Passport to Adventures by Monica - World of Wonder Travel Advisor (2025)

10/01/2025

I've shared this before, but it's something I notice that keeps increasing in the truth of it the longer I am a travel advisor!

A lot of people are in such a rush these days that having time to plan vacations just isn't really there. I get asked a ton about why people should use a travel advisor when they can just do it themselves. I want to share a few reasons about the way a travel advisor can care for you in the way a website can't.

1. More often than not, a travel advisor is running a small business. When you support them, they're going to work harder for you because they care about the business you have hired them for, and they're so grateful for it. No matter what you are booking, it's a big deal to a small business owner.

2. We can actually have a conversation with you!!! This is huge. I've heard horror story after horror story of people who booked a vacation on the website, and it didn't matter if they needed to make a change, if there was trip interruption ... anything ... they can never physically get a person to talk to, and then they're mad, stuck with what they booked, and the vacation ends up ruined.

3. We have feelings, and it's important to us that you get what a vacation should be ... a chance to enjoy some solo time, time with family or friends, a chance to relax, an adventure, whatever your reason is for going on vacation ... it means as much to us as it does to you!

4. Let the experts take care of you! We spend day in and day out researching travel. We love travel, we know travel, we breathe travel, we live travel! We also spend a lot of time in training, and at conferences to make sure we can best take care of our clients! We can alleviate the stress you endure when you book on your own, and if something happens, we'll actually answer our phones to help you!

5. We save you time! This is also huge! A lot of people think they'll just jump on a site and have a vacation booked in no time. Before they know it, they've spent hours trying to narrow down what to do. We do it for you, and you just get to make the choices ... all done!

There's always a laundry list of reasons to the perks of using a travel advisor to book anything from event tickets for a day trip, or just a quick overnight or weekend away, to spending a week or longer in a dream vacation spot ... but when using a travel advisor, I can tell you we CARE, and will work hard to give you an amazing vacation!

08/01/2025

For my travelers out there that love traveling, but still love working! If you could mix the two and you could have a mobile office, what different places would you like to work from?!!!

My destination is close to home today, but work is much better when I get to glance out the windows at a ski lodge while my daughter tears up the slopes for homeschool ski days!

Mobile office win for today!

06/01/2025

It's the first full week of 2025, and I'm off and running to create amazing vacations for all of you!

One of the things that inspires me and I appreciate so much about travel is to be able to experience something new! But the best part about it is how breathtaking it can be when you experience a travel destination for the first time!!! I love the learning about and exploring new places, and then being able to bring my experiences back to share with friends and family ... and it allows me to give real life experiences when booking all of my fabulous clients to their dream destinations!

How many of my travel lovers out there are in complete awe when you travel somewhere you've never been? I know I can't be the only one who feels like a kid on Christmas morning who just received the best gift!!!

Happy Monday to you all, and just a little reminder that if you're ready to take off for Mid-Winter break or Spring Break this year, there are tons of great destinations waiting for you to explore. Message me at [email protected], and I'd love to book your next adventure!

04/01/2025

Let's play a fun Saturday game ... close your eyes, and pin your finger on the map ... where is your next adventure taking that you are having me book you for your next random travel destination?!

P.S. If you land in a body of water ... I can send you on a fabulous cruise!!!

Additional info: Want a different destination, or want to be on a cruise if you landed in water, or want a land trip if you landed in water ... claim as many mulligans as you want until you land where you want to go!!!

03/01/2025

Hi there everyone! My name is Monica! I was just thinking this morning about all of the amazing people who have followed my page, and saw how many new people there are! So, I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself for those who have joined my page, but don't really know much about me! While I've planned travel for years for fun and as part of other jobs, I really wanted to plan travel all the time, and so I joined the fabulous WOW team in 2021!

I am married to my amazing husband, and we are head over heels for our 12 year old daughter! We have traveled all over the U.S. and the rest of the world as a family, and spent almost 2 years living in Japan as ex-pats. My favorite vacations are time away with them anywhere!!!

If anyone asks my husband, he'll tell you that travel is my love language and my passion! I'm always looking for our next new adventure as a family, and enticing other family and friends to join us!

I not only adore going on big or small vacations and adding to lifelong memories, I enjoy planning them as well, which is why I love what I do! I can book vacations all over the world, and it brings me joy and makes me smile listening to family, friends, and clients share their vacation stories!

I am so thankful that I get to travel frequently, for my awesome clients that keep me busy booking their next vacations, and for the crazy fabulous group of WOW advisors I get to be a part of a team with!

With that, I hope you're all of to a great start of the New Year, and I'm looking forward to a big 2025 with all of you! For anyone that has any travel inquiries to get your next vacation started, message me at [email protected], and I'll be glad to get you started!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!

02/01/2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you that supported a small business this year and helped me close out a bigger 2024 and exceed my goals! I couldn't do it without you! I look forward to working hard for you in 2025, and having another amazing year!

WELCOME HOME to the last of my 2024 travelers and continued safe travels for my travelers in the start of 2025!!! I hope you all closed out 2024, and rang in 2025 with all of your family and friends in just the perfect way for you! I've hit the ground running after a very cherished holiday season with family and friends, and I'll be reaching out to those whose vacations I'm already planning for 2025, and to the rest of you to find out what vacations you're inspired to head out on this year!!!

Thank you to all those families who allowed me to dig into the work I love and book your vacations all over the world to Israel, Germany, New York, Oklahoma, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Dominican Republic, Spain, Netherlands, and Jamaica ... among many other great vacation spots!!!

And, thank you so much for sharing all of your amazing stories, beautiful memories, and fun-filled pics from your travels!!! They're some of the best parts of my day!!!

30/12/2024

It's Day 3, and the last day of the holiday traditions around the world! ... please enjoy the last set of the 20 countries that I'll be sharing about! I saved the last day for post weekend!

I'd love for all of you to comment if you've been able to experience any of these traditions, or if there are any you'd definitely want to check out ...

If one of these trips hits your bucket list and becomes a must do ... be sure to message me at [email protected] and I'll get started on your holiday travel quote!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and enjoy the last day of the holidays around the world this week!!!

Portugal and Brazil
Brazilian and Portuguese families gather together on Christmas Eve to eat dinner as late as 10 p.m. Then, at midnight, they exchanges gifts, toasts, and wish each other a Merry Christmas. Midnight mass, Missa Do Galo (Rooster Mass), gives them a chance to meet up with neighbors and extended family to wish them well for the holiday season. The service is often followed by fireworks in the town square.

Austria
Alpine countries like Austria have a legend that a devil-like creature called Krampus joins their St. Nicholas festivities on December 6. Children are asked for a list of how they were good and how they were bad: Good children are rewarded with sweets, apples, and nuts, and bad children worry what Krampus might bring on Christmas morning.

South Africa
Traditions around South Africa vary by region and culture, but most families come together for a cookout, called "braaing" on the holiday. Marinated steaks and boerewors sausages are served as the main course, followed by a customary dessert of malva pudding served with a custard. Traditional fir Christmas trees are decorated with baubles including hand-beaded African ornaments.

Ukraine
Orthodox Christians make up nearly 49 percent of Ukraine's population; they observe Christmas Day on January 7 by dressing in traditional garments and walking through town singing carols. A dish called "kutya", made of cooked wheat mixed with honey, ground poppy seeds, and sometimes nuts, is a very popular Christmas Eve treat. Some families will throw a spoonful of kutya at the ceiling: If it sticks, it means there will be a good harvest in the new year.

Mexico
All across Mexico members of the Church put on Pastorelas (Shepherd's Plays) to retell the Christmas story. The Mexican Christmas season begins very early in December with Las Posadas, a religious march that re-enacts the journey of Mary and Joseph. The red poinsettia flowers are also used in holiday arrangements for decoration throughout the country.

Switzerland
Swiss families make their own advent calendars during the holiday season. These calendars are either given to children as a surprise or made together as a fun activity. Each day's bag reveals a new surprise or treat, with the biggest gift on Christmas Eve.

El Salvador
Central American countries like El Salvador toast Christmas with fireworks displays on both December 24th and 25th. Children celebrate with smaller firecrackers called "volcancitos" (little volcanos) and "estrellitas" (little stars), while those who are a little older tend to prefer fireworks like Roman candles.

27/12/2024

Have fun checking out Day 2 of holiday traditions from around the world!!!

I'd love for all of you to comment if you've been able to experience any of these traditions, or if there are any you'd definitely want to check out ...

If one of these trips hits your bucket list and becomes a must do ... be sure to message me at [email protected] and I'll get started on your holiday travel quote!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAY and enjoy day 2 of the holidays around the world this week!!!

Denmark
Back in the day, Christmas Day was a celebration of brighter days, jól, as it occurred just before winter solstice. Today, homes are decorated with superstitious characters called nisser they believe provide protection. On the evening of December 24, Danish families place their Christmas tree in the middle of the room and dance around it and sing carols.

Martinique
In the French Caribbean island of Martinique, "la ribote" is a tradition where families visit neighbors during Advent and on New Year's Day and bring holiday food like yams, boudin créole, pâtés salés, and pork stew. They sing Christmas carols together into the early hours of the morning, and add their own creole verses to traditional lyrics.

Norway
In Norway, the Christmas season, called "julebord", begins on December 3rd, and it fills up local bars and restaurants throughout the month. Families will celebrate Little Christmas on December 23rd; and each family has their own ritual for the day that may include decorating the tree, making a gingerbread house, and eating risengrynsgrøt (hot rice pudding).

Ireland
During the holidays. the Irish leave a tall red candle in a front window overnight, which is a welcoming symbol of warmth and shelter for the holiday season. Traditional Christmas fare in Ireland often includes homemade roast goose, vegetables, cranberries, and potatoes.

Barbados
A Christmas table in Barbados isn't complete without a baked ham decorated with pineapple and sorrel glazes, a rum cake, and Jug Jug, a dish inspired by the Scottish influence on the island combining pigeon peas, guinea corn flour, herbs, and salt meat.

Poland
On Christmas Eve in Poland, a lot of families share oplatek (an unleavened religious wafer), each person breaking off a piece as they wish each other Merry Christmas. Dinner might not begin until the first star appears in the night sky and, traditionally, an extra setting is left at the table should someone show up uninvited.

The Netherlands
Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas, the man recognized by children by his long white beard, red cape, and red miter. Kids will put a shoe by the chimney or back door and wake up on Christmas morning to find treats like gingerbread men, marzipan, and chocolate letters inside.

26/12/2024

I share these posts each year, but it's so much fun to see holiday traditions from around the world. I wanted to share them between Christmas and New Year's this year! For any of my travelers already looking ahead to where they might want to be for Christmas 2025 and one of these are your bucket list destinations, here are some ideas, and it's not too early to start planning!!! Please enjoy Day 1 of 3!!!

As well, not everyone in the world celebrates Christmas, or they may have some other holiday traditions they follow. So, for the next few days, we're going to share how 20 different other countries choose to celebrate this holiday season!

I'd love for all of you to share if you've been able to experience any of these traditions, or if there are any you'd definitely want to check out ...

For me personally, having been an ex-pat in Japan ... we were able to experience the KFC tradition as talked about below, and we got the chance to go to New Zealand during a holiday season to enjoy their summer weather as well and see the gorgeous trees they describe below!!! We are thankful to have experienced some new and fun traditions around the world for the holidays, and we made some fun memories during this time!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and enjoy the first batch of the holidays around the world!!!

Sweden
The Yule Goat is a Swedish Christmas symbol dating back to ancient pagan festivals. In 1966, the tradition took on a new spin after someone came up with the idea to make a giant straw goat, which is now referred to as the Gävle Goat. The goat is more than 42 feet high, 23 feet wide, and weighs 3.6 tons according to an official website. Each year, the massive goat is constructed in the same spot. Fans are able tp watch a livestream from the first Sunday of Advent until after the New Year when it's taken down.

Philippines
If you thought the U.S. went all out with Christmas decorations, you should see what the Philippines does. Every year, the city of San Fernando has their Ligligan Parul (or Giant Lantern Festival) featuring dazzling parols (lanterns) that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Each parol consists of thousands of spinning lights that illuminate the night sky. The festival has made San Fernando the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines."

Japan
Although Christmas isn't a national holiday in Japan, they still find an interesting and delicious way to celebrate. Rather than gathering around the table for a turkey dinner, families head out to their local Kentucky Fried Chicken. This tradition started in 1974 after a wildly successful marketing campaign called "Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!" or "Kentucky for Christmas!" The fast food chain has maintained its yuletide popularity, and people order their boxes months in advance or stand in two-hour-long lines to get their "finger lickin' good" food.

Iceland
Similar to the 12 days of Christmas in the U.S., Iceland celebrates 13 instead. Each night before Christmas, Icelandic children are visited by the 13 Yule Lads. After they place their shoes by the window, the kids will head upstairs to bed. In the morning, they'll either have received candy (if they're good) or be greeted with shoes full of rotten potatoes (if they're naughty).

Finland
On Christmas morning, Finish families traditionally eat a porridge made of rice and milk that they top with cinnamon, milk, or butter. Whoever finds the almond placed inside one of the puddings "wins"—but some families cheat and hide a few almonds so the kids don't get upset. At the end of the day, it is customary to warm up in a sauna together.

New Zealand
Since summer falls during Christmastime for New Zealand, a number of their traditions center around a barbie (or grill), where families and friends gather for a casual cookout of fresh seafood, meat, and seasonal vegetables. The New Zealand Christmas tree is called the Pohutukawa, a coastal species that blooms a bright-red color in December, providing shade during the sunny days while they sing carols in both English and Maori.

26/12/2024

Wishing all of my wonderful clients the most amazing MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Hoping you all had the best day! Thank you for always trusting me with your travels! For my holiday travelers, thanks for sending me all of your best Christmas travel photos!!!

03/12/2024

WELCOME HOME to my NOVEMBER 2024 travelers!!! I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving with family and friends! We of course cooked a lot, ate way too much, and laughed a lot! Which led me into one of the craziest weekends of the year getting tons of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals for all of you! And some incredible travel options are still going, so send me a message if you're ready to book some last minute travel to end out 2024

Thank you to all those families who allowed me to dig into the work I love and book your vacations all over the world to Japan, Taiwan, Nevada, Illinois, Dominican Republic, New York, North Carolina, Italy, Israel, Kentucky, and Florida ... among many other great vacation spots!!!

And, thank you so much for sharing all of your amazing stories, beautiful memories, and fun-filled pics from your travels!!! They're some of the best parts of my day!!!

15/11/2024

WELCOME HOME to my OCTOBER 2024 travelers!!! The Fall for travel is flying by in a blur, but it's been a ton of fun booking all these great destinations for each of you!

Thank you to all those families who allowed me to dig into the work I love and book your vacations all over the world to Scotland, England, Wales, Japan, Italy, Greece, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas, Germany, and Ohio ... so much amazing international travel happening this Fall ... among many other great vacation spots!!!

And, thank you so much for sharing all of your amazing stories, beautiful memories, and fun-filled pics from your travels!!! They're some of the best parts of my day!!!

29/10/2024

To all of my amazing clients! Thank you so much for your patience as we have navigated all natural disaster travel fixes, gone back into the start of busy season, and switched to our new system to improve your travel experience!

A little extra FYI for this week ... I will only be lightly working today around celebrating my 19th wedding anniversary with my wonderful husband! I will also for the time being be unavailable for the whole day this Thursday, October 31, 2024 as I have to report to jury duty.

So, for a fun question today, where was your favorite vacation place to celebrate an anniversary of sorts? ... anything from a wedding anniversary, to a friend-versary, a milestone anniversary at work, or celebrating a health milestone each year!!!

07/10/2024

WELCOME HOME to my SEPTEMBER 2024 travelers!!! Fall is here, and the weather is starting to turn. I'm in my second busiest season of the year getting you all ready for your holiday travels coming up!!! Thank you to all those families who allowed me to dig into the work I love and book your vacations all over the world to London, Wales, Scotland, Michigan, Mexico, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Tel Aviv, and Germany ... it was a great time to visit Europe last month ... among many other great vacation spots!!!

And, thank you so much for sharing all of your amazing stories, beautiful memories, and fun-filled pics from your travels!!! They're some of the best parts of my day!!!

23/09/2024

WELCOME HOME to my AUGUST 2024 travelers!!! We've enjoyed summer, and tomorrow starts a beautiful Fall, which means booking your holiday travels, and mid-Winter break travels is in full swing! Thank you to all those families who allowed me to dig into the work I love and book your vacations all over the world to Michigan, Mexico, Scotland, Wales, England, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Washington, Maine, New York, Illinois, and Japan ... among many other great vacation spots!!!

And, thank you so much for sharing all of your amazing stories, beautiful memories, and fun-filled pics from your travels!!! They're some of the best parts of my day!!!

Passport to Adventures by Monica - World of Wonder Travel Advisor

10/01/2025

08/01/2025

06/01/2025

04/01/2025

03/01/2025

02/01/2025

30/12/2024

27/12/2024

26/12/2024

26/12/2024

03/12/2024

15/11/2024

29/10/2024

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