Year: 2019

What comes to mind when you think of your Best Day Ever?  Achieving a lifelong goal?  Your wedding, or the birth of your children?  A once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity?

When it comes to travel, my list of best days ever includes my honeymoon.  Following a fabulous wedding with family and friends, my new husband and I flew off to spend a week at the romantic El Dorado Resort on stunning Maroma Beach.  This charming property caters to couples and was the perfect getaway for us after a busy time.  The best way to unwind?  A couple’s massage in a palapa on the beach, where the sound of the water heightens the sense of relaxation.

A favourite activity for us was enjoying the gourmet offerings at the resort.  From an outdoor feast of freshly-prepared paella to the delightful variety of international cuisine, there was no end to the culinary delights.  A highlight and our best evening ever included a private candlelight dinner on the beach.

A vacation on the Mayan Riviera offers a dizzying array of activities, from nature parks to ATV adventures; camel rides to shopping.  We chose to tour the magnificent Tulum ruins, perched atop a cliff on the Caribbean Sea.  Our guide wisely planned a morning visit to beat the full heat of the day, but we were still grateful our time ended with a refreshing dip in the cool waters of a cenote.

The Mayan Riviera, and specifically the El Dorado Maroma, holds a special place in my heart where I have spent some of my best days ever.

Travel With a Purpose is the new trend in travel that is changing the industry and bringing people together. Besides a holiday or a well-deserved rest, when was the last time you traveled and asked yourself why? Why that destination, why that route, why those activities on the road?

Traveling is representative of life. If you listen to your inner voice and follow your heart, you will find the places that speak out to you, that reach out and touch you, and which make you feel like you’re “home”. Find something meaningful to you that can motivate you to book a ticket and take that trip. There are so many ways you can travel with a purpose. The important thing is that it has purpose for YOU. If it’s enjoyable or brings meaning to you, it will be a good motivation to travel. Read More >

The serenity of standing on the bow of the small expedition ship, watching the Southern fulmars fly back and forth over the wake of the vessel. Enjoying a morning yoga class where the gentle rocking of the ship puts you deeper into the stretch, followed by the silence of meditation. Snowshoeing among hundreds of wandering penguins, as they examine us with curiosity. Standing on the sea ice at the Floe Edge and staring out at the open ocean, hoping for a glimpse of marine life. Just a few of my ‘best vacation days ever experiences.’

Twenty-two years in travel has given me the opportunity to meet some fantastic people, and travel to some exciting and remote destinations. For fifteen years I have been specializing in polar destinations such as Arctic Canada and Antarctica, Iceland and Greenland.

From my first visit, my passion exploded and it’s exciting to plan a complicated itinerary for clients who are more invested in the culture and activities than how strong the WiFi signal will be.

I have been practicing Yoga for over thirteen years, which has tied in quite nicely with travel. From some of my early travels, I would return home with thousands of images, however, lacking the connection with the destination. I now return home with fewer photos but more satisfied with the experiences. Yoga has taught me to slow down, take a breath and absorb our surroundings.

I believe that the combination of travel and yoga have made me into the person I am today. Our world is extremely hectic and bombarded with technology. I find myself more at peace when I am traveling and try to bring this tranquility into everyday life.

Take a look at the piece I wrote for Wander Magazine about how I feel that yoga has enhanced my travel experiences from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic!

Every time I am wandering through the airport, the world seems massive!  So many people; where are they going, and where have they been?

One of the highlights when travelling, is the people that you meet.

Whether it’s the person you chat with while waiting to board the plane, the couple you enjoy a cup of coffee with after your horse back riding tour or the person sitting next to you on a zodiac excursion; these are the relationships that are built while exploring and then sharing the memories afterwards.

I still keep in touch with people who I met in Australia 22 years ago, in the Arctic 7 years ago and in Antarctica 2 years ago.  This is definitely a positive when travelling alone.

One of my fellow travellers during an Antarctic expedition will be travelling from Australia to Canada next month. I’m very excited to spend a few days with her before she heads north to Churchill for a Polar Bear excursion.   And, you never know who you may meet again one day during your travels!

I am an all-inclusive addict, I confess! I tried an all-inclusive for the first time in 2014 and I have not been able to quit. What makes it even worse is that I am a travel consultant and I keep receiving news almost every day about new resorts opening, new locations, more Islands and beaches and properties to add to my bucket list. It almost makes me sad that I don’t think I’ll live enough to visit all the ones I want to visit. I am so addicted that when asked a suggestion for this week’s newsletter I immediately responded I wanted an all-inclusive themed one, so that’s why you’re reading this (and thank you for reading it, by the way).

“Why all-inclusive?”, is usually the question people pose to me.

Read More >

One of the best parts of my day is learning where clients want to travel, and what piqued their interest in a certain destination. It is becoming more popular for clients to choose a destination or experience that will inspire them in some way.

Experiential travel is where people focus on experiencing a country by actively engaging with its history, people, culture, and environment. Sailing the North West Passage and learning the history of the Franklin Expedition, or engaging in a culinary experience in Italy.

Transformative travel is when you travel with intention, openness and mindfulness.  Engaging in a challenging physical or cultural experience. Finding tranquility at a yoga retreat in India, or visiting with the Elders in Arctic Canada to learn their history.

Whatever piques your interest, contact The Great Canadian Travel Group and let us plan “your best days ever!”