Insights in Travel

09/07/2021

When our family spent Christmas 2020 at Disney World, masks were required at all times unless seated for a meal, lines had markers for social distancing, Fast Pass lines were completely gone in order to use that space for extra distancing, and restaurant capacity was very limited with tables spread out. Ordering a meal at quick service restaurants was done almost exclusively by using the Disney World app....

http://insightsintravelblog.com/2021/09/07/disney-world-experiences-with-the-skyliner-some-newer-restaurants-and-covid-variant-protocols/

When our family spent Christmas 2020 at Disney World, masks were required at all times unless seated for a meal, lines had markers for social distancing, Fast Pass lines were completely gone in ord…

11/04/2020

What’s it like in Cancun and the Riviera Maya this fall? In a word, beautiful. Even though resorts have been hurt by closures due to Coronavirus and then struck by Hurricane Zeta, they’re quickly cleaning up, refreshing damaged areas and welcoming guests with a (masked) smile and friendly service. During the short time my friend and I were there, we noted impressively fast progress with getting debris removed and damage repaired. [ 647 more words ]

http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/11/04/fall-in-the-riviera-maya/

What’s it like in Cancun and the Riviera Maya this fall? In a word, beautiful. Even though resorts have been hurt by closures due to Coronavirus and then struck by Hurricane Zeta, they’re quickly c…

10/13/2020

With all of the pent-up energy many of us are feeling to get away, vacations within driving distance can become very appealing. My husband and I just attended a beautiful wedding in Wilmington, NC, and decided to turn the event into a mini vacation. As with many hotels these days, our receptionist informed us upon check-in that our room would not be serviced during our 3-night stay. [ 965 more words ]

http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/10/13/mini-vacay-in-wilmington-nc/

With all of the pent-up energy many of us are feeling to get away, vacations within driving distance can become very appealing. My husband and I just attended a beautiful wedding in Wilmington, NC,…

09/22/2020

As most of us have canceled or radically changed vacations and altered everyday lifestyles during the past 6-7 months, questions arise about how safe it is to fly, what it’s like to visit foreign destinations allowing Americans, and what the actual flight process is like. Both because I was itching for a vacation and because I wanted to personally check out the situation for my clients’ sake, my daughter and I took a 5-day trip in early September to Puerto Vallarta. [ 1,118 more word ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/09/22/flying-to-mexico-during-covid-19-regulations/

As most of us have canceled or radically changed vacations and altered everyday lifestyles during the past 6-7 months, questions arise about how safe it is to fly, what it’s like to visit foreign d…

03/20/2020

In the morning, I went for a final little walk along the waterfront, trying to soak in the views, scents and sounds one last time. Then I met up with most of the group at Bootleggers. We discovered this place later than I would have wished. It's in the opposite direction of town and the main strip of restaurants and stores. [ 482 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/03/20/heading-home/

In the morning, I went for a final little walk along the waterfront, trying to soak in the views, scents and sounds one last time. Then I met up with most of the group at Bootleggers. We discovered…

03/20/2020

Our final day held few plans except for the golfers, who had an early morning tee time. It was a day to relax and do whatever we hadn’t had time for on previous days. With 8 adults, there were many ideas of what to do. Normally, this isn’t a big deal, but there were only 2 sets of keys (and 2 sets of automatically locking gates to pass through to get to and from the house). [ 603 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/03/19/final-full-day/

Our final day held few plans except for the golfers, who had an early morning tee time. It was a day to relax and do whatever we hadn’t had time for on previous days. With 8 adults, there were man…

03/14/2020

I was so excited for Monday. We were headed out to the Silvermine area of Table Mountain National Park to do some sport climbing. The whole family went out for the hike, but not quite everyone decided to climb. This area is good for varying experiences and abilities since several levels of routes are close to one another. So everyone was able to watch and cheer each other on, even while climbing different levels of routes. [ 229 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/03/14/climbs-and-curtain-calls/

I was so excited for Monday. We were headed out to the Silvermine area of Table Mountain National Park to do some sport climbing. The whole family went out for the hike, but not quite everyone deci…

03/13/2020

Sunday was less planned out than the other days. David and David Luke played golf again in the morning at Steenberg Estates. The rest of us had a more leisurely start. Josh and Adri decided to try out the climbing gym in Cape Town. It's huge and they really enjoyed trying out some different styles of holds than what we're used to at home. [ 133 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/?p=794

Sunday was less planned out than the other days. David and David Luke played golf again in the morning at Steenberg Estates. The rest of us had a more leisurely start. Josh and Adri decided to try …

03/09/2020

Next up was surfing! Hannah, Josh, and Adri decided to take surfing lessons from the famous Gary's Surf School on Muizenberg beach. We all went along to cheer them on. What a fun beach town! We had breakfast at an open-air coffee shop called the Hang Ten Café, that is in the same building as the surf store. Great food, as we've had everywhere we've eaten in South Africa so far. [ 538 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/03/09/surfs-up-and-penguins/

Next up was surfing! Hannah, Josh, and Adri decided to take surfing lessons from the famous Gary’s Surf School on Muizenberg beach. We all went along to cheer them on. What a fun beach town! …

03/06/2020

Pick-n-Pay and Woolworths were just down the street from our house, so we stopped there after visiting the waterfront for some quick groceries and some charcoal for the braai, and cooked a simple dinner to eat in the house while we enjoyed the sunset views over the ocean. Planning this dinner was actually a challenge because of the daily electrical blackouts throughout South Africa. [ 328 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/03/06/climbing-golfing-and-beaching/

Pick-n-Pay and Woolworths were just down the street from our house, so we stopped there after visiting the waterfront for some quick groceries and some charcoal for the braai, and cooked a simple d…

02/29/2020

Arriving at our house in Camps Bay, Cape Town, we were greeted by our house manager, Robyn. She gave us all kinds of great tips about where to eat, grocery shop, and find some secluded little local beaches within walking distance. We were also warned, not for the first time, not to be out walking after sunset. During the day, runners, bikers, and walkers enjoy the spectacular sea-walk. [ 370 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/02/29/camps-bay-cape-town/

Arriving at our house in Camps Bay, Cape Town, we were greeted by our house manager, Robyn. She gave us all kinds of great tips about where to eat, grocery shop, and find some secluded little local…

02/25/2020

We had a reservation to go to a nearby game preserve for a safari drive at 11 am. Knowing that mornings and late afternoons/early evenings are the best time to see the animals active, I had tried to reserve a safari during those times. However, only those staying at the preserve could reserve the prime viewing times. So we took what we could get and decided to make the most of it. [ 599 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/02/25/safari/

We had a reservation to go to a nearby game preserve for a safari drive at 11 am. Knowing that mornings and late afternoons/early evenings are the best time to see the animals active, I had tried t…

02/24/2020

Refreshed and ready to start our adventure the next morning, we filled up with a hearty breakfast at the hotel and headed out along the N2 to our resort just outside Mossel Bay. The scenery is rugged, with many mountains, farms, plains and animals. My husband, David, was much more at ease driving a large vehicle on the "wrong" side of the road with a left-handed stick shift after a bit of sleep and in the daylight. [ 267 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/02/24/mossel-bay/

Refreshed and ready to start our adventure the next morning, we filled up with a hearty breakfast at the hotel and headed out along the N2 to our resort just outside Mossel Bay. The scenery is rugg…

02/16/2020

Our family enjoys active vacations. So when planning our 2020 family trip, my task was to find a place we've never yet visited where we could hike, golf, climb, and enjoy some cultural and historical pursuits. Plus, we needed to go in February or March, but wanted to escape winter weather. I threw out a few different ideas, but everyone agreed unanimously on Cape Town, South Africa. [ 747 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2020/02/16/welcome-to-south-africa/

Our family enjoys active vacations. So when planning our 2020 family trip, my task was to find a place we’ve never yet visited where we could hike, golf, climb, and enjoy some cultural and hi…

07/08/2019

I have not yet met anyone who has regretted visiting Israel. The fact is, it’s an amazing destination and it would be hard not to love touring there. However, although most tours list many of the same sites in their itineraries, each tour actually varies considerably. Knowing the reason for your visit is critical to figuring out the best tour group. [ 266 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2019/07/08/what-makes-a-trip-to-israel-special/

I have not yet met anyone who has regretted visiting Israel. The fact is, it’s an amazing destination and it would be hard not to love touring there. However, although most tours list many of the s…

06/13/2019

Inside Passage We had a full day of cruising through the Inside Passage as we left Ketchikan and returned to Vancouver. Steering a huge ship through this narrow passage must be daunting. Everyone onboard commented on not just the beauty surrounding us on all sides, but also on the proximity of so many treacherous outcroppings of rocks and winding bends. We lucked out again this day with mild and beautiful weather. [ 448 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2019/06/13/the-inside-passage-and-vancouver/

Inside Passage We had a full day of cruising through the Inside Passage as we left Ketchikan and returned to Vancouver. Steering a huge ship through this narrow passage must be daunting. Everyone o…

06/12/2019

After 2 somewhat isolated ports of call, I wasn’t sure how to feel about one that’s much more commercialized and sometimes filled to capacity with cruisers on shore. We were lucky. There were only 4 ships, including ours, visiting that day, and they were somewhat staggered. We were never overwhelmed with crowds. The ships dock right in town, so it’s a very accessible and easy-to-walk port town. [ 520 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2019/06/12/ketchikan/

After 2 somewhat isolated ports of call, I wasn’t sure how to feel about one that’s much more commercialized and sometimes filled to capacity with cruisers on shore. We were lucky. There were only …

06/08/2019

As much as we enjoyed our relaxed rhythm and pace on our days at sea, we were all pretty excited to get out on land and see some new sites. Hannah and I planned a hike. It sounded really easy from the directions online, but as another cruiser from San Jose discovered, it was a bit harder to navigate. We had to clear U.S. [ 199 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2019/06/07/kodiak-alaska/

As much as we enjoyed our relaxed rhythm and pace on our days at sea, we were all pretty excited to get out on land and see some new sites. Hannah and I planned a hike. It sounded really easy from …

06/08/2019

As a pretty active person, I really wondered how well I’d tolerate 6 full days at sea. Would I get stir-crazy? Turns out that even partaking in only a few of the ship’s activities, Hannah and I both had plenty to do every day and thoroughly enjoyed the pace of that week. I still had to keep up with work, which is the one down-side to a job like mine. [ 269 more words ]
http://insightsintravelblog.com/2019/06/07/six-days-crossing-the-pacific-ocean/

As a pretty active person, I really wondered how well I’d tolerate 6 full days at sea. Would I get stir-crazy? Turns out that even partaking in only a few of the ship’s activities, Hannah and I bot…

06/08/2019

Our first day was an at-sea day. I paid for the wi-fi to try to keep up with work. But it was weak and slow, so it was hard to do too much. We both quickly began to relax and let the rhythm of the ship on the ocean and the sound of the waves off our balcony slow down our tempo. [ 645 more words ]
https://insightsintravelblog.com/2019/05/24/cruising-japan-and-alaska-on-the-westerdam/

Our first day was an at-sea day. I paid for the wi-fi to try to keep up with work. But it was weak and slow, so it was hard to do too much. We both quickly began to relax and let the rhythm of the …

06/08/2019

The seeds of this trip were planted when my middle child, Hannah, set her final date for work at Disney English in Chengdu, China. She wanted to have one more adventure in Asia as she headed back home to NC. So she asked me to plan something and go with her. Having just explored Cambodia and Vietnam last year, Thailand was on my mind. [ 1,504 more word ]
https://insightsintravelblog.com/2019/05/22/adventures-in-japan-and-alaska-with-a-pacific-ocean-crossing/

The seeds of this trip were planted when my middle child, Hannah, set her final date for work at Disney English in Chengdu, China. She wanted to have one more adventure in Asia as she headed back h…

01/27/2019

Come to Israel this summer!- https://mailchi.mp/5730b9804072/sgka6q1h1s

10/27/2018

Adri Bailey says her family makes connections over coffee, and now she runs a mobile coffee truck in Hickory with her husband, Josh, and brother, Dave Wachter.

01/02/2017

Noelle's Travel Insights

As we transition out of Christmas and into the beginning of 2017, we are all filled with thoughts of family, friends and plans for the next year.  I am so thankful for all of you and how you've helped me to develop and grow my business.  I hope we can all have a wonderful 2017 together. Looking back...

10/11/2016

Noelle's Travel Insights new blog

I try hard to keep up with my travel research by more than attending webinars and taking update classes (which I do often!).  Nothing replaces actual travel!  I'd love to share some of my experiences and thoughts with you to inspire your own travel or to awaken your own memories of great vacations.…

04/05/2016

Travel with Pastor Malone to Israel and experience God in a new way...!

Travel with Pastor Malone to Israel. Experience God in a new way...

10/15/2015

Are all-inclusive resorts for you?

09/07/2015

Last chance to sign up for Israel trip