I must preface this blog with: “I LOVE TRAVEL. ALL OF IT.”
It’s true, my husband and I just had a conversation about travel because he says it’s spending money and I say it’s investing money. I will have this argument till the day I die. Travel is memories, travel is experience, these are two things I consider of great value.
For all of you travel lovers, you already know this.
The past 18 months have been full of travel for my family: Jamaica, LA, New Orleans, and Sicily.
The food in New Orleans was AMAZING!!
Sicily’s food was also incredible!
In February we are travelling with family to Punta Cana for an all inclusive trip with Merit Travel.
All inclusive is amazing when you have kids. The kids can eat and drink like royalty, and you never have to open your wallet or cook or clean.
It’s a beautiful thing.
However, if you’re an avid traveller and have experienced more than one all-inclusive destination, the whole thing can start to feel very much the same.
My husband and I loved our trip to Los Angeles. We took in some tourist attractions, but mostly flew by the seat of our pants and went with the flow while still experiencing LA and all of its glamour.
Sicily was our dream vacation and quite honestly a trip of a lifetime. Not only was it a family trip and my kids got to see where their Nonno was born, but we had a car and we travelled that island. We truly experienced the Sicilian life. It was magical.
Recently, I put a post on my Facebook and asked you where your favourite vacations have been and you had some great ideas. The possibilities truly are endless when it comes to world travel. It’s hard to know where to start!
Here are a few ideas for your winter travel plans:
- I have a girlfriend who has travelled the world, and when I asked her where her favourite place is she said, Costa Rica.
- As Joanna wrote in my Facebook post, Costa Rica sounds like it is an awesome place to take kids. (Actually, it was my first choice for our February trip, but we are travelling with 18 other people and we lost the popular vote!)
- My sister in law LOVES cruises and so do we!! Honestly they are the best of both worlds in my opinion! I can’t wait to take my kids on one. My one girlfriend was terrified to go on a cruise, but she went on her first one last year and messaged as soon as she got back and said I’m HOOKED! She’s booked again!
- My other girlfriend loves a villa on the beach (she says Nevis is absolutely outstanding) and grocery shopping in the local towns and preparing meals.
- Another friend says her best vacation was renting a catamaran with a personal chef for 10 couples and sailing the Mediterranean.
- I have one friend who LOVES cycling trips. He recently visited the Swiss Alps and Spain.
- My cousin loves a good golfing trip. There are a lot of all inclusive resorts who add golf packages on as well. If you are choosing all inclusive for the kids but you want some adult time too, The Moon and Palace Golf and Spa Resort in Mexico is apparently a great option and gives you the option of using resort credit toward unlimited green fees.
There’s so much world to see, it can get really exciting and overwhelming. I would recommend starting with your budget since that really helps narrow down your search and from there, a good travel agent can help you find something PERFECT.
Me? I really want to visit Africa, Thailand, Australia, Cambodia… oh the list is sooooo long!
Many of the ideas offered above are comparable in cost to an all inclusive trip but they offer a completely different experience.
A good travel agent will help you if you have a wish list. We love working with Merit Travel and can’t wait to plan our next trip.
For more information on planning your perfect winter adventure and for how to get the most from your next travel experience, chat with the people at Merit Travel! They’ll help start your journey right!
Wherever you travel, be safe and have a GREAT time!
*This post is sponsored by Merit Travel, but the opinions shared are mine.
