I hope 2022 is off to a great start for you! I’m here to share some expert advice for travel planning in 2022.
Lessons Learned in 2021
Before I share my expert advice for travel planning in 2022, I’d like to start by sharing some truths that I learned in 2021 that are useful both in everyday life and in traveling the globe.
Always start with Gratitude
As I reflect on the last crazy year I’m grateful for so much. For me, 2021 was a year of making memories with new and old friends. It was a year both of learning a “new normal” way of life and returning to some of my absolute favorite activities like travel complete with experiences that were good, bad, and sometimes downright uncomfortable. In my good, bad, healthy, and sick times I’m grateful for everything I learned and experienced in 2021.
Happiness is a choice!
This pandemic has taught me so much about living life and my inner happiness. I’ve learned that when I focus on my intentions for a life well lived everything always turns out better than when I’m worried about anything in the world that’s outside of my total control. This is true when planning for a trip too!
What matters to me is that I continue to live my best life spending quality time with my family and friends, laughing with fun people, making progress on my personal aspirations, feeling passionate about my work, savoring delicious meals in new destinations, and embarking on incredible adventures that inspire me.
2021 was a rollercoaster of a year for many, and I realized more than ever that these things are the only things that actually matter. Everything else is just a silly distraction keeping me from living my best life.
Expert advice for travel planning in 2022
Entering this first chapter of 2022, I am returning to my luxury travel planning role as an experienced pandemic travel influencer and I can say this for sure:
Always start by setting a positive intention for your getaway:
Whether traveling, planning a staycation, or staying home in your own backyard, set the intention to be happy.
In life, change is the only thing that’s a guarentee. The world of travel is changing by the moment. Some changes are good and some just plain suck. I’ve found that choosing to view life through rose-colored lenses and rolling with the constant changes in our crazy world keeps me from worrying or getting angry about things I cannot control, change or impact.
Not worrying allows me to be present and make the best choices. This has also gotten me out of some crazy travel situations with magical results!
Try seeing the world around you through the eyes of a child.
Notice what your kids focus on when you are out exploring. Kids have an incredible way of observing things we take for granted and being totally present to capture the best of nature, the sights, and sounds of a big city, and even just the fun of puddle jumping on a rainy day!
Make a plan for the year to schedule all of your vacation days
Vacation is salvation!
I’m a big believer that we all need a fresh perspective from time to time, especially now in these crazy pandemic times. It always pains me to hear from so many friends and clients how they finished the year and didn’t use all of their vacation time.
Escaping the day-to-day grind has been so freeing during these intense pandemic times both for my family and for all of my clients who share tales of how getting away was life-changing for them. When I’m feeling stuck, I’ve found that a change of scenery can make all the difference in opening up my mind to new possibilities.
Travel is good for the soul. The memories we make and the stories we remember from meeting new people and experiencing new places are life-changing. It doesn’t have to be fancy, you don’t even have to travel across the globe. Just jump in your car and drive! You only need to go as far as an hour in any direction on a quest to find some fun!
Give the ultimate gift of travel to those you love
Experiences make the best gifts!
Travel came back in a big way in 2021!
2021 was the year my VIP clients and I pioneered the world of pandemic travel.
I am travel-obsessed and luxury resorts are my absolute passion so once I got a taste of what I’d been missing for most of 2020, I really went for it in 2021!
Here’s my recap of all of the incredible luxury resorts and destinations I explored in 2021:
For all of my fellow travel lovers out there looking for inspiration as you start your travel planning in 2022 here’s my 2021 adventures list in hopes, you see something that calls your name!
In August, we met up with our friends in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for some fun on the lake taking the kids tubing and water skiing before heading back to school.
