Traveling with like-minded people can heighten a travel experience to a whole new level. Take wine for example. If you love wine as much as I do, being surrounded by fellow wine lovers traveling through France would be a trip of a lifetime! Luckily, wine can be found around the world, so wine vacations are endless.
If you are a wine lover looking for a wine inspired vacation, here are 5 wine vacations to choose from.
If you would like to look into going on one of these vacations or look into other options, email me at hello@thekeystotravel.com.
1. Wine European River Cruises
River cruising is a great way to experience multiple cities in Europe all in one vacation. Most river cruise lines now have wine inspired itineraries perfect for wine lovers. One of my favorite river cruise lines AmaWaterways has so many wine cruises to choose from, including in countries like France, Spain, Portugal, and so many more.
Each cruise line includes different amenities on wine vacations. AmaWaterways wine cruises include a wine expert, wine tastings, winery tours, private cellar tours, gourmet food, and excursions. Basically everything you could dream of for the perfect wine vacation is included on a wine-themed river cruise.
If you want a unique way to tour Napa Valley, try the Napa Valley Wine Train. There are different tours to choose from, including ½ day winery tours, full-day winery tours, lunch trains, and dinner trains. All provide unique options for experiencing Napa Valley. For example, one ½ day winery tour includes a gourmet lunch aboard the train and a tour and tasting of Raymond Vineyards. They also host special events like a Murder Mystery, Romance on the Rails, Thanksgiving feast on board, and a Santa train in December. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a great option to make great memories on a wine vacation to one of the most famous wine regions in the USA.
3. Porto, Portugal for Port Wine Tastings
Portugal is known for its delicious Port wine. This wine comes from the northern region of Portugal in the Douro Valley. If you love wine on the sweeter side, taking a tour of this region in Portugal would be a great option. There are many types of wine tours to take. Depending on the length of time you have and the amount of time you want to spend tasting wine, you can do a 7-day private tour of Porto and Douro, take a Douro River cruise, or take Port Wine Cellar tours. The options are endless! Make sure to set some time aside to walk around Porto. It is a beautiful coastal town with colorful buildings, old-age bridges, and cobblestone streets.
4. Bike Tour in Mendoza, Argentina
For those wine lovers that also love fitness, a bike tour in Mendoza, Argentina would be a perfect wine-inspired vacation. You can take a self-guided bike tour or an escorted tour. There are different wine regions and tour companies throughout Mendoza, which gives you a lot of different bike tour options. Choose a set tour or build a customized route for your group!
If you don’t want to go too far, but want to experience delicious wine from around the world, head to Walt Disney World’s International Food & Wine Festival. This is an annual event that takes place in Epcot from September through November. There are amazing chefs, beverage seminars, food demonstrations, food and wine pairings, and Sunday brunches. And if you are feeling really ambitious, there is a Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend!
Are you as thirsty as I am for some wine right now? For more information on booking your wine vacation, email me at hello@thekeystotravel.com.
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Travelers, I am so excited to be sharing this guest blog post with you from Erin Papworth with Nav.it! I virtually met Erin through Wanderful, an international women’s travel community, and through their Nav.It Podcast. Her thoughts on how travel can strengthen relationships resonated a lot with mine. I wanted to share, and what better way than in her own words! Thank you Erin for sharing your knowledge. I hope you all enjoy her 5 ways travel can strengthen the relationship for a couple.
Couples that travel together, stay together. If some famous person hasn’t said it, let me be the first to make that grand statement.
I have spent the majority of my adult life traveling, and I have had the pleasure of not only traveling as a couple and seeing the joy that it brought to our relationship, but also knowing many couples that use travel as a form of couples bonding (and maybe some therapy).
Here are the top reasons why travel can strengthen your relationship as a couple:
1. You shake up the routine.
Travel is a moment to take yourselves out of your daily routine. This is also very helpful for couples who can connect in a new setting, with new energy. When you are relaxed and the stresses of real life seem far away, it opens space to discuss issues with a new perspective and take your time to explore topics that shouldn’t be rushed.
2. Travel conversations open new lines of communication.
Now, not everyone travels the same, so getting on the same page about the kind of travel that makes you both happy is a good first step. Is he a weekend-getaway type traveler? Are you an international explorer? It’s always ideal to work through your preferences, not only for your relationship, but for your wallet. This is a great way to understand your partner more and to express your needs and desires. Since travel is usually low stacks (you’re not buying a house or having a baby!), it can actually be fun to find your travel cadence as a couple!
3. You get to learn together and see a different side of your partner.
I never would have known my partner had an adventurous palette, and had even eaten snake, if we hadn’t been in a random village in West Africa. At the time he was starving and was offered some fried crickets by our ever-helpful driver. As there was little else to consume in the area, he happily gulped them down. When I protested in disgust, he mischievously laughed and said: “this is nothing compared to the snake I once had!” And so, I learned more about him then, at the time, I wanted to know and decided not to kiss him for at least a day to ensure no random cricket legs got near my mouth.
4. It gives you a chance to talk about money.
Travel is a great and more neutral way to understand how each person in the couple manages money. The amount you’ll spend (or at least the way you want to spend your money on a trip) gives you an opportunity to express your budget comfort zones. Maybe s/he loves food and is willing to splurge, while you’d prefer to stay in a nicer hotel and eat street food. Working those styles out beforehand helps you plan out how much you want to spend and what you want to do before you go. It’s a great way to open a safe dialogue about spending habits in general too. (P.S. Nav.it has a great budget tracking app that can help you both keep track of your goals! It’s free to download and can be found at www.nav.it )
5. You make lasting memories.
When life gets back into a routine. When you have children in school and are beholden to summer holidays like everyone else. When your partner starts a business and she only has time to travel for work. At those points in your life, you will be so happy you have travel memories as a couple. It also gives you something to look back on and forward to. Once you establish travel as a priority within your relationship, you know you will do it again. Maybe not at the frequency of the early years, but you will do it again. If it’s the yearly excursion, or the monthly weekend getaway, the experiences you have exploring the world together will define your relationship and your memories throughout time.
Thank you Erin for sharing your insights on how travel can strengthen the relationship for a couple! To learn more about Erin Papworth and Nav.it head to their website at www.nav.it, listen to their Podcast, or follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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Getting a passport can be intimidating. Government websites can be a bit confusing and knowing where to go and all you need in order to apply can be overwhelming. We broke it down for you so hopefully, this becomes an easy process, and we can get you on your way to traveling internationally!
Is it an Easy Process?
The process to get a passport is fairly easy, it just takes some time and effort. Follow the steps below, and it won’t be a difficult process! It now takes about 10-13 weeks for routine processing and 7-9 weeks for expedited processing, and that does NOT include mailing time. You should start this application process well in advance for any international trip you want to take. Our recommendation is to get your passport at least 6 months prior to travel.
Where Do You Get a Passport?
If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you must apply in person. If you are renewing, you can do that by mail. DMV’s are not allowed to issue passports, so save yourself some time (and sanity), and do not go to the DMV to apply for a passport.
To get a passport for the first time, you can apply for one at a local Post Office, Library, or County Court. Click here to find location options near you.
How Much Does It Cost?
For an adult, it costs $165 ($130 application fee plus $35 for the execution fee) to get a new passport book. For adults that want to renew their book, it only costs $130. For a child (16 years old and under), it costs $135 ($100 application fee plus $35 for the execution fee) to get a new passport book.
If you are applying or renewing and need it quicker than 10-13 weeks, there is an extra fee. Expediting the process through the Post Office adds an additional $60.
If you think you will be traveling internationally in the next year or two, we would highly recommend just going to get your passport now. You don’t want to have to pay that extra fee to get it expedited if you don’t have to!
What Do I Need to Get a Passport?
Here is everything you need when you go to apply for your passport:
Proof of US Citizenship, like your birth certificate.
Government-issued ID, like a driver’s license.
Color photo (take one yourself for free with this app and print).
Money for the fee.
For a child, you need proof of relationship to the child and both parents and child must be present.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Passport
Decide between a book and a card. This is pretty important. Depending on what type of international travel you are looking to do will depend on which type of passport you should get. The traditional passport most people think of is the book. This allows you to travel anywhere internationally by sea, land, or air. The card only allows you to travel by land to Canada or Mexico from the US and travel by sea to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. You cannot travel by plane internationally with a card. The card is less expensive than the book. Make sure you are getting the one that will fit your travel needs in the next ten years (how long a passport is valid for adults).
Apply for a new passport in person. If you are just renewing, you can do so by mail.
What to bring when applying to get a passport: – Filled out Form DS-11 found here. – Proof of US Citizenship, like your birth certificate. – Government-issued ID, like a driver’s license. – Color photo (take one yourself for free with this app and print). – Money for the fee. – For a child, you need proof of relationship to the child and both parents and child must be present.
Head to a post office, library, or county court. Go here to find out where to go in your city.
Wait for your passport to be sent to you in the mail!
Now have your passport, but need help planning and booking your international vacation? We’re here to help! Fill out our travel inquiry form HERE to start the planning process.
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Aruba in October. Death Valley in January. Italy in early May. These are just some of the destinations I have traveled to during the months that are considered “off season.” I’m not going to lie, my favorite time to visit a new city is during their off season, and it has become a trend with my travels. As a couple who wants to travel to as many places as possible, traveling during the off season allows my husband and me to do just that because of lower prices. But there are many more reasons to travel during the off season in addition to the prices! Let me tell you why…
What Does Off Season Mean?
First, let’s clarify what ‘off season’ means. Off season, also called low season, is the time of the year when a city or destination has less travelers visiting. Peak season is the time during the year when the city or destination is jam packed with tourists. For example, peak season in the Caribbean would be during the winter when everyone is trying to get away from the snow and cold. Off season would be fall when it is hurricane season and more likely to be rainy.
Perks of Traveling During Off Season
Traveling during the off season has so many benefits. First, there are more options for hotels, tours, and air because less people are visiting destinations during off season. There is the chance that the number of flights to a destination lower during off season, but I have never found that to be a problem.
Less travelers means less demand for hotels, tours and airfare, which results in lower prices! Hotels want to entice people to visit during off season and they do this by lowering their prices or adding in extras that you can’t get during peak travel season.
Another benefit of traveling during off season is fewer people and less crowds. Imagine walking around the Cinque Terre during peak travel season verse off season. Off season sounds better to me. You are able to explore at your own pace and not worry about (literally) bumping into other people all the time.
And finally, you can enjoy a better cultural experience when traveling during off season. When business is slow in a city because it is off season, the locals are also able to slow down and connect with travelers. It is a great time to connect with locals and truly learn the culture of a destination.
Research Each Travel Location’s Off Season
Traveling during the off season can be great in so many ways, but you also want to make sure you are doing research on the destination you want to go to. Rainy season, monsoon season, hurricane season and more can vary throughout the world.
For example:
Costa Rica’s rainy season is May to November. The dry season with the best green colors is December and the foliage gets dryer and more brown up until May when the rains come back.
Cabo’s hottest month where it’s almost unbearable to be outside (unless you’re in a pool) is September, which is also hurricane season.
Patgonia’s winter is during the United State’s summer, so unless you want a winter getaway in July, head to Patgonia in December.
Where to Head During Off Season
Here have been some of my favorite destinations to travel to during off season.
Fall
Crested Butte – September For some reason, fall in Crested Butte is considered the off season. I understand. Winter is peak ski season and summer is great for hiking, biking, and more. But fall in Crested Butte is incredibly beautiful and it is my favorite time to visit!
Aruba – October Most people know that fall in the Caribbean means hurricane season. But what most people don’t know is that Aruba is so far south (just 15 miles from Venezuela) that it is considered outside of the hurricane belt. That means the odds of you experiencing bad weather in Aruba during hurricane season is very low. October brings low prices and smaller crowds to Aruba, making it my favorite island to visit in fall.
Belize – October Even though it is technically Belize’s rainy season, October is a wonderful time to visit this country. When I visited in October, it only rained twice and it only lasted 10 minutes. That is the beauty of tropical rain. I liked visiting Belize in October because there was almost no one visiting. It gave me the chance to really talk to the locals. I also felt really good about supporting the locals and their economy during the slow season. Since tourism is a big moneymaker for Belize, during off season many locals have to get second, third or fourth jobs just to make do.
Winter
Death Valley – January I get it. Summer is when kids are out of school and families are traveling the country to check off National Parks. But Death Valley in summer sounds awful to me. Even for someone who loves the heat, being in a desert in summer does not sound enjoyable. But that is when it is peak season. I chose to head there in January. Off season meant very small crowds, perfect temperatures, and basically the park to ourselves!
Disney – January If there is any off season for Disney, my guess would be January. And by off season, I mean a slightly less busy season. The kids are just heading back to school, it’s one of the coolest months weather wise in Florida, and after the holidays, parents aren’t wanting to spend the money on a pricey vacation. Which is why I decided to go to Disney World in January! For me, it was perfect. Still busy, obviously, but seemed to be less crowded, not insanely hot like in the summer, more hotel options, and better prices on flights!
Spring
Pacific Northwest If you head to the Pacific Northwest, expect a lot of rain. But, you could also get lucky! I went to Washington in April and Oregon in May and experienced very little rain. I was prepared with all my rain gear, though, so I would not have been disappointed! Smaller crowds and more affordable flight and accommodations made for two very fun vacations.
Italy – April/May Italy in late spring is perfect. It is warm enough to enjoy being outside but it’s not quite summer yet when the crowds and temperatures get unbearable. I found some great hotel deals, got the chance to get to know the locals because there weren’t as many people around, and was able to go at a slow pace and enjoy the locations I was in.
Where have you loved or would love to travel to during off season? If you have questions about traveling during off season, send me an email at hello@thekeystotravel.com.
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Travelers, I am so excited to be sharing this guest blog post with you from Erin Papworth with Nav.it! I virtually met Erin through Wanderful, an international women’s travel community, and through their Nav.It Podcast. Her tips on saving money for travel was something I knew you would appreciate and had to hear, and what better way than in her own words! Thank you Erin for sharing your knowledge. I hope you all enjoy her 5 tips for couples to save money to travel and can implement some of her ideas!
At Nav.it we have a saying: True wealth is experiential. See, we believe that at the end of our lives we are the sum of our experiences, not our bank accounts. And that’s why we like to talk about money. Because money gives us a chance to do all those things we want to do –like travel in SE Asia for a month! — carefree and confident. When you understand how the financial system works, you understand how you can save for travel, how you can use rewards credit cards wisely to get you that free flight or upgrade, and you can know how and when you want to save or splurge as you explore the world.
As a couple, travel is an exciting experience as it gives you and your partner a moment to learn about new places and people in the world together. It gives you a moment to get out of the routine of daily life and find a new perspective on those petty fights (who’s turn is it to take out the recycle?!). And as a team, it gives you a chance to plan, save money, and spend wisely with the goal of creating amazing memories that last you throughout your lives. So, without further ado, here are the
top 5 ways to save money as a couple to travel:
1. Save a little towards travel every month.
Even if you don’t have a destination in mind quite yet, if travel is a priority in your relationship, set aside an allotted amount every month that can be used when you want to pick up and go camping for the weekend or when you decide Bali is in your near future. This ensures you’re not getting sucked into credit card debt to achieve the lifestyle goals you both want, and it gives you something to plan for and bond over as a couple.
On the Nav.it app you can connect your accounts and set up a savings goal for travel or any other financial goal. You can break it down to daily, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly amounts you want to save. The more you hit those daily/weekly/monthly goals the more confident you become at your ability to achieve the total savings goal. As a couple, it can be very bonding to work towards and achieve a goal together. Both couples can download the app, connect the same account, and track your success towards the goal.
3. Be kind to yourself.
Seeing digestible savings amounts helps in keeping you on track towards a goal, but also, life happens. Don’t be hard on yourself (or your partner!) if you didn’t quite reach your goal one month; the point is to keep moving towards it and doing the best you can. If one month is harder than another for your partner, showing empathy and the ability to support him or her without placing blame or getting angry will go far to build trust and not derail you as a couple from achieving your overall goal of saving for travel.
4. Review your progress of saving money for travel.
Savings towards something as exciting as travel is an awesome opportunity for open communication and review of your financial goals as a couple. Date night, fun night. Set up a monthly date night (your time to splurge on your partner!) where you review the status of your travel goals, how you did that month, and what expenses you forsee next month.
This gives you an opportunity to plan for events at home (a favorite concert next month?) and when you travel. It also gives you a chance to think about your spending. Do you really need HBO and Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions? Can you both stand to only eat out once a week and once on the weekend? When you create a plan, you have a common goal that is known to be bonding for a couple and increases your ability to survive more complicated situations when they arise (enter kids, loss of a job, and retirement planning). The most important thing is that you act as a team, helping each other to reach a mutually agreed upon goal. If you can do that together, you can do anything.
5. Map your top five destinations and open rewards travel credit cards to help you save.
Airlines and hotels often have credit cards that give you bonus reward points (60,000 miles Amex Delta!) when you open them. That’s at least one, if not two, domestic U.S. flights right there. The key to managing rewards travel is to spend only what you can afford and always pay off the total amount on your credit cards monthly. If you carry a balance, the credit card company keeps gaining on the interest, and you can’t save as much in the long run. That means less money for you to save towards travel. If you really want to go deep into reward travel, Nav.it partners with travel reward expert Jet Set Listette, who coaches people about how to maximize reward travel. This is not for the unorganized, but it’s a great way to use the monthly spending you would spend anyway to get perks when you travel.
*Note: a lot of the credit cards require you to hit a certain spending amount in the first month(s) you open the card, so make sure you can do that responsibly and get the bonus!
#bonus: If either of you travel for work and you can swing it, make sure you maximize all the rewards points you can either on the airline you travel the most or hotel /rental car chains.
Overall, saving for travel is all about prioritization and communication. If you can achieve your travel lifestyle goals as a couple you will be able to navigate all the other issues that arise in couplehood! Thus, go forth, save and travel!
Thank you Erin for providing such great tips for couples on how to save money for travel! To learn more about Erin Papworth and Nav.it head to their website at www.nav.it, listen to their Podcast, or follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
If you love to travel with your family, Exploring Through Life has some great tips on how to save money on family travel on her blog. Click here for these tips.
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If you’re wondering, yes, travel agents do still exist (I’m one of them)! Your next question may be, “When should I work with a travel agent?” That is a very good question because not every trip is worth booking with a travel agent. For example, if you are only booking domestic flights, it’s best to book those on your own. (For tips on basic economy versus economy plane tickets, click here.)
But if you are looking to take one of the following types of vacations, you should work with a travel agent!
1. International Travel
Traveling internationally can get complicated quickly. It can be hard to keep track of passport information, currency, transportation, time zones, customs, and more. With all the factors that go into international travel, it’s a good idea to work with a travel expert. Travel agents know the in’s and out’s of international travel. I know tricks for getting through customs quicker, the most efficient way to travel throughout Italy, which countries you need to exchange currency versus countries that accept the USD, and so much more. Working with a travel agent for international travel can ease stress and let you focus on enjoying your trip!
2. Family Vacations
It is hard enough to remember to pack all the things for the kids and yourself, you shouldn’t have to also worry about planning your entire family vacation. Working with a travel agent for your next family vacation gives you the change to actually enjoy the vacation! Travel agents know which destinations are family friendly. I know the destinations that will keep kids entertained the entire time, that welcome kids while allowing parents alone adult time, and will keep your kids talking about the family vacation for years to come. Family vacations shouldn’t be stressful, they should be enjoyable, and working with a travel agent can help guarantee that.
3. Destination Wedding
You may not think about working with a travel agent for your destination wedding, but you should! Travel agents work with couples to find the best destination location. We take into consideration your wedding wishes, group size, and more to find the best destination. With so many locations to choose from, it’s a good idea to ask an expert for help. Once you book a location, the couple works with the onsite wedding coordinator to plan the big day and the travel agent works with the couple’s guests for travel and accommodations. That way, the couple is not inundated with questions from all their guests on travel arrangements. The travel agent is there to coordinate all the travel so the couple gets to focus on the joy of their big day. Make sure to consult with a travel agent when booking your destination wedding!
4. Honeymoon
Your honeymoon is arguably one of your biggest and most anticipated vacations. Whether you go big and go on your biggest trip yet or go small, I cannot stress enough that you should work with a travel agent on your honeymoon. Your honeymoon should be your dream vacation with your new spouse. With how much effort and time it takes to plan a wedding, sometimes the honeymoon can get pushed to the back burner. Don’t let that happen! As a travel agent, your honeymoon is my top priority. Making sure you have nothing to worry about but focusing on relaxing or adventuring with your new spouse is what I’m here for! You will not regret working with a travel agent for your honeymoon!
5. Group Travel
Trying to wrangle a large group of friends, a family for a reunion, or employees for a sales incentive trip or retreat can seem impossible when tackling it on your own. That is where travel agents come into play. I know which companies and destinations have great deals on travel groups. As a travel agent, I work with each individual traveler to make sure their travel accommodations are taken care of. When one traveler’s flight is delayed, I take care of figuring out a new route. Group travel is successful when there is one point person in charge. The travel agent can take on that responsibility to make sure no one has to worry about their travel. Enjoy your vacation!
6. Theme Park Vacations
Have you ever tried to book a trip to Disney World and given up by the high prices and amount of options to choose from? How do you know if what you’re buying is going to be worth the price? A trip to Disney is not a cheap vacation, so you want to know you are getting your money’s worth!
That is just one example of when to work with a travel agent for theme park vacations. Theme parks have many ticket options to choose from. When going to Disney, you also have options for dining plans, specialty dining you need to book in advance, hotels on resort and off resort, transportation, special photography, and so much more. It can get incredibly overwhelming. The great thing, though, is travel agents live in this world day to day. We know the ins and outs of theme parks. I get daily updates on what’s going on at Disney from new resorts opening to construction to special deals. It’s not your job to know every detail about these theme parks, it’s my job! Do yourself a favor and consult with a travel agent the next time you want to go somewhere like Disney. You will know for sure you are getting exactly what you want!
7. Cruises
There are so many different types of cruises from river cruises to ocean cruises to around-the-world cruises. There are different types of cruise rates, room types, and inclusions. Different cruise itineraries cater to different age groups and interests. It is very hard to keep it all straight and truly know what you are getting into when booking online. Working with a travel agent for your next cruise will help you know exactly the type of vacation you are walking into. I have taken trainings on different types of cruise lines, cruise itineraries, and all that is included. If I don’t know off hand the answer to your cruise question, I know exactly who to ask or where to find the answer. Save the headache the next time you want to cruise and contact a travel agent to help!
If you are interested in taking any of the vacations above, please reach out to me at hello@thekeystotravel.com. As a travel agent, I am here to help you travel more and stress less!
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Recently, the majority of US airlines have introduced a new airline ticket class called ‘Basic Economy’. What does this mean and why should you be aware of it? Sometimes searching for airline tickets on sites like Kayak and Expedia provide you with the cheapest ticket option. If you purchase a ‘Basic Economy’ ticket without knowing all the rules, you could run into problems at the airport.
Each airline’s rules are a bit different, but all Basic Economy tickets have restrictions on carry-on baggage, upgrades, changes and boarding order, most likely boarding last and possibly at the back of the plane.
Below are the specific rules on Basic Economy for some of the major US airlines. Don’t worry- if you book Southwest, you have nothing to worry about. They truly live their brand promise of “Low Fares. Nothing to Hide. That’s Transfarency,” and I don’t see them jumping on board this ‘Basic Economy’ train any time soon.
A seat is assigned at check-in and cannot be changed
Upgrades are not available
Groups/families will not be sitting by each other
For domestic flights, only a personal item is allowed. Carry-ons are not allowed
Flight changes and refunds are not allowed
Last to board the plane
I have found that Basic Economy is great for:
Solo travelers
Travelers packing light with only a personal item, like a backpack
Flexible travelers looking to get from Point A to Point B for the cheapest price with little to no perks
Have you flown with a Basic Economy ticket? What was your experience?
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Happy International Women’s Day (March 8th)! There are many women in the travel industry making huge, positive impacts changing the way we travel, the way we think about travel and more. On this special day, I wanted to acknowledge just a few of these amazing women and share a bit about how they are making BIG differences in this world.
What role did travel play for you in your younger days?
Leticia:
My parents always taught us to appreciate diversity, different cultures, traditions and beliefs. They would always say when I was little that there were so many invaluable lessons they couldn’t teach us. Only going out and witnessing this diversity in the world would we learn the most important lessons in life. So travel always played this role of being essential to our growth and development as humans. Because travel fosters compassion, awareness, understanding of one another, and allows us to gain perspective and clarity of our sense of place in the world.
Savannah:
Growing up, travel was always a source of adventure and learning for me. I am lucky to have gone on service trips throughout my childhood that sparked my passion for supporting grassroots organizations as well as my curiosity for people’s stories. I found that I learned the most valuable and memorable lessons while I was traveling. I am really grateful I had these opportunities when I was younger to see how important getting outside of your comfort zone is for self-growth.
What is 109 World and how did it come about?
109 World is a platform dedicated to help individuals fulfill the promise of their potential through self-love and love for the world. What does this mean? 109 designs and hosts experiences for individuals to participate and go through a programming rich in mindfulness and wellbeing, but also in giving back to the world. The goal is for each individual that takes part on a 109 experience to learn how reconnecting with their truly authentic selves through self-love is a powerful tool to transform their lives and the world for better. Once you feel good with yourself, it means you are best positioned to do good in the world, and our 109 experiences offer the space to do all of that.
The concept for 109 World came from our discomfort over how, despite today’s advancements and technology, a majority of the population still lives in either one side of the pendulum: either just taking care of themselves and practicing self love and not being of service to the world at all, or just giving back and not prioritizing their own health & wellbeing. Very few of us realize that a combination of both is important if we want to make the world a better place. Moreover, very few of us identify as change-makers of the world and our own lives, so our team at 109 realized this lack of empowerment was not only affecting people’s happiness & wellbeing in general, but also greatly hindering amazing initiatives from getting the necessary support they need in order to scale their impact. It’s an interesting contrast. The world today is more connected than ever, information and content is cost-free and knows no borders, and yet we (individuals, corporations and other organizations) remain unaware as to the influence and impact we can have. It is this paradox that drove us to give people the space and inspiration they need to start changing their lives and the world for better.
What is the mission of 109 World?
Our Mission is to help individuals fulfill the promise of their potential through mindfulness and giving back.
What are your roles with 109 World?
Leticia:
I am the Co-founder and Executive Director of 109 World. I make sure our strategic and operational objectives are aligned with our goals of helping individuals fulfill the promise of their potential through mindfulness and actionable impact.
Savannah:
I am the Associate Director with 109 World. My role consists of managing all elements of operation and logistics for each 109 experience, as well as relationships with the 109 community, especially as it pertains to past, current, and potential participants on a 109 trip.
In what ways can travelers get involved?
We would love to have them joining one or many of our experiences. Our trips are all so different from one another – we go to different countries every time, do different volunteer type of work and support different causes, have different mindfulness classes with different teachers and speakers for each trip. You will never get the same experience, even if you join every single 109 journey!
We have all the information about our upcoming trips on our website: www.109world.com/trips/ and we are very active on social media as well, especially instagram – where we not only share about our upcoming trips, but also about our local projects, partners, future trips, pop-up events we host and much more. We very often launch very cool campaigns promoting travel and offering the opportunity for travelers to join our trips for very little, like $2 dollars! We are planning on launching the Travel for $2 campaign again this year, so stay tuned @109world!
What has been your favorite travel experience?
Leticia:
This is a hard question. But I think my favorite travel experiences were both with 109 when we went to Greece in 2017 and Mexico last year.
Mexico because we stayed at the most beautiful eco-hotel I have ever been. The place is called Playa Viva, a sustainable boutique hotel (with tree houses!) located on the western coast of Mexico nestled between the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean and the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains. This paradise is situated on a mile of pristine and private beach, with nearly 200 acres including an estuary, an Aztec archeological site, a turtle sanctuary, and a coastal forest and mangrove ecosystem which supports an array of stunning wildlife. If you haven’t heard about them, go check their instagram account @playaviva! Besides it being a very special and gorgeous place, to work with their turtle sanctuary was an unique experience for me, too. To wake up everyday releasing baby turtles and during the day building a new turtle sanctuary was more inspiring than I expected to be. To witness baby turtles being born with all the odds stacked against them, from crawling out of a hole for several days, to making their way towards the ocean with the tide constantly bringing them backwards – and then seeing them finally reach the water taught me so much about life, and that no matter what life throws at you to remember to just keep moving forward. We will get where we were meant to be eventually.
Greece was also my favorite because it was such a nourishing and transformative experience. The Greek culture is so warm, the way they prioritize time with family and friends is so beautiful to see and the food is absolutely delicious. The 109 Greece trip was particularly transformative for me because of the work we did there with building a school in a refugee camp. This cause really touched my heart in a different way. Not that the refugee crisis is worse than any other crisis, but personally it was hard for me to think we could treat people like that or even let it become what it became: more than 65 million people living as refugees worldwide, forcibly displaced. Doctors, engineers, lawyers, mothers, sons and daughters. People like those you grew up with, people like those you love, people like you and me that now live in refugee camps with a life without digital resources and services, a life without income, without literacy skills and opportunities, and without the satisfaction that comes from feeling welcomed by society. That really impacted me. I felt that I left Greece, but my heart and mind stayed with them, with the reflections that this refugee crisis is everybody’s problem and each one of us has a personal responsibility to help. Because this is as much about the rescue of humanity and our values as it is about the rescue of refugees and their lives.
Savannah:
I would have to say our last 109 retreat to Mexico is definitely top of my list. The eco-hotel we stayed at, Playa Viva, is a place unlike any other with being both a breathtaking location (treehouses, majestic sunsets, & baby turtle releases!), but also one that is sustainable and deeply committed to the local community. I loved this trip because from the second we arrived I felt like I was home even though I had never been there, as there is a true sense of community at Playa Viva, which is something I believe is vital to our success and happiness as humans. Plus, being able to learn more about ocean and marine life conservation while working on the turtle sanctuary was profoundly moving. Nothing substitutes experience, and it was an honor to have this chance to not only learn about the immense threats the turtles face just to survive, but also to get my hands dirty and learn what it takes to protect them. The day we left was truly heartbreaking for me as I did not want to leave our new friends or this special place, and it is now somewhere I consider a second home – I cannot wait to be back!
What is one destination you would recommend to everyone?
Leticia:
Anywhere in Greece. The landscapes with all the olive trees are magical, the paradisiac beaches that feels like you are in a movie, the delicious food they are so proud of and their culture and history – it’s birth of civilization and one of the best places on Earth in my opinion!
Savannah:
One place I would recommend everyone go is Barcelona! This city holds such a special place in my heart and is the perfect place to go with friends, your partner, or even solo. There is so much history, delicious tapas (patatas bravas are my favorite food on the whole planet), and you can feel how alive the city is everywhere you go. It will always be one of my favorite places and I cannot wait to be back there one day!
What is one piece of advice you would give a female looking to start her own business in the travel industry?
Leticia:
There is a quote that I love from Alan Cohen that describes it well: “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” If you always wanted to start something, don’t wait longer to make it happen. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are!
Savannah:
Surround yourself with people you trust and value, and then go from there. Obstacles feel much less daunting when you know you have a team you are fully confident in and can rely on. You can’t predict how amazing things will go, or how hard they will be – but with the right people you will be equipped for it all.
What role did travel play in your lives growing up?
Kristi:
Growing up, my family always took vacations exploring the sites and history of the United States. In high school I took many solo trips to visit extended family and spent a summer on a mission trip to Egypt. After that, I realized how much more of the world there is to see, and I was hooked. I knew that somehow travel had to be a part of what I did for a career.
Brittany:
Travel came into my life for the first time when I was 16 years old when I walked into a local travel agency and applied for a job working as a receptionist. After being hired, I worked everyday after school for four hours and they were the BEST four hours of my day. I vividly remember spending hours organizing and ordering brochures and getting lost in the images of amazing destinations. This job would change my future as I never waived from my passion in life and future career from this point on.
How did you meet one another and decide to start a travel agency together?
Kristi and I met working for the same company as independent contractors. We met at our very first annual conference and immediately hit it off and would spend many years traveling together, leaning on each other and supporting one another. After many years of knowing each other, we were both looking to grow in a different aspect of what we were currently doing and decided to join forces.
Tell us a little bit more about Travel Savvi
We primarily cater to vacation travelers but specialize in destination weddings, honeymoons, romantic getaways and family vacations. Our biggest strength is working with our clients to ensure we are qualifying them for their perfect vacation based on their travel needs, wants and preferred budget.
What has been your favorite travel experience?
Kristi:
This is a tough one because I love each trip. Probably the times I get to travel with my family. A couple specific times were when my kids were little and seeing how magical Disney was to them, and the first time I took them to Mexico for them to experience a place I frequented and loved so much are at the top of the list.
Brittany:
I don’t have a favorite as every single trip I take is an amazing new experience. Traveling with my family and friends brings great joy and fantastic memories!
What is one destination you would recommend to everyone?
Kristi:
I don’t think there is a one size fits all destination. Part of what we do is working with someone to find which destination is right for them. I think an all-inclusive vacation is a type of trip everyone should try. For the person that may be a little intimidated to go somewhere, it’s the perfect choice for ease of flights, transfer and stay all included! Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican are perfect destinations for an all-inclusive vacation.
Brittany:
Mexico and Hawaii – two of my favorite destinations to spend the days relaxing and exploring.
What is one piece of advice you would give a female looking to start her own business in the travel industry?
Kristi:
Asking yourself a few questions: Do I like to help others? Am I willing to put myself out there to let people know what I do? Am I willing to learn and continue to learn to stay on top of the latest travel trends? Passion for travel is a huge, but wanting to help others discover their own love of travel is key. I know that this is the right fit for me when I get just as excited for my clients vacation as I am for my own trip.
Brittany:
This industry is tough and can be a lot more stressful than one would think. The magic ingredient is not “loving to travel” but “loving to BOOK travel”. Having the opportunity to travel is a huge advantage but isn’t going to make you amazing at your job. Loving people, being able to problem solve and enjoying the process of research and booking travel are all crucial to succeed in this business.
What role did travel play for you in your younger days?
My mom laughs about this all the time. Apparently when I was a child I absolutely hated to travel. I hated leaving places that I loved and would cry for hours when going back home. I think about that a lot now and what I realize is that I’m a lover of places. It’s not that I don’t like being home – in fact, when I’m home I am a big-time nester and I’m always decorating and making the house cozy. It’s just that I love to be in the place that I am at the time that I’m there and I really try to relish that.
I was lucky enough to grow up traveling with my parents and my family to places like Disney World and Cape Cod and even on one amazing European vacation, but I honestly don’t remember too much from it. The first real travel experience that impacted me was when I studied abroad in Portugal in college. It really profoundly changed me. My family is Portuguese so it was as much studying abroad as it was rediscovering my roots and meeting so much of my family that I never really knew and learning their language. It opened up a part of me that I didn’t know existed and I think that part of me just grew from there.
What is Wanderful and how did it come about?
In 2009 I was traveling in a country called Sao Tome and Principe off the west coast of Africa. I was a young woman living a pretty hyper local experience in a place that was quite different from where I’d grown up and it really affected me to be in that place. I started thinking about a woman’s experience abroad, which was so much more than what society tells us it is – beauty magazines and super fashionable travel and all. I really wanted to explore what it meant to be a woman in the world until I started writing about it. That was the seed that eventually became Wanderful.
What is the mission of Wanderful?
Wanderful is an international community of over 40,000 women travelers. Our mission is to help empower women to travel using a live network of others who have been there. We do this through events in 46 cities around the world, global community gatherings like the Women in Travel Summit and Wanderfest, and the first-ever identity verified Woman to Woman Home Sharing Network.
Where is Wanderful located, and in what ways can female travelers get involved?
I think the really neat thing about Wanderful is that we really are everywhere. We have a very active Facebook group called Wanderful Women Who Travel which includes over 9,000 women from around the world that share travel tips with each other. But then we also have Chapters that meet for coffee gatherings, brunches, and outings. But our home sharing network is going to allow women to actually physically host each other in their homes and meet up with each other whether or not there is actually a chapter there, which I’m really excited about. It means that we can now create a place where you can stop in any airport around the world and there can be somebody there from the Wanderful Community who can guide you.
Where do you see Wanderful going in the next 5- 10 years?
It’s really exciting for me that more and more women are traveling the world alone these days. Even 10 years ago, it was so much less common and now it’s becoming a lot more of a regular occurrence. I think we’re going to continue to see that movement in the next 5 to 10 years, and what I hope that means is that we are going to see a change in travel with it. More women and travel leadership and more solutions for women when they travel that become part of mainstream culture. I hope the Wanderful can be not only a part of these solutions but also a leader in some of them.
What has been your favorite travel experience?
I think Istanbul is still one of my favorite cities. It was when I was there that I heard the Muslim call to prayer for the first time, and I found it absolutely beautiful. I think that’s what’s really special about travel – immersing yourself in someone’s daily life which is so normal for them and so different for you and really taking a moment to appreciate how unique we all are.
What is one destination you would recommend to everyone?
Being Portuguese American, of course Portugal is one of my top recommendations for people. Of course, it’s not quite the hidden gem that used to be – a lot of Americans are really discovering how cool is a country it is and how inexpensive a flight from the East Coast is, so it’s less of a surprise! But if you stop about halfway through the Atlantic and end in the Azores, a Portuguese Archipelago, you might still find some surprise there. It’s such an amazing place. You can visit a pineapple farm, cook your dinner inside a volcano, go wine tasting, and even see a bunch of old Portuguese guys wearing Red Sox hats all in the same day.
What is one piece of advice you would give a female looking to start her own business in the travel industry?
I think travel is honestly a really challenging industry. Many entrepreneurs will tell you that the business you’re creating is much more likely to succeed if it solves a pain point – if its a “medicine” – more than if it just improves something that is working okay – a “vitamin”. I think in the travel space you find a lot more vitamins than you do medicine and so it’s really important to think critically about what the problem is that you’re solving for, and if it’s solving for a real need.
What role did travel play in your life growing up?
I grew up in a rural part of South Denver, and we were constantly outside and adventuring. My family raced motorcycles, so every weekend we were off on a family van trip to some remote parts of the Western US. This fostered my love of nomadic travel and our current #vanlife adventures! I didn’t do a ton of international travel as a child, so my study abroad in college to Florence, Italy was when I was entirely consumed with absorbing and immersing myself in new cultures. I have had an incurable wanderlust ever since then and have built my life and my business around travel!
What were you doing before Waypoint Goods and how did Waypoint Goods come about? I spent the majority of my life 100% convinced that I wanted to be an Architect. I was in the architecture studio while all my friends were at the bar for the 6 years it takes to get a Masters of Architecture. I promptly took all 7 of my exams, did my internship hours and got licensed. Whew! Made it! Except once I finally climbed this crazy mountain to the top, it really wasn’t what I had expected. I loved the creativity and problem-solving aspects, but the day to day life didn’t bring me any joy, so I knew I desperately needed to find an alternative lifestyle to the standard 8-5. I love to be outside, traveling, seeing new places and trying new things. Sitting at a desk all day and living for two weeks a year of vacation would never fulfill my soul. I began looking into other industries and other opportunities that would give me the freedom I craved. I knew I wanted to create a company based on travel that I would be able to run while traveling myself. E-commerce was the way to go. An incredible mentor helped show me the ropes and walk me through the early stages, including getting going on Amazon. It was a crazy journey, but I am so glad to have refocused on what lifestyle I wanted and create a business around that!
Tell me a little bit more about Waypoint Goods
Waypoint Goods gives women the confidence and inspiration to explore the world, both at home and abroad, with the perfect travel accessory to make it happen! The Travel Scarf with a hidden zipper pocket allows you to ditch the purse and stop worrying about pickpockets while safely hiding your essentials, like your wallet, passport, keys, and even your phone. Our bold BASICS series will keep you stylish and fashionable wherever you go! Our travel themed CITY series prints will add some destinations to your bucket list while our ART series prints feature some unique patterns by talented female artists. The STADIUM series lets your sport your team colors and the PARKS series gets you inspired by the natural beauty all around us. At Waypoint Goods, we want YOU to be YOU and live the life you have always dreamed of. We want you to feel empowered to try new things, go new places and make new friends! We are just here to make life a little easier for you (and hold your stuff)!
What does the next year look like for Waypoint Goods?
The next year is super crazy for us! Last year was explosive and this year, we are making plans and growing more sustainably. I hired a social media & marketing team to help me spread the word and a business strategist to help me grow, expand and make the best decisions I can. I am going to be spending a lot of time writing and storytelling, especially about the origin, inspiration, and creation of the CITY series patterns. There are some fun things coming up! We will be launching our new Lightweight collection in June! This includes a few new CITY series prints and some complementary solid colors too. We are doing a serious relaunch of our STADIUM series and going to focus on colleges and college sports teams. Stay tuned for the cooler weather for a Heavyweight wool collection.
Where do you see Waypoint Goods going in the next 5-10 years?
There are some really exceptional things I have planned for us in the next few years. We will be mixing in more patterns from incredible female artists and creatives. My favorite is that we are going to continue to work with incredible groups supporting women, like the Marshall Direct Fund, who we donate 100% of the proceeds of the Summiya scarf to help fund girls education in Pakistan. I am also developing a non-profit branch that will make these types of projects more accessible. We are working on way to be able to fund a travel scholarship for a featured artist who will produce a textile pattern that will be turned into a scarf pattern! I absolutely cannot wait!
What has been your favorite travel experience?
My favorite travel experience was one I planned for the day I finished my hardest semester in Grad School. I did my final studio review and then my then boyfriend (now husband) dropped me off at the airport. I woke up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for a 3-week solo trip. I had a flight out of Hanoi but no other plans. I spent the next few weeks exploring a totally foreign culture and learning that I have all of the inner strength, resourcefulness, and confidence that I need to do anything in the world. I made friends, had spontaneous motorcycle adventures, ate bizarre foods (squid jerkey!), got lost, missed busses, climbed mountains, rode in unusual vehicles, and learned that being humble, kind and polite goes a long way. Years later, this trip still serves as a pivotal moment in my life.
What is one destination you would recommend to everyone?
Cuba! It is so close but so strangely unique. The people are exceptional, the food is to die for and the music will keep you dancing all night. It’s one of the few places I will keep going back to.
What is one piece of advice you would give a female looking to start her own business in the travel industry?
Anything worth doing will be hard.
There is no silver bullet or shortcut. You have to put in the time, effort and energy to make something meaningful and successful. You have to love what you. That passion will drive you. There are ups and downs and the highs are super high and the lows are painfully low. You will go through all of them, over and over again. It is worth it. You are worth it. As women, we are passionate and driven and surrounding yourself with other like-minded women will help encourage and inspire you!
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