Hi First name!

 

I'll get in and out of your inbox quickly today.

 

I've got my first cold in two years, the kids are about to bust through the door, my inbox is overflowing from a month of only handling urgent things, and I have several hotel directors to reach out to secure room upgrades for upcoming client trips… so let's dive in.

 

I just spent the last few hours working on details for a three-generation Mediterranean getaway for a family who came back from their summer holidays inspired but totally overwhelmed by the thought of planning something epic for a 70th birthday celebration trip.

 

Even the most well-traveled families can get stuck in analysis paralysis when it comes to those bigger trips.

 

You can have forty tabs open, bookmark all the travel blogs, save a hundred Instagram posts, and create Pinterest boards until your eyes bleed.

 

But if you don't have a clear planning strategy, you'll either end up with decision paralysis or a trip that feels disjointed. 

 

🥳 The good news? We can avoid the overwhelm and instead create pure excitement  with the right approach.

 

I don't have room here to walk you through designing a full curated trip or overwhelm you with all the thoughts i have on this topic, but I can give you 3 questions to ask yourself during travel planning so your next getaway is a little more fun to plan and a bigger success in the end.

✅ CLARITY CHECK: The big WHY? Stop scrolling and start defining. Ask yourself: What's the main priority? Why are we taking this trip? What would make it a huge success? Celebrating your partner's 50th birthday? Family bonding time with grandparents and kids? Total relaxation and wellness reset? Get crystal clear on your "why" because you'll come back to that question to make each of your decisions.

 

✅ PICK YOUR PRIORITIES: Ask yourself, “What are my/our two non-negotiables?” Maybe it's a private entry into the Vatican or staying at the hotel in the desert you've been eyeing for the last year, or having a private dinner over southern England in a hot air balloon… and then building everything else around those anchors. When you try to make everything a priority, nothing becomes special. If there are no clear priorities, then ask yourself why you're going to this destination in the first place.

 

✅ EXPECTATIONS REALITY CHECK: What do I have the energy, time, and budget for? Beautiful trips fall apart on bad timing and unrealistic expectations. Map out your energy levels, travel days, and buffer time before you fall in love with that charming village that requires three train transfers and a donkey ride to reach. If you've got 3 kids in tow and no help other than you and your exhausted partner, maybe a 3-week trek through Southeast Asia with 7 different hotel changes isn't the right fit.

Ask yourself these questions before you book anything and you'll save yourself from that "we're spending our entire vacation shuttling between destinations and activities instead of enjoying them" moment when you realize you've packed too much into too little time.

 

🤝 If you want to skip straight to the good part, my Curated Trip service handles all of this (and about 847 other details) so you can focus on packing your favorite camera and practicing your "surprised" face for those room upgrades I often secure for my clients.

🌟 P.S. Already have your hotels locked in but want to make sure you get the perfect room and all the perks? Hit reply and I'll send you details about my Tailored Bookings service… because most of the time you just want to feel a little special.