Family Travel Archives - Unique Journeys LLC

Top 5 Reasons you Deserve a Luxury Vacation

May 21, 2022

Here are just 5 of the top reasons you deserve a luxury vacation.

Have you been dreaming of the ultimate vacation with all services included which normally you would be not willing to pay for? Yes, this is the luxury vacation of your dreams. And if you are still unsure if you should book it or not, keep reading as we are sharing our top 5 reasons you deserve a luxury vacation! Don’t miss the link at the bottom that will help you have the perfect river cruise.

No Planning Needed

One of the main reasons why it is worth booking a luxury vacation is that there is a lot less planning needed. You can go directly to your favorite travel agent, give your dates and start packing. If you are pressured by time or planning a family trip with multiple members and you do not want the stress of researching and booking it all yourselves, it might be time to look at a luxury vacation, which has it all planned out and scheduled for you. Everything you need to do is show up and have the time of your life!

Unwind and De-stress

Unfortunately, stress has become an inevitable part of our daily lives. And the reality is that every now and then we need to stop for a moment and take a break! There is no better reason why you should book that luxury vacation than trying to unwind, relax and escape the daily routine. Imagine going on a luxury river cruise and sunbathing on the deck with a cocktail in your hand at 2 pm on a Wednesday afternoon, instead of joining a conference call. We cannot think of any other better reason to treat yourselves to a luxury vacation! Can you?

Create Memories with your Family

Regardless of if you have children or not, there is nothing better than taking a family holiday to a faraway destination. It might have been a while since you spent some quality time together with your closest ones. Well, let me tell you – one of the best ways to reconnect with one another is by booking that special luxury vacation! Especially for those of you who have small children – now is the time to devote more time and try new activities with them. Go on that trip without any limitations and just create memories, which you will cherish long after you have gone back home!

You are Celebrating

One of the top 5 reasons why you deserve a luxury vacation is an upcoming celebration. Maybe it is a wedding anniversary or your significant other’s birthday. Either way, this is a good time to treat yourselves to a special opulent holiday including additional services and packages that you were never allowed to spend money on before!

You Deserve to Splurge

Last but definitely not least stop looking for reasons why you should go on that luxury vacation. Remember you deserve it! You work hard every day and sometimes it just comes a time when you should focus on yourselves and finally treat yourselves! You Deserve to Splurge on that Luxury Vacation!

Our top 5 reasons why you deserve a luxury vacation should have been enough to convince you that it is time to pack your bags and just go!

You may be considering taking a cruise, here is a must-read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience, you will want to contact Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assist you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.

How to Travel more Eco-friendly

Mar 24, 2022

Were you wondering How to Travel more Eco-friendly?

Are you wondering how to travel more Eco-friendly? The topic of being more sustainable travelers has been gaining massive popularity for the past few years. Many believe that it is far too challenging and costly to become a sustainably-conscious traveler – Wrong! Keep reading as we are sharing 6 very simple and easy ways how to travel more Eco-friendly, which you can start implementing straight away!

Bring your Own Water Bottle

One of the easiest ways to travel more Eco-friendly is as simple as bringing your own water bottle. From going on a road trip to America’s Best National Parks to heading to the airport for an extended weekend getaway, you will find numerous water fountains that you can freely use to fill up your own water bottle!

Use Environmentally Friendly Transportation

We just mentioned going on a road trip through the USA and boarding a flight, but both of these can harm the environment significantly with their CO2 emissions. If you are looking for environmentally airlines look for airlines that have implemented more sustainable policies and use biofuel instead! United Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa are examples of such! If you do not have your own electric vehicle, it might be interesting looking at renting one for your trip – this can also be a fun way to test it out and maybe consider buying one later!

Book a sustainable Accommodation

From luxurious tree houses to organic farmhouses, the list is endless once you start researching. If you are wondering how, you can become a more environmentally conscious traveler, you should definitely look at booking a more sustainable accommodation.

Support the Local Economy

By far our favorite way how to travel more Eco-friendly is supporting the local economy. Instead of choosing a large hotel chain, pick a small Eco-conscious guesthouse. Instead of choosing international tour operators, dive deeper and find small local guides. Not only are you not supporting mass tourism, but you are also getting to experience your destination from a lot more authentic perspective!

Eliminate Plastic

We fully realize that eliminating plastic might be easier said than done. You do not need to jump straight into “no more plastic” mode, but you can start making small changes not only to your travel habits but your overall daily routine to becoming more environmentally friendly by using less plastic. Some of the easiest ways are bringing your own re-usable shopping bag, glass food containers, and re-usable make-up removing cloths!

Unplug your Appliances

It is not just about your destination, but also what you are leaving behind when thinking how to travel more Eco-friendly! You are heading on a trip, so you are not going to be home for at least a few days. Why not go ahead and unplug your electric appliances then! It takes just a minute, but it helps significantly as no energy will be sent to it. A nice bonus is that you will be saving on your electric bill!

Now that you have our list of these 6 extremely easy and simple ways how to travel more Eco-friendly do you still think it is difficult and costly? We are sure that you are ready to implement at least one of these on your next trip. Even if it is just one, you know that you are contributing, and we are all hopefully slowly making a step towards traveling in a more environmentally-conscious way!

IT’S TIME FOR THE FAMILY VACATION

Feb 23, 2022

It’s time for the family vacation. I know we have all had a hard time these past few months, but I think it will be doubly important to resume the family vacation and spend time enjoying being together not in a restricted atmosphere. It’s a stressful time and it’s true for children as well as adults. Travel is not only enriching, it gets you away from your every-day routine so that you can concentrate on having fun as a family. As a travel counselor I can take the stress out of planning the details so you all you have to do is relax and enjoy your time away.

Disney has been at the top of many bucket lists for years for families with children. There are rides for all levels, a variety of shows, restaurants from casual to more formal. Add to that the character meals and you can please just about anyone.

However, all that variety comes with a price. Disney has raised prices most years, so that the average cost for lodging, food, and tickets for a three-night stay is around $300 a person.

If your family would like to spend time together, there are alternatives to Disney that will be just as memorable:

HAWAII:

You first thought of course is Waikiki, but even on Oahu, there is more to the island than the beach. In Honolulu you can visit The Arizona, where World War II started and next door, you can visit the MISSOURI, and see where the war officially ended.

A Family Vacation can be inspiration too

It’s important to bring history to life in addition to having fun on your family vacation

After you have done the educational visits, you can be off to the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium and the Pacific Aviation Museum.

How about climbing Diamond Head, where the view from the top is fantastic, and the hike down is easier.

Outdoor activities are a great part of a family vacation

Take a hike and this is your reward.

Most visitors stop there, but If you have more time to spend on Oahu, you can check out the North Shore with its famous pipeline and watch surfers “catch the waves”. Also on this side of the island is Kualoa Ranch. Here you can a great time riding horseback, kayaking or taking a tour of various sites where movies have been filmed.

Of course, there are other islands to visit such as Mauai and Kawai, each with it’s own personality. Combine one or two islands gives you a greater understanding of what makes Hawaii a great place to visit with your family.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA:

This is a city made for families. Of course, there is the world-famous San Diego Zoo, but you shouldn’t miss the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where you can get up close and personal with the animals. Take the kids to La Jolla Cove where sea lions and other wildlife abound. You can rent snorkeling gear, bikes, paddle boards. With the the comfortable California weather, you won’t lack for things to do.

THE GRAND CANYON:

Here is a place that just can’t be described to do it justice. You have to experience it in person. It’s not just a place to stand on the rim and look into the canyon, but a place where kids can take part in the park’s ranger programs to learn about the canyon’s history, take part in exciting activities and earn badges. As a family you can ride bikes on the canyon rim, go for scenic hikes and even take the famous mule rides. This can really be an all-inclusive family vacation.

Take a ride on the wild side with these iconic Grand Canyon donkeys.

MYRTLE BEACH, S. CAROLINA:

Myrtle Beach has a 60-mile stretch of white sand beach. There you can swim, build sand castles and just soak up the sun.

Once you have had your fill of that, try the arcade on the boardwalk, the mini golf courses and the Sky Wheel, which offers great views of the beach.

If you want the amusement park experience, you can visit WorldWorks. It’s known as the amusement park for the mind. There are over 100 hands-on exhibits and an indoor rope course.

PARK CITY, UTAH:

Ready for a winter vacation? Skiing is paramount here, but even when you aren’t on the slopes, you can still have fun as a family. You can take art classes, learn pottery or drawing. There are also ranges of accommodations from hotels to condos with multiple bedrooms and kitchens.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI:

St. Louis isn’t just flyover country. The Gateway to the West is home to a world-class FREE Zoo. The Art Museum, also in Forest Park up the hill from the zoo, is also free. How about a 630’ high stainless steel arch? There’s a great new museum and a ride to the top with great views over the city.

If you want to set your kids free in a one-of-a-kind museum, then you should head to The City Museum. The creation of Bob Cassilly; it’s a kids paradise with slides, rope climbing, and much more.

Your kids will have the time of their lives exploring the City Museum and what great photo opportunities for you.

In the summer, there is Grant’s Farm where you can see animal shows, feed animals in the petting zoo, meet the world-famous Clydesdales and have a meal in the stable courtyard. The adults can have up to two of Anheuser Busch’s finest.

What's a family vacation without getting up close and personal with animals

The world-famous Clydesdales are just waiting for your visit

You are spending more time with your family, so now is the time to start planning your next adventure. Time to dream and plan your family vacation; giving everyone something to look forward to. Getting everyone involved makes it even more special. Once you have done your research and want to begin the process of putting your plans in motion, contact me at:

Nancy Luechtefeld, CTC

Unique Journeys LLC

9787 Radio Drive

St. Louis, MO 63123

Ph: 314/644-8691

Email: nancy@unique-journeys.com

Website: www.unique-journeys.com

How to Plan a Multi-Generational Family Vacation

Jun 13, 2021

Tips on How to Plan a Multi-Generational Family Vacation.

Do you struggle to get the entire family together? Would you love to finally organize a trip for all members of your family? Think of all fun you can have fun while spending time with each other?

A family vacation can be a fantastic experience; however, it needs to be very carefully planned before it ends up being a stressful nightmare. Keep reading to read our top 6 tips on how to plan a multi-generational family holiday!

Start Planning Way in Advance

The first step in planning a multi-generational family vacation is making sure that you are all on the same page. That is the reason why you need to start planning way in advance. First, the more people will be traveling together the more difficult it would be to coordinate the best time to go. Secondly, though, planning ahead of time also means that you would have enough time to discuss what each person’s expectations are. If you live in the same city, plan dinners where the main topic to discuss will be the upcoming trip, if you live far away from each other, plan family calls and have an agenda and topics to cover, such as the destination, how long are you going for, when are you taking the holiday, etc.

Build the Excitement

We would really stress the benefits of getting the children involved in the planning. Anyone who is invested in the trip will be more willing to go along with others and what they want to do. Purchase magazine articles, other sources periodically to get everyone excited and engaged with the planning process. You could even rent movies or DVDs about where they are thinking of going. Zoom meetings are also a good way to get everyone involved. If you are going on a cruise, you could have a zoom meeting with a representative of the cruise line, if going to a resort, there are quite a few YouTube videos you can access. Give the children that are old enough an “assignment” to find out interesting facts about where they are going. Then they can look for them when they get there and also so that they can report their findings in one of the planning meetings. Also, if you are going somewhere where there is a foreign language, everyone can try to learn some basic phrases and words. Also, learning about the different cultures and customs they children might encounter and why they are different from theirs so that they will have respect for the differences and understand that everyone has different beliefs, customs, etc. Maybe they can also find some recipes for local cuisine and try them out.

Have a Budget

When there are multiple people involved in a holiday, one of the most important topics is the budget. It is best to set a budget at the first stages of planning the holiday. If you are going on a multi-generational holiday, this means you will be traveling as a group. Group travels, though, can be expensive. Do not stress out too much, though, just have an honest discussion and determine what each person’s budget for this trip is. It is also a good idea to divide the expenses into different categories and maybe each person can pay for a different category.

Inclusives the cost is pretty well-known upfront and there will be very little outlay once you have paid for the trip. You might have to pay for drinks or excursions, but these would be at your own discretion and not something everyone would have to do. On AMA Waterways, for example, all shore excursions are included in the price. On most cruises, you can pay for your gratuities with the cost of your cruise too. Drinks are extra outside of meals, but then those who don’t drink won’t have that bar tab to worry about.

Find Balance Between Activities and Rest Time

One of the most difficult aspects of planning a multi-generational family holiday is deciding on the itinerary and the activities and places you would like to do and see. While there can be members of the younger generation, who would love to spend the entire day scuba diving or hiking, there might be elderly, who would prefer more time to relax and rest. It is important to remember that you need to make compromises and you are taking this trip so you can spend more time together. It is a good idea for each person to come up with a shortlist of what they would like to do during the trip once the families have decided on your destination. You can then have a common discussion and choose 1 or 2 items from each person’s list.

Do not be Afraid to Ask for Help

Planning a multi-generational family holiday can be extremely time-consuming, tiring, and stressful. It is important to remember that one person cannot make the arrangements for a few families. So do not be afraid to ask for help. You can either go to some of the other family members who can assist or if you are all too busy and occupied and find it too difficult to coordinate, you can even discuss the option of getting a travel agent, who would organize everything for you. A travel agent could actually save you money on this trip of memories.

Protection

We recommend purchasing insurance, as this pandemic has shown us that insurance is very important. We encourage everyone to take out insurance. We feel this is still very important going forward.

Just Enjoy, Have Fun and Create Memories Together

It is highly possible for some pressure to arise during the trip if some people are feeling left out. If this happens remind everyone why you have planned this multi-generational family holiday. It is to relax, enjoy, have fun, and most importantly to create memories together. Especially, if you only rarely see some of these people, it is vital to make the most of your time together and remember that you will only have this time now. Take photos, laugh, entertain each other, and create memories, which you will cherish long after you have gone back home.

If you choose to cruise this article may be of interest.

If you are perusing river cruises here is a must-read article on avoiding river cruise booking mistakes. For the best river cruise experience, you will want to contact Nancy at Unique Journeys. She will assist you in finding the perfect cruise experience where you will create memories for a lifetime. You are welcome to find additional information at AMA Waterways regarding the luxury river cruise experience.