Dash & Ramble

03/01/2024

I didn't have my 2024 planned out a year in advance like I normally do (case in point: I've already got 3 trips lined up for 2025), but things are starting to take shape and I think it's looking pretty good!

I'm headed to Vegas at the end of this month, Tucson for some sunshine at the beginning of February, and Paris at the end of February. Not a bad start to the year!

Later this year I'll head to Greece & Mexico City...and who even knows where else! I like having some wiggle room in the second half of the year so that I can say yes to some last-minute opportunities.

Who else is excited about where the year might take them? 🙋🏻‍♀️
What else should be on my list for the year? Let me know in the comments!

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02/01/2024

2023 is in the bag, and it was a big one for Dash & Ramble! I got to work with some amazing clients and send them on some incredible adventures all around the world.

Italy was the biggest draw--I got to send seven families there this year! The runners up were France, England and Japan.

There were also a number of closer-to-home spots that my clients visited, such as Hawaii, New England & Carmel Valley.

I had so much fun designing these custom experiences for my clients, and I can't wait to see where 2024 takes us!

Reach out via DM or the link in my bio to get in on the action!
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30/11/2023

Did you get all of your holiday gift shopping done already? If you still have some folks on your list, and you're thinking about gifting travel this Holiday season…

First of all, your giftee is lucky to have you in their life.

And second of all, here are a few tips for a perfectly executed gifted trip:

🎁 If possible, to keep things open-ended. Unless you’re 100% sure someone can depart on the exact dates you decide, it’s worthwhile keeping things flexible, just in case.

🎁 You may want to forgo pre-booking something. Instead, gift a token that represents the trip, like a map, brochure, or travel-related items, and then allow the person you’re gifting to plan the trip with a trusted travel advisor.

🎁 Sometimes it’s not the trip. It’s the journey. You may want to make the person you’re gifting a part of the travel planning process and give them VIP treatment by having an advisor who can curate and do the heavy lifting of booking the travel once they decide where they’d like to go.

Not to brag, but I am an expert in stealth and secrecy when it comes to travel. If you could use a hand gifting a trip this season, get in touch!

01/11/2023

Spread the word to all of your favorite traveling book nerds 🤓:
New month, new book club selection! 📖 But to find out what the November book is, you have to join the club.

Joining the Dash & Ramble Book Club gets you:
📚️ Books selected each month to fuel your passion for reading AND travel
📚️ Access to the Dash & Ramble Book Club Goodreads discussion group
📚️ An exclusive travel guide inspired by each month's reading selection

And it's all free! All you need to do is head to the link in my bio and click "Join the Dash & Ramble Book Club!"

After you join up, like, save & share this post to recruit more book-loving travelers!

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30/10/2023

It's nearly Halloween, so I'm getting into the spirit today by highlighting what is often hailed as the world's spookiest hotel: in Estes Park, CO.

You might know this hotel as the spot that inspired Stephen King's The Shining. I had the opportunity to attend their annual Shining Ball in 2016, and I can tell you that it is hands down the best Halloween experience I've ever had...and the best Jack Nicholson impersonator I've ever seen. 😂

The Shining Ball is one of a number of annual Halloween celebrations that The Stanley puts on - but if you want to secure your spot (both at the hotel and at their events), you'll need to plan ahead!

In addition to the festivities at the hotel, Estes Park is an amazing spot to spend some time in the autumn. You can really make a whole Falloween trip out of it!

Need some help navigating all of the details and arrangements? I'm here to help! DM or head to the link in bio to get started.

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26/10/2023

Hey there! The Dash & Ramble following has grown a bit, so I thought I’d reintroduce myself.

My name is Allison, I’m from Portland, Oregon and I plan amazing custom family vacations. My number one mission when clients come to me is to take them from overwhelmed to fully booked and confident about the itinerary we built together as a team. I love what I do!

I find a lot of people still have questions about how a travel advisor can help them. Post your questions in the comments!

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25/10/2023

23/10/2023

The Newt in Somerset is a château in England’s West countryside — a working estate of perfectly landscaped gardens, rolling farmlands and cider orchards. These are the fall vibes I love!

The Newt is a luxury lair designed to perfection. With only 23 rooms, you’ll have exclusive access to roam the manor’s gardens and have your English countryside dreams come alive.

Contact me to plan your ideal fall getaway.

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18/10/2023

Thinking about this year’s winter getaway but not sure where to start? Paris seems like a pretty solid choice to me...

Good news: I'm here to help.

Over here at Dash & Ramble, it all starts with a quick inquiry form where you tell me the basics (who, what, where, etc.). Then we schedule a call to get to know each other and take a deeper dive into your travel preferences. After that, I'm off to create your dream Parisian getaway while you sit back and relax.

Sound like the right fit? Message me to start the process!

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15/11/2022

Morocco is such a feast for the senses! Soon I’ll be showing you the serenity of the Atlas Mountains, but the frenetic energy of Marrakech will continue to pump me up for the foreseeable future.

This has been such an incredible journey with & and I know I will continue to feel the inspiration of this place for a long time.

Can’t wait to send some clients here so they can gather up all the inspiration too! ✨

11/08/2022

Now that school is starting back up, and school calendars are being looked at more closely, parents are beginning to make travel plans for Spring Break.

So far this week I’ve had 5 clients reach out to start planning their Spring Break trips—and so far it seems like a lot of folks are looking to beat some of the summer crowds in Europe.

Where would you like to head this spring? Let’s start planning! 🗓

29/07/2022

I’m already working on three trips to Italy for next summer. Who else wants in? 🙋🏻‍♀️

Now’s the time to start the process! Head to the link in my bio to get in touch.

25/07/2022

Yes, you read that right. It's time to starting thinking about your travel plans for next summer.

Don't get me wrong--it's not time to start panicking. We've still got plenty of time to design the perfect trip for you. This is simply a reminder that the surge in demand for travel is changing the traditional planning timeframes. 6 months used to be enough time to plan a trip to a popular destination. Now, we're looking at 9-12 months.

Therefore, now is the time to reach out to begin the planning process. If I have a good sense of when and where you'd like to travel, we'll be that much more prepared to hit the go button when you're ready. Visit the link in my bio, and we can get your complimentary consultation scheduled.

If your social media feeds are anything like mine, you're seeing a whole lot of people enjoying their summer vacations. There is no shortage of beautiful pictures and videos to add inspiration to our travel wishlists--let's start checking a few off!

15/06/2022

Dinner views, Day 2

14/06/2022

Buongiorno, Italia! 🇮🇹
My family and I have just begun an EPIC journey through Italy, Croatia & Greece, and I’ll be sharing highlights as we go. I hope you enjoy following along.

Pictured here: Day 1–Positano, lunch no.1–La Sponda, drink no.1–Aperol Spritz (all incredible)

I’m not just vacationing while I’m here—I’m doing lots of research so that I can design amazing, personalized trips for my clients. When you’re ready to go, I’ll be ready to send you on a trip of a lifetime 😊

07/06/2022

Due to overwhelming demand, I am unable to design or book any additional trips this summer. I am more than happy to get to work on trips in September and beyond. 😊

There are an incredible number of people traveling this summer! It is expected that summer 2023 will also be in high-demand for the travel industry. It’s not too early to begin thinking about your plans for next summer so that we can make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for!

Head to the link in my bio to get started!

26/05/2022

Hiring a skippered boat to take you from island to island sounds pretty great, but how do you choose a reputable and safe charter company? There are so many!

Good news—I have a great network of trusted suppliers who have already been given a stamp of approval from travel advisors and clients. If you tell me you want to charter a skippered catamaran to sail around the Adriatic Sea, I know exactly who to match you up with!

Reach out if you want to get a taste of that seafaring lifestyle!
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25/05/2022

Happy National Wine Day! 🍷

I like wine, but I LOVE drinking wine when I can do it in a spectacular location. Lucky me, I'll be back in Italy in just a couple of weeks! 🇮🇹

Where is your favorite spot to sip? Let me know in the comments!

13/05/2022

This picture always makes me crack up, because you've never seen two people so excited to board the Titanic.

I feel like Belfast often gets overlooked when people are planning trips to the Emerald Isle. I'm lucky that my two best friends live (or have lived) there, so I've been able to really explore Belfast and Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast.

I can't say it enough--it's fantastic and I can't wait to get back.

Reach out if you'd like to start planning your next adventure to Belfast (or anywhere else)!

12/05/2022

Oftentimes, we become so caught up in our day-to-day lives that we forget to enjoy the things that make our own cities exciting.

I love it when people come to visit me, because it gives me a good excuse to become a tourist in my own town. It provides a great way of visiting (and re-visiting) the best-of-the-best in Portland.

A couple of weeks ago my dad visited me for the first time since we moved here. Now, this man loves some beautiful scenery, so I knew that I had to take him to the Columbia River Gorge and to Multnomah Falls. I had never been to the falls before, and I'm so happy I finally went!

The weather wasn't great, but more rain means more robust waterfalls.

Where do you take folks that come to visit you in your town? Tell me the highlights in the comments!

11/05/2022

When you work with Dash & Ramble, you don't have to waste hours of your time combing through websites trying to find something that will end up being just...okay.

I get to know what makes my clients tick--and that means that I'll be able to find a place to stay that's a great fit for them. As an added bonus, my network of colleagues and I do the work of ensuring the quality of each place we send you. No need to read through hundreds of dubious reviews.

Best of all? Dash & Ramble clients get the VIP treatment they deserve! Our clients get great extra amenities like:
🍳 Complimentary breakfast
💰 Resort, spa, and food & beverage credit
🛏️ Room upgrades
⏰ Early check-in/late check-out
💻 Complimentary wifi

Whether you need someplace to stay for a night or two, or for a longer getaway, get in touch and save yourself a lot of time & hassle!

10/05/2022

If you'd like to learn a little more about my recent trip to Belize, head to the website (link in bio) to read my latest blog post. 🦈

If nothing else, head over and get a little beach vacation inspiration from the pics. ☀️

06/05/2022

As a former teacher, I suppose it's not surprising that I like getting A-plusses.

That's my goal with each of my clients. I want the entire travel experience to be seamless, from the moment you get in touch to start the planning process to the moment you touch back down at home. Traveling isn't always predictable, but it doesn't have to be stressful.

What do you think? Are you ready for an A+ experience?

05/05/2022

I have the honor of helping a friend & former colleague (and former student!) plan her honeymoon trip to Japan. She and her future husband are a couple of foodies and they're going to eat their way through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto & Osaka. Yum. 🤤

It's an added bonus that I'm also working on my own family's trip to Japan. We were supposed to go in April 2020, but....

Japan was the first major trip my husband and I took together, and we can't wait to get back with our kids.

What attractions are at the top of your list in Japan? Let me know in the comments!

27/04/2022

Days 3, 4 & 5 in Belize were pretty low key. There was a lot of laying by the pool, reading, snacking and napping. After each grueling day, we rewarded ourselves with happy hour cocktails at the beach bar. It was pretty rough, but we made it. 😉

There is a lot to do in Belize, and we're going to have to get around to those activities the next time we're there. This trip was definitely more of a ramble (as opposed to a dash).