One of the reasons I became a travel professional was to spread the word about all of the benefits of traveling, especially with your kid(s). Traveling, whether domestically or internationally (yes, right across our borders on Canada and Mexico counts) can change your life. Seriously.
There are so many benefits to leaving your ‘hood, and seeing how other people live, what homes in other parts of the world look, how food tastes, etc. This quote perfectly describes it for me:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain
You might be saying yeah yeah I know, but how can I/we afford it?! Well you can, it may take a little savings and reduction in gourmet coffee for a year, but it is doable! Start small, like road trips, RVing (I did this for the first time for my birthday this year!!) or even trips IN-state. Then, work with a travel professional to plan a bigger trip. Plan a year ahead, put down a deposit, and make payments. Instead of buying yourself a gift for Your birthday, give yourself the gift of a trip.
That’s what I did for my son’s 14th birthday. As a single Mom (at that time) And for a little under $1000, I was able to take him AND my mom on a short Carnival Cruise. It was out of my local ports and I had even been on that cruise before. But they had not. And yes, you can look at that number and say how can I afford that?!?! Just plan ahead. Imagine all of your entertainment, food, snacks and your room (cabin) all included in that price. I personally think cruises are great first family trips because they have everything. The kids programs are so organized, we hardly saw my son!
But if not a cruise, there are so many other places, just a drive away, that can spark your travel bug. The article below will give you a few ideas, as they cover locations across the US, but please don’t stop there. Stay tuned for more posts about my life changing international trips!
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DESTINATIONS & CELEBRATIONS ~ A Lifestyle & Travel Blog by CTP 