Global Family Travels

22/11/2024

🌴 Discover the Magic of Panama with Global Family Travels! 🌴

Looking for the ultimate family adventure? Panama offers a perfect blend of thrilling activities, cultural immersion, and breathtaking nature! From exploring the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal to relaxing on pristine beaches and engaging in hands-on turtle conservation, there’s something for everyone. Our latest blog and newsletter feature information about these trips!

✨ Highlights of our Panama Trips:
🌿 Witness incredible biodiversity in lush rainforests like Soberanía National Park
🐢 Participate in sea turtle conservation along the Turtle Eco Route
🏝 Relax on the stunning beaches of the San Blas and Pearl Islands
🌍 Immerse yourself in Indigenous culture and traditions
🚶‍♂️ Explore the historic charm of Casco Viejo

Whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation, or meaningful cultural experiences, our Panama family journeys are designed to create unforgettable memories!

Link to blog: https://bit.ly/Panama-Trips-with-GFT-Blog
Link to newsletter: https://bit.ly/GFT-November-Newsletter-Panama

📅 Plan your trip now and make Panama your next family destination: Link to Panama Trips

19/11/2024

Our CEO/Founder, Jennifer Spatz, just returned from an amazing week exploring Okinawa to bring some more immersive experiences to Global Family Travels' Japan offerings! 🌿✨

Enjoy these few inspirational photos from the highlights of her trip discovering the island’s rich cultural heritage, learning about the traditional lifestyle of the island, kayaking through lush mangroves, snorkeling, hiking, and learning about Okinawa’s status as a Blue Zone! Stay tuned for more information about some exciting Okinawan itineraries coming soon! Check our Japan website for more info soon: https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/japan

🏝


Visit Okinawa Japan VISIT JAPAN🇯🇵

Visit Okinawa Japan 일본정부관광국 JNTO
Adventure Travel Trade Association

08/11/2024

know that Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) helps fund education, healthcare, and environmental initiatives to keep Bhutan one of the happiest and most sustainable countries in the world? 🌏💚 Every visitor contributes to preserving the "Land of the Thunder Dragon" while enjoying its unique culture and stunning landscapes.

Discover Bhutan with Global Family Travels through meaningful family adventures, or join our yoga retreat with Tina Templeman for an experience filled with harmony and rejuvenation: 🔗https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/bhutan

Learn more about how Bhutan builds happiness through sustainability and the SFD: 🔗https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/post/bhutan-how-sustainability-builds-happiness

Explore more about Bhutan’s culture of harmony and happiness here: 🔗https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/post/discover-bhutan-and-experience-a-culture-of-harmony-and-happiness

07/11/2024

🌟✨ Embark on an unforgettable journey to Ladakh, India, in 2025 with our Elevated Expressions: Art and Culture in the Himalayas of Ladakh trip, June 29th – July 10th! 🎨🖌️ This immersive journey invites participants to explore Ladakh's artistic legacy while also creating their own art, inspired by stunning mountain landscapes, rich culture, and the unique artistic legacy of this remarkable region. Bonus: an optional pre-trip adventure to Agra and the Taj Mahal from June 26th – 28th! 🕌

For over 14 years, Global Family Travels has been connecting travelers with the compassionate people of Ladakh. This incredible experience is crafted with our Learn, Serve & Immerse pillars, making it much more than just a sightseeing tour:

🌍 LEARN: Dive deep into Ladakh's heritage by visiting historic landmarks like Leh Palace and the sacred monasteries of Thiksey and Hemis. Discover ancient rock art in Rong Valley and learn about local craftsmanship with visits to artisan workshops.

🤝 SERVE: Support local community initiatives and engage with inspiring organizations like the Siddhartha School and Ngari Institute, which provide quality education to youth.

❤️ IMMERSE: Truly connect with Ladakhi culture. Enjoy traditional meals, take part in religious practices, paint in serene landscapes, and join a community celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. This journey is about meaningful engagement and creating lasting memories.

Reserve your spot now and start planning your artistic adventure in Ladakh! Check out the link in our bio 🔗 or visit: https://bit.ly/Himalayan-Art-Trip

02/11/2024

Feliz Día de los Mu***os! (translated= Happy Day of the Dead!)

The Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated, mostly in Mexico, on November 1 and 2 every year. On these two special days, family members remember their deceased loved ones and prepare altars, or “ofrendas” which are decorated with sugar skulls, flowers and favorite foods of the family members. Favorite home cooked meals of the loved ones are also made and put out, in hopes that their spirits return.

Flower stands are seen everywhere during this festivity too! Enjoy these few photos that we took during our visit to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico a few years ago during the Day of the Dead celebration.

***os

01/11/2024

📸 Is your camera a bridge or a barrier in travel?

In our latest blog, Lisa Merrill of Merrill Images dives into the heart of travel photography, exploring how we can use our cameras to foster deeper connections with the people and places we visit. 🌍✨ With vibrant images from San Miquel d'Allende, Lisa shares 10 tips for embracing mindful photography, building rapport, and using your camera as a bridge to meaningful moments and compelling visual stories.

📷🌅Explore your photography, connection, and creativity with Lisa and John Merrill on a photo adventure through San Miguel de Allende and nearby Guanajuato! From March 29 - April 9 of 2025, this curated journey, also in partnership with LLanguage Adventure Pros includes vibrant street life, Spanish colonial architecture, colorful markets, a cooking class, artists’ workshops, an indigenous village visit, and the pre-Easter Señor de la Columna procession.

Don’t miss this chance to deepen your photography skills and cultural connections—just 3 spots left!
🔗 Read the full blog here: https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/post/travel-photography-a-bridge-for-crafting-deeper-connections

The blog shares 10 travel photography tips for creating deeper connections, illustrated with examples from a San Miguel de Allende adventure.

31/10/2024

📸 Is your camera a bridge or a barrier in travel? In our latest blog, Lisa Merrill of Merrill Images, dives into the heart of travel photography, exploring how we can use our cameras to foster deeper connections with the people and places we visit. 🌍✨ With vibrant images from San Miquel d'Allende, Lisa shares 10 tips for embracing mindful photography, building rapport, and using your camera as a bridge to meaningful moments and compelling visual stories.

📷🌅Explore your photography, connection, and creativity with Lisa and John Merrill on a photo adventure through San Miguel de Allende and nearby Guanajuato! From March 29 - April 9 of 2025, this curated journey, also in partnership with Language Adventure Pros, includes vibrant street life, Spanish colonial architecture, colorful markets, a cooking class, artists’ workshops, an indigenous village visit, and the pre-Easter Señor de la Columna procession.

Don’t miss this chance to deepen your photography skills and cultural connections—just 3 spots left!

🔗 Read the full blog here: https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/post/travel-photography-a-bridge-for-crafting-deeper-connections

30/10/2024

Happy Diwali! 🎉 Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali marks the Hindu New Year and spans a five-day celebration of life and the victories of light over darkness. 🕯️ The festival derives its name from the line of lamps traditionally lit outside homes with celebrations including clay lamps, rangoli (design patterns made with sand or powder), feasts, and fireworks.

Each day of the five-day long celebration consists of a different meaning, purpose, and, in some cases, specific activities such as visiting loved one's homes or exchanging gifts. 🎁 To learn more about how Diwali is celebrated, visit our blog here: https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/post/diwali-celebration-india-travel

23/10/2024

Spots are filling up for this amazing partnership between Global Family Travels and Wanderful! With only 2 spots left, you won’t want to miss out on this ‘wonderful’ 😉 adventure.

Join us on this exclusive 8-day trip over Holi, where you'll discover timeless, iconic destinations and create memories that will last a lifetime. Highlight city visits include:

🌆 New Delhi: Dive into the rich history and diverse culinary delights of the vibrant capital.

🏰 Jaipur: Experience the regal heritage and bustling bazaars of the Pink City.

🎉 Holi: Celebrate the festival of colors, embracing its cultural significance and spirit of unity.

“Through her eyes” is our endeavor to inspire women from across the globe, alone or with their acquaintances, to travel to India, smoothly, safely, and comfortably. You can get more information and book your spot here: https://bit.ly/India-Custom-Trip-for-women

22/10/2024

If you ever wanted to think about joining our newsletters? Now is the time! 📰 Our general Global Family Travels, educational trip focused newsletter, and local Seattle and PNW area newsletter all feature scheduled and custom trips with tons of destinations. All three of our newsletters bring value to your inbox once a month, helping you see some of our favorite trip offerings. This month’s general newsletter covers all our scheduled-out trips for 2025 – you can check out the newsletter and sign up for any or all our newsletter at the links in our bio 🔗

20/10/2024

Join Us for a Bhutan Yoga Retreat Information Session on 10/22 at 8:30 am! 🧘‍♀️🌄

Curious about exploring the mystical kingdom of Bhutan while rejuvenating your mind, body, and soul? 🌸 Join us on the morning of October 22 for an exciting information session about Global Family Travels' 9-day Yoga Retreat in Spring 2025 with the amazing Tina Templeman !

This immersive retreat, taking place in April/May 2025, offers the perfect blend of spiritual exploration and physical adventure amidst Bhutan's breathtaking landscapes and ancient traditions—one of the happiest places on Earth! 🌏🌸

Info Session Date/Time: November 22, from 8:30 – 9:30am PST

Register below to join the Info Session and to get Zoom Link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discover-bhutans-culture-and-nature-on-a-yoga-retreat-info-session-tickets-1048506199267

18/10/2024

We were thrilled to see Ecuador featured in the Lonely Planet, and the reminder about is mega diversity, and that it is not just a place to visit for the Galapagos islands!!

Invite you to see some of Global Family Travels ventures there:

https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/ecuador

Behind the scenes of Lonely Planet's whirlwind shoot in Ecuador for Best in Travel 2024

16/10/2024

🌍✨ Discover how educational travel can transform learning! Global Family Travels offers student trips that blend immersive cultural experiences with hands-on learning, inspired by our core pillars: Learn, Serve & Immerse.

From exploring cultural heritage to meaningful community engagement, our programs bring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to life, offering students unique opportunities to connect with diverse people and places.

🗞️ Learn more in our latest newsletter: https://bit.ly/GFT-Educational-Travel_News

Discover how educational travel can enhance learning in unforgettable ways. Global Family Travels' student trips combine immersive cultural experiences with hands-on learning, guided by our core pillars of Learn, Serve & Immerse. From exploring cultural heritage to engaging with local communities, o...

15/10/2024

An article released today by Sustainable Brands explores climate conscious travel and Global Family Travels’ work in tourism that aims to acknowledge, educate, and understand climate change in Iceland. You can read up on our CEO and Founder Jennifer Spatz’s thoughts on climate conscious travel and more information and details from the Sustainable Brands writer, JoAnna Haugen. 🏞️

Our Immerse in Iceland's Dynamic Geology: A Transformative Adventure to Inspire Climate Change trip is a go-to for understanding the firsthand critical effects of climate change. 🌋 By connecting with Iceland’s natural wonders and observing the impacts of global warming, travelers gain valuable insights into climate change and its solutions. This adventure aims to motivate them to adopt eco-friendly practices and contribute to global climate action. You can find the article here: https://bit.ly/GFTClimateTourism 🔗

“It's not just about visiting a popular destination, but about fostering a deeper understanding of the issues that affect these iconic places.” - Jennifer Spatz

14/10/2024

Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day! We honor and respect Native communities. We learn their stories and amplify their voices.

As a Seattle-based company, we recognize that we are on the land of the Duwamish and Coast Salish Peoples. If you are in Washington State, we invite you to learn more about the Coast Salish peoples and their environmental stewardship initiatives by viewing our downloadable resource guide, created in partnership with the World Affairs Council - Seattle:
https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/resources

Here are several ways you can honor and celebrate Indigenous People's Day:
➡️ Identify and acknowledge the Native land you live on.
➡️ Attend celebrations or events hosted by an Indigenous organizations.
➡️ Donate to Indigenous-led organizations like the Native American Rights Fund, First Nations Development Institute, or Native American Heritage Association.
➡️ Sign a petition or write to your Congressperson about Indigenous issues.
➡️ Attend a Landback campaign event or informational session in support of giving back Indigenous lands.
➡️ Take action to remove mascots, names, and logos depicting racist and offensive imagery and language.
➡️ Read books and watch media that centers Indigenous people, history, or culture.

07/10/2024

What can students get out of education travel? How does it benefit their studies? A graduate student talked through their top 3 reasons for educational travel in our latest blog! 📚 ✈️ Read about their thoughts and experiences at the link in our bio.

We offer educational travel opportunities in over a dozen countries including experiences in subjects ranging from conservation to Spanish immersion to cultural exploration. You can check out our educational trips here 🔗https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/educational-student-trips.