Is it bad to say the G word??

April 15, 2023

The G word "Group"

Question: When is Group Travel okay? Even preferred?

Answer: Lots of times!

I used to have my nose up in the air about traveling in a group. What if I had nothing in common with the other people? What if I had no alone time? Well go on just one great group trip and those concerns go right out the window!

I love designing groups to travel because I’ve found it’s one of the best ways to see the sights, taste the flavors, and truly experience amazing locations with the shared energy of like-minded companions.

None of “If this if it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium”. When I create a group itinerary, l include the best of the best, in a fun-filled, yet thoughtful timeline. One that won’t leave you dropping exhausted into your bed every night, but still humming a happy tune while going over your photos from the day. One where you truly appreciate the sights and sounds of the destination.

I get asked a lot about why someone would want to join a group? Well, it’s a great way to travel, whether you’re solo, part of a couple, with a friend or traveling with your adult kids. It allows you to see more and enjoy stress free time.

Travel is also about relationships. You make fast friends while still having the time and space to do things on your own or with a new friend you've just met. I’ve met some of my dearest and longtime friends when traveling in a group.

I love planning travel for my individual clients, but I don’t get to go on their amazing itineraries. If it’s one of my “Come Travel With Me!” groups I get to fulfill a bucket list destination and travel with you. That is the best of all worlds and you just know it will be spectacular!

I’ve put together another fabulous itinerary. This time to Morocco! It’s perfect for a group- hitting all the highlights, exploring little known places, & enjoying the awe-inspiring views. Hot air balloon ride anyone? Camel ride to glamping in the Sahara? See the stars like you have never seen them before? I know this will truly will be the beginning of many beautiful new friendships! Travel is all about shared experiences that create bonds for life.

We had a great time in Egypt!

Now Come to Morocco with me!

You’ll see stars like never before in the Sahara night sky. You’ll taste the flavors and culture as you take a bite of your delicious tagine dish. Play It Again Sam, in Rick's Café.

Check out my Mysterious Morocco experience.

I have space and would love to travel with you. This could be the perfect group!

What are your travel plans for 2023?

Everyone is still madly wanting to travel. Many opportunities for 2023 are already sold out. Don’t put off making plans now.

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La Orana: Tahiti

October 1, 2021

Photography/Post by Larissa Rolley

Tahiti: Maybe it's the sun-kissed beaches, the sparkling waters, the breathtaking waterfalls or the gourmet French Polynesian cooking. Perhaps it’s the snorkeling and diving, the surfing or the amazing tours through the rainforests. Or is it that the mailboxes in front of each residence are actually for fresh French bread delivery, not mail. It could be the lagoons, the star-filled night skies, the fascinating culture and the welcoming Polynesian people that you hear calling out to the traveler, voyager, adventuress or wanderlust in you.

Traveler — one who is traveling or who travels often.

Our best memories come from traveling. It starts with that first trip, the one where we get hooked on discovering the unknown. We learn that with each exciting visit to a new locale, we unearth more about ourselves. Before first embarking to Tahiti, I thought "well, if you've seen one beach with a palm tree—then you've seen 'em all!" How wrong I was. Like the boroughs of New York or the arrondissement in Paris, each Tahitian Island has its own unique qualities that make it worth visiting. And if you can do it with a friend, family member or a partner, you'll find that there is no more rewarding bonding experience than creating those South Seas memories together.

Voyager — one who goes on a long trip to a faraway land, especially by ship.

Authentic personal experience can only be obtained through face-to-face contact and cultural exchange. During a foray to the South Pacific, a place untouched by the masses, you'll have the opportunity to make these connections with the Polynesian people. Stop at a roadside food stand for a visit with the locals and pick up some fresh firi-firi (long, twisted pastry) or sink your teeth into the freshly-picked mango they offer you. At each island, you'll be welcomed with open arms and big smiles. Tahiti's natural beauty and treasures are laid in front of you; turquoise lagoons that teem with wildlife and yield luxurious pearls, lush forests that grow pineapples and breadfruit and maohi (native Tahitians) that warmly share their culture with you.

Adventuress — a woman who enjoys or seeks adventure.

An adventuress gravitates toward natural environments in remote locations that offer up exciting activities. Whether it is SCUBA diving, snorkeling, paragliding or following hidden trails through green valleys to waterfalls—Tahiti offers the adventure traveler a deep connection to land and sea. If it is a new endeavor, lessons and small group excursions are available to provide guidance and camaraderie. And if you're an adventuress traveling solo—you'll share these incredible moments with new friends who share your penchant for adventure.

Wanderluster— one who has an innate desire to explore.

Being a traveler is not the same as a wanderluster, who is lured by the thrills of discovering new places. Social media and modern communication tools may bring the world to your fingertips, but one knows more of a road by having traveled it than by having seen pictures and heard descriptions of it. But what you see on social media is true; the water really is that color of turquoise. What social media isn't sharing with you though, is the scent of Tahiti and her islands. Oooh, those tiare flowers smell divine!

How are you going to see these islands? Unlike traveling by car or train, traveling by water brings out a different kind of awe—one you can sit back and appreciate as you take in the expanse and beauty of the horizon. Discover hidden coves, explore uninhabited islands, relax on private beaches. These extraordinary places will open up special, new experiences for you. Before you realize it, you'll slide into a new existence... one that you will not want to leave: Tahiti.

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Tis the Season...

May 7, 2019

May and June are traditionally wedding season. You or your daughter, son, granddaughter, grandson may be tying the knot very soon. Hopefully they have planned a fabulous Honeymoon to begin their life together as Mr. & Ms. One that will create beautiful memories they will pass down generations. I still love the stories my mother told me about her Honeymoon to Niagara Falls, (That was the Honeymoon hot spot in her day). Looking at the pictures, with her beautiful smile and bridal glow, you know love was oozing.

If you just got the news of an engagement and/or are in the throws of wedding planning, the Honeymoon can get pushed to a back burner. Before you know it, you’re down to the wire and the planning gets stressful. It’s not the dream trip you imagined. It’s now another stress point.

With so many things to plan and decisions to make, why not give this very special romantic trip, for just the two of you, to a professional. You don’t get any Brownie points for DIY’ing your Honeymoon. What you want is the dream to become a reality.

A colleague of mine told a story about a couple who wanted an overwater bungalow in Tahiti. She planned a perfect trip for them. Then the groom said he could do it on Expedia, for less. Well when they arrived, it wasn’t what they wanted. They spent days of their honeymoon, trying to contact Expedia customer service (Is that an oxymoron?) by phone from Tahiti. Needless to say, that’s not the memory you want to have.

The April 29th issue of Brides magazine has 9 reasons why you should hire a travel professional to plan your Honeymoon. Click here to read what they recommend.

In my book, every trip should be the trip of a lifetime.

Leave it to a professional to make sure it is.

Start with your Honeymoon. You’ll be glad you did.

Call Me - Let's Talk ! 415-931-1945
Prefer to Email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.Com

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Meet Our Travel Scout Wandering New Zealand's Wine Country

April 23, 2019

It'a great asset for a travel business to have a roving reporter.

Meet our Travel Scout: Zoe Stricker

Hi,

My name is Zoe, I have been living in Argentina and Chile for the past 2 years and as this is my first post, I want to give you a little background on me. I initially started working for Sandy to help her out with her online presence. Now I have the travel bug again and decided to be on the road for the next 8 months, taking on the role of Travel Scout. I'll be "scouting" and reporting on places and experiences, not to be missed. For the next few weeks, I'm in New Zealand.

I loved visiting one of the country's older and more organic wineries, Fromm Winery.

Fromm is a family-owned, organic winery located in the (ever-expanding) wine country, of Marlborough, in New Zealand's South Island. Fromm Winery was established in the early 1990s, at a time when there were only 5 other vineyards in the area. Today, the number of wineries has grown to 170. Fromm, which places an emphasis on quality over quantity, handcrafts 70,000 bottles of wine per year (70% is Pinot Noir). Relying heavily on solar energy, the winery values conservation, and sustainability. Because of that, they are able to save 10 million liters of water a year. The winery distributes worldwide to exclusive wine shops, and you might even find their organic bottles at a wine purveyor near you, especially if you are in San Francisco, We Make Travel Easy's home city!

Looking around the beautiful estate, I could see why New Zealand would be such a perfect home to wine grapes. Its mountainous hillside paint the vineyard background beautifully, as the sun beams high in the sky. International and local tourists "pour" in from all over on bike tours or in buses and vehicles to sample glasses of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Syrah (Fromm is one of the few wineries in the area that produce these varieties).

The beautiful tasting room has a glass wall separating patrons from the barrel room, where wine ferments in large oak barrels. Their outdoor patio lets you sit and sip, surrounded by breathtaking views of the vines and mountains. You also must check out their amazing corkscrew collection. You'll learn more about wine and most important; how to get it out of the bottle!

New Zealand has so much to offer, no matter what your palate prefers.

From Adventure to Wine, New Zealand has it all.

We love planning New Zealand itineraries. Let us plan yours.

Are you a travel enthusiast?

Do you want to share your unforgettable travel experiences? Well, our doors are wide open for you. We are looking for guest bloggers who have the passion of traveling and writing about their travel experiences. We can feature your work on our blog as your portfolio. Get in touch with us!

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