Hey First name / there!

 

Greetings from East Africa!   May was a very busy month wrapping up some super cool trips for clients – I have listed a few destinations below. 

 I also thought you might get a laugh out of some of my travel “experiences” .  These are all true stories, hit reply if you want the details! 

 

 

Some vacations are… character building. The kind of trips that test your patience, your hygiene standards, and your will to live.

 

 

 

You know it’s been a “trip” when the highlight is the return flight. 

 

 

The “luxury” hotel room that cost more than your first car but has zero external windows and doubles as storage closet in the off season.  

Pro Tip: Do not unpack, go down to the front desk.  If I booked you, call me. 

#DeathTrap

 

 

When your “boutique adventure cruise” turns out to be the floating rust bucket featured in Captain Phillips. And if Tom Hanks is even in the SAME  CITY—leave. That man is a cinematic harbinger of travel doom.

 

 

The carpet in your room is… squishy. That’s not a plush pile. That’s moisture, mystery, and maybe mold? You’ll be exfoliating your feet with antibiotics when you get home.

 

 

 Every day is a torrential downpour, and the local wildlife thinks your room is a an Airbnb.

Bonus points if a gecko falls on you in the middle of the night.

 

 

The only local lunch option is horse sausage and pickles. Or horse soup. (this has happened on 2 separate trips!)

 

 

The nice driver suddenly no longer speaks English. He locks the doors. You’re now in a part of the city no where near your hotel.

(True story: This happened to my parents in Moscow. My dad—a former Marine—WHO NEVER LISTENED ( I warned him repeatedly about the local drivers)  choked the guy from the backseat until he let them out of the car in a terrible area in Moscow. Dad 1, Thug 0.

 

 

You booked a beautiful Airbnb. With rats. 

 (Oops. That one’s our house in Saint Simons)

 

 

If you’ve survived a trip like this and lived to post about it, congratulations: you’ve officially earned your travel scar tissue—and a drink. Have two.

 

Now let me book you something slightly safer.  Just don’t tell Tom Hanks where you are going.

 

 

 

Imagine waking up to the  sounds of the Okavango Delta, spending your days alongside majestic wildlife in their natural habitat, and nesting under the stars in fantastic accommodations by night.   Botswana is a low impact safari destination, huge expansive conservancies and hardly any people. The game viewing is out of this world.   Accommodations range from traditional tented camps, to Ultra Luxe ( and I mean ULTRA ) lodges.  If Africa is your jam, and you want a completely different experience for a second ( or third or fourth ) trip…talk to me about Botswana.   

 

Tokyo pulses with an energy that’s both electric and enchanting, a city where ancient tradition meets cutting-edge innovation. What makes Tokyo truly special is its incredible diversity—one moment you’re wandering through serene temples and tranquil gardens, and the next, you’re immersed in neon-lit streets buzzing with life. There’s so much to see and do:  world-class sushi and street food, exploring quirky neighborhoods like Harajuku and Akihabara, or taking in panoramic views from the Tokyo Skytree. 

Nestled on Canada’s eastern coast, Nova Scotia is a breathtaking blend of rugged coastline, charming fishing villages, and lush forests.  Whether you’re wandering the vibrant streets of Halifax, exploring the iconic Peggy’s Cove lighthouse, or hiking  the scenic Cabot Trail, there’s beauty all around. From fresh seafood feasts, golf, to whale watching and exploring historic sites like Lunenburg, Nova Scotia invites you to slow down and savor the simple joys of life by the sea.

Planning the perfect trip and avoiding the horror stories really does take a village. Diving into research, picking just the right local partners that fit my clients' ideas and budget, and comparing itineraries to nail exactly what they envisioned—it's all in a day's work. Huge thanks to my awesome partners at GTN—you guys rock! 

I was lucky to spend a week in March with 20 of our supplier partners in France.

  They are all top-notch pros and they come through every time. 

 

 You don't get that kind of service and follow thru booking a trip on line.