Onyx & Evergreen Travel

17/06/2024

10 hours in London… and GO 🫖

Upon arrival at Heathrow:

〰Get return train ticket for around $14 for the day
〰Take the train to central London - end point is Arnos Grove, but you’ll exit at green park for Buckingham Palace [note: I would not advise this for my clients, as I would get them a private driver. After a long flight, trust me when I say, you don’t want to to take luggage up staircases, or stress over where to go. But for a quick layover - it was just fine for me!)
〰Make sure you know your return terminal
〰Don’t forget to get your ticket out again when exiting!
***Allow an hour and a half to get to city center and through customs

NOTE 🧳: I was lucky enough to have friends at Hotel Cafe Royal to drop my bags and change, but you can always find luggage storage at the airport

Once you’re in London:

〰Marvel at Buckingham Palace and Gardens - (or if running ahead of time, go to Kensington Gardens)
〰Stroll through James Park
〰See the Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminister) and Big Ben
〰Walk across Westminster Bridge for some views of the London Eye
〰Continue along the Southbank to the Shakespeare Globe, borough market
〰Extra time would allow for Tower of London
〰High Tea at Oscar Wilde Lounge 🫖

My best advice? Spend MORE TIME in beautiful London! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 I work with incredible local partners to make your stay authentic and top notch. Plan your journey here: onyxandevergreen.com

16/06/2024

Kotor Bay, Montenegro | a town perfect for kitty and lake lovers!

If Lake Como is on your list, but the price tag is a turn off, consider Montenegro! I just adored this little town, and it’s just a stones throw from beautiful Dubrovnik, Croatia 🏰😻

14/06/2024

Favorite Itinerary Friday! Swiss Wonderland🇨🇭🫕

Castles, fondue, and yodeling - oh my!

🎶Live alphorn music for a traditional Swiss experience
🏰Explore the incredible castles of Lugano and Montreux’s Château of Chillon.
🧀Sample the famous cheese of Gruyères and tour a Swiss chocolate factory.
🌄Take in the impressive view of the Matterhorn from atop Gornergrat, near Zermatt.
🚂Ride iconic railways like the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express

I met an incredible Swiss supplier at my recent conference in Spain - it's the perfect family hotel where they offer movie nights and serve the meal that's being enjoyed in the film. How fun!?

Is Switzerland on your list? This is a dreamy, year-round destination perfect for adventure and nature lovers. Start planning your experience here: onyxandevergreen.com

14/06/2024

Know your flight rights!

Rights for Canceled or Delayed flights EXCEPT for weather or force majeure:

At no additional cost, even if fare class unavailable, you can require airline to:
- Confirm on next available flight
- Confirm you on an earlier flight
- Confirm you on another airline if no other acceptable alternatives
- Provide a full refund
- Overnight accommodations if overnight is forced

PRIORITY FOR BUMPING PASSENGERS
- No seats
- Check in time
- Fare paid VS miles
- Airline status
- Severe hardships

FLIGHT MYTH:
Going incognito and/or clearing your cookies will get you cheaper flights. There’s enough outliers, (largely due to algorithm adjustments) to keep this alive, but the airlines are not tracking you. They don’t need to.

MYTH: purchase on a Tuesday or Wednesday – it’s cheaper.
FACT: “Once upon a time“, it was a little cheaper to purchase during the week. However Google produced in analysis covering 5 years of flight data showing only a 1.9% decrease. has debunked this with their own study.

That said, there are often more fluctuations in price during the week because there’s more visibility to changes during the week- on top of the algorithms that are always checking.

While ‘day you purchase’ is largely irrelevant, ‘day you fly’ might be.

Tues. /Wed. are best to travel, as working vacationers tend to fill planes on Fridays and Sundays.

As the days to your departure decrease, prices will fluctuate based on how far ahead or behind ‘the models’ the flight is.

In summary - the earlier you book, typically the better! Stay flexible, and work with a travel advisor to have a human to advocate for you, should any issues arise.

Happy flying!

12/06/2024

Why hello! Megan here - I’m happy you stopped by.

If we haven’t met, I’m an ND girl who is dangerously passionate about seeing the world, and making the world a smaller place for humans like you.

When I travel, I don’t just wander aimlessly, but instead I view cities from the eyes of many different humans. I try to visualize certain clients who would and wouldn’t like tours, destinations, or hotels. I’m very strategic as it’s my job to educate myself on the world.

If you’re a honeymooner strapped for time and $$$, I will be your girl to take a huge task off your plate, and work hard to keep you in your price point while giving you your dream honeymoon.
—
Or perhaps you’re an empty nester who values luxury service and not having to worry about safety or logistics - I’ll curate a custom itinerary and even give ideas of what to do in your free time, so you can fall back in love with your spouse and not think about a thing while you explore a beautiful city.
__

Whoever you are, if you lead with curiousity and joy, I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.

Start the conversation here: onyxandevergreen.com 💫

11/06/2024

Emotions Seville 2024 🇪🇸💫

It was an honor to be invited to the esteemed Trade Show in Spain, where boutique hotels, family-owned suppliers, and ambitious humans from around the globe joined in one room to talk about how to enhance our clients’ travel.

The focus was on authentic, local and immersive travel, which is the epitome of my business model.

I have so many new connections and ideas to enhance European vacations, and I cannot wait to bring these dreams to life.

Do you know someone who is dreaming of exploring Europe? Share this post with them - they’ll thank you later 😉🌻

11/06/2024

Common mistakes travelers make when going to Europe -

Hey, ! I just returned from Europe for the second time in 2 months, and WOW, it never gets old. My heart was left in Spain, and well, also... Portugal, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia. I loved it all too much! I met over 50 suppliers from all around the world at the Luxury Trade Sho...

09/06/2024

Hello, my Bismarck friends!

It’s that time of year again🥂If you’ve worked with us in the past and had a great experience, would you spread the love and vote for us for the Bismarck Tribune?

We’re listed under services 🌎🤍

Thank you for your support!

The Bismarck Tribune’s Best of the Best is back! Nominate your favorite businesses now through June 19th. Nominate at the link below. go.bismarcktribune.com/bestof24?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_The_Bismarck_Tribune

05/06/2024

What a unique destination! Sri Lanka really has it all.

03/06/2024

Clients are traveling to the following places this week:

- Dominican Republic for a villa stay with their family of 6! 🏝
- Portugal + Scotland for wine, golf, and incredible views 🍷
- Hawaii for a family getaway 🌺
- Alaska for a bucket list getaway on Silversea 🚢

No location is off limits.

Know somebody who plans to travel in the next year? Tag them in this post, or send them to my website onyxandevergreen.com 💛

31/05/2024

Favorite Itinerary Friday: My clients are golfing St Andrews in Scotland next week!

I got my client on the waiting list over a year ago, and it's finally time for this dream to come true! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⛳️

After Scotland, Michelle and Mike are headed to Portugal (we'll miss each other by just a couple of days, as I'll be in the Algarve when they're in Lisbon!)

They'll explore Porto, a vibrant and culturally rich destination with a blend of history and of course, port wine!

Then they have a private Duoro Valley tour, with a wine tasting and river cruise in the valley, where they'll get dropped off at their palace for more golf, hot springs, and a lovely spa.

After the Duoro Valley, they'll head to Lisbon, stopping in Nazaré on the way, an adorable fishing village.

They'll end their incredible journey in Lisbon, experiencing Sintra and are even there during St Anthony's Festival in Lisbon!

Have Portugal on your bucket list? Follow along on my Instagram as I'll be experiencing the country next week 🇵🇹🌊
https://www.instagram.com/onyx.and.evergreen.travel/

30/05/2024

“They might not remember this vacation, but I will”

Mallory and Pat didn’t want their babies to miss out on this Costa Rican adventure. Although more logistics were required, such as BabyQuip on arrival, creating these family memories were so important for them.

From surfing, to a zoo day, to ziplining, hiking and beach days, the Klattes had a wonderful time in the country of Pura Vida.

29/05/2024

Packing tips you’ll want to save 💫

Have a long haul flight? Don’t forget the melatonin, an eye mask, compression socks, and your toothbrush! This helps make your bedtime more like a normal routine, and creates an experience to make your flight less daunting.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll do whatever you can to stick with a carry on bag! This avoids the risk of lost luggage, waiting in line to pick up your bag, and offers more peace of mind. But of course, it comes with restrictions. Can you limit your liquids? Can you roll your clothes, and utilize packing cubes?

Packing cubes are a lifesaver, especially if I’m switching hotels more often. It helps me to keep things organized, and not make a total mess of the room and my suitcase.

If you’re checking a bag, don’t forget Apple air tags!

Be sure to check out which lounges you have access through your credit card. My best recommendation is Chase Sapphire Reserve. This card offers amazing benefits and Priority Pass lounge access, reimbursed Global Entry fees, and so much more. I promise, it pays for itself.

Check out my recommended packing list here: https://www.onyxandevergreen.com/travelmusthaves

What is your favorite travel hack or tip?

28/05/2024

I used to be a backpacker.

I would rush from place to place, barely settling into a city, hitting the iconic sites, and moving along. I saw it, right?!

I realized I wanted more. I wanted to meet the locals, see life from their view, immerse myself into the culture, stay at a property that enhanced a destination rather than just rushing to sleep there, and learn what was so special about the beautiful views in front of me.

This changed the way I viewed travel. It’s why I got into this industry - to help others slow down and appreciate the world.

Your next favorite memory won’t come from an 8 hour sprint through Amsterdam before packing up for a flight to the next city. (I mean listen, you’re cool and can make anything fun, but I hope you get my point 😉)

So, where in the world do you want to immerse yourself into next?

Start the conversation here : onyxandevergreen.com

27/05/2024

Is an overwater bungalow on your bucket list? Planning a trip to the Maldives can be a bit overwhelming, so here are some tips to narrow down your search:

Do you want a beach bungalow, or over the water bungalow?

Adults only?

Quiet and intimate, or do you prefer more entertainment nearby?

Is it important to you to be able to snorkel right off the beach at any time, or are you okay with an organized trip to the reef?

Do you love the idea of a seaplane to see all the little islands below, or do you prefer a speedboat journey?

Let’s design your ultimate romantic getaway 🏝️🌅

onyxandevergreen.com

24/05/2024

Favorite Itinerary Friday: Spain + Portugal for a luxury trade show, next week!

I'm headed to Seville for the esteemed Emotions Trade Show, where I'll be networking with the best travel suppliers in Europe, learning about unique itinerary ideas, lovely hotels, and beautiful destinations to enhance your travels.

From Flamenco shows, to tapas tastings, to exploring the Algarve, Lisbon and Barcelona - this will be a trip I can't wait to design for more humans.

Check out some more info about the conference here: 🇪🇸💃
https://www.emotionstravelshow.com/index.html

Follow along on my Instagram next week: .and.evergreen.travel

24/05/2024

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a medieval queen in a foreign land, I know just the place.

Welcome to my little pocket of the internet, where I share my adventures, travel tips and insights and design custom trips to anywhere in the world.

If you lead with kindness and curiosity - you’re in the right place. I hope you stick around 🌎💫

23/05/2024

From beaches to birdies, summer travel is around the corner! - https://mailchi.mp/29e027ca0cc7/what-i-learned-in-italy-10325001

22/05/2024

North Dakota is heating up... You’re probably drowning in grad parties, wrapping up school details, and solidifying summer plans, you maybe haven’t even thought about summer travel. Hit the easy button and delegate this out to a pro.

Some ideas:

🚢 River cruise through Europe (an all-inclusive, floating boutique hotel!)

🛥️ Island Hopping in Croatia!

Your luxury cruise includes swimming in the sea, learning about traditional oyster farming methods before an unforgettable meal of fresh oysters with a glass of local wine. You will also get to sample traditional dinners while surrounded by olive groves and lavender fields.

🌺Hawaii Island exploration

The legends of the islands come to life through Hawaiian music, hula dance, fireside tales and other enchantment. The perfect family destination - Enjoy a Māka‘ika‘i Nature Tour, luaus galore, and even watch movies under the stars on Hālāwai Lawn.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Stargaze in the Scottish Highlands. Explore charming villages surrounded by the exquisite English countryside. Feel the buzz of London and Edinburgh, where the centuries collide into an intriguing blend of past and present. From the Cotswolds to Cardiff, Inverness to the Isle of Skye, to sleeping in a castle, to golfing St Andrews - your next bucket list experience is around the corner.

And so much more. Customize your summer adventure here: onyxandevergreen.com

21/05/2024

From beaches to birdies, summer travel is around the corner! - https://mailchi.mp/40e07543590c/what-i-learned-in-italy-10313121

15/05/2024

Speaking of partnerships, I’m still in awe over how fun it was to host Luxury Travel & Wine Night with + .

We spent the night inspiring North Dakotans to dream bigger, write down their goals, and see the potential our world has. And of course, we had a wine pairing with 4 countries from around the world.🍷🌎

Thank you + for taking a chance on my business, and + for being a part of a this event in some way.

And a huge thanks to my favorite local spa for sponsoring a gift certificate 💕Gratitude Spa + Salon

Thank you, Ashley Eide: Creator for the wonderful photos.

We had a powerful night together, dreaming of yachting around Greece, exploring Bali, river cruising through Europe, sailing Australia & New Zealand, and so much more.

If you attended this years’ Travel Night, what do you want to learn more about at the next one?!

13/05/2024

People always ask… but who do you travel with?!

I am invited on these work trips by my supplier friends, who “host” myself and other travel advisors from around the world. We spend a week talking shop, digging into what makes a client vacation exceptional, and we talk with locals to educate ourselves on the destination, tours, and hotels that are possible to stay at. I never plan the same vacation twice, so it’s so important to know the quality of product I share with travelers.

Planning a trip takes a village, and I couldn’t do it without my partners and colleagues, who I build these relationships with. Because you deserve 24/7 security and support while traveling.🙌🏼

You can’t VIP yourself, so it’s important to have an army of humans who care, and understand the destination you’re traveling to.

🌎❕I promise, there is a way to enhance the way you see the world, and I know the right people to make it happen.

13/05/2024

Landy’s family took a once in a lifetime trip to Europe and gallivanted their way across Barcelona, Venice, Florence, and Paris.

We planned this no more than 2 months in advance(🤣👏🏻), and I made sure they had dining reservations for 6 arranged, (so they wouldn’t have to think!) unique experiences, and of course 24/7 security, in all of these countries.

They laughed and laughed, enjoyed cooking classes, shopping at Louis Vuitton, adventures through Paris on a side car, walking tours to appreciate the beautiful cities, enjoyed a Tapas tour in Spain, and so much more.

Memories like this are way more accessible when you have a human in your corner, to tie it all together 👏🏻

Thank you, .ann for letting me be your ringleader 😉🤍

10/05/2024

Favorite itinerary Friday! 🌸💎
Clients are heading to Tuscany to stay at my favorite property, where they'll be immersed straight into an Italian fairytale.

They'll then journey down to Sicily, where they'll enjoy the hustle and bustle of Taormina, stay where White Lotus was filmed, and round the trip off with a helicopter arrival at a seaside resort. We'll let the pictures do this one justice.

Can you think of a better paradise? Plan yours here: onyxandevergreen.com

09/05/2024

Bechke and Tyler came back to me (after eloping in Ireland 2 years ago!) for an epic anniversary celebration.

They had a unique request of pairing Lake Como, Venice, and Sicily, so I researched and found the best routing, and of course we had to throw in Greece! 🇬🇷

Thank you, for always trusting me, and for the Facebook shout outs. 🤍

Tyler said it best - “Always stay ready for those candids.”

Where to next year?!!?

08/05/2024

Does your brain feel as tangled as these vines with grad parties, kids’ sports and end-of-year projects, and summer coming in HOT?

You maybe haven’t even thought about summer travel plans, so don’t add another thing to your plate.

I’m your girl for all things travel - big or small, let’s get a well-earned vacation on your calendar ☀️🌵🥂

Start the conversation here - onyxandevergreen.com

07/05/2024

Go to Montenegro. There’s kitties.

But seriously, this tiny little hidden gem of a country was so enchanting! I like to think of it as a more reasonably priced, smaller, Lake Como.

Perfect to pair with Dubrovnik, let’s consider Montenegro if you love nature, want to get on the water, and of course if you want to see plenty of 🐈🐈‍⬛. there’s even a cat museum in old town!