From the dawn of time, humanity has been driven by an innate desire to explore - to venture beyond the horizon, seeking novelty and growth. Travel is not just about the destination, but the journey itself, and the people who accompany us on this odyssey. When the symphony of our collective spirit echoes the same melody, the journey transforms into an unforgettable song. Sometimes, though, opposites may not attract as we'd hope. But fret not, that's just when you need to find an alto for your soprano, a harmonious travel partner to enrich your adventure! Tuning Your Travel Voice Your "travel voice" is your unique way of experiencing and expressing your journey. It's influenced by your interests, preferences, and energy levels. Some people revel in the bustling energy of a city tour, while others find peace in a tranquil countryside. Some love the adrenaline rush of extreme sports, while others prefer the intellectual stimulation of a history-filled excursion. Discovering your travel voice starts with understanding your likes, dislikes, preferences, and goals. Ask yourself, "What do I hope to gain from this journey?" Then, envision how you would like your journey to unfold. Remember, there are no wrong answers here – it's about authenticity and ensuring you enjoy every note of your travel song. Harmony and Melody: The Joys of Like-minded Travel Companions A travel companion who resonates with your travel voice can dramatically enhance your journey. When two like-minded spirits journey together, they amplify each other’s joy, and their shared experiences build bonds that last a lifetime. Even a scenic sunset or a bustling marketplace becomes a cherished memory when viewed through the eyes of mutual understanding and enthusiasm. However, it's essential to recognize that being "like-minded" doesn't imply carbon-copy preferences. Like the harmonious partnership between an alto and soprano in a choir, complementing each other's strengths and compensating for the other's weaknesses makes for a melodious duet. You could be the planner, while your companion is the spontaneous adventurer, together creating a balanced, thrilling travel experience. Finding Your Ideal Travel Partner Now, where does one find this ideal, harmony-inducing travel partner? Start with your immediate circle of friends or family. You already share a bond with them, making it easier to gauge your compatibility. Social platforms are another excellent tool. Join travel groups or forums and connect with fellow travelers. Online platforms dedicated to matching travel partners can also be a goldmine, allowing you to connect with people who share your travel interests. Don't be afraid to discuss your travel voice with potential companions. Be clear about your preferences and listen to theirs. You're not just seeking someone who can tolerate your quirks but someone who'll join in your excitement and, when needed, add a few notes of their own. Embrace The Adventure Finally, remember that travel is about growth, and part of that growth includes stepping out of your comfort zone. While having a like-minded companion is wonderful, being open to new experiences can also yield rich rewards. There will be off-key moments, missed notes, and occasional dissonance. But it's these spontaneous, unplanned instances that often make for the best stories and most poignant memories. So, dear reader, go forth and find your travel voice. Sing your unique melody and discover the alto to your soprano. When you do, your travel experiences will be the sweet, harmonious song of adventure, shared joy, and discovery that you've always yearned to sing. As Confucius once said, "Wherever you go, go with all your heart." Safe Travels
0 Comments
It can even happen to me. I am a seasoned traveller and I know that things happened and mistakes can be made but I was totally unprepared for my most recent trip to Geneva Switzerland. The trip was originally going to be a family vacation but due to health challenges, new jobs, moving, all of our family members dropped out. So what was initially a trip to Italy changed to Switzerland...what could possibly go wrong. Our initial reservations were made with a domestic carrier who I will not name at this time as I am currently trying to recoup money from them for their mismanagement, lack of compassion and overall extremely pour customer services. What was suppose to be a 12 hour trip changed to a 37 hour nightmare. This company who I will name CC changed our flight before we left 4 times. The 5th time it was changed, we were MID FLIGHT. Yes you read it, we were flying to our connecting flight when they changed our flight. Upon landing in New York, we were informed that our connecting flight to Rome would have us arriving at 2:38 instead of the original 12:15. The young lady who was checking us in, notified us then,...oh by the way, your flight changed, were you aware.....HOW?? My phone was in flight mode, no emails!! I informed her that we have a connecting flight on a different airline and that flight was leaving at 3:05. She opened her mouth and was about to say, you can make....I just looked at her and then she said sorry. Now mind you, we were LEAVING at the same time but arrived 2 hours later...how is that possible. Upon arriving in Rome, I immediately called American Express to assist with the situation, they informed me that there were no direct flights available and that the only flight available was leaving at 7 pm that evening. Meaning that instead of the 1 and half layover planned, it was now 5 hours. I accepted this new flights paid for the tickets and sat down while my husband picked up our luggage. I was in the process of looking for an airport lounge when my husband tells me....your luggage is not here. EXECUSE ME...how is that possible, his was here but not mine. So now, the frustration is real and I am besides myself. I go to the Swiss port, which is the international luggage lost and found. My Italian was strong enough and her English strong enough that I was able to make a claim for my luggage, but here is the catch...you have to provide them with your luggage code so that they can verify its yours. Why would I want someone else’s luggage, I am not comfortable. doing this. If you dont give the code and identifiable objects, you can not file a claim...WHAT IN THE WORLD is this nonsense. The purpose of the code is protecting the items and now I have to tell you code and tell you what is in there in order to file a claim, oh my goodness. I give her the number, pray she is honest and go wait in the lounge in Rome. 5 hours laters, we are on a flight to the Netherlands, then to Zurich and then Geneva. It is now 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning, we left chicago at 2:30 pm on Sunday, 30+ hours later, we arrive and we are the only plane disembarking. We get to the luggage carrier and you guessed it, NO LUGGAGE. So again to another Swiss port (my husband luggage made it) where I file another claim, it is now 2:45 am. We arrive in Geneva exhausted, frustrated and deflated. Never have I lost luggage before in all my travels, but this year, for the first time I had APPLE AIR TAGS!! When I tell you this was a saving grace, I turned on my finder...my luggage was in NEW YORK in terminal one. You read that, I have traveled for over 30 hours and my luggage was still in the states. We get to the hotel, check in and plop down. I am on TEN because my thoughts are racing, oh my God, will my luggage make it, will they open it and take something, will it be in tact. I called CC airline 23 times while in Geneva that same morning, getting the run around, rude employees, transferring me to departments that were closed and that continued for hours. Finally at 6 am I go down to the hotel concierge and ask if they could contact the Swiss port in Rome to see if they could move things along. My luggage was tracked and landed in Rome at 4 pm and finally I tracked it to Switzerland at 8:45pm. I have been in the same clothes for over 50 plus hours!!!! When my airbag beeped that it was nearby we took a cab to retrieve it. Luckily nothing was taken out of it, it was securely tagged. What a relief, but in the mist of this, we missed my husband brother who was to join us on Monday, we had to push back an excursion from Tuesday to Wednesday and while everything was beautiful, I had not recovered from the jet lag, the mental exhaustion and the sheer agony of dealing with CC airlines. So now it’s time to return and I call Airline XXX who was the carrier whose connection we missed because of CC. WELL, if you missed the flight going, they cancel the flight returning. We tried to check in and nope, no tickets. Again on the phone with AMEX and they came through AGAIN. The agent was so kind and helpful and I think she could tell by the sound of my voice, that it was not a good day. Again we had to purchase another set of tickets to return. Now mind you these are same day tickets so they are NOT cheap. We land in Rome, spend the day there and return to the states. I called Amex to file a claim against CC and they inform me that I can received compensation if the flight was cancelled due to weather, terrorism or highjacking. I call CC and ask to speak with an agent. I ask can she provide me information about flight XXX which was cancelled. Her response, oh miss I am so sorry but you have to make that request 24 hours after the flight, the information has been purged from our system. WHAT!! So for clarification, the black box that can survive an airplane hitting the water at 400 knots an hour, land on the bottom of an ocean can be retrieved where they gather all flight data and can hear the pilots talking but you can’t tell me what happened 10 days ago? Just to be clear, is that what you are saying...she said yes. I called American Express, spoke to the agents, she informed me....File a claim for EVERYTHING. BET! The travel industry has taken quite a bit of a beating in the last couple of years. Before COVID, there was a recession. 2 years into COVID, children still are not able to be fully vaccinated, some adults have not been boosted and for the immune compromised individuals, it is a mess.
Travel has always been a form of escapism but now, it takes on new meaning. Not only where to go, but how to get there and are there options besides staying in a hotel. THERE ARE OPTIONS, you just have to open yourself up to something different and perhaps go outside your comfort zone or your usual travel methods. There are those individuals who have taken on the two-wheel form of transportation, however, some of us have that “COVID WEIGHT” and require a bit more of an accommodation, not to worry, two women in the same situation have done the work for you, check out All Bodies All Bikes, which looks to get people of all sizes into biking. They have done the groundwork for you, just sign up and get going. Two wheels not your cup of tea, how about Glamping! I know, for the purist this idea is sacrilege but for those of us looking to arrive, rest, enjoy and relax, it is a dream come true. The views are usually phenomenal and off the beaten path, the accommodations go from casual sexy to down right dripping in fabulousness. For a list of cities or countries near you, check out this fantastic Glamping site for beautiful alternatives to your usual hotel stay. Not a ready for the tent, but also not looking for a standard hotel, consider a cave...yes a cave, check out Beckham Creek Cave in Arkansas. This location is beyond scale and wonder and is great for families and groups. Not ready to take the complete plunge into the New and Bold, consider something a little gentler like a wonderful bed and breakfast. I myself find these to be a great alternative to hotels. Often you can meet the owner, learn the history of the residence, and find a slower more decadent feeling in some of these establishments. On a recent trip to Memphis, I came across this lovely spot called the James Lee House and while they did not have an availability during my timeline, I was able to speak to the owner who explained there was a wedding there and perhaps next time she would be happy to meet and host me. That is the thing about B&B, owner responsiveness is usually same day or within 24 hours. Finally, consider a VRBO for you, your bae, family and or friends. This is a great alternative to a hotel and some of the places are wonderful with views to match. Remember with most of them you will be responsible for meals and there are some restrictions. I often tell clients when selecting a VRBO, look to see how far away you are from restaurants and other entertainment. Higher end VRBO can come with a chef, maid and car service. Bringing it back around, are there plenty of options for travel, you just have to find what is best of you, your budget and level of comfort. You just need to know where to look. Safe travels. If COVID has taught people nothing else, know that self-care is not self-indulgence, it is survival. Being in the travel industry, I honestly had many travel blessings bestowed upon me prior to COVID and its many travel restrictions. In November of 2019 I just returned from a family vacation in Dubai, and in January of 2020 I was in Mexico enjoying a relaxing break with my husband…then COVID hit in February of 2020. While the restrictions were difficult and necessary, it was not unbearable because I traveled yearly. Since COVID, I have heard from friends, family and acquaintances, the same story over and over, I wish I had taken that trip, I wish that I gone on vacation with my family, I wish that I had taken that girls trip. This regret coupled with the unpresented death toll and this takes on a more important meaning. COVID has stricken my family members as well but recently it was more personal and close to home. One of my sweetest cousins, who was stricken with COVID, and survived a double lung transplant died from a stroke. During her service, her husband stated “we were waiting for me to retire so that we could travel. She really wanted to see Italy and we never did it…we thought we had more time”….this broke my heart. Travel does so many things, besides seeing a new location, meeting people, new foods, it is also self-care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care is “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.” COVID has had many in its grips and the loneliness, sadness coupled with mental stress, is quite a bit to bear. As we emerge from COVID, lick our wounds and take stock into what is important, I can say without a doubt, TAKE THE TRIP, CONNECT WITH FRIENDS, and LAY HANDS AND EYES ON FAMILY. I can’t impress upon my readers enough to be present in everything you do. Plan the family trip, get the cousins, aunts, nieces, nephews together. Do the wine trip with your classmates or girlfriends. Go to the spa with the fellas, or go to a great cigar spot with your friends. Get the car ready for a road trip with a classmate. Do something together to reconnect and enhance your self-care. Travel can be to another part of your city, state, country or world. It can be local or international. It can be whatever you PLAN it to be. I have lost loved ones to this dreaded disease, and I can say for the most part I was connected to many of them, but this last one, really broke my heart and now I too am committed to some additional self-care. Safe Travels Most of 2021 had me like everyone else in the world, homebound. While I dreamed of getting on a plane and seeing friends and family COVID dictated that I remain steadfast in my mitigation routines, limiting contact with family and friends and simply being still...at home. I began my long, never ending relationship with Zoom and soon mastered the art of Half dress ( nice top and pj bottoms!). As my routine, lack of personal contact with anyone outside of my familiar pod, being vaccinated and boosted, I felt I had EARNED the right to travel. So when I had the opportunity to visit Merida Mexico in October with family and friends who were equally vaccinated I jumped (actually ran like a mad woman). Being outside of my state, again, getting on a plan, again, and seeing another perspective other than my home country, I was punch drunk happy. Visiting the beautiful locations, climbing deep into a cenote, eating exotic foods and touring, with only my travel pod, I felt as safe as possible. During the visit, we did a tour to Chichen Itza, and we learned how this advanced culture which was full of laughter, education, people, families disappeared. While some think it was a plague or war, our tour guide said it was much more simpler, they left. According to our guide, this beautiful place was one of several residential locations this race of people lived in. Because of drought, which they could not control and the younger generation seeking a different life, the elders could no longer sustain the land and the younger people no longer wished to be “of the the land”. With both wanted different things, it was simply abandoned. How could they give up, how could they not want to preserve something so precious as their history and legacy? Look at us, now in the 2nd year of a pandemic and we still have not come together as a species to preserve our way of life. This is not about race, or proximity or political affiliation, it is about the species and our survival. So many feel that their rights are being violated if they are forced because they don’t know what is in the vaccine. Is that the real reason or is it because you don’t want someone to tell you what to do? Others feel that by not taking the vaccination they are putting others at jeopardy. You have two opposing sides who don’t want to come together for the betterment of the species. What is next for us? So far, with over 1 million people or more loss, what is the tipping point when we say lets come together for OUR survival. Right now, there is mask fatigue, there is an overwhelming sense of sheer exhaustion of having to wear protective gear to go to the grocery story, see a movie or get on a plane. Travel among many actives has taken a substantial hit. Airlines are reducing routes, those that are still open are having staffing shortages. Cities, counties, states, countries are closing then reopening, then closing again based on the spike or reduction of COVID numbers. You must wear a mask indoor in restaurants in Chicago, but not in Wisconsin. Mask mandates in Indiana but not in Texas. Lately these United States are not so united and it is wearing on everyone. I no longer know what NORMAL looks like and like many I am so confused. Can I travel to Italy, should I travel to Italy, Are they open now, will they be open in 6, 8 or 10 months. If I can’t get there what is plan B. How much is the air fare going to cost, why are prices so expensive, why is my normal 9 hour direct flight no longer available. Why must I have 1,2, or 3 layovers? Travel troubles come in so many ways, tempers are shorter, fights on planes and airports. Because of the uptick of COVID, now you can have over 1500 cancellations, so even if you get there, can you get back? The days of simply booking a trip, waiting for it come, getting on a plane...may be gone and gone forever. If we can’t come together to combat COVID, and do this for the species, will we simply give up and abandon our way of travel or something more precious, our way of life. Safe travels. " THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING...... Ohhhhh how I miss those 5 little words that let me know, I'm on a plane, flying someplace wonderful and leaving Chicago, if only for a little while. Now days, those words are not appearing anytime soon on my travel agenda and while others are planning get-a-ways, I believe in planning staycations and adult play dates. COVID is interrupting birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and all things celebratory which we took for granted and now crave. What COVID has provided is an opportunity to think creatively to replace get a-ways and travel surprises with creative and wonderful opportunities to connect in small group settings and find a new happy place...within. How do you do this? First by planning ahead, take nothing for granted, last minute will cost you more, so plan, plan, plan. If you have a large back yard, how about a dinner party for 6, hire a private chef such at Kevin Woodard, chef extraordinaire who cooks amazing meals for any size group ( with COVID limit is six) go to his Instagram page where his menu is his page IG: CookinDaFlava. Work with a local party company, order tents, 3 small rounds tables for each couple, put the music on, add cocktails and instant adult dinner. Too much planning, how about leaving the planning to a social expert and designer like Raub Welch and gather your friends to attend one of his monthly social events. Each curated event is held in his lovely, visual stunning, extensive flower emporium garden. Afroopulence is what comes to mind when attending a Raub Welch event. Choose from Rose’ Wednesdays, Melanin Muse cocktails mixing party ( all drinks are black) or perhaps an intimate dinner party in his secret garden. For this and more, head over to his IG:veryraub for photos and details. Feeling adventurous, let your city be your muse. In my home of Chicago, there are 120 fountains, to discover. Jump in the car and make a day of discovery for each fountain or a select few. Follow a few food trucks for snacks or pack your own. Celebrating a special birthday/anniversary, celebrate each year of life with a different flower, contact the botanical garden and ask for different species to surprise him/her. Have a really big yard, rent a mobile movie screen, invite a few friends over for movie date night for friends/family. How about a pop up celebration. There are locations all over the city that will allow you to host a pop up event, reach out to Andrea Stanton at IG: Myperfectfurniture- she designs such spaces and can create a one of a kind location for your celebration. More of a glamping person, head over to The GWEN hotel, which actually has a glamping experience on their terrace attached to a suite, talk about urban swag, it is lush!! It is located on the 16th floor, with over 1000 square feet of terrace space, talk about upping the game. For more information, visit The Gwen website to plan your stay. These ideas and many more are available and with a little planning, there is something for every style, taste and budget! Yes, travel will return and you will be able to visit some of your favorite locations and explore new ones. HOWEVER, travel will not be the same or what you are accustomed to. While we live in a world of "instant" information and updates, travel is taking a severe beating right now, some places are slow to recover, others have completely shut down with no resources for staff and many places will not survive. You will see sanitation stations in many areas, front office, concierge employees and hous keeping staff wearing masks. The days of carefree exploration in groups will need to be closely monitored because of contamination risks as well as proximity concerns. You may see the end of hotel buffet for breakfast, or lunch which may mean less selection but more personalization of your dining experience. The hotel staff will require patience servicing you on all levels because in order to keep you safe, they are cleaning 2, 3 or 4 times as much. Your server may have less tables but must cover more square footage depending on the setup of your resort. You will see lounge chairs but they will be spaced apart and require cleaning, which may mean an increased time in que to obtain your favorite sun bathing chair. You may have to wait longer for check-in, check -out and luggage services. While all of this is going on, the expectation on your part is to have a great time, relax and decompress, the expectation on the part of the resort is to keep you safe, so please exercise patience and due diligence on your part. Bring masks to the resort, even a couple and hand sanitizer. Abide by the rules, and if requested wear your masks at check in and common areas. Don't be intolerant of those working to serve you, they are doing their level best to interact with allot of people, who may or may not be as kind or patient. This is truly a service industry and in some locations, travel impacts the GDP of that city, town or country you wish to visit. So as we find the new normal, try to understand that your dollars are appreciated and needed, but your intolerance and lack of patience is not. As always before leaving for your upcoming destination, check with your travel professional to obtain up to the minute updates and travel bans or warnings. Travel well and travel safe. One of the best reasons to travel the world besides the beautiful scenery, time away, experiences you must go for the food. One of the best things about being away is also experiencing the local fare. What is the purpose of flying 5000 miles to get a hamburger, unless of course you are in Argentina. People ask how do I lose weight when I travel, I eat like a local. I indulge in the cuisine of the country or locale and I ask for advice of restaurants, eateries or simple hangouts. When visiting new restaurants I ask for recommendations and go for it. Why on earth do you want to try the same on food when you have spent time and money for the experience. Step outside of your food comfort zone as well as your choices. Try something you have never tried before and bring your palate to life. Remember while you may live in a metropolitan city, this is your opportunity to see how it is prepared in its birth city, town our country. When traveling to Italy, try their ensalda with a truffle vinaigrette or black truffle oil , in Costa Rica, their avocado toast with pine nuts, in India try Kheer and on and on. You must relinquish your food fears and experiment with everything your travel destination has to offer. Also this will help you when you go back home to locate truly authentic restaurants specializing in international foods. So, get your food freak on and bon appetite! As new clients discover the appeal of travel, I am often asked how much? While I am accustomed to meeting all financial obligations and work within the budgets of my clients, I do often ask my clients, what is the price of joy….and then there it is, the moment of pause... I ask this question because unless you have a scheduled annual or bi-annual travel budget with unlimited resources, there is a fair amount of planning that goes into putting together a trip. Of course there is the time of the year the client is considering, accommodations, is it all inclusive, is it a boutique hotel, bed and breakfast, villa, VRBO, Airbnb, the list is endless. As a professional, I look at all options for my clients to meet their needs, expectations and desires-- in essence I hope to bring them joy on their pending travel experience. So I ask, what is the price of joy. Use this formula, take your annual salary and divide by 20, whatever that number is, that is your baseline budget. Remember, travel is a currency best exchanged through conversation and laughter. If you have access to additional financial resources feel free to spend more. Nyeusi will work with you to discover payment options to help you accomplish your travel goals. We are here to make sure that you enjoy your vacation, not be travel poor and come back with memories that last a life time. There are always special occasions that require a little “ extra” and for those events, we suggest you plan for a 20% increase of the baseline number I mentioned before. At the end of the day, the number is only the beginning of the discussion. Nyeusi wants you to have a priceless experience, no matter if it is a 3-day quick trip or a 30 day month long trek across Europe, we want you enjoy, engage, embrace and empower. Your wanderlust is dream fulfilled… When do you transition from a tourist to a guest and is it possible…the long answer is yes, the short answer is no. Does that surprise you, because it did for me. The first time that I visited Spain, I was trekking through Europe for a month with family and friends. It was an amazing journey and one that provided a lot of retrospective analysis. I was hotel hopping, going in and out of shops in Malaga, Barcelona, Madrid, Naples, Rome, Civitaveccheia and others. Hopping on the rail, taking buses and moving with the ease of an experienced traveler. Then it happened, I was in a small bodega in Barcelona and speaking my semi broken Spanish to the waiter, and quietly enjoying my Sangria, when during an ear hustling moment, someone was speaking in a language, that bordered on Spanish but not…she was speaking beautiful Catalan and it changed, in that moment. I’m sitting here and wondering where has this language been and how with all of the Spaniards, Puerto Ricans, and Argentinians that I knew and NOT one of them knew this language. Come to find out it is an intimate language spoken by select residents and there was the moment when I discovered that in the smallest part of the largest countries, in the small moments, you take notice of the nuances of the country. I had become transformed from a tourist in Spain to a guest because those small moments define an experience. When I arrived in Italy, it happened again, on the train from Rome to Tuscany, speaking yet again, this time my broken Italian, I found that certain words have multiple meanings and this discovery provided another pivotal moment. Again, the feeling of discovering something so innate that distinguishes a person from just a traveler to a guest in a country. Armed with this knowledge I continued to expand my surroundings and take note of the smallest of details, body language and I began to feel more like a guest who was discovering and pushing boundaries. Fast forward to now and I have been to Europe several times with Tuscany being my base. There I have planted roots in a small town, where the locals are friends, we go to their homes for dinner, sharing great wine and talking about all things Italian and American. Who would have thought this possible, I know I didn’t and I don’t take it for granted. Now traveling for over 25 years it is a richer experience and one that I share with the next generation. I teach them how to travel as a guest, not a tourist. The colors are more vibrant and the experiences richer. Can’t wait for my next adventure. |