Make Them All Trips of a Lifetime
Yes, that is our motto and how we aim to travel for the rest of our lives, but a "trip of a lifetime" has many definitions. There is no one size fits all when it comes to luxury; you must do what you can to make it a trip of a lifetime for you.
Let's take a step back. Travelling has been a passion of ours from the very start, but the first "trip of a lifetime" was our vacation to the Galapagos Islands. It was the first trip where research was necessary on a deep level, where an itinerary was required to stay organized, and where we intentionally investigated every possible opportunity to make the trip special. It being a milestone birthday, we pulled out all the stops, but upon our return, we ask ourselves why we couldn't make all future trips just as fantastic.
It was that same Galapagos & Quito trip that sparked the idea of a travel blog. There is an abundance of information on the Galapagos Islands readily available online, but there was little to no information available on the specific cruise we chose on that trip. Nothing. I was able to find one itinerary online that linked to the boat, but it did not match what we actually experienced. We found it shocking that in this digital age where everything can be accessed within seconds online, this crucial information was lacking. It was from this gap that Make Them All Trips of a Lifetime, the website and the motto, was first conceived.
How do you make them all trips of a lifetime, you ask? There are three simple secrets to making this happen. The definition of each is entirely up to you.
1. Help the necessities go smoother. There are things that can't be avoided when it comes to travel, so do your best to make those experiences smooth and stress-free.
Chances are you will need to be on a plane for an extended period of time, which can be exhausting and uncomfortable. The more we travelled, the more we found ways to make the flying experience better. One of the first thing we invested in was over the ear noise-cancelling headphones. After a bad experience on the way home from Jamaica (three young children in the row behind us and a talkative neighbour) we opted for sanity. Having the ability to listen to calming music, or watch a movie without the disruption of screaming children and talkative adults was and is a lifesaver.
There was a time when airlines provided blankets and pillows for free, but most now only give you the option to purchase comfort packages. If you are generally cold and restless, bring your own thin travel blanket, foldable neck pillow or soft and/or scented eye mask. If you hate airplane food, make sure you bring your own snacks. When I was younger, it was tradition to make a white focaccia-style pizza (called cocodrillo) and bring it in my carry on bag for each flight.
If you're willing to spend a little money,