Every year when the new year rolls around there’s a surge of energy and excitement for what’s coming for the year ahead. My favourite new-year-inspired thought as of late has been the question, “You have 365 blank pages in the book of 2023, what story you are going to write?”
For the past nearly three years we’ve all been bogged down with bad news, fear, and uncertainty. So many of the things we love were taken away from us … seeing friends and family, eating out, socializing, going to the gym, interacting with other humans, taking vacations, and the freedom to travel. We took these things for granted. How could we ever conceive that all of these wonderful things would be taken away from us, all at the same time and for an undetermined amount of time?
As we make our way out of the pandemic and look back at the reality that was 2020 and 2021, I still can’t fully comprehend the loss of two full years of time with friends and family, time exploring the world, and two years with lots of bills and little income. I’m sure many of you feel the same. But, here we are entering 2023 and we can’t go back, so forward is the only place to go!
Travel is back on track, although not without many changes and continued hiccups. Most (although not all) Covid restrictions have been lifted, but the industry continues to struggle with a lack of staffing, a lack of flight options, and rising prices, all on top of high demand. Our freedom of movement has been restored, but that doesn’t mean a green light for everyone to travel.
Life has changed for many of you during the last three years. For some, you’ve gotten married and started families, for others, it has been divorce and the loss of loved ones. Maybe your health has changed. Maybe your finances have changed, for better or worse.
There’s a trip out there for everyone, even if it isn’t the way you travelled in the past. Don’t let that stop you from travelling a new way in the future. Here’s a little inspiration to get you dreaming:
Looking for a short-notice trip?
Choose something close to home and uncomplicated, without a lot of moving pieces. Good choices might be a small group tour to Costa Rica or Belize, a long stay in Spain or Portugal, or an off-season river cruise.
Looking for a trip that’s good for a solo traveller?
If exploring a new destination on your own is not your idea of fun, but you don’t have a travel buddy, not to worry! Consider a small group tour or a guided vacation. While you’ll likely have to travel to the destination on your own, once you are there you’ll meet the travellers in your group and you are sure to make new friends. You’ll have transportation, hotels, and tours all planned and you just need to get up each day ready to explore!
Looking for a trip you can do with mobility or health challenges?
Choose a destination close to home with great healthcare. That doesn’t mean it has to be short on beautiful sights! Maybe now is the time to experience the Rocky Mountains on the luxury Rocky Mountaineer train. Maybe you’d like to discover Newfoundland on a guided tour or circumnavigate it to visit remote villages. Maybe you’d like to do an old-fashioned river cruise on the Mississippi or a luxury cruise out of Halifax along the New England Coast. European River Cruises are also a great option as they offer lots of flexibility for your daytime activities.
Looking for an off-the-beaten-track adventure?
If you feel like you’ve been there, done that, and want somewhere new to explore, consider destinations such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Or maybe you’d like to explore the remote wilderness of Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia or go snorkeling in Raj Ampat, Indonesia. Bhutan is another destination that has a lot to offer. It is rich in culture, adventure, and wellness opportunities. Or you can take an expedition cruise to Svalbard or go Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.
Looking for an epic, once-in-a-lifetime trip?
Tell us about your dream trip and we’ll make it happen. Disconnect and find peace in the tranquility of Antarctica. Tick Australia & New Zealand off your bucket list or splurge on a luxury African Safari in beautiful, tented camps with unforgettable encounters with animals in the wild and an opportunity to sleep under the stars!
Looking for a multi-generational family trip?
Organizing a trip for the entire family from ages 2 – 82 can be intimidating, but there are plenty of options to suit various interests. You coordinate the dates with the family and we’ll take care of the rest. Multi-generational families often love expedition cruises with kids' programs, lots of scenery, wildlife, and citizen science projects. Or if you’re not the cruising type, maybe you’d like to stay at a traditional Villa in Tuscany or Costa Rica and explore the countryside at leisure.
You have 365 blank pages in the book of 2023, I hope your story will include many great adventures, new passport stamps, friends in new places, challenges of the good variety, healing from the past few years, and the desire to become a more responsible traveller so generations to come can enjoy our incredible world for many years to come.
When you are ready to plan your next great adventure (preferably 6 – 12 months in advance), please book a consultation with us to discuss how we can work together and where you are headed next!
