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I was invited this past week to take part in a virtual Belgian beer and chocolate tasting. The host referred to the experience as “liquid travel” which seems appropriate right now.

We tasted the three different beers, pictured above with a cicerone, or beer sommelier. We learned the stories and history behind the different brands, then paired them with the other Belgian specialty, those gorgeous chocolates.

We had a lovely evening, albeit virtually. For a short while we were able to relive our 2019 visit to Belgium and dream of future travels. It made me think of other experiences where a beverage could transport you back to past travels, or even inspire travels to come.

Tea – whether a warm “cuppa” on a rainy day, or a full out afternoon tea – you’ll easily be transported back to England. Perhaps you have a special box of tea that you purchased in London that reminds you of your time there each time you sip.

Not a tea drinker? What about coffee? Enjoyed around the world, this is a beverage that can transport you nearly anywhere. A good flat white has me reminiscing about my time in Australia. A sweet, gritty espresso and I’m instantly back along the Amalfi coast. Irish coffee, well, that needs no explanation, right?

A fresh glass of pineapple juice and you can almost close your eyes and see the lush Hawaiian countryside.

Some may say that the same doesn’t hold true for wine, or even beer, that it doesn’t travel well, or taste the same as in the country of origin. For the most part that comes down to atmosphere. A nice Tuscan red may not have the same affect or evoke the same emotions when you’re standing in your kitchen as it did when you were standing in the vineyard with the wine maker. I can’t tell you the number of people who insist that Guinness is different here in the States than it is in Ireland. As a Guinness fan in any location, I disagree. Sure, there can be old tap lines, or more than likely a bartender who doesn’t know how to properly pour a Guinness, but all in all, it’s pretty near identical to what is poured at the brewery in Dublin.

So, while we may not be able to physically visit these destinations right now, liquid travel may sustain you for a short while longer. As you zoom into your Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family, raise a glass from your favorite destination, share memories and give thanks that perhaps a vaccine is on the horizon, which will in turn transport us to new horizons sooner rather than later.

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After mentioning our Vacation For Good program in the email a few weeks ago several people reached out for more information. This seemed like a good opportunity to revisit this program that is central to all that we do at Slaydon’s Travel and helping our clients travel responsibly.

We are passionate about providing the opportunity for our clients to be able to take advantage, as they wish, of the many options available with regards to responsible travel.

While we realize that certainly not everyone will wish to take advantage of these offerings we feel strongly about making sure you are aware of the opportunities and the impact you can make.

What we want clients to realize is that they don’t have to sacrifice luxury to travel responsibly. The tips will not only leave the smallest footprint, but also the greatest impact as you travel. This World we live in is truly an amazing place if you take the time to not only see it, but to slow down enough to appreciate it. By adding just one of the Vacation for Good elements you will not only be traveling responsibly, but also ensuring that future generations will be able to enjoy some of the same life-changing travel experiences for themselves.

#1 – Eat and Shop Locally – avoid the chain stores and restaurants. One of the best ways to dive into the culture of a new country and meet the people is to shop where they shop and eat where they eat. Local markets are a great way to meet and support the people who live in the communities, but also pick up some great local crafts and foods. Don’t forget to bring along your reusable shopping bags!

#2 – Use some of the space in your luggage to pack items to donate in your destination. Pack For A Purpose is one of my favorite organizations for this purpose. The founder of the organization uses a great analogy, especially for those of us raised in the South. She says that most of us wouldn’t dream of visiting someone without taking along a hostess gift. These 5 pounds of supplies are your hostess gift!

#3 – Take a walking tour when you visit a city for the first time. This will help reduce the number of buses and cars on the road, and it also gives you an opportunity to slow down and see the destination more closely. Bike sharing is another great way to see a new locale, and especially popular in many large European cities.

#4 – Choosing the right tour operator – There are many choices when it comes to planning the perfect itinerary. It is easy to get overwhelmed, that’s where the expertise of a travel professional comes in. Did you know that several companies already have programs in place that benefit the destinations you will visit? G Adventures and Tauck are two of the most well known.

#5 – Something as simple as avoiding travel during the peak season is a great way to vacation for good. You can get a great value and most often enjoy some fabulous weather by traveling during the shoulder or off-peak seasons. However, the benefits don’t stop there, you can reduce the impact on emissions, pollution and waste disposal, as well as extend the tourism related employment season. These factors make it a win-win situation for both the traveler, who doesn’t have to fight the high-season crowds and for the local who can make a more consistent living from the tourism market.

If any of these vacation for good elements are something you think you would like to consider for your vacation click here and let’s get started!

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I realize the news of the CDC lifting the no sail order on cruise ships was mainly overlooked in the news cycle. This week I wanted to touch on what that means a little bit more in depth.

You may remember, back in early March, the CDC issued a no sail order for cruise ships in US waters. That’s why those three NCL ships were docked in Portsmouth at the marine terminal for so long this summer. The good news is that order has been lifted, the more complicated news is that lifting the no sail order came with roughly 40 pages of regulations officially named the Framework for Conditional Sailing that is set to remain in place until November 1, 2021 (but can of course be extended or revoked).

Before ships can actually sail with passengers in US waters the biggest hurdles they need to overcome involve testing, mock cruises and itinerary restrictions.

Each ship will be required to create a testing lab onboard. This was obviously not a shock to the cruise lines, in fact, Viking Cruises announced this week that they have already created a lab on their Ocean ship, the Viking Star.

Secondly, the cruise lines must test all guests and employees at the beginning and end of each voyage.

Another caveat is that no cruise over 7 days will be permitted at this time.

In order for the cruise lines to meet these new requirements, along with the full list laid out in the 40 page memo, they have all cancelled sailings through the end of 2020. We are hearing from most of our cruise line executive contacts that more than likely it will be closer to the end of the first quarter of 2021 before sailings resume.

Should you have questions about the new requirements please don’t hesitate to reach out, we would love to fill you in on what we know so far. Of course, all of these new guidelines are subject to change at anytime.

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Who knew, back when we rang in the new year, that the most impactful trip many of us would make in 2020 would be within our city limits? One of the core values here at Slaydon’s Travel is to help travelers make an impact in the communities they visit, through our Vacation For Good program. It seems only fitting that in this year of uncertainty, with so many vacation plans on hold that the most impactful trip will be to our local polling station. Regardless of how you vote, please make sure you cast your ballot, not just this year, but in every election. Many around the world do not share this same right.

We headed South last week, to Hatteras Island to see how easy it was to do our work and virtual school from the road.

While you all know my reputation for packing light and only using a carry on for flights whenever possible, road trips are a different story! We packed work stations, monitors, cables and multiple laptops. There was one point during the week where each of us were on different live conferences. The key to making it all work is to make sure before you travel that the internet will meet your needs, for us it was also important that we each had our own dedicated workspace. While we did miss our desk chairs, being able to do a quick kayak trip out into the Sound during our lunch break more than made up for not having that comfy chair.

Have you considered changing the view from your home office while your children are learning virtually? Assuming you take precautions, this is the perfect time to experience a change in your routine. Many families are taking road trips so they can better control their surroundings and avoid situations where they may not be able to distance properly, such as on airplanes or trains. The most popular destinations we have seen for these types of getaways have been to resorts that have built in amenities for remote working and school situations. Some offer complimentary day use rooms to help families spread out during the day, many offer complimentary high-speed internet and free use of printers. Others go the extra step and offer complimentary snack breaks, dedicated school areas and a tutor for the kids, as well as on site tech support and instructor led field trips.

When you’re ready to change your latitude, I’d love to help you plan.

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I overheard someone saying that “there is nothing special about Paris, it’s just a big city, like New York or any other.”

Unfortunately I think there are all too often tourists who feel this way after glossing over a destination, like Paris, and checking sites off a list, rather than sinking in to really experience the essence of Paris.

Spending time strolling along the Seine at twilight, lingering over a fantastic meal, an afternoon roaming the iconic museums. Each of these are ways you can begin to immerse yourself in a destination that is new to you.

When you immerse yourself in the local culture and experience not only the sites, but the sounds and flavors of a destination you are left with much more than a vacation. These are the people who return home with a renewed vitality and wonderful stories of their travels.

They can describe a destination in such detail and with such passion that you not only want to experience it for yourself, but for a brief moment can imagine yourself there.

Anyone can be a tourist, but it takes a traveler to immerse themselves in the every day lives of the local culture and really understand what they are experiencing.

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This past weekend we made a trip out to our favorite pumpkin patch. As expected, things were a little different this year. However, the experience was just as enjoyable as years past.

As you can see in the photo above there were many different varieties of pumpkins available, don’t worry, we left plenty in the field!

Just as pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes, so do vacation options! This week I wanted to talk about price vs. value when it comes to investing your vacation budget.

“Price is what you pay, value is what you get.” ~ Warren Buffett

When looking at two trips, that on the surface look similar, it’s extremely important to dig a little deeper and really make sure that you’re comparing apples to apples.

For instance, while considering an Italian vacation that includes a few nights in Rome and a visit to the Vatican museum, two seemingly similar itineraries can actually be quite different.

Option #1 may have a lower price tag, but when you dig deeper into the itinerary you’re actually staying about an hour outside of Rome and during your two night stay you only get one full day in Rome. With the hotel location and travel time involved to get in and out of the city that doesn’t leave you much time. Oh, that trip to the Vatican museum? It’s optional, which means the cost isn’t included in the price, and it doesn’t offer “skip the line” privileges, so most of your day is lost standing in lines. Another apparent cost saver comes at the exclusion of lunch and dinner. You’re on your own for those, which does give you the option to explore on your own to perhaps discover your new favorite Italian bistro, but more often than not has you settling for the nearest or quickest option after you’ve looked at menu after menu and run out of time trying to decide on a restaurant.

Option #2 may have caught you a bit off guard with a higher price point than you expected. So let’s drill down a little bit to see why it appears so much more expensive. Oh look, the hotel is in the center of town, you’ll be able to walk to the major attractions! This tour also includes a trip to the Vatican museum, so you won’t have to stand in line to pay for a ticket. Wait a second! Does this say that you’ll be visiting the museum when it’s normally closed to the public? You will have a much more intimate experience without those crowds the museum is famous for. Did you notice that a full breakfast is included daily? Lunches and dinners, while not offered every day, are included several days during your visit. Gratuities are also included so you won’t find a tour guide or luggage attendant with their hand out every time you turn around.

Aside from price and value, the other considerations that a travel professional can assist with are the pace of the tours you are comparing. A tour that spends several nights in a location before moving onto the next is going to offer a far more immersive and enriching experience than a tour that moves to a new city or even a new country each night.

A travel professional can match your travel style to the vacation that will not only maximize your travel budget, but exceed your expectations. All while taking overwhelm out of the equation. Let us know if we can help you get started when the time is right.

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It’s October! Pumpkins and fall flowers are starting to appear on neighborhood porches. Leaves should begin to turn soon as the weather cools for more than a few days. Fall is my favorite time of year here in Coastal Virginia as we get warm days that we can enjoy the outdoors without heavy jackets, but the nights cool off to enjoy a backyard fire or an evening with the windows open.

It’s also my favorite season to travel overseas. Normally, the weather is more predictable than in the Spring and the value is extraordinary once the summer season winds down and the crowds disperse for the school year. Thank goodness for memories that pop up on social media that remind me that the World will reopen to US travelers at some point and when it does there will be much to explore.

The weather is starting to feel more like Fall here in Coastal Virginia. Our family has been spending the past few weekends riding along the downtown Norfolk waterfront on the Elizabeth River Trail. It’s been delightful and a great way to slow down a bit and enjoy those things we may have overlooked that are all around us.

Have you had the opportunity to experience a more leisurely paced vacation? I realize that with all of our time grounded you may just be ready to go, do and see as much as you can when it’s safe to make up for lost time.

I continue to encourage you to slow down a bit and really immerse yourself in that next destination.

New Zealand, like much of the world is still off limits for the time being. However, Visit Auckland shared this beautiful video that will inspire us all to travel just a little bit differently when the time is right. Don’t just eat, taste. Embrace the little things, and the big. Support local and say yes to experiences. Go to that island, visit that beach. What will you do differently on your next vacation?

We still have a few more spots if you’re interested in learning more about joining me and a small group of clients on a European river cruise through France in 2021. Simply email Jennifer to find out more.

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Travel bubbles, private tours and small groups – these are all trends that are gaining momentum for 2021. Most of us are in that stage of being grounded where just having a trip on the calendar makes us feel more at ease. At the same time, we’re not quite ready to jump on that airplane, or ready to forge ahead on our own.

I’m getting more questions about whether or not a certain destination is allowing US Citizens to visit yet, or if there is an expected date that they will. I”m also seeing clients hesitant to plan something with out the added layer of peace of mind that going with another couple or family would provide. There seems to be strength in numbers, albeit small numbers that puts clients at ease when planning.

This week I wanted to share some of the ideas that have been popping up in inquiries.

#1 – a small hosted group on a river cruise – I’ve had several inquiries as to when I’m heading back to Europe and whether or not I would consider letting a small group of clients come along. I’m considering a small ship European river cruise through Burgundy and Provence for September 2021. If you would like to join in on a virtual meeting to learn more, simply email me or send me a Facebook message and I will add you to the list. Space will be limited as many dates are already sold out on the rivers of Europe until 2022.

#2 – a travel bubble – just in case you haven’t gotten tired of the few people you’ve been socializing with since March, this is a great way to travel with them. We can customize an itinerary that would allow 8-12 friends and family to travel exclusively as their own group. Obviously, unless you charter a private jet, there are still elements of the trip that expand that bubble. However, you’ll have the confidence that you’re spending the bulk of your vacation time with those you are most comfortable around. Sailing around the Greek Isles or the Croatian coast is the popular option with 3-4 couples. For larger groups or families destinations like Morocco and Costa Rica are gaining interest.

#3 – finally meeting in person again with your zoom-mates! Maybe you’re been doing virtual yoga and once the conditions are right you get that zoom group together and meet up in Bali for a week of rejuvenation and deeper connections. Maybe yoga is a bit too tame for your group – cycling through Tuscany may be more your speed.

#4 – did you resort to a virtual reunion this year or miss an annual in person event while we’ve been grounded? Why not plan to take things up a notch in 2021 and take that event on the road? The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Let’s chat about some of the common group interests and see what we can come up with that everyone will enjoy.

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