Travel Made Joyful

17/06/2024

Do you find the car insurance question confusing/scary when picking up your rental? Fear not! This helpful article explains a lot about what is covered, what isn't covered, and even talks about which credit cards include these benefits. I've been doing a lot of reading the past few months on this as I advise clients for their destinations, so I hope you find this helpful. 🚗

Side note - be sure to note if your destination will require an International Driver's Permit, too!

https://www.going.com/guides/the-best-credit-cards-with-car-rental-insurance

11/06/2024

Properties I'm loving: SICILY EDITION! While you may be thinking White Lotus and Taormina, I'm obsessed with Susafa - a Susafa is a boutique luxury eco-retreat. This family-run renovated farmhouse is a leader in the area of sustainability and farm-to-table cuisine and winemaking, and is gorgeous at any time of year. Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection, you'll want to stay at least three nights here to enjoy the full range of activities.

I met the owners of Susafa in London recently and they are so friendly, warm, and passionate about their home, and can't wait to welcome you! And if you're ready to book a stay, of course let me know so I can snag you some special perks and amenities.

https://www.susafa.com/en

23/05/2024

ICYMI - Melissa planned an awesome skip trip for spring break out in Durango, Colorado! Check out all her tips for an amazing time out west. Also, we're starting to plan our next Southern Africa trip for 2025 and we want to hear from you! Get all the latest and greatest in our monthly newsletter. #

https://mailchi.mp/91f7d5b04365/may-2024

30/04/2024

NEW SERIES! We’re going to start a recurring series featuring new places and properties we’re loving all over the world. First up, London! Last week I got a tour of the beautiful .mayfair and I immediately thought of so many of our US clients focused on sustainable, eco-friendly luxury. These hotels incorporate nature and sustainability into every element of their hotels: fresh local fruit in the lobby, recycled wine bottles for glassware, filtered water in your room instead of plastic bottles, and even your table was a felled tree stump converted into furniture. The rooms are calming, comfortable, and yet classically elegant. I described them as “Your super cool rich friend’s house.” 🤣

30/04/2024

Travel Scams: While I haven't heard of (or been a victim of) any of these scams, I liked the overall messaging of awareness. When traveling anywhere (not just in Europe), the key is to remain aware and not get distracted. As a native Midwesterner, my instinct is to be kind and helpful, but when traveling, I have to turn on what I call "focus mode" so I don't fall victim to someone trying to take advantage.

Have you ever gotten tricked by any of these?

These are some of the most common travel scams in Europe, how to avoid them and what to do if you're a victim.

23/04/2024

The newsletter is out and there are some great money-saving tips in this month's issue! Plus, read the recap of Katie's safari in Tanzania...but only if you like seeing adorable baby animals. 🦁🐗🐘🦏🦒🐆

Well, that’s a wrap on spring break 2024! And what a month it was! Many of you traveled all over the world and had all kinds of amazing adventures. Some of you are gearing up for your summer trips coming up just around the corner, and some of you might be brainstorming where you might want to go n...

02/04/2024

Melissa here, my family and I just finished a fantastic spring break ski trip. We usually choose a warm destination for spring break but this year it was a unanimous vote for a ski trip. Some of our favorite ski areas are Vail and Snowmass. This year we went back to a family favorite, Purgatory. Purgatory is one of 8 resorts that uses the Power Pass that allows kids ages 12 and under a free season pass with no blackout dates. This ski resort is right outside the sweet town of Durango, Colorado which is a year round destination with skiing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, the historic Durango-Silverton train and proximity to National Parks like Mesa Verde.

15/03/2024

I got to tour some amazing properties today with - and absolutely loved it! So many rooms with tons of space, beautiful design, and ideal for families traveling with kids, not to mention top-notch food and beverage programs! Let’s chat to see if these might be a fit for your next stay in .

13/03/2024

As so many of you are getting ready to head out on spring break trips in the next month, I wanted to share a blog post I wrote on packing for kids. Even if you don't have kiddos to pack for, there are some good nuggets of wisdom in here to help you on your next adventure. May the bag-weighing scale be ever in your favor.

https://travelmadejoyful.com/2023/03/15/pro-tips-on-packing-for-travel-with-kids/

😉

04/03/2024

PRO TIPS on points and miles - since so many of our new clients lately have been telling us they've gotten in to the credit card points game, I wanted to share some of the helpful tools that I use to search for award availability. I love Going for their great flight deals, and now they offer points and miles deals for Elite members! If you're just getting started, here's a great guide on how to start looking for space. And remember - flexibility is your best friend!

https://www.going.com/guides/the-best-tools-for-finding-award-space

27/02/2024

One of the things I always check before booking any sort of encounter with animals is the treatment of any animal that might be involved, and whether the experience is ethical. I thought this was a great article with tips and a litmus test for anyone who is interested in interacting with wildlife on a trip.

https://www.going.com/guides/ethical-animal-encounters

Not all animal encounters benefit the animals they involve, and it can be very tricky to know the difference between a responsible, ethical experience and one that’s harmful. Here are some tips to help determine if an experience is a responsible one.

23/02/2024

Our February newsletter is up and full of pro tips for your next trip! Plus, we share some of our favorite ideas for the and a recap of a short island getaway to beautiful

https://mailchi.mp/92c557ef8acc/february2024

20/02/2024

We absolutely fell in love with the amazing island of last week! This beautiful island has everything: majestic and inspiring scenery, beautiful resorts, an incredible food scene, and, of course, sunshine and plenty of beautiful places to soak it in. The best part? It’s just a few short hours from most places in Europe! Just what we needed to carry us through until spring break!

17/02/2024

While there are incredible destinations to explore all over the world, the National Parks in the US are an absolute treasure and can make for an incredible vacation that is mixed with relaxation and adventure. And did you know families with fourth grade students may gain free entry for their family into all 63 parks? Yosemite, Zion, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Parks are all gorgeous but also require planning for entry and camping/lodge reservations (which we can help with). One lesser known park that is unique and incredibly beautiful is Olympic National Park, located in the state of Washington. This park encompasses diverse ecosystems ranging from lush temperate rainforests to rugged mountain peaks and pristine coastline. Olympic National Park and the surrounding area is a great way to experience the untouched beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

05/02/2024

I had so much fun exploring some of the amazing last week with in - check out some of the amazing rooms! I love that each of these historic, restored properties are family-owned and have cultural partnerships with some of the city’s most amazing places! Let me know when you’re ready to book your next trip!

26/01/2024

I (Melissa) have enjoyed living in a wide variety of places in the US and abroad, but did you know I once worked as a Park Ranger in Sequoia National Park? My kids have now also fallen in love with the National Parks and completing the Junior Ranger programs in the parks they visit. I have a deep love for adventures into the outdoors and the joy and experiences the National Parks offer people and especially kids. 4th grade students even get a pass to enjoy all National Parks with free entry for the student and their family. National Parks have become increasingly popular, camp sites can be difficult to get at the most popular parks and and many parks now require advanced reservations for entry. If you are thinking of a National Parks trip this year, I would love to help you navigate the process and plan an amazing trip. Listed below are the parks that are requiring reservations for Summer of 2024.

1. Glacier National Park, Montana
2. Arches National Park, Utah
3. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
4. Yosemite National Park, California
5. Acadia National Park, Maine

25/01/2024

Another favorite type of travel for my family and I are multi-family trips. We've enjoyed trips with large groups of extended family, reunions with college friends and their kids, and vacations planned with the families we love spending time with in our current stage of life. My biggest tip for large groups is to decide what type of housing works best for the group and keeps in mind all ages. Sometimes that might mean a large beach house built for several families, cabins, or even a resort where each family gets their own space with a shared common area. Listed (in no particular order) and pictured are a few of our favorite locations.

1. Rosemary Beach, FL
2. Outer Banks, NC
3. Ski trips (Colorado, Utah & the Upper Peninsula)
4. Group Camping/Glamping in State or National Parks
5. Destination Beach Trips (Hawaii, Caribbean, St. John USVI)

23/01/2024

I love traveling with my family, but as the pace of life has sped up, I've found a great way to stay connected to friends is meeting up at a destination that is in the middle or that is on the bucket list of the group. Whether it's a long weekend in Door County, college friend reunion, or gathering with old friends across the globe, we can help you plan an amazing getaway to reunite with the people you love most.

Over the years some of my favorite trips have included sister trips where we are relaxing in the sunshine of Sonoma or skiing powder runs in Utah, reuniting with college friends in Europe, or even destination race vacations with training friends. Let us know what kind of reunion you and your friends are dreaming up, and we can make it a reality.

22/01/2024

Social media takeover! I (Melissa) will be taking over our social media this week to share a little bit more about my background and my favorite types of travel. I am a mom to four amazing kids (3 middle schoolers and 1 elementary schooler) and wife to my favorite adventure partner. I have spent my career in education. I taught Spanish for 8 years before becoming an instructional coach. In my free time I enjoy traveling, skiing, water sports, music, good food, coaching youth sports (cross country/triathlon), and training for triathlons. In fact, Katie and I originally met while we were both training for Ironman Wisconsin in 2018.

My favorite type of family travel is anything that allows for adventures or challenges together yet plenty of down time to just relax, read books, or play games. Some of our favorite trips with young kids included beach trips with multiple families or trips to visit National Parks. As the kids have aged, some of our favorite trips have included St. John, Kauai, Spain, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and lots of ski/mountain adventures in California/Colorado. I love planning family travel and finding ways to make sure that every family member has an amazing experience.

Tomorrow I will be sharing about my favorite types of adult getaways and trips.

17/01/2024

In this month's newsletter, we're sharing four things you should know before you decide to rent a house, as well as all the exciting places we're helping you visit in 2024! Plus, get ready for Melissa's social media takeover next week.

https://bit.ly/January24TMJ

05/01/2024

2024 Plans! Where is Katie off to this year? It's going to be a big one, with some dream-come-true trips that I've been dreaming of for years. There may be more, but here's what's officially scheduled:

February - Madeira Island, Portugal 🇵🇹
Spring Break - Safari in Tanzania and beach time in Zanzibar! 🇹🇿
May - Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
July - The Olympics in France (Paris and Lyon) 🇫🇷
October - New Zealand with my daughter 🇳🇿

I'm also hoping to explore the Scandinavian countries around the holidays, the Scottish Isles, and potentially Albania and Montenegro.

Where are YOU headed this year?

02/01/2024

In 2023, we planned trips to six continents for our amazing clients and their travel companions (thank you for your support)!

Curious where our clients visited? Are any of these places on your list for 2024?

United States: Alaska, Arizona (3), Colorado (2), Disneyland, Disney World, Hawaii (5), South Dakota
Australia - 4
Austria - 3
Belgium
Brazil
China
Costa Rica - 4
Croatia - 2
Czechia - 2
Denmark
Finland - 2
France - 10
Germany - 4
Hungary
India
Ireland - 7
Italy - 4
Japan
Jordan
Mexico - 2
Montenegro
Morocco
Netherlands - 3
New Zealand - 3
Norway - 4
Peru
Portugal - 2
Puerto Rico
Scotland - 2
Slovenia - 2
South Africa - 3
Spain - 3
Switzerland
UK (England) - 7
Zimbabwe - 2

31/12/2023

Melissa's 2023 Travel in Review: I am so grateful for a year of active travel squeezed in between lots of domestic travel for hockey, ski team, and baseball. I am also so thankful for the amazing people we met along the way and the opportunity to help people make amazing memories around the world.

Jan: Skiing in Vail & Big Island of Hawaii
Feb: Zion National Park
Mar: Tarpon, Springs Florida
Apr: Skiing in Aspen/Snowmass
July: Door County, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe
August: Costa Rica: San José, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Santa Teresa Costa Rica
November: Nosara, Costa Rica

New Countries: 1
Total: 14

29/12/2023

Katie's 2023 Travel in Review: Wow, what a year! I'm not sure I'll be able to top this one, but I'm sure going to give it a try in 2024. So thankful for opportunities to see this beautiful world, make amazing memories, and meet tons of new friends.

Jan: Disneyland 🐭
Mar: Australia work trip, Ecuador & Galapagos 🇦🇺🇪🇨
May: London and Umbria, Italy 🇬🇧🇮🇹
June: MOVED to the UK! 🇬🇧
July: Paris and Dublin 🇫🇷🇮🇪
August: More London, Cornwall, Switzerland 🇬🇧🇨🇭
September: More London :) 🇬🇧
October: Australia solo trip, Spain 🇦🇺🇪🇸
November: UK adventures to Cornwall and the Cotswolds
December: London and Edinburgh Christmas trips, Italy work trip 🇬🇧🇮🇹

New Countries: 2 - Ecuador, Spain
Total: 32, 6 continents

21/12/2023

ICYMI - this month's newsletter is full of hints for holiday travel and my new favorite hotels around the world! Check it out and let me know if you're heading to any of these destinations in 2024.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

https://bit.ly/tmjdec2023

18/12/2023

This place is still an incredibly magical and special one. You truly feel transported to another time. Being here at Christmas made it all the more magical - and fans will especially love how much of the books are based on pieces of this city (we found the real Tom Riddle’s grave!). A shoutout to the entire team at the for making this a Christmas we’ll remember for years!

16/12/2023

So happy to be back in one of my favorite places for some Christmastime fun - our amazing hosts at didn’t disappoint! This place is stunning. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

12/12/2023

I’ve had such a great time exploring and with these past four days. I’ve learned a ton and rediscovered how much I love Venice. And as usual, the people I’ve met and relationships I’ve started building have been invaluable. Can’t wait to help all of you on your next trips here. And if you haven’t thought of as a luxury brand, you should! The properties we’ve stayed in have been out of this world amazing. Grazie mille for your incredible Italian hospitality, and 🇮🇹

08/12/2023

Buona sera, Venezia! Stay tuned to my story tomorrow to see all the amazing things I’m scoping out for you in with my friends at and

30/11/2023

I love when work takes me to and it’s still pretty surreal! I have been working on building my network of contacts and partners within the global hotel and tourism community this year. There are so many amazing people that want to showcase their beautiful cities and countries, and it is exciting to work with them to make my clients trips great. Can’t wait to share all cool things I find out about in my December newsletter!