How people are travelling is changing. Previously if you wanted to see sights in a foreign country you either had to go it alone or for those not comfortable navigating on their own, join a large bus tour. Those aren’t the only options anymore. With new standards in place for travel and the desire to be in a group of your own for health reasons - private tours have become that much more popular. There are so many companies that offer personalized, private tours. These are some of the benefits:
 
EXPERIENCE: Travelers are now looking for a more authentic experience that can be achieved with a private tour. If you are in a small group of your own or even travelling solo, having a personal, local guide makes all the difference. Guides will share their culture, customs and background with anyone who is interested. This makes for a far more fulfilling tour. Of course you see all the sights and main highlights but you see them from a local’s perspective with all the interesting folklore and insider facts included.
 
FLEXIBILITY: Being in a small group or on your own gives you far more flexibility. Is the weather not cooperating at the beginning of your tour – then you can ask to leave something on the itinerary until later in the day when the weather is improved. See something along the trail that interests you – you have the option to make changes to your plan based on your own interests.
 
CUSTOMIZATION: Many tour operators will have suggested itineraries however if your tour is private it can often be customized to include other areas of interest. Since you are not dealing with a large bus load of people, it is much easier to visit additional locations where you decide how much time at each spot.
 
If you are looking to understand a destination at a deeper level than think about booking private tours.  It really can change your entire vacation experience. I specialize in creating customized experiences so contact me to ask about what options may be available for your next trip. Reach out for a complimentary travel consultation.

​Many people have ideas of places they want to visit or bucket list destinations that are on that “some day” list.  The only way to make those dreams come true is through planning and hard work to make it actually happen.

It is never too early to start planning a dream vacation.  Particularly if the trip is costly.  It may require you to start putting aside funds early to reach the goal for making the trip.  For instance, my family often decides on our travel goals 2-3 years out. We begin the preliminary process of understanding what the general costs would be for our family of four to take a specific trip. Once we understand how much money is required, we started putting money in a savings account on a monthly basis so that we have the funds allocated when it comes time to start booking – we also include any extra streams of income such as income tax refunds, part time job income, etc.  Having funds available is the #1 reason why people don’t go on their vacations of a lifetime. Just like any other major purchase in your life – you need to plan for it.
 
Once you have decided on a specific destination. Start collecting data – read travel blogs, gather inspiration from Instagram, Trip Advisor, save magazine articles and talk to people that have already been there. Make sure to keep all this information in one place so that when you are ready to book, you can discuss with your travel agent your ideas for the trip.
 
Get some professional advice. The best thing you can do when planning a big trip is to work with a travel agent.  They are going to know things that you don’t and can help to make sure you have a trip of a lifetime.  You don’t typically purchase large items such as a car or house without consulting an expert so why wouldn’t you follow this same process for a signficant trip? They are a wealth of knowledge and can save you both time and money.  
 
It is time to stop thinking about it and start putting the wheels in motion.  The world is a big place and there is no time like the present to start planning.
 
Call me to start the discussion about your dream vacation.

With the internet providing a vast amount of knowledge about destinations and many tour operators selling direct to consumers, some people are feeling confident that they can book their own vacations.  Why should you use an agent?  There are many reasons.
 
VALUE: The best value for your travel dollar.  Agents inform you about all your choices, let you know about special promotions and can advise on the quality of a particular product. We work for you, not the supplier.  Our only objective is to get you the best value and satisfy you completely.
 
PEACE OF MIND: Experience problems during or prior to your trip? Agents assist you in resolving concerns.  They are your advocate and can help with navigating vendors and understanding your options. Agents can resolve issues so you can continue on your trip.
 
ONE STOP SHOPPING: An agent can create a full package for you and work within your outlined budget. They will also provide costs in your currency (or identify upfront if they aren’t) so there will never be surprises with exchange rates. They will think of all the necessities and ensure you never have anything left undone.
 
PROFESSIONAL: Travel Agents work with people to understand their individual needs and desires. Our job is to make sure you get to where you need to go, at the best price and in the most pleasant way possible.  We get to know you and what you value in your travel experience. 
 
EXPERT GUIDANCE: Agents can provide assistance with understanding a destination – best times to visit, when you will have challenges with weather, is there a major festival taking place, will things be closed due to holidays? These are all important factors to understand to make the most of your holiday.
 
Next time you are planning a vacation, discuss it with an agent. With travel becoming more complex nowadays why not work with someone who knows the industry, vendors and promotions available. Your time is precious and your money is valuable – ensure you put both in good hands.

Reach out for a complimentary 30 minute travel consultation:
[email protected]
​FB: @goexploretheworldtravel

I often hear the question is it ok to travel with essential oils, not only is it ok to travel with essential oils I think everyone should travel with essential oils.  Since many essential oils can be used for multiple issues they are easy and handy to travel with.  
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Actually your use of essential oils should start weeks before you leave. There is nothing worse than getting sick just before you are going away, which could prevent you from going but at the very least not enjoy your trip as much.  That’s why I recommend using an immunity roller at least two weeks before you expect to travel, not only will that help keep you from getting sick before you go away, but it will help you fight off any issues while you are away. The immunity roller that I use is made up of Thieves, Frankincense, Orange, Oregano and Copaiba essential oils.  Even if you don’t have all of those oils even just one or two of them can help to boost your immunity and keep you from getting sick.

As well as my immunity roller botte I also travel with roller bottles that help with motion sickness and pain.  If any member of the group you are travelling with suffers from allergies you might also want to bring the allergy roller bottle as well.  The motion sickness roller bottle is made with Di-gize, Aromaease, Ginger, Peppermint, M-grain, Nutmeg and Spearmint essential oils. The great thing about this roller bottle is that not only does it help with motion sickness it can also help with many kinds of stomach upsets, including diarrhea and heartburn.  My pain roller bottle is made up of Panaway, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Wintergreen, Helichrysum, Clove and Frankincense essential oils are must have on a trip for any aches and pains that show up, from doing too much walking while sightseeing or sleeping funny on the plane. The allergy roller bottle contains Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon essential oils.

As well as my roller bottle I also travel with at least 10 bottles of single or blends to make sure I’m covered for just about anything that might show up while I am away.  Lavender essential oil for sleep and to soothe sun kissed skin. Thieves and Tea Tree essential oils for cuts and scrapes as well as immune boosting. Purification is great if you find your hotel room smells a little funky and it also takes the itch or sting out of most bug bites. Peppermint essential oil is great for upset tummies, headaches, and heartburn. Peace and Calming and Stress Away because they help bring calm to what can sometimes be a difficult traveling experience.  R.C. essential oil is great to have on hand for any nasal congestion that might result from changes in air quality. Frankincense is another essential oil that is great to use for skin rejuvenating from environmental damage. Lemon and Peppermint essential oils are also great to have on hand to add to water to help ensure that you stay hydrated during your trip.

You can also make your own non-toxic sun protection and bug repellent as well to take with you on your travels.

All of the essential oils that I have listed are from Young Living, but most brands either carry the same single oils and have similar blends.  My only caution is to know the brand that you are using as not all brands use high quality essential oils.
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So not only do I recommend that you travel with essential oils I think it’s a must.

You can entrust your Essential Oil needs to Jenn Kelly from Young Living:

https://www.facebook.com/EOswithJenn/
[email protected]
416-522-2938

Why Use A Travel Agent? A key reason is knowing WHEN TO TRAVEL.
 
Many places have high demand and off peak or shoulder seasons.  Determining when these periods fall and lining them up to your trip can make a huge difference in your individual experience.  

There are several factors that I ask my clients to consider -

School schedules and holidays – these range from country to country and breaks can be at different times in different regions.  Some countries even stagger their school holidays to help with their own tourism within certain areas. High peak times are busier and tend to be more expensive.

Weather can have a major impact on the time of year to visit. While there is never any guarantee with Mother Nature – there are patterns and typical weather patterns expected within certain seasons. When is hurricane or monsoon season? Are water levels on rivers higher or lower at different times and does the area you want to visit have a regular rainy or severely hot season? Depending on your plans for your vacation, weather can provide you with a great or a not so great environment.

Additionally, religious or cultural holidays can influence how you spend your time away. Some significant sites are closed while holidays are observed while other locations may have special festivals or events that can enhance your experience or draw significant crowds. I help you to understand possible limitations or opportunities and this helps manage expectations accordingly.

Don't choose the wrong time to travel - work with a specialist while planning your holiday to ensure a memorable experience.

I invite you to connect with me in the manner of your choice:
Like my page on Facebook
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Or if you would like to receive tips and travel advice sign up on my email list. Click here
 
Be sure to tune in next week for a new video in my series about TRUSTING YOUR VACATION INVESTMENT TO A PROFESSIONAL.

Why Use A Travel Agent? One key reason is to have PEACE OF MIND.
 
Have you ever had anything not go as planned on a vacation? Having that peace of mind that your agent is available to handle things for you is extremely important. Booking through a website does not ensure you will have someone to talk to should something need to be changed or fixed from a far-away destination.  Cancelled or delayed flights, last minute tour cancellations or weather issues – they can all happen at any time.  

An example of how an agent can help you on the ground was when clients called saying their flight was delayed and they didn't think they were going to make their ship departure. By the time their flight landed the cruise line had already been contacted, a hotel reservation made and the flight was in place to get them to their first port of call. While it wasn't the ideal situation, it was managed for them and was essentially stress free.

You never anticipate interruptions to your vacation plans but this way you know you have me at home – and trust me I care. Rest assured I am invested in my clients' happiness and satisfaction and I want to make sure each and every trip is packed full of positive lifelong memories.
 
Another thing to consider is knowing that your agent has booked what you asked for. Travel has become more complicated than ever – so many times people are unsure about what exactly they are purchasing since they didn’t take the time to read the fine print.  Unbundled airfares with so many new options can cause major confusion and disappointment when it comes time to travel and you have to pay for seat selection or luggage fees all at an extra cost. And cruising is also more challenging now – with dozens of new ships coming out I can help you sort through all the cruise lines with a multitude of cabin categories and so many different rate codes, refundable vs. non-refundable rates, guaranteed cabins vs. cabins with free perks. When the rules change, as your agent, I am uniquely positioned to provide vital advice. I help people find the best offer based on what’s most important to them - when you know someone is looking out for you it makes all the difference in the world.

I invite you to connect with me in the manner of your choice:
Like my page on Facebook
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Or if you would like to receive tips and travel advice sign up on my email list. Click here
 
Be sure to tune in next week for a new video in my series about TIMING.
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CUSTOMIZATION More and more I am hearing from my clients that they want something customized for them. Fortunately, I specialize in creating a customized, personal vacation specifically tailored to your needs. I work with vendors that are destination specialists entrusting you to the best of the best. 
 
You can ask my clients - I take a very individualized approach with each person I work with. Here is a short testimonial from a current client:

"I highly recommend Kim for all your travel needs. Her knowledge and expertise is a huge asset when planning your next vacation. She will always give you the pros and cons on your holiday options and will work with you to ensure you've made the right choice. She's always available to answer any questions you may have. But most importantly is her follow up skills before, during and after your vacation. She guides you through the entire process. I wouldn't book my travel with anyone else."

I spend time asking you questions about your priorities for your holiday, your preferences and what you like to do while you are away. Then based on your interests, your wish list and your budget, I create a solution that is perfect for you. This can include private tour options, small group tours or be combined with other available package solutions such as cruises or existing tours combined with pre and post stays, that meet your individual requirements. 
 
Think about it…all this personal service from a live human being is something that you can’t possibly receive from a static online website! This is yet another reason to consider working with an agent.
 
I invite you to connect with me in the manner of your choice:
Like my page on Facebook
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Or if you would like to receive tips and travel advice sign up on my email list. Click here
 
Be sure to tune in next week for a new video in my series about my favourite topic – SAVINGS!