Travel Planning

If you think every cruise means crowded buffets, scheduled dinners, formal nights, and children running across the pool deck, Virgin Voyages is ready to change your mind. Virgin Voyages took the traditional cruise experience, kept the parts travelers love, and redesigned almost everything else. Its ships are exclusively for adults, the dining feels more like […]

Costa Rica is filled with waterfalls, volcanoes, wildlife, beaches, cloud forests and enough adventure to build a completely different experience in every region. Why I Chose Costa Rica for a Solo Adventure Costa Rica had everything I wanted from a solo trip: beautiful scenery, adventure, wildlife, welcoming people and enough variety to make traveling through

Mexico continues to be one of my favorite destinations for an all-inclusive vacation—and there’s a reason I keep going back. I’ve been to Mexico twice this year alone, staying at both Sunscape and RIU, and I’ve also spent time exploring Isla Mujeres. Between my own trips and helping clients plan theirs, one thing I’ve learned

Punta Cana has quickly become one of my most-booked destinations, and after helping clients plan everything from romantic getaways and honeymoons to family vacations and group trips, I understand why. Crystal-clear water, miles of white-sand beaches, incredible all-inclusive resorts, and direct flights from many U.S. cities make it one of the easiest tropical vacations to

By Daphne Shivar | Travel With Daphne There is a reason Alaska consistently ranks as one of the most unforgettable cruise destinations in the world. Unlike a Caribbean cruise where the ship is often the main attraction, Alaska is all about the destination. Towering glaciers, snow-covered mountains, whales breaching just off the side of the

One of the most common questions I get as a travel advisor is: “What’s the best cruise line?” The answer usually surprises people. There isn’t one. The best cruise line for a retired couple celebrating their anniversary isn’t necessarily the best cruise line for a family traveling with three children. The best cruise line for

Passport 101: Everything You Need to Know Before Traveling Internationally Nothing will ruin an international vacation faster than discovering there’s a problem with your passport a week before departure. As a travel advisor, I see this happen more often than you’d think. Travelers spend months planning the perfect vacation only to realize their passport is

Some people come to me and say, “I want to take a trip.” And I love that. But then I ask, “Where are you thinking?” And they say, “I don’t know.” Alright. So now we have entered the travel version of pulling teeth. Because here’s the thing: picking the right destination matters. A lot. The

Nothing can turn excitement into stress faster than seeing the words DELAYED or CANCELED next to your flight. You’re standing in the airport. Your phone buzzes. Your flight isn’t leaving as scheduled—or worse, it isn’t leaving at all. The customer service line is already wrapped around the terminal, everyone is trying to rebook at the

Travel Insurance Explained: Trip Protection, Credit Card Coverage, and Annual Travel Insurance If there’s one thing I’ve learned as both a travel advisor and someone who travels frequently, it’s this: Most people don’t understand what travel insurance actually covers until they need it. I hear it all the time: “My credit card covers me.” “I