The Best Trips Begin Long Before You Pack Your Suitcase
"The most memorable journeys don't begin at the airport. They begin with a conversation."
One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "Where should I go next?"
It's an exciting question—but it's rarely the first one I answer.
Instead, I usually ask a different question.
"Tell me about your favorite trip."
Not because I want to know where you've been.
I want to know how you experienced it.
Was it the wildlife that stayed with you?
The quiet mornings before everyone else was awake?
The local guide who shared stories you never would have discovered on your own?
The incredible meal that somehow tasted even better because of where you were?
Or was it simply the feeling of slowing down and realizing you had nowhere else you needed to be?
The answers tell me far more than a destination ever could.
No Two Travelers See the Same Place
Two couples can travel to Italy.
One dreams of wandering through local markets, taking a cooking class, lingering over long lunches, and discovering quiet villages tucked into the countryside.
The other imagines private boat charters along the Amalfi Coast, evenings at Michelin-starred restaurants, and waking up in luxury hotels overlooking the sea.
They're both traveling to Italy.
They're simply traveling differently.
The same is true almost everywhere.
Costa Rica can be a week filled with ziplining, rafting, surfing, and hiking volcanoes.
Or it can be early mornings watching wildlife, afternoons in natural hot springs, yoga overlooking the rainforest, and evenings listening to the sounds of nature.
Neither itinerary is better.
They're simply designed for different travelers.
The Destination Is Only Part of the Story
Sometimes clients tell me they want to visit Antarctica.
My next question isn't, "Which expedition ship?"
It's:
What excites you most about Antarctica?
Is it photography?
Wildlife?
Learning from scientists and expedition leaders?
Kayaking through ice-filled bays?
Camping on the continent?
Luxury accommodations after a day of exploration?
The answers help determine not only which expedition is right—but whether Antarctica is even the right fit compared to the Arctic or another incredible destination.
Because choosing the right journey is just as important as choosing where you're going.
The Little Details Matter
Some travelers love having every moment planned.
Others want time to wander without looking at the clock.
Some enjoy unpacking once.
Others love waking up somewhere new every morning.
Some dream about beautiful hotels.
Others care more about extraordinary guides, authentic experiences, or finding that little family-owned restaurant they would have walked right past.
These details might seem small.
They're not.
They're often what transforms a good vacation into one you'll still be talking about years later.
I've Learned My Favorite Places Have Something in Common
Over the years, I've been fortunate to visit destinations that continue to inspire me.
The glaciers of Antarctica.
The wildlife of the Arctic.
The rainforests of Costa Rica.
The turquoise waters of the Cayman Islands.
The dramatic coastline of Italy.
The quiet villages of the Netherlands.
At first glance, they couldn't be more different.
Yet every one of them offers the same gift.
They encourage you to slow down.
They reconnect you with nature.
They invite curiosity.
And somehow, they leave you feeling different than when you arrived.
Those are the destinations I find myself returning to—and the kinds of journeys I love helping others discover.
Travel Should Reflect Who You Are
The best itineraries aren't built from templates.
They're built from conversations.
The more I understand how you like to travel, the better I can recommend destinations, experiences, hotels, cruise lines, guides, and hidden gems that genuinely fit you.
Sometimes that means adding more adventure.
Sometimes it means adding more downtime.
Sometimes it means realizing the destination you thought you wanted isn't actually the one you'll love most.
And that's perfectly okay.
More Than a Vacation
I've never believed travel is simply about seeing another place on the map.
The journeys I remember most aren't the ones where I saw the most.
They're the ones where I felt the most.
Standing quietly beside a glacier.
Watching monkeys swing through the rainforest.
Sharing dinner with family after a day on the water.
Walking a beach before sunrise.
Listening instead of rushing.
Those moments don't happen because they're scheduled.
They happen because you've created space for them.
To me, that's what meaningful travel is all about.
Not simply going somewhere new.
But returning home with new stories, fresh perspective, and memories that stay with you long after you've unpacked your suitcase.
Because in the end, the best trips don't begin at the airport.
They begin with a conversation.