Happy Holidays from Wandering Honeymooners! 2017 has been a whirlwind of a year for all of us, and it kind of feels like we could all use a vacation! If you're feeling that way, and I know I am, we need to think about how we can get you traveling in 2018.
International Deals
Right now, travel from the US abroad has never been cheaper. Airfares are down, and thanks to home-sharing services like HomeAway and AirBnB, you can usually find lodging for under $150 per night. Travel to major cities reduces the need for a car rental, and if you rent a place with a kitchen, you can save on food costs as well. The old days of international travel only being a possibility for the well-heeled crowd are over. Always dreamed of hiking through the Pyrenées or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef? Take advantage of some of the killer deals out there and make 2018 the year that that dream becomes a reality!
Homegrown Happiness
You don't have to go to the other side of the world to see some of the best that Mother Earth has to offer! We have 58 national parks in the US, each one more beautiful than the last. I don't know about you, but some of my happiest childhood memories were spent taking trips to the Grand Canyon, The Petrified Forest, Monument Valley, Joshua Tree, Redwood, you name it! And as the paying traveler, what's not to love? Admission is affordable, there are almost always campsites available, and if you're not into camping, there are usually some pretty funky (and trustworthy) motels within a few miles of the parks, dripping with Americana. It's a win-win-win.
Take a Leap
Look, we all have that place that's our go-to for vacations. It's totally normal, and very common, to have that place that you feel comfortable going to time and again. But remember, just because it's familiar doesn't necessarily mean that it's the most cost-effective choice, nor that you have to keep putting off that dream vacation in order to maintain the status quo. Surprise your fiancée with a pre-wedding mini-break to Cayman. Blow your family away with a camping trip to Olympic National Park, the only old-growth temperate rainforest in the US. Gather your besties and have an unforgettable girls' long weekend in Amsterdam. Expecting a little addition in 2018? Go on a babymoon to the Azores and really enjoy your last vacay as a duo! These are all totally affordable options if you know what you're looking for!
New Year, New You
That old catchphrase "new year, new you" is usually used to peddle gym memberships and weight loss clubs, but I'm invoking it now to challenge you- get out there and visit somewhere new in 2018! It's the only resolution that you will truly look forward to keeping!
As for us, we're headed off to explore the Rhône Alpes with our own new little addition in tow. It's never too early to instill the love of travel! Bon voyage, mes amis, and have a fantastic holiday season!