Life's a Journey Vacations

06/18/2024

You all have seen me rave about the adults-only Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya several times on here I'm sure. It's one of the most popular resorts by far for my travelers. I'd love to get everyone there to experience it themselves, and if you're in the market for a getaway this summer I'm seeing some great pricing for late July. For 2 adults out of KC, current package pricing including nonstop Frontier flights, Deluxe room at the Valentin, and cancel for any reason voucher insurance is just $2,795 for a 5-night stay July 23-28. Crazy!

If you're looking for a summer getaway with your spouse or best friends--this is a fun one! This pricing and availability likely won't last, so reach out if you're interested!

06/13/2024

Southwest is having a killer sale on select fall flights that ends TODAY, and right now I'm seeing some amazing package pricing into Cancun.

A 7-night stay at the adults only El Dorado Seaside Palms in a Beachfront junior suite is currently just $2,895 for 2 adults including roundtrip nonstop flights out of Kansas City and roundtrip airport transfers in Cancun! Travel dates are December 10-17, 2024. 😲 UNDER $3000 FOR A WEEK IN CANCUN AT A 5 STAR ADULTS ONLY RESORT, INCLUDING NONSTOP FLIGHTS AND TRANSFERS! But this air sale ends today so you would have to move quickly. I'm seeing great pricing on other resorts and dates too. Take your pick! Message me for more info!

Who doesn't want a beach getaway with your spouse before the craziness of the holidays hits?!

05/29/2024

It's National Flip Flop day! This week is officially the start of summer--where will you be wearing your flip flops this summer? The pool, the lake, the beach? For me, ✔️✔️✔️ to all 3. And I've got a lot of travelers taking their flip flops to the beach this summer too--Cancun, Cabo, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Aruba are the top getaway spots for my summer travelers. It's not too late to get you somewhere beachy this summer too if you haven't made those plans yet--where do you want to go?

05/23/2024

The only 5 Diamond adults-only all-inclusive resort in Cancun. 😍LeBlanc Cancun. All rooms come with a butler, they offer pool concierge service, and even have a cafe with handpainted chocolates included. Boujee!

05/22/2024

A beautiful, new, modern resort with ocean and lagoon views in the Cancun hotel zone—Hyatt Vivid Grand Island. This property is off-beach so it’s best for pool folks, BUT they have a private beach club just for resort guests which is a quick 10 minute shuttle ride away so you can still get that beach time in if you wish. 😍

05/18/2024

Here’s a beautiful new resort in Costa Mujeres—Secrets Playa Blanca. Absolutely gorgeous. All of the landscaping is still very new at this point, so this property will be even more lush and tropical once that has time to grow. 😍😍

05/17/2024

I’ve sent a lot of travelers here over the past few years and I can’t wait to stay here myself. My goodness! 😍 Who recognizes this resort?

05/17/2024

Check out these swim-out rooms 😍 — Hyatt Ziva Cancun

05/16/2024

I got a sneak peek of the brand new AVA resort opening next month. This was my first hard hat resort tour. It’s massive—1600+ rooms. It’s gonna be a beaut!

05/16/2024

My morning walk around my host resort for these first 3 nights—Paradisus La Perla

05/15/2024

Day 2 in the Riviera Maya— today we focused on resorts in the Playa Del Carmen area. I saw a family-friendly property with rooms set up as one, two, and three bedroom residences, a large complex of five resorts that I have several upcoming clients booked at this year which is a mix of family resorts and an elevated adult property, and a beautiful adults-only option on Maroma Beach that I’ve been anxious to see for years. I was not disappointed. 😍

05/15/2024

This is one of my absolute favorite resorts in the Riviera Maya. I love it so much, I’ve stayed here twice. 😍 Has anyone been here that recognizes the resort from these photos? P.S. The lobby smells AH-MAZING.

05/14/2024

The lobby view at Hilton Tulum 😍

05/14/2024

Well, there’s a lot more to this resort and I’ll share more later, but look at this villa located at the Beach Club for Secrets Tulum. Five bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 2 plunge pools, private chef, all-inclusive. Need I say more 😍

05/14/2024

And we’re off to tour 4 fabulous resorts on the south end of the Riviera Maya today—Secrets Tulum, Hilton Tulum, Secrets Akumal, and Único. I promise my photos after this will be much prettier, but here’s a “behind the scenes” pic of what it looks like for 9 travel agents to cram into a transfer bus for a day of tours. The life of a travel advisor is not as glamorous as it seems. 😂😂

05/10/2024

Just a reminder that I'll be "out of office" all next week touring resorts up and down the coast in Cancun and the Riviera Maya! These are full days of touring, so my work time will be very limited during my week away. New booking requests will be responded to when I return to my desk on May 20.

Stay tuned here for beautiful resort photos and some travel inspiration!

05/09/2024

I've always said I'd rather have experiences than "stuff", and what better gift to give your kids for Christmas than a beach vacation in Mexico? I'm seeing some great pricing right now for travel just before Christmas. A 5-night stay at Barcelo Maya Palace is just $4,900 for a family of 4, INCLUDING roundtrip nonstop flights out of Kansas City for travel dates December 19-24, 2024.

Enjoy a getaway to the beach with your kids and still be back in time to celebrate Christmas day at home with family. Or better yet, make it a getaway for your whole family! How about it!?

(price and availability subject to change)
Photo credit: Barcelo Hotel Group

05/08/2024

I'm in the VERY early planning stages of my next escorted group vacation and I've got 3 destinations on my short list. Which would you choose?

1. Italy
2. Scotland
3. The Greek Islands
or
4. Someplace else? - Tell me where!

It's so hard to pick. Help me! Comment with the destination at the top of your list!

05/07/2024

I recently booked a couple at this gorgeous resort to celebrate a milestone anniversary this winter. This is Hammock Cove Antigua and it's adults-only, all-inclusive, and all villas offer "guest ambassador service" (aka butlers) and private plunge pools. Um, yes please! Prepared to be spoiled, huh? 😍

Photo credit: Hammock Cove Antigua

05/02/2024

Did you know? Southwest Airlines recently added 3 additional weekly nonstop flights between Kansas City and Cabo San Lucas for getaways this summer. Now you can fly nonstop to Cabo 4 days a week! I'm seeing some great pricing on some fabulous vacation packages--I'd love to see folks take advantage of this.

Right now for a 5-night vacation package July 6-11, including round nonstop flights out of KC and all-inclusive resort stay, I'm seeing a junior suite at the adults-only Riu Palace Baja California at just $2,932 per couple! Or for a bit of an upgrade, choose the adults only Secrets Puerto Los Cabos in an ocean view junior suite at just $3,521 per couple! These Cabo pools are calling your name :)

If you're looking for a getaway with your kids instead, just reach out and I'll be happy to get you some pricing on some great family-friendly resorts.

Message me for more details and info! Pricing and availability are subject to change at any time.

Photo Credit: Riu Palace Baja California, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos

05/01/2024

Happy Global Travel Advisor Day!

According to the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), US Travel Advisors booked over $115 Billion in travel in 2023. That's BILLION with a B! That's a lot of folks planning their vacations with travel advisors.

Even if it's not with me--I encourage you to trust your travel plans with a knowledgeable travel advisor. For most of us, this is our passion and livelihood--we spend our time researching destinations, getting feedback from fellow agents on resorts and travel companies that we do business with, and most importantly we TRAVEL to the destinations that we offer most--getting feet on the ground and eyes on the resorts and hotels and making connections with staff in destination, so that we can best help match our clients to the right vacation for them.

So on this Global Travel Advisor Day, I encourage you to do some vacation dreaming and consider reaching out to your trusted travel advisor to start making those travel dreams a reality!

04/29/2024

I'm excited to announce that in just 2 short weeks I'll be off to Cancun and the Riviera Maya to tour and experience 20 fabulous resorts, including 4 brand new builds! 15 of these resorts I've never seen before so I'm looking forward to exploring these properties, making connections with resort staff, and learning the nuances of each location.

Stay tuned for beautiful pics and inspiration!

Photo/rendering credit:
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island
Secrets Playa Blanca
Secrets Tulum
AVA Resort Cancun

04/26/2024

YOU GUYS, This is just sickening. I feel so awful for these travelers and cannot even imagine this.

This story was shared in my host agency's Facebook group today, but this agent is not affiliated with my host. I can assure you that this will NEVER happen to any of my clients. It is my host agency's policy that I CANNOT run your money through my own account to pay for your vacations. When you authorize payment for your vacation, I am applying your payment DIRECTLY to your booking with the vendor that I am booking through. Some travel agencies out there do run client's money through their business and then pay for bookings with an agency card, but that's not how my business works. Occasionally I'll have clients ask me if they can pay me with cash or check, but I cannot do this and this is to protect you from this exact scenario.

There are reputable agencies out there that do collect client funds into their agency accounts that are stand-up businesses and I'm not here to bash that business model at all. Just know that THIS would never happen to my clients. I'm appalled and it's people like this that make folks leery of booking with travel agents!

I will always take your vacations very personally--my livelihood depends on it. If you don't have a good experience, I don't get to keep doing what I'm doing. Be sure to use a trusted travel advisor, even if it's not me. And question where your travel funds are being applied! 💕

A Minnesota travel agent left about 71 travelers stranded with no accommodations in Costa Rica. On top of that, some travelers set to go to Aruba had their t...

04/26/2024

Southwest now has their schedule open through March 5, 2025! I have several travelers who have been waiting for SW package pricing for early next year and I'll be reaching out to you in the coming days with pricing for your vacations. If you're interested in traveling early next year and ❤️ Southwest, now is the time to start thinking about making those plans. Are you planning to travel with friends? I can set you up as a group for a discount with a minimum of 5 rooms!

04/23/2024

I'm SUPER stoked about one of my recent new bookings. I've got a honeymoon couple that is soon to be headed for a romantic getaway at Cocobay Resort in Antigua! Does this not look like the BEST place to relax after a crazy wedding week and kick off your new life together as husband and wife? 😍 I'll admit I'm a bit envious. I can get you there too though, no matter what you might be celebrating. Message me for more info and a quote!

(photo credit: Cocobay Resort)

04/12/2024

I just came across a super deal for ARUBA!

Aug 19-25, 2024
Six nights at the adults-only all-inclusive Riu Palace Antillas, ocean view room
Roundtrip flights on Southwest out of Kansas City
Currently priced at just $4,648 for 2!

I normally see 6-night packages to this resort with flights around $1,000-$1500 higher. Take advantage of end of summer pricing and avoid the risk of hurricanes because Aruba sits below the hurricane belt. Plus it's a fabulous island to rent a car and explore. I stayed at this property last June and was very impressed with my time there, and I’ve had many happy clients there in the last several months. It's right on Palm Beach with a beach path that stretches about a mile for beautiful morning walks, plus it's walkable to explore great shopping and restaurants off-site. This is a GREAT VALUE! Message me for more details.

Pricing does not yet include travel protection, Aruba airport transfers, etc. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

04/10/2024

Did you know I can book escorted tours in the USA? You don't have to have your own group to book--I can book you into public groups so that you can travel with like minded folks, meet new people, and enjoy the sites and destinations with a tour guide, without having to get yourselves around. It's a win-win-win!

So much is included with these escorted tours. You would be traveling with a group of 20-40 others, and it includes first class hotel stays, transportation by motorcoach and the services of a local guide traveling with you, many included daily tours, and several meals. They really are a great value.

I can currently see a great tour at a great value in August, touring around Northern California with Globus. It starts and ends in San Francisco and tours top sites of that city with the option of seeing the redwoods of Muir Woods State Park. Then off you go to Sonoma to experience wine country. From there you'll spend a couple of days at Lake Tahoe where you can take a scenic cruise, soar above the scenery in a gondola, or visit Virginia City Nevada to learn about Comstock Lode and the Pony Express. Then you'll move on to Yosemite National Park for 3 nights at the luxury Tenaya Lodge with your choice of hiking or tram tours among other sites throughout the park, and then finally returning to San Francisco where you can fly home or add extra nights to explore the city more on your own (additional cost).

This tour runs Aug 9-17, 2024 and is currently on sale for just $4,119 per person. This is about $1,000 per person less than the same tour in 2025 so it's a killer deal! This includes your hotel stays, transportation during the tour, tours of many top sites, daily breakfast and 2 dinners, and the services of a local guide and driver for 9 days! This is a great price for peak summer travel -- Amazing!

Reach out to me for more information if you're interested!

(This price does not yet include roundtrip flights from your home airport, optional travel insurance, additional meals, optional add on tours, optional additional nights in San Francisco, etc.)

Photo Credit: Globus Journeys

04/08/2024

Secrets Playa Blanca is a brand new adults-only all-inclusive resort that just opened about 2 months ago in the Costa Mujeres area of Mexico and initial reviews are fabulous! The spa and fitness center will likely not be fully opened until June, but right now they're offering some amazing grand opening pricing for mid-May. For a 5-night stay May 14-19 in a tropical view king room and including roundtrip nonstop flights on Frontier out of KC, I can see package pricing at just $3,063 for 2 adults! Just 2 weeks later and the cost is almost double for the cheapest room category that I can see at that time! Shorter 3 or 4 night stays are also available at discounted pricing.

Are you a grown-up who likes to vacation without other people's kids around? Do you like the idea of staying at a brand-spanking-new resort that's all fresh and clean? Do you LOVE a great vacation value? This is a good one to take advantage of! Even though the spa and fitness center buildings are not completed yet, they're still offering limited spa services in other locations on resort.

I think this property is going to become very popular, very quickly as it fully opens and summer begins. Are you interested in more info on this one? Hit me up!

(photo rendering credit: Hyatt Inclusive Collection)

04/05/2024

An all-inclusive resort on Isla Mujeres in Mexico is a finalist to be named "Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World" for 2024 with a luxury travel advisor magazine!

Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets has been open less than a year, but it's already got a huge following and is one of the prettiest resorts I've ever visited--no question from me why it's in the running for this title. I had the pleasure of staying here for a couple of nights in August, and I'm SO looking forward to a return visit someday. I had clients stay in January--and "bougie" was one word they used to describe it. It's a small resort so it's got a very boutique feel, comes with butler service for EVERY room category, and even has a water slide! Did I mention this resort is for adults-only? No kids will be hogging this water slide--it's strictly for grown-ups!

No, it's definitely not cheap, but if you want to be wowed--this is the place to go to celebrate your honeymoon, milestone anniversary, retirement, or a Tuesday ;)

Message me for a quote!

04/05/2024

DID YOU KNOW??

There are 15 airports in foreign countries around the world that offer preclearance of US Customs before boarding your US-bound flight, making your flight a like domestic US flight and allowing you to go straight to your connecting gate in your layover city. How handy is that? No need to plan for a longer layover on return to the US from those destinations to allow time for US Customs processing.

So if you're returning home from Shannon or Dublin in Ireland, Aruba, Bermuda, Abu Dhabi in the UAE, or the 9 major airports in Canada, you'll clear US Customs in that destination's airport. Groovy!