Grand Teton National Park. When visiting you can choose  between a snowmobile or Snow Coach tour through Yellowstone National Park including stops at Old Faithful and West Thumb Geyser Basin. 

If you're looking for the perfect opportunity to sight see Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park and get some amazing shots,  let me help. Schedule a session with me today. 
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Ready to Start Planning?  Book a Complimentary Travel Planning Session.

Photo by Damien Chaudet on Unsplash

As we leave 2020 behind, there are many reasons to be optimistic and, dare I say it, start thinking about travel. If 2020 has taught us one thing, it must be that time is precious. If you love to travel, you’ll be keen to make up for what you have missed. Indeed, there’s a growing trend towards the bucket list travel destinations for 2021 to shake off the shackles of travel restrictions. Need some inspiration? Here are five destinations for an exceptional vacation this year.
 
Tahiti
If you feel like getting away from it all, you can’t get much further away than Tahiti. Officially known as French Polynesia this group of islands offers the quintessential island getaway. The beaches are idyllic, and you could spend your time relaxing and drinking in the view. If you love marine life, there are whales and dolphins. Snorkelers and scuba divers will be rewarded with some of the ocean’s richest waters. For dryland exploration, there are many trails to explore by foot or horseback. For pure island escapism, you can’t get much better. For a Virtual Tour of Tahiti click HERE
 
South Africa
South Africa is a country of contrasts. Game parks and animal sanctuaries offer wildlife lovers a lot to explore. The county’s tumultuous struggles can be explored at Robben Island and District Six. Table Mountain is the backdrop for Cape Town, and whether you stand on top or admire it from afar, you can’t deny it makes Cape Town one of the most memorable cities you’ll visit. The country’s coastline offers some dramatic scenery; the 12 Apostles are part of the Table Mountain range and the views are incredible. Further to the east, The Garden Route is a 200km stretch of coastline that begs to be driven.  Winelands, whales, penguins, fresh oysters, indigenous forest, lakes, beaches, wildlife and so much more await you. For a Virtual Tour of South Africa Click Here

Maldives
To make you feel like a true castaway, there’s nothing quite like relaxing on a sun-drenched island that you can walk around in minutes. The Maldives is made up of over 1000 tiny islands and the holiday islands are mostly home to just one resort. With just a handful of rooms, the islands are never crowded and the resorts’ reputations for luxurious excellence are renowned. Water bungalows stretch out into the ocean's allowing you to swim from your balcony and the marine life is second to none. If you like swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, relaxing by the ocean, superb service, excellent food, and stunning weather, then there is no better place to go. For a Virtual Tour of the Maldives Click Here
Thailand
Thailand’s cultural locations are show-stopping. Bangkok’s Royal Palace and it’s many wats and buddhas speak to a unique history. Its Center is also packed with shopping malls; whether you want clothes, electronics or Thai silk or gems, it’s available. Traditional floating markets and frenetic night markets are as much an experience as a shopping opportunity. You can explore the city by tuk-tuk (a sometimes hair-raising 3 wheeled vehicle) or river or take one of the cities many cycling tours exploring hidden Bangkok or street food. For a Virtual Tour of Thailand Click Here
A few days in Bangkok is often enough.  Combine Bangkok with a trip north for a more laid-back rural life experience and ancient capitals and cooler climes. Then, you can choose one of Thailand’s palm-fringed islands or beaches to relax. Enjoy fresh coconuts, sparkling waters and an island pace of life to refresh you before you head home.
 
Antarctica
The frozen beauty of the most southern point of the globe is breath-taking. Expeditions and adventure cruises get you in amongst it. When you make land, you can wander through flocks of penguins and snoozing seals and hike to lookout points on immense glaciers. Nimble zodiac trips will offer a different perspective of glaciers and icebergs and get you closer to seals and whales. Some cruises offer the opportunity to kayak or paddleboard too.
Remember, whatever is on your bucket list, it’s worth contacting a travel agent to help you make your selection. We can help you select the best choice for you. For more information, check out our Antarctica and other travel Guides Here.

Reasy to start planning, book a Complimentary Exotic Travel Planning Session.

People are always talking about taking their “dream vacation” — but largely what people mean when they say this is that every detail of the trip was planned flawlessly, everything went according to plan, and the service and food were stellar.
 
But what if the key to having the best vacations of your life has as much to do with how you approach traveling as it does with where you go and the number of stars on your hotel?
 
Here are 5 Traveler’s Resolutions you can make right now to make this the best year of travel yet:

1. I resolve to take responsibility for enjoying my vacation. Sounds weird, right? Especially since we often think an enjoyable vacation means that nothing goes wrong. I mean, what if your flight is late? What if they lose your bags? What if the hotel shower has terrible water pressure? What if your passport gets stolen?  What if you get seasick — or worse?
   
   If you resolve to be the one who decides if you enjoy your time, then you get to decide how you’re going to respond to each situation and what you’re going to make of it. Is it going to be a catastrophe that ruins your trip — or fodder for an exciting story at your next dinner party?
   
   
2. I resolve to take myself less seriously.
   Traveling is an act of vulnerability, especially if you’re headed someplace where the language, food, and culture are vastly different from your own. You don’t have to be an expert; you don’t even really have to know what’s going on. If you make a mistake, the world will not end. The more easily you can laugh at yourself, the easier you’ll be to travel with — and the more fun you’ll have.
   
   
3. I resolve to stay curious and humble.
   The world is full of surprises. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be amazed by what you discover. Ever wonder why it’s so much fun to see regular everyday “boring” things through the eyes of a kid? They don’t know that they’re supposed to be “cool” and avoid looking silly in front of others — they just experience everything as if it’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened. And you know what? They’re almost always having way more fun than those of us over 30. As adults, we have the choice to let go of cynicism and embrace wonder.
   
   
4. I resolve to trust more and be more generous.
   Anyone who loves to travel will tell you this: the world is mainly populated by good-hearted people who will extend help and hospitality when and if you need it. While it’s always wise to be aware and educated on potential scams and dangers — the truth is, 99 people out of 100 will gladly help you out of jam and will go out of their way to show you the best spirit of their culture. Open up a little and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you find. And inevitably, you’ll have experiences and make real connections that will stay with you for years to come.
   
   
5. I resolve to let go of my attachment to The Plan.
   ​Perhaps above all, being a great traveler means you have to be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan — and wonderful things can happen as a result. Think of the “wrong” turn you took that brought you to the most breathtaking vineyard you’d ever seen. Or the cancelled day trip that led to a day of meandering through spice-scented streets where you had the best curry of your life. Or the delayed train that allowed you to have late-afternoon tea with a charming shop owner in a crowded bazaar. 
   
   In the most significant ways, like all of the rest of life, the most valuable and memorable parts of traveling can’t be planned. That is the enduring beauty and draw of striking out on a new adventure.

​A common thread among these resolutions is the ability to let go of anxiety, relax and enjoy yourself. Hiring a Travel Professional is one of the best ways to avoid the most stressful parts of travel altogether. I can do all the planning, handle all the details, and you get to enjoy. I will also be on call for you while you are on your trip to handle any complications or emergencies that may come up.
Let me take all the stress out of organizing and leave all the pleasure to you. Book a Complimentary Exotic Travel  Planning Session

Journalists are used to making a home anywhere. They often stay for days, weeks, or months in a place to report on a specific event. They stay in hotels and homes. They get to know language and locals. They walk the landscapes, eat the food, learn the transportation systems.
 
But what are the places that have so utterly captured them that they return, again and again, even when there’s no story going to print? Here are a few,
highlighted in a recent Guardian article.
 
If you’re the adventurous trekking type, consider the lesser-known but breathtaking mountains of the Jalori Pass in India You can book a fully-accompanied mountain treks — complete with air mattresses and ponies that carry all your gear — and costs include equipment, food, lodges, and expert guides. Take in the mountain vistas, forests, high meadow lakes, and centuries-old temples where pilgrims pray. It is a place, as journalist Emma Graham-Harrison says, that is “surprising, always beautiful, and entirely special.” In the vast landscape, taking it all in, passing few people along the way, she said she and her fellow travelers “were happy to be out of contact and suspended in time.”
 
The Seychelles are probably the most widely known African islands for romantic beach vacation. But like a sweet little secret in the Atlantic, the tiny twin-island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe  sits peacefully tucked in the Gulf of Guinea. Known for its cocoa production, this place also attracts outdoor enthusiasts who come to enjoy the pristine bays and beaches, the heart-stopping beauty, the amazing cuisine, and the unique populations of rare birds and butterflies.
 
Very sparsely populated, the islands still boast a number of luxury hotels. With the interesting mix of African and Portuguese histories (the islands were formerly a Portuguese colony, and they are dotted with many now-defunct cocoa plantations), there’s an ease to the pace of life, and a fantastic, rich culture to enjoy. As a honeymoon destination, it rivals many of the more well-known islands — and it has the added advantage of not being overcrowded. As one traveler put it: “Between lunches of grilled red snapper on the jetty, I passed my days snorkeling amid shoals of tigery-looking fish, kayaking to distant beaches and falling asleep to the ebb of the tide on my own private beach. I was in danger of setting up shop here...”
 
Now that Cuba is on more people’s travel radars, it’s a great time to explore this lush, extraordinary place. Playa Bacunayagua, Cuba, is an absolutely charming location which sits quietly along the northern coast of Cuba. From any larger hotel in Havana, it’s easy to hire a guided car to take you to Bacunayagua. Along the way, you can stop by any number of roadside piña colada stands and enjoy a leisurely cocktail made from palm-fresh coconuts, cream, and pineapple.
 
On the way to the playa, you’ll cross the tallest bridge in Cuba — the Puente de Bacunayagua — which at over 1,000 feet long and over 300 feet above sea level, is rightly considered a marvel of civil engineering. The coastline, once a well-known pick-up point for boats smuggling Cubans to Florida, now holds plenty of undisturbed beaches that look out onto pristine, azure waters. It’s a perfect day trip and a wonderful way to see all that Cuba has to offer.
 
 
Are you looking for a perfect vacation that has all the thrill of a popular tourist destination, but that feels like a secret hideaway just for you? If that’s what you’re craving, I can help you get there! Together we can discover a place that you’ll want to return to again and again.
Schedule an exotic travel planning session.

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 When it comes time to buy a travel-loving friend a gift, it’s easy to feel stuck on what to get. Journals are great — but not all travelers are journalers, and those that are often have at least a few blank ones on hand. Here are unique takes on classic ideas for the various kinds of travelers in your life.
 
For the foodie: send delicious global flavors right to their doorstep.  Try The World with top chefs from Argentina to Morocco and assembles gorgeous boxes filled with curated delicacies from each country.  Delivered every month, each box contains descriptions for how to use the tasty and exotic flavors in your own recipes.
 
For the well-accessorized: customize a favorite map to make cufflinks bracelet, or pendant. Have a special place you want to commemorate? Maybe the place of a first date, or a favorite childhood destination? This can be a beautiful and deeply personal way to show your traveler that you know what matters to them most.
 
For the crafty commemorator: check out this simple, beautiful way to re-trace steps and wonderful memories with a map and thread. The maps can be titled, as well. Imagine a wall decorated with these minimalist representations of adventures!  
 
For the traveler who has everything and wants to give back: Why not make a donation to a favorite cause in your traveler’s name? You can choose organizations that support environmental stewardship, advocate for people in crisis, promote education, or help bring beauty.
 
For the traveler who’s always up for adventure: I’ve written before about how experiences pack the biggest punch, happiness-wise. At Experience Days  you can give the gift of a lifelong great memory to someone you care about. Try everything from hang gliding to art lessons throughout the United States. What a great surprise for honeymooners or a friend’s next big adventure!
 
For the gadget-junkie: this funky, color-coded 4-in-1 adapter (is perfect for the tech-savvy traveling family and will help ensure everything stays running smoothly.  For the hardcore gadget-junkie, what about these stylish vests, hoodies, and jackets with interior pockets (for men and women) to hold everything from smartphones to keys to water bottles?
 
For the photographer: If your friend is never without her smartphone or camera, why not make it easy for her to create beautiful, lasting photo albums, calendars, or prints of her best shots? At Artifact Uprising , she can connect directly with her Instagram account and assemble her most gorgeous memories.
 
 
If you need help planning the next adventure to fill an album, stitch on a map, or wear around your neck — contact me today! Let’s get started!. Book a complimentary Exotic Travel Planning Session.

Photo by Mikael Frivold on Unsplash

​Many of us believe that because we’re going on holiday, we should take a ‘real’ camera but it’s a pre-smartphone mindset that deserves challenging. Sure, if you’re an avid photographer with expensive equipment and a range of lenses, this won’t be the case. But for most of us, we take photos to remember our experiences and share them with friends and family. So here are 5 reasons why your phone might be all you need:

1. You always have it on you, so you’ll never miss capturing a moment.

On vacation, you’re going to use your phone to find your way around, book and store tickets, check the weather, to translate, to convert currency, to choose the perfect restaurant, and so much more.
Your camera can’t do any of these things, and with space in your luggage always being a premium it’s hard to justify packing a one-trick-pony camera.

1. Phone cameras are simple to use but give quality results.

With no complicated settings, anyone can snap great photos. Check what megapixel camera your phone has. An 8-megapixel camera will deliver a good quality hi-res print to a size of 20”x24”. As a guide, the iPhone 5, which came out in 2012, is 8 megapixels. Most newer Apple or Andriod models have 12-megapixel cameras. Compare that to the point and shoot you have and you might be surprised.

1. Your phone camera makes sharing photos easy.

Having your images stored on the same device as your apps makes your life so much easier.
You can;

• seamlessly add photos to your social media accounts, and email or direct message them to friends or family.
• use one of the countless editing apps to improve the images, add filters, text, and a myriad of other fun stuff.
• create collages or memory books which are a modern-day version of photos albums.
• use a postcard app to send personalized postcards to family and friends without the need to find stamps and a post-office. And they will be received before you get home.

 

1. Your phone offers both storage and back up in one place.

No one ever wants to lose either their phone or their camera, but they are replaceable; your vacation photos are not.  With a little bit of techno-savvy (ask your grandkids) you can set your phone up so that your images save automatically to the cloud as well as your phone. Should the worst happen, at least you will be able to retrieve your vacation memories.

1. Just like your camera, you can print photos taken on your phone.

Many websites and apps offer you the facility to upload your photos for printing, whether it’s on paper, or mugs, or cushions. You can make calendars, jigsaw puzzles and a surprising array of items that make superb gifts.
Smartphone photo-specific printers are very affordable and have some fun applications. Better still, they’re small enough to take with you, meaning that you can almost turn your phone into an instant camera. (Remember those?)
Need some inspiration on where to travel, check out our selection of virtual tours. https://www.amazingtravel.com/virtual-tours.html

Ready to start planning your next vacation, book a complimentary exotic travel planning session.

​Nobody loves standing in long security lines, and I don’t know one person who is thrilled by the fact that most airline seats only recline about four inches, if you’re lucky.
 
But I do know people who love to travel, door to door — not just when they arrive at their resort. I know people who almost always have a great flight, no matter what. I’ve talked to people whose trips got rained out, or who missed connecting flights, or who got lost, or who even had passports stolen — and when I ask them how their trip was, they smile and say, “It was great!” and proceed to tell me the full exciting tale.
 
So what’s their secret? I’ll tell you: they’ve let go of the Perfectionist Mindset and adopted the Adventure Mindset. The difference between these two paradigms changes everything.
 
The Perfectionist sets unrealistically high expectations for themselves, others, and situations — and when things don’t go well, they often fall into self-blame or blaming others. The Adventurer makes a plan and is prepared, but is willing to roll with what comes along that might not fit with “The Plan.”
 
The Perfectionist often avoids risk and only goes with the obvious path in an attempt to avoid “failure.” The Adventurer is less concerned with control and more interested in creative approaches and critical thinking when it comes to problem solving.
 
The Perfectionist focuses on what isn’t working and is often impatient and critical. The Adventurer sees what’s going well and what there is to be grateful for and is quick to offer appreciation, flexibility, and help in tough situations.
 
As author and coach Naomi Teeter points out, the Adventurer knows how to ask “quality questions” when faced with a challenge, questions like:
 

• What’s the best thing that could happen from this?
• Hasn't everything worked out just fine in the past? Aren't I OK?
• What if I chose to be happy and carefree about this instead?
• What is this teaching me?
• How can I use this experience to support others?
• How could I turn this into a great story?
• What can I do differently next time so that this doesn’t happen?

 
 
If I’m honest with myself, I know that there are times I fall into the Perfectionist Mindset, in travel and in life. But I also know that at any moment, I can choose something different. I can always choose an attitude of adventure. And as a lifelong traveler, that has made all the difference.
 
If you’re ready to plan your next great adventure, I’d love to help you get there. Schedule you complimentary Exotic Travel Planning Session  BOOK MY SESSION