Weekend Serendipity Travel with Tara Stoddard

07/19/2023

My family and I are heading out on a road trip this week 🚐 and these are a few of my “must haves” when traveling on the road with kids:

• Disposable paper toilet seat covers - Sometimes roadside bathrooms are just plain nasty, and these are nice to have available.
https://amzn.to/46YssJt

• Small trash bags - These can be used to collect any trash during the time in the car, and any time you stop and don’t have access to a trash can. Also handy if you have any littles who get car sick every now and then.
https://amzn.to/3q2ZaZg

• Venture wipes - Great for cleaning up faces and hands when running water isn’t available. Especially nice to have these large ones available for the previously mentioned car sick kiddo.
https://amzn.to/44xyUoZ

• Roll of toilet paper - Just in case!

• Roll of paper towels - again, car sick kiddo… I was so glad to have these on hand! Also nice for any messes or spills.

• Beach towel - I always keep one in the van just in case. It can be used to sit on, to wipe up big messes, to cover a kiddo who needs to change.

06/27/2023

If you’ve never been on a cruise before you might have the wrong idea about them. These days, there is a type of cruise for everyone! Let’s go over a few cruising myths and their truths.
"I don't like strict schedules."
While some cruise ships do have regimented schedules that you have to follow, there's cruise lines like Norwegian that offer Freestyle Cruising - you chose what you want to do and when you want to do it.
"I'll get bored!"
These days, cruise ships are PACKED with entertainment! Between the spas, nightlife, kids' programs, bowling alleys, water slides, and more, you won't have time to get bored!
"Cruises aren't for my age group."
The average cruise passenger is 47 years old. With the popularity of cruises on the rise, you'll find all ages on both sides of that number on board!
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With multi-destination stops, it’s one of the most efficient and wallet-friendly ways to visit new places. If you’d like more info on couple getaways or family vacations, let’s chat! Message me to get started.

06/12/2023

Fun Fact! Travel Makes You Smarter!

As you take in the sigths, smells, and sensations of a new destination, you are doing more than making memories. Travel experiences are known to prompt your brain to think differently and more creatively too!

06/04/2023

Fun Fact! ✈️ Tourism keeps the economy going. One in 9 American jobs depends on tourism. Tourism also generates 10% of the jobs around the world! Chefs, hotel staff, cruise ship staff, tour guides, laundry services, food services, designers, drivers, pilots, accountants… the list goes on and on!

As I learn more about this industry I’m happy to be learning more about sustainable travel and how some companies are doing what they can to better balance supporting local economies and environmental health while reducing the negative impact on cultures, communities, and our planet as a whole. I can’t wait to share more with you!

06/03/2023

Now booking! From classic tours to off-the-beaten-path-surprises, you are going to love these unique Italy itineraries!

Here’s an example:

Independent Rome, Florence & Venice City Stay

8-day Rome to Venice

Book any time between June 2 - December 8, 2023

Explore by bike, boat and tastebuds on this Independent City Stay in Italy’s most-loved destinations. See the ancient sites of the Eternal City, fall in love with the romance of Venice and indulge the senses with la dolce vita in Florence.

Book now to save up to $200 per couple on select Italy-only tours —
now starting at $1,299* per person.

*Prices are based on double occupancy, land only and do not include promotion. Book a select 2023 Italy-only Tour of six (6) nights or more and receive $100 off per person for the full length of the core portion of the tour. Not applicable to tours with extensions outside of the country of Italy. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between now and June 15, 2023, for travel between now and December 31, 2023.

06/02/2023

How are you celebrating ? Treating yourself to some yummy goodness from your favorite bakery or hanging out on a donut pool float? I hope you get to enjoy both! 😉 🍩

Here’s where you can get some donut deals today:

• Dunkin’ Donuts - free donut with drink purchase

• Krispy Kreme - one free doughnut (no purchase necessary) and $2 Original Glazed dozens when you buy any dozen.

• Duck Donuts - free Cinnamon Sugar Donut when they stop by one of the chain’s 115+ locations this Friday, June 2.

• LaMar's Donuts - (has shops in five states — Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, Missouri and Nebraska) free Glazed Doughnut and a T-shirt this Friday, while supplies last, at participating locations.

05/30/2023

Planning to travel outside the U.S. within the next 6-8 months and need a passport? Get your passport application in ASAP. 🫣

The wait time for a new passport in 2023 is 10 to 13 weeks. 😬

And keep in mind: in most countries and on many cruise lines, passports need to be valid for 6 months after travel.

Application wait times for a U.S. passport are at record highs. Are you prepared for summer travel in 2023? | Frommer's

05/27/2023

Life is a journey. Make the most of it. ✨

05/26/2023

How about a freebie for National Road Trip Day?! 🚗 If you’re planning a road trip (and don’t want to use my f r e e planning services 😉) use these printables to help you get organized.

You can print them out or use them in any app that can write on PDFs.

Grab yours here:
https://forms.gle/gVU5SJCoNihykfyg9

(Download link will be shown right after you submit your info)

05/26/2023

Happy National Road Trip Day!! 🚙

My family of 7 loooooves road trips! We’ve been all over the U.S. and have seen some amazing sights.

We even have one coming up this summer that will go from St. Louis, MO to Salt Lake City, UT for a conference I’m attending.

As some of you know, it gets pricey to eat out when you have a big family. So we’ve learned a few tricks to keep everybody full, hydrated, and happy while saving some money.

Tip #1: If you have the room, bring a cooler with you. Freeze some water bottles to help keep things cool and cut down on how much ice you need. If you have a good cooler they should stay frozen for a few days!

Tip #2: Bring along stuff to make sandwiches! Jam can be stored in the cooler. We like the squeezable kind on road trips just because it makes things easier. Other ideas are tuna (with squeezable mayo), lunch meat, and sliced cheese. Stop at rest stops along the way and have a picnic. Everyone can make their own sandwich and eat together at the picnic tables.

Tip #3: Bring along ziplock bags and reusable containers for left overs. We like to pre-make some tuna and keep it in the cooler, but as the ice melts it might get into containers or packages. To keep things from getting icky we put containers into ziplock bags.

Tip #4: Bring a variety of ready to go snacks! Pre-cut fruit & veggies, string cheese, trail mix, granola bars, and crackers (if you don’t mind the crumbs!).

Tip #5: Put together daily snack bags for each person. Include their favorite snacks that don’t have to be refrigerated. Give everyone their bags after breakfast and let them know that these bags are for all day and to space them out. They can eat whatever they want, whenever they want, but “we won’t be stopping again until lunch time and the rest of the food is in the trunk!” 😅

🚙🚗🛣️

I have plenty more road trips and tricks but I’ll save those for later. If you’d like some help planning YOUR road trip, let’s chat!! I absolutely LOVE finding neat stops and hotels along a route and I will even book it all for you.

⚠️ Right now, my U.S. road trip planning services are at no extra to you, but because they take so much time to plan I will be charging a small up-front fee for them in the future. ⚠️

05/25/2023

Who’s heading to a Disney park next month?! Look at these yummy rainbowy goodies!
🩷🧡💛💚🩵💜
Need help planning your trip? Let’s talk!

05/20/2023

When you go on a trip, are you an overpacker or light packer? I have ALWAYS been an overpacker but I’m trying to change my ways!

Do you think I could get away with just this backpack and a large purse for a stateside 5 day/4 night trip I have coming up? 😅🫣

Normally a trip like that would be a large suitcase, a small suitcase, a backpack, and a big purse. 😆

05/19/2023

Heading to a National Park this summer? Here are some changes for 2023 that you should know about before getting on the road! ⛰️ 🚗

From fee increases to fee-free entrance days, here’s what you need to know about visiting U.S. national parks in 2023.

05/19/2023

Where was your favorite vacation photo taken? 📸 🌎 ✈️

Let me know in the comments! ⤵️
So far, I think my favorite vacation photos have been taken while visiting family in my hometown of San Diego, CA. Because we no longer live there, it was extra fun doing all the tourist type things we rarely did while living there. 🏖️

05/18/2023

LAST MINUTE DEALS! ✨
Looking to travel this summer and have your passport ready to go? I have a whole list of deals from the end of May through July 28th!

This is an example itinerary for Scotland and Ireland, but I also have 🇮🇪 Ireland tours, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland tours, 🇬🇧 Britain tours, and 🇮🇸 Iceland tours.

These last minute deals are starting at $1466/per person (5 days/4 nights in Scotland) and up to $4025/per person (16 days/15 nights in Scotland and Ireland)*

I’ve priced out these exact trips piece by piece, and these really are AMAZING DEALS for what you’re getting! 🤩

Message me or fill out one of my forms on www.TaraStoddard.com to get your quote!

*price does not include airfare

05/17/2023

While I recommend planning your family vacations *at least* 3-4 months in advance to get the hotels and reservations you want, I can help you plan your last minute trips too!

I’ve been to Walt Disney World as recently as Summer 2021 and to Disneyland as recently as October 2022. Let me help you plan YOUR 2023 trip! ✨

Use my form on TaraStoddard dot com to get started.

The author shares how the Disney travel agent services were totally free and it took away the stress of figuring out the logistics of her family trip.

05/16/2023

Awww “Why you shouldn’t wait until retirement to start traveling.” 😆

05/15/2023

You don’t have to be Irish to want to visit Ireland, but did you know that more than 50 million people in America claim some Irish heritage?! Nearly every person in Ireland is distantly related to someone here in the U.S. Isn't that wild?! ☘️

But even if you’re not Irish, Ireland is one of the best places for first time travelers heading to Europe.

🗣️ There’s a shared common language (with some differences, of course).
💕 The people there are known to be warm and welcoming.
💚 The country has a rich history dating back 5,000 years.
🌤️ Ireland has a temperate climate - it never gets too terribly cold or too hot.
☘️ And there’s a wide variety of accommodations, activities, and entertainment for all ages!

While I have personally not been yet (I’ve been quite busy raising a family) I am heading there as soon as possible!! My dad’s side of the family is Irish and I've traced many of them back to exact houses that are still standing today. My heart longs to go there, which is why I am so passionate about these tours.

If you’re ready to explore your own Irish roots (or want to visit Ireland just because), let’s chat! There’s an Early Bird special for 2024 trips that ends on May 31st!

Fill out the form here to get started:
http://www.tarastoddard.com

05/15/2023

Leaving your babies to go on a trip without them for the first time can be SO HARD! I get it! Here are three tips I have for parents traveling without their kids for the first time. ⤵️

• If this is the first time you're traveling without your kids, start with a shorter trip that's close to home. A weekend staycation would be perfect! As everyone gets more used to the idea you can try a weekend getaway further away.

• Help ease any anxiety by talking to your kids about your trip weeks in advance. Even if they can’t fully understand it yet. Explain who they will be staying with and what will be happening. Springing it on them last minute could cause more anxiety and make it harder to leave.

• Make plans with the sitter to do something fun while you're away. If your kids are older, ask them what they'd like to do while you're on your trip and have them help make the plans. You could plan some fun crafts or baking treats. It could be visiting the zoo or a park they haven’t been to yet. This is also something to get them excited about in advance. Talk about how much fun they’ll be having while you’re gone!

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I fully believe in taking some time to do something with just you and your partner! 💕

- It gives everyone a break (especially for any stay at home parent).

- It gives you a chance to dress up and have fun!

- And it helps you and your partner reconnect in a way that’s harder to do with kids around. 😏

🗣️ Have you traveled without your kids yet? I’d love to hear any tips you have. ⤵️

05/15/2023

Leave the little ones at home for this spooky getaway! 👻 🪦

This Boston, Massachusetts package is priced for a quick (but FUN!) weekend getaway in early Fall - September 30th through October 2nd.

It includes:

- 2 nights/3 days in a 4-star hotel 1.3 miles from the Boston Logan International Airport
- Room with a king sized bed and a Boston city view
- Free 24-hour shuttle to and from the airport
- A Ghosts and Gravestones Nighttime Tour
- The Salem Witch Museum
- and the Haunted Boston History and Mystery Walking Tour.

Here’s a little more about the Ghosts and Gravestones tour:

Walk amongst the dead in burying grounds nearly four hundred years old, hear stories of those whose mortal remains lie beneath your feet, and listen to tales of many of the sordid practices that went along with them.

- Explore Some of Boston’s Most Haunted Sites
- Walk Amongst the Dead in Burying Grounds Nearly 400-Years-Old
- Exclusive Night-Time Access into Two of Boston’s Oldest Burying Grounds
- See Boston’s Most Haunted Hotel: The Omni Parker House
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All of this for around $432 per person. This does not include airfare or transportation, and the price is subject to change.

Learn more and request a free quote here:
https://tap10.myagentgenie.com/tarastoddard/mbg/boston-ghosts-gravestones-and-witches/

Want a quote for a weekend getaway in a city closer to you? Fill out a general quote request here:
www.tarastoddard.com

05/14/2023

I’ve been learning so much more about family travel over the last couple weeks! Here are 5 brands that are perfect for family vacations. From cruises to resorts, there’s something for every family. 👩‍👦‍👦👨‍👩‍👦👨‍👨‍👧👩‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👧‍👦

These are in no particular order and so many more that didn’t make the list.

1. Norwegian Cruise Line - known for their freestyle cruising, which creates the most customized, flexible experience possible. There’s activities for all ages. From kids clubs and teen clubs, to adult only spaces.

2. Disney Cruise Line - A great choice for kids of all ages! With spacious staterooms, flexible meal options, entertainment, and kids’ clubs, you can’t go wrong.

3. G Adventures - Focuses on sustainable travel with kid-friendly meal options. There are 12 destinations and each itinerary has a fun theme! (More on them to come!)

4. Beaches Resort - This all inclusive resort has child care services for as young as newborns. Scheduled and unscheduled fun for the whole family.

5. Tauck Bridges Family Travel - These trips are designed to bring families together through celebrating different cultures and learning about history first hand.

Is there a family friendly travel brand/company that didn’t make this list that you love? Tell me which one you love!

05/13/2023

Friends! 😱 I have to let you know about this deal before it ends. If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Ireland, this is your sign to DO IT! 💚 Book a 2024 trip before May 31, 2023 and save up to $500 per person.

Here’s just one of many example itineraries:

• 7 days, 6 nights
• 10 meals included
• Full daily breakfast (except for day 1) and some dinners
• An evening of Irish entertainment
• Transportation (Buses, shuttles & ferries)
• Welcome drinks with your group
• Free Wi-Fi on luxury coaches
• All entrance fees to attractions
• Comprehensive travel itinerary (Dublin castle, Blarney castle, Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Medieval castle banquet, and more!)
• Starting at $1215 per person (does not include airfare)

PLUS a welcome gift:
- A travel backpack
- Travel adapter
- Rain poncho
- Luggage strap and tags
- Documents wallet

And because I am a “Shamrock certified” agent with the tour company, you’re also going to get free airport transfers while in Ireland! ✈️ 🚌

Book early and make payments!
Non-refundable deposit is due at time of booking.

Email me for more info:
[email protected]

Or fill out my General Travel Quote form at www.tarastoddard.com 💚

05/13/2023

“I travel because it makes me realize how much I haven’t seen, how much I’m not going to see, and how much I still need to see.” 💜
Why do YOU love to travel?

05/12/2023

The super fun stuff, like actual trips and itineraries are coming, but first: Why use a travel agent when you can just DIY?

Here are four things that I think you should consider:

✈️ Most travel agents will offer their services for free! With a few exceptions, many travel agents will offer their quote, planning, and booking services for free. There’s no catch! The hotels, tickets, cruises, and other travel vendors work travel agent commissions right into the price. So that no matter if you’re booking through websites like Expedia, through a travel agent, or directly with the supplier, that price will be the same.

🚢 Insider knowledge - Travel agents do a LOT of learning, research, and their own traveling. With their long list of trusted vendors, you can be sure that they will find you an amazing deal for your trip, as well as provide you with information about the local culture, customs, and attractions that you might not be aware of.

🧳 Provide you with peace of mind. Travel agents can handle all of the little details of your trip - from booking accommodations, to arranging transportations, tours, and activities. They will be there to answer questions you might have before, during, and after your trip.

🚃 Less stress, and more fun. We want you to have the best time on your trip! We can help relieve some of the stress by taking over all of the planning so that all you have to do is figure out what to pack and then show up!

If you’re ready to book a vacation with me, start by filling out one of my forms at www.tarastoddard.com 💜

05/07/2023

Today is National Tourism Day and the start of National Tourism Week! ✈️ I’m wishing everyone who is exploring this week, safe travels! ✨

“History of National Tourism Day

The modern form of tourism got its start in Europe back in the 17th century. Prior to that time, the main reasons for travel were often related to either trade and business or for religious pilgrimage purposes. Prior to the industrial revolution, travel was slow and difficult, often taking months to complete a journey that could be completed in just a few days now.

By the 17th century, young European nobles began to take educational trips to learn more about other countries and cultures, often called the “Grand Tour”. With the advancement of train travel and steamer ships, travel became more and more accessible.

National Tourism Day was established to encourage and celebrate the benefits of travel. It was in 1983 that US President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation that urged Americans to observe National Travel & Tourism Week for a week in early May. From there, National Tourism Day evolved and started its celebration on May 7.” (Credit: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/national-tourism-day/)