Joyology Travel Planning

13/01/2024

Happiest job around--helping people plan exciting memories-in-the-making. I couldn't be more excited for this old friend to soak up some R&R in sunny Mexico!

05/01/2024

Spring break, summer break, or a break whenever--I'd love to help make your travel dreams come true!

19/12/2023

I can't wait to see the pics from what is sure to be a fantastic trip to Puerto Rico! It was so fun to help this couple book their vacation, and there are still some fantastic options for spring break! Reach out if you don't have plans yet!

28/11/2023

If you have adventures that are on your "some-day" list, I'd love to help you break down the barriers keeping you from taking the leap. Shoot me an email at [email protected] to get your story started!

27/11/2023

The holiday newsletter includes thoughts on holiday travel, why you might want to use a travel agent (even if you're 100% capable of DIY-ing), packing cubes, and an upcoming trip to Norway and Finland.

Check out this US Letter designed by Dana Busby.

22/11/2023

Check out this exciting 12 Day trip to Italy! It's designed with spring in mind, but it could be done any time, and can, of course, be customized to suit individual tastes!

A link at the end will take you to the itinerary complete with accommodations and off-the-beaten-path sites!

08/11/2023

PSA: Are you feeling antsy about the impending cold weather? Why not escape over Christmas break to the Dominican Republic?!

There are great deals on beautiful resorts!

07/11/2023

Have you been to Italy?! Everyone I talk to who has been LOVED their experience. The one city I hear negative reports on is Venice. And the complaint? The CROWDS! If you don't have spring break plans yet, consider Italy! WAY fewer crowds, and mild (if maybe a tad rainy) weather!

31/10/2023

22/10/2023

Has your ideal vacation remained constant or changed over time? What is your current favorite? Beach 👍 European Getaway ❤ Sweeping Landscapes 😮 or Off the Beaten Path/Exotic? 😂

Use the emojis or comment to share your fave!

19/10/2023

Don't wait for anyone else to jump aboard. If there's somewhere you want to go; something you want to see, go for it!

19/10/2023

If you've been following along, you know that I'm planning a group trip to Finland in 2025. Know that I'm doing all I can to learn a ton and make it the best trip possible!

Fun fact: Finland has the cleanest drinking water in the world! Better than most bottled water!

17/10/2023

Where is your next adventure taking you?

I'm dreaming of Nordic landscapes as I plan for Finland 2025. My husband is going to join me to scope out Finland in August, and we decided to add a Norway leg to the trip. If you've been--I'd love all the tips!

11/10/2023

Just purchased a couple handy travel items on sale on Amazon. My phone was flopping around on my most recent flight; I had it propped up against my water bottle on my tray table! 🤪

11/10/2023

It's that time again! Time for me to remind you to book your spring break 2024 vacation!

I booked my family's spring break trip with Pleasant Holidays because they are a high quality vendor; their customers return again and again for their vacation packages because they showcase wonderful properties in gorgeous destinations. They also specialize in Hawaii. Also, I bet Hawaii is more affordable than you might think!

If you haven't been to Hawaii, don't count Maui out for 2024!

07/10/2023

Join us in the summer of 2025! There is a lot left to plan, but no matter what, day one will be in Helsinki, and we will no-doubt want to sample Finland's world-famous strawberries in the market square!

05/10/2023

Planning for a summer 2025 group trip to Finland is in the works! If you think this may be a fit for you, comment below! You could have the opportunity to have input in the itinerary! So far, it's looking to be a 7-10 day adventure.

01/10/2023

Recognize Duomo Florence in this pic? Italy is a destination that comes to mind when I think of top places to visit in the off-season. Flights are relatively inexpensive, and you get to see all of the beautiful, iconic sites without the sweltering heat and crowds!

Instead of a traditional "beach" spring break last year, we went to Iceland and Bavaria and had THE BEST time!

What places come to mind when you think of off-season travel?

What is a place that is a MUST for warmer weather?

I wrote more about off-season travel in my fall newsletter. Check it out at joyologytravelplanning.com/newsletter

28/09/2023

When travelling during a high-demand season, the timing of when you book makes all the difference. If you want to take a spring break trip in 2024, it's time to figure out where and when. Planning trips brings me joy, and I'd be happy to help you plan yours! Whether it's a beach vacation or a European tour, I'm here to make it easy and fun.

26/09/2023

When I was a kid, I thought that "saving for a rainy day" meant that you'd go shopping because rainy days are boring. ...so, save for your boring day shopping money. :)

What's a favorite place you MUST return to? Where do you want to go next?

In my fall newsletter I wrote some thoughts about when life circumstances get in the way of things we'd like to do...like visit new or favorite places. Check it out. (I also wrote about spring break and off-season travel.)

https://joyologytravelplanning.com/newsletter/

30/07/2023

Three-country European Christmas Market tour! German markets run from Nov. 23 - Dec. 23 although some, such as the Winter Wonder Festival in Brussels, continue up to New Years.

29/07/2023

I hope you'll follow along as I build a realistic multi-country trip that includes three countries during Christmas Market Season!

Visiting Iceland taught me that you don't need perfect weather to enjoy travel. That realization has opened up my imagination to all sorts of possibilities. A big one: European Christmas Markets!

Christmas Markets are a German tradition that started sometime in the 1400s; the earliest documented being Dresden's in 1434 (according to National Geographic).

How they spread across Europe is due to a couple factors. One being that the German Empire once included a lot of places that are now other countries. And the other being that they are a nice, beautiful tradition to get a community together.

23/07/2023

Check out this video with gorgeous slices of Denmark!

"It's in our nature to wonder - take your team out of the office and into the Danish outdoors.A day of hiking, foraging for dinner, skiing of a building in C...

22/07/2023

There's more to see on the island of Zealand than Copenhagen with such gorgeous beaches, quaint villages, and sweeping coastline.

Everyone has heard of Copenhagen and New Zealand, but old Zealand is the name of Copenhagen's island. In Danish, the island is called Sjælland. Zealand is the English word for the island, and it means "sea land." There is also a Dutch province called Zeeland (and a Zeeland Michigan where a lot of Dutch immigrants settled). Incidentally, New Zealand was named by the Dutch, not the Danish despite the spelling.

21/07/2023

There are tons of great experiences to add to any trip. With my awesome tools from Outside Agents, we can build your trip from scratch or piece things together in chunks. I booked a package for my family to Turks and Caicos for spring break; today I added a glow worm boating excursion!

18/07/2023

From traditional packages to custom trip planning, check out the website to see what Joyology Travel Planning can do for you!

17/07/2023

Happy National Ice cream Day! This is the gelato I had in Reykjavik. this past March. No, gelato is not Icelandic, but Icelanders do take their ice cream very seriously, and they enjoy it year-round.

What's your favorite flavor? Do you prefer soft serve or scooped?

15/07/2023

Enquiring minds want to know! With all of the amazing places to visit near and far, where have you bothered to go again?

06/07/2023

If you're thinking about Disney World for your family this year, it's time to figure that out! Also, adventurous international travel is more accessible than you might think!

Check it out in Joyology's July Newsletter!

Newsletter Here you'll find a monthly newsletter often featuring one insight on travel within the Midwest. Joyology Travel Planning can help you with all your travel needs, but here you'll find the latest on our specialties: travel for individuals, couples, families as well as destinations such Euro...

22/06/2023

North of Copenhagen is a region called North Sealand and is sometimes referred to as the "Danish Riviera." Pictured here is the UNESCO World Heritage site, Kronborg castle.

I've been working on a travel class on Denmark, which brought to mind my Danish heritage. My maternal grandfather's parents were both half Danish. Pictured here are a set of my great-great-great grandparents. How amazing that they grew up --all the way up to having their first FOUR children on the same island as Copenhagen. I included a picture from the village where they lived when their first daughter, my great-great grandmother, was born.

There is so much of the world to see. If you'd like to see someplace new, why not choose a place from your family tree?!