This week, Wow Air, in a last-minute, overnight announcement ceased operations and cancelled all of their flights which left travelers stranded across the world. Travelers with flights booked later in the year now had their future flights cancelled, and their travel plans in left in chaos.
It’s rare, but this type of event isn’t unheard of, and there are ways to protect your travel investment and your sanity.
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Many travelers are looking for an authentic travel experience, a thing found or personal encounter that will connect them more deeply to a destination, an event or a place that will feel like a new discovery. I’m asked often for travel advice, and many times folks start by saying that they’re “looking for things off the beaten path” or “something non-touristy”. First, let me say that there’s nothing wrong with the “touristy things”. Would you skip the Louvre in Paris because there are too many tourists? There’s a reason “touristy things” are full of tourists – they’re awesome! But, I also understand wanting to find unique experiences and to discover things tucked away that aren’t written about in tour guides, and there are ways to help you find those experiences that are personal to you and to create incredible travel memories.
I always get so excited when we’re planning a trip. After we’ve bought our flights, created an itinerary, booked our hotels, and reserved our car, I’m eager to get going and counting down the days. But first I have to get through the chore of packing, and I’ll admit that when I first started traveling, packing would stress me out. What will the weather be? Will I need both a light jacket and a winter coat? Can I fit both in my bag? Do I need a dress in case of a fancy dinner? Can I make room for one more pair of shoes to go with the dress? Should I take this sweater that I bought years ago and have only worn once?
Take a breath, and repeat after me: I only need my passport and my credit card — everything else I can buy there if I have to. Now we can relax and start packing without the worry of feeling like we need to pack everything. In fact, forgetting something can be fun because then you have to go shopping.
I’ve kept a packing list over the years, and my travel experience has given me some tips I’ll share with you.
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How to find the best prices for airfare is the most common question I get asked. I understand that some folks prefer to do their own travel planning and don’t need my professional travel services, so today I’ll share with you the best way to find great airfare when making your independent travel plans.
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Let’s talk about some travel basics and how to plan a trip that works best for you. Every traveler is unique and wants to get different experiences from their travels, but there are some basics to help make the travel planning easier and the journey more enjoyable. This first post in the Travel Basics series will start with airfare, accommodations, and rental cars. I know this information might be rote for the more experienced travelers, but we were all a new international traveler at some point, and I hope these planning tips help you plan your trip with confidence.
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