5 Pro Tips to Make Your Next Trip the BEST Trip

We just returned from a month of travel in Europe and the UK with our adult daughters Grace and Sarah. We started out in Barcelona (gorgeous city!), then boarded an Explora Journeys ship and sailed through Spain, the French Riviera, down the coast of Italy and ended the cruise in Rome where we spent a few days. Then we flew to London and enjoyed time there and then on to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

I’m going to brag on my husband of 40 years and the co-owner of our travel agency- John did a fabulous job booking and organizing a very complex trip! John masterfully arranged the entire adventure: 7 countries, 21 cities, 2 ships, 4 planes, 1 train, and lots of taxis, Ubers, private drivers and private tours.

When we travel, we take copious notes for our clients. We learn a great deal on each trip. Here are 5 things we learned on this trip that may help you on your next adventure:

1.      Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. The stories about how people hate tourists in Barcelona- complete and total fiction! We had a fabulous time and EVERYONE we came in contact with was lovely and kind and helpful.

2.      Sometimes it makes sense to spend money on convenience. If you are arriving (by plane, train, ship) at the same time as a large number of other people, it makes sense to spend a few extra dollars to have a private car waiting for you. That way, you aren’t competing with hundreds of other travelers to get a taxi or ride share.

3.      Dinner reservations are a good idea. In Europe, people tend to spend an entire evening at a table in a restaurant (we Americans eat and go). It is wise to get dinner reservations in advance and eat early (between 5-8 PM) which is before the locals arrive. We used the app OpenTable to make our dining reservations all over Europe.

4.      Traveling during the shoulder season is awesome. We were in Europe and the UK in Sept. We had gorgeous weather, lighter crowds and saved a bit. Remember, Europeans typically take their vacation the month of August. Do you best to avoid Europe in August- it’s hot and crowded everywhere.

5.      Traveling with our adult children is a treasure. Time is the most valuable thing we have. Once it is gone, it is gone. You can't get back time. Enjoying this adventure with our girls, the slow dinners, wandering down cobblestone streets to shop for the perfect souvenir, the lazy afternoons in outdoor cafes in Paris and Barcelona…these are treasured memories I will hold in my heart forever. My advice to parents of adult children: Be intentional to make time to spend with the ones you love. In our family we have all decided to give gifts of time and experiences together- rather than stuff. Try it! It's fabulous! We can help. Call, text or email us soon. We book hundreds of families on cruises. Or, if you prefer, we can help you rent a large home in a resort area or lovely village- with a fully stocked refrigerator and pantry, a cook and a cleaning service, so that everyone (including you!) are on vacation. Blessings to all.

Until next time, remember, your next adventure awaits!