Consider your travel lifeline

DAYDREAM ACHIEVER

As a Certified Travel Advisor, an ASTA Verified Travel Advisor and a CLIA Master Cruise Counselor, Zac Wilson is the owner of Daydream Vacations Travel Agency in Granbury, www.DaydreamVacations.com. 

This past week my son graduated from high school and registered for college. My wife and I are preparing to become empty nesters. While pondering the quick passage of time I enjoyed all the memories of our family adventures together. The trips to the beach, Walt Disney World, and cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska. As a travel agent I am reminded of a blog I wrote years ago about our travel lifeline.

It's important to recognize your travel lifeline and take advantage of each stage. Too often I meet a retiring couple who never traveled and waited until retirement to start experiencing their bucket-list trips. But that’s only one step on your travel lifeline.

It begins when you’re a kid. As a child you travel with your family. These experiences become a part of your story, which builds your relationships with your family members and the world around you. It’s important for young people to experience other cultures, destinations, foods, art, history, etc.

The next step on your travel lifeline is your honeymoon and then your anniversaries. Travel is a wonderful way to celebrate these milestones. Many destinations specialize in romance travel. These are valuable experiences to bond with your spouse. Don’t wait. A recent client of mine contacted me to book an Alaskan cruise. She and her husband had always wanted to go together. He recently passed away and she was going to honor his memory. Travel together now with no regrets!

Travel with your kids: They grow up too quickly. Start as early as you can. My son had his first haircut at the barbershop in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. He may not remember it, but it’s part of his story that he brags about. And the pictures are great! Most people start traveling with kids at age 5. Tip: Once they enter high school it will become challenging to travel with them. They will have sports, band, perfect attendance, final exams, and a part-time job. So, you only have about eight to nine good travel years. Don’t miss it!

Go on a cruise with friends: Empty nesters may feel lonely traveling without your college-age kids. It’s time to travel with other couples. Group travel can be great fun! pickleball groups travel to all-inclusive resorts together. Photography groups travel to exotic destinations and go on photo safaris together. Wine lovers take river cruises through France together.

Multi-generation travel is popular: Grandparents traveling with their grandkids to Disney, cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, beach trips, and more. My kids were blessed each summer to go on a “Grand Cruise.” The grandparents would take the grandkids on a cruise out of Galveston — no parents (my wife and I) allowed.

Retirement bucket-list experiences: There still may be that one trip you never had the time to enjoy. Some travel experiences are longer than the average one-week vacation from work. Take a longer trip to Europe. Take a 160-day cruise around the world!

Travel will enrich your life every step of the way.

zac@daydreamvacations.com | 817-559-7150