Abbott's Adventures

12/14/2021

I’ve been reticent about posting because there is still a lot going on in the world. I can attest to the ease of Covid testing at the resorts I have stayed at in Cancun, Riviera Maya and now Punta Cana over the past three months. While I still won’t say “it’s safe” to travel, I will say I have felt very comfortable traveling since June and believe it is a decision every person/parent has to make for themselves.

Some resorts have covered the testing and some have charged a nominal amount (in my opinion). I can truthfully (and if you know me, you know I am always truthful) say I feel comfortable bringing my family back for our planned trip early next year.

I will also say it has felt so good to feel some sense of “normalcy” after the past almost two years of something I can hardly describe. I have missed traveling and am thankful to have had the opportunity to go to both Mexico and the Dominican Republic this fall.

I am 💯 % ready to come back and hoping to plan a girls’ trip for a long weekend very, very soon. The sun, the energy, the ability to let it all go…it recharges my spirit and soul.

Let me know if you would like recommendations of places I’ve been recently and would 100% recommend. I think I have a little something for everyone in my recent experiences.

12/13/2021

I have the pleasure of experiencing Karisma’s brand new Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana this week and it is amazing! I would highly recommend upgrading to the villas. Incredible experience and so peaceful.

10/14/2021

I arrived early in paradise to review an amazing resort for you before attending . To say I have been pampered and able to fully relax over the past three days is most definitely an understatement. It has been blissful.

It is a privilege to be invited to and I am grateful for the opportunity. This conference provides three days of learning about the travel industry and experiencing various properties to share with you. It is no secret the last months have been a challenge for the travel industry and I’m excited to learn about how the industry has adapted and overcome to be back and better than ever!

Follow along as I share more about the journey and my experience being here as well as all I learn at the conference.

It is SO good to be back!!!

10/13/2021

Today was a big day.

In March of 2020 we agonized over whether to take our long planned Spring Break family trip to Hawaii. We ended up being the very last family to leave Pearl Harbor as we spent every last possible minute exploring the Battleship Missouri Memorial before it’s gates were closed for many long weeks, our ability to learn from our past closed off due to a pandemic ravishing our globe. We woke up the next morning to our resort pools being closed, the fitness center locked and our luau canceled. Our last few days were spent eating all our meals in our resort rooms and like many others, I spent hours on hold with a third party vendor trying to change our plane tickets home.

Today was the first time I traveled internationally since we returned home from Hawaii and began the stay at home life we all faced in those early days. While I have flown domestically several times over the past eighteen months, my passport has remained locked in our safe, newly renewed and oddly void of the stamps I’ve grown to love collecting. Like so many others, we have booked and rebooked the same trip multiple times always optimistically hoping it will be the last time we have to adjust our plans and make last minutes choices for new locations.

It’s been a day filled with emotions. My cavalier travel attitude of days past was oddly missing and I found myself more agitated than I had been while traveling in many years. My resort has been a welcome place of solace filled with peace, quiet, time to collect my thoughts and the opportunity to spend a few blissful hours reading for pleasure on the terrace of my suite while a cool wind blew against my skin and the sound of waves crashing soothed my soul.

I’ve questioned so many things over the past months. Travel has been a difficult industry to be part of and I’ve struggled with seeing people lose money and experiences because of situations completely outside their or my control.

Stayed tuned for more as I spend the next eight nights exploring three resorts and sharing my experiences with you along the way. My colleagues say travel is back. I’m here to see for myself and share the journey with you. I long for days filled with new experiences for all and the ability to travel in ways we took for granted before our world was turned upside down. As always, my dedication to being truthful about the journey remains.

I found peace and contentment on this terrace today and for that I am grateful.

10/09/2021

I remembered to pull out my passport holder. Next up, airing out the packing cubes and choosing what to take.

How do you stay organized when you travel?

10/09/2021

Exciting posts coming! I’ll be traveling to Cancun and Riviera Maya over the next two weeks. This will be my first time out of the country since we returned from Hawaii at the very beginning of the pandemic and subsequent shut down.

Always transparent, I’m nervous. Travel has definitely changed and I look forward to sharing the experience with you. As always, I promise to be completely truthful in sharing my experience.

I’ll be staying at three different resorts with three very different target audiences/vibes. Be sure to follow along!

09/03/2021

Keep calm and make a travel checklist for 2022.

09/03/2021

I’ve been far too quiet on this page all summer (especially given the amount of time we have spent traveling). I have made it a point from day one to be incredibly honest in my business and I’ve struggled over the past eighteen months with when to travel, how to travel, what feels safe, what doesn’t and what am I comfortable possibly suggesting to others. It’s left me in a strange void of sharing less. I don’t have answers and honestly we evaluate every trip up until the last minute to decide how it feels for us at that moment. I continue to strive to be very honest with my clients and promise I always will.

It was a monumental summer for our family filled with graduations, retirement, job interviews, cross country trips, airports, more cross country trips, a beach week, graduation/send off party, cross country trip…you get the idea.

My husband and I decided to spend two nights away just the two of us to reflect on all the changes. I always want a trip to include water, sun and relaxation. He likes woods, hiking and more adventure. I only wanted to drive two hours max to any destination. Prospect Hill Bed and Breakfast in Charlottesville, VA provided exactly what we needed.

We have more adventures planned for our family and I’m scheduled to leave the country for ten nights in October and hopefully will be featuring three new all inclusives resorts with a little bit of something for everyone.

I hope you enjoy these pictures from our time at . It was amazing and again, exactly what we needed. We love history and the property and buildings date back to the 1600’s. There was a pool on property (which we had to ourselves for hours), a nature trail through the woods (which we hiked and even found a herd of deer frolicking), breakfast was delivered to our room each morning and we even visited Miche Tavern for lunch one day and Keswick Winery for flights and a snack lunch on the way home. It was a quite literally the perfect weekend.

09/03/2021

Looking to unwind? Virgin Voyages offers relaxing spa services and rejuvenating fitness classes to help you get the proper dose of Vitamin Sea.

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09/02/2021

When in Vienna, Austria visit the Spanish Riding School to watch these Lipizzaner horses demonstrate the 'Haute École' movements of classical dressage. Not for everyone, but if you love horses…

09/02/2021

Can you think of a better way to spend summer than sunbathing in the Mediterranean on a Celebrity Cruise? We can’t either.

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09/02/2021

From the Andes in Peru to the archipelagos of Greece, to see the turtles of the Galapagos Islands or to experience the culinary delights of Italy. Where will the world take you in 2022?

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09/01/2021

Ahh, Bermuda of the pink sands and excellent golf courses.

09/01/2021

Norway's Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord provide stunning scenery during a 2-hour boat cruise. Spring, Summer, and Fall tour departures are offered. Book by 9/29/21 to save $400 per couple.

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08/31/2021

The B**h D**g Pagoda (Pagoda of the Emerald Grotto) on Vietnam's Truong Giang River was built by two monks in the early 18th century. The only access is by steep stone steps but the view is worth the climb.

08/31/2021

We aim to please. Yes, that’s the motto of the Windstar crew. They’ll know your name in an hour, your favorite beverage in a day. All with a smile and a “you’re part of the Windstar family” attitude.

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08/30/2021

Yup. You're going to want to visit the home of Jameson Irish Whisky for its remarkable stories… and the Whisky :) Add Cork to your list (no pun intended).

08/30/2021

Travel Blog - Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line Kickstart US Operations!

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08/30/2021

Your health is important to us. Virgin Voyages has created a new wave of health measures to help you explore the world safely.

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08/29/2021

Your vacation time is valuable, let us do the legwork.

08/29/2021

Sometimes you can only get away for a few days, which is why Celebrity has 3, 4, and 5 night Caribbean cruises. Sneak away for a long weekend at sea!

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08/29/2021

Explore the USA on two wheels!
Maine & Acadia National Park, Washington’s San Juan Islands, Utah, and Sonoma & the Napa Valley.

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08/28/2021

Hitchhiking a dry 'ride' in the Galapagos and ready for his close-up!

08/28/2021

Not to be missed the people-watching at a Palma de Mallorca street-side café. Sip, sup, and spectate.

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08/27/2021

Let's take your vacation from the ordinary to the extraordinary in Antigua. There is a great selection of resorts to choose from in every price bracket.

08/27/2021

Where elegance meets nature. Grace Hotel, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection is the perfect combination of luxury and romance. This adults-only hotel caters to the very needs of couples and honeymooners looking for a romantic experience in Santorini. Request a quote today.

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08/27/2021

Booking early has its advantages. When you book a Virgin Voyages cruise, you not only secure your cabin wishes, but you receive a discount, too!

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08/26/2021

Hurghada's long stretch of sandy beach stretches some 22 m along Egypt's Red Sea coast and is lined with resorts. It's renowned for scuba diving and has numerous dive shops and schools. Up for a little somewhere different?

08/26/2021

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and even better on a Celebrity Cruise. Join Celebrity for a Christmas cruise with all of the magic, and none of the stress.

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08/26/2021

Munich's famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall provides an Oktoberfest atmosphere all year round. Spring, Summer & Fall departures are offered for this panoramic tour. Book by 9/29/21 to save $400 per couple.

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08/25/2021

La Paz in Bolivia is the highest capital in the world, resting on the Andes' Altiplano plateau at more than 11,500 ft above sea level. The best and most dramatic way to see it is on the Mi Teleférico aerial cable car system.

08/25/2021

Small ship. Big ship. Join the marine traffic passing through the impressive Panama Canal in enviable private yacht-style comfort and experience this engineering marvel from a different perspective.

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08/25/2021

Much like a fine baklava, modern-day Greece is layered with history so rich and complex that the only way to do it justice is to see it for yourself on an Intrepid Travel Premium Greece trip!

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08/25/2021

Seeking a small-ship cruise experience? Discover the breathtaking beauty of the Galápagos Islands with on an environmentally sustainable ship with a max capacity of only 90 guests. Your onboard experience will be as relaxing and rewarding as your offshore adventures are exciting and stimulating! Message me and learn how you can save 22% on your 2022 expedition cruise.

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08/24/2021

Eltz Castle. A short name with a long history. Nestled in the hills above the Moselle River in Germany and owned by the same family for more than 850 years! Visit and experience the Middle Ages and nature in its purest form.

08/24/2021

No matter what your palate craves, Virgin has you covered with over 20 eateries, all included, all made to order.

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08/23/2021

There's more than one way to enjoy Antiqua's, St. John Beach.

08/23/2021

Who wants to have an amazing summer in Greece?

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08/23/2021

Travel Blog - Carnival plans to have 15 ships in operation by the end of October and the entire fleet sailing by the end of the year :)

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08/23/2021

Looking for monkeys? Scanning the trees for macaws? On your Costa Rican adventure, the naturalist knows where to look for wildlife, native plants, and good swimming holes.

Hurry! Come Sail Away Ends Aug. 31! >>MORE