Travel is valued in our home. The exposure to various cultures, language and of course, food is impactful. Travel is a place of connection. We are connecting with a culture unknown while reconnecting with the one(s) we love. One of my favorite memories during our courtship is where a conversation about travel took place. After he shared the many places he’s traveled, I shared mine. He responded by singing, "I can show you the world...". I could almost feel the flying carpet sweeping me off my feet to carry me, across the world. Now, every time we travel this moment comes back to me. I’m reconnected to a sweet memory as I look forward the venture ahead.
Since we’ve been married we’ve kept travel a priority. We’ve visited places like Aruba, Colorado and recently Dominican Republic. I always enjoy visiting the Caribbean’s. I appreciate how they always consider us apart of their culture. They immediately assume we speak the language and all. There’s something so welcoming about it! Anyway, if you’re anything like me, determining where you want to go is always a process. There are so many places to visit and various locations to stay. Deciding whether you want to travel in or out of state or possibly even abroad are all things to consider. Thoughts like these remind me how intentional traveling requires you to be. Some locations offer more or less than others so you want to be specific during your research stage. As you’re thinking through your next travel endeavors let this guide you along the way.
| Set a budget + don’t exceed it. |
Setting a budget you won’t exceed puts financial parameters around your trip. It includes lodging, transportation (flight plus the ride to and from the airport), food, drinks, tip money, and extra funds for activities and emergencies. Your budget will help answer questions like; should I go somewhere in or out of the country and how long will I be on vacation? This will also help determine the type of experience to look for; all-inclusive resorts, a cruise or a hotel in a particular area. You’re really looking for who will give you the greatest return in this investment. So far when we travel abroad I prefer all-inclusive resorts because you are paying for most of your expenses up front. Your meals and drinks are typically included. You may find a few resorts that have restaurants with special menus at additional fees, it’s up to you if you want to proceed. Create a reasonable budget that gets you what you’re looking for without breaking the bank. You’ll be surprised by the options available and the deals you come across.
Tip: When you set your budget allot yourself $200-$500 over the budget. Let this serve as your max budget. That way if you decide you want to spend a little extra on your flight or lodging you’ve already considered it.
| Explore your options. |
If you have an idea of where you’d like to go and when visit sites like Expedia or Travelocity (I typically use Expedia). Select filters according to your preferences to help narrow down your options. I also like to search for various amenities, entertainment options and distance from the airport. If you are staying at a hotel where food is not included consider looking up what restaurants are around the hotel. Sometimes they’ll have it listed. All of this is giving you a snapshot of what’s available at a specific location. Look at several options and save your top 3-5 places. At this point you'll want to check out the reviews. You can use Google review. This is so helpful when choosing a location. Real guests have taken time to leave reviews of their experiences. It aids in helping you to cross options off your list. Look for positive and negative reviews on several topics. Whenever we are planning a trip without our little one we intentionally look for places that say all-inclusive AND adults-only, when applicable. In addition, we specifically read reviews on customer service, rooms, food/drinks and entertainment/nightlife. Keep in mind, some places haven’t fully bounced back due to COVID-19. They may say nightly entertainment or club on their website however they may not have opened it yet. Call ahead to confirm if this is something important on your list. If you have no idea where you want to go, start by asking yourself what type of experience are you looking for? Europe, Greece, the Caribbean and Africa all have something different to offer. Equally, staying in the country offers a different experience than traveling abroad. Explore what’s out there. Search best vacations for couples or best vacations abroad. Through your searches select the best location that fits your desires.
For my friends who have very specific destination preferences, I encourage you to try something different. At least once. Take an opportunity to experience paradise in various ways. Though I am a lover of water and prefer to visit the beach, I will say one of my favorite trips in the states was to the mountains in Vail, Colorado. It was such a memorable trip. I would’ve missed out on such great beauty. Open your mind and try it out!
Tip: Open your mind. Try something new. Found something inspiring.
| Set things in order. |
Once you’ve locked in your dates and paid for your trip, now it’s time to handle some other logistics. I call this preparing your home (which includes job and family) for your absence. My parents out there, I'm sure you have someone in mind that could keep your child(ren). Reach out, see who is available and plan accordingly. I know the relief of having family or friends that you trust with your little one(s). Grant yourself peace of mind early. Remember this time away is good for your children too. It allows them to bond with others and develop their social skills. They will be elated to see you upon your return though!
Another important logistic is to make sure you have a passport. If you do already, great! Confirm it's not expired. If you’ve never had one or it is expired take care of this ASAP! COVID-19 has delayed the application and processing timeframe. The sooner you take care of this the better. Check out this site to see what steps you need to follow in order to get your passport.
Pack early and create a “don't forget” list. I like to pack at least a week in advance so I can slowly add what I need in my suitcase. I create a general list of everything I need along with a don't forget list. Your don't forget list should have important items on it such as your passports, charges, vaccine cards and anything you deem valuable yet easy to forget.
Tip: My husband and I share an app that has our don't forget list. We both see it and it helps reduce our chances of forgetting something.
| ENJOY your trip!! |
Traveling with just you and your spouse is healthy for the entire family. It’s an opportunity for the child(ren) to build their independence while you and your spouse experience something new with each other. Here's your time to leave all of your worries behind. You get to fully be present with your spouse. Remember to reconnect in ways you haven’t in a while. I often remind myself on these trips that we only have one title; husband and wife. We aren’t mommy or daddy during our entire time away. There’s little to no talk about responsibilities, concerns or problems. The only responsibility we have is to each other. Don’t let anything, not even the slightest thing ruin your time together. Laugh a lot, create new memories, refresh your love, and relax!
Tip: Be intentional and determined.
