Priceless Gem Travel

12/11/2025

03/28/2023

Are you planning to travel internationally in 2023? If so, go right now and check your passport expiration date (and make sure you can put your hands on your passport so you are sure you know you have it).
Do you not have a passport?
Does it expire within 6 months of your travel dates?
If so, apply/renew your passport NOW. And expedite it.

Everyone is traveling and the passport processing times keep getting longer. Don't wait until it's too late.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/us-passport-processing-times-extended-again-amid-unprecedented-demand.html?ubhide=true&utm_source=omeda_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eltr_Daily&oly_enc_id=6999H2346767H9A&mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR1O4Z4r85-wxT6VF-EgqDVyv_33Gi6SVaCkqijszYJ1W6Mj_aXGeKd49uU

The processing time for US passport applications and renewals has increased again, as State Department employees scramble to keep up with an unprecedented number of submissions.

01/19/2023

NOW is the time to plan those 2023 vacations. I am currently working booking a private villa in the Caribbean for a milestone birthday gathering with friends, family trips to Florida for Spring break, summer trips to various locations throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica, a couples trip to Chile, and more.

The types of travel are endless and everyone is itching to get away. Don't wait until the last minute when availability has decreased and pricing has increased.

Message me today to get on my calendar for a consult to start making your 2023 travel dreams a reality.

04/05/2022

Client spring break spotlight-
A lot of my clients contact me about a Disney trip and want to add on Harry Potter. Most only have a day in the midst of their Walt Disney World trip to head down the road to the Wizarding World. And while we can absolutely make that happen and you will have a fabulous time, this family did what it takes to really experience Universal Studios and everything Harry Potter has to offer. You really need to dedicate a trip of 2-4 days staying at one of Universal's Premier properties to fully experience all it has to offer. These girls got to ride Hagrid's motorbike, get wands from Ollivanders, complete wand spells, drink butterbeer, and more. And they stayed a 5 minute walk away! Let me know when YOU are ready to plan an immersive Harry Potter experience!

03/29/2022

As we all are well aware, it's been a LONG past two years. As a travel agent, I have felt the strain of knowing when and how much to post about travel because I don't want to seem tone deaf to the realities of the pandemic for each person. But I also know many are anxious to get back out and experience the things we have missed over the past couple of years. Many of us NEED the escape and the memories.

I am still here planning vacations for families and want to highlight a few stories over the coming weeks. I think it's important to see what it's like to get back out there because things are both "back to normal" and very different for a variety of reasons. I am here to answer any questions you have and help you navigate what planning a vacation in this current climate is like.

This first family I am going to highlight is my dear friend from high school, Debra. Her family may have needed this vacation and these memories more than any of us. Back in August they lost their son Aven to the horrible amoeba, naegleria fowleri. It has been a hard road for the Moffats but they have really embraced Aven's spirit and have vowed to share his story always.

They just got back from an amazing week at Disney, playing for Aven. Now, Debra will be the first to admit that she was NOT looking forward to Disney. They are not Disney people and were planning this trip for their boys. Even one of their boys wasn't so sure about the trip at first.

I assured her that I would listen to what they liked and try to make the experience as straight forward, relaxing, and easy as Disney can be. If you are a Disney person, you know that is not exactly what Disney is known for.

However, part way through Day 1, Debra text and said that Gene had changed his mind and was loving it and wanting to know when they could come back. By the end of the trip she said they may even be Disney people.

On day 2 they even got selected as the Family of the Day and got to be the grand marshals for the Festival of Fantasy parade in Magic Kingdom.

Enjoy these photos and the JOY that traveling and making memories together can bring, even in the midst of extreme grief.

05/19/2021

Hello, friends.

It’s been awhile. I’m sorry for disappearing for the past year during covid. I’m still here planning vacations but, like all of us I’m sure, I started out just trying to survive and now trying to process what coming out of the pandemic looks like. Particularly related to travel.

I hope to be back around a little more, offering some tips about planning vacations for 2022.

What are you wondering about as we start to plan travel for the future? Where are you wanting to go next??

10/21/2020

Just heard this at a virtual conference I am attending this week. What are your thoughts? Is the happiest moment of your vacation process the moment you book your trip? If not, what IS the happiest moment of your trip usually?

Travel has a 3-fold bottom line benefit. You get excitement and fulfilment in all three parts-
1. planning and anticipating
2. traveling
3. re-living the memories

Do you agree?

Where do you want to book a trip to next?

06/19/2020

Happy Friday!

I just wanted to check in and see how you are all doing?

Talk to me about how Covid has been for you and your family. What has been hard? What have been your unexpected blessings? What are you grieving? How are you feeling about traveling?

For me, personally, the unending stretch of time with so few answers is really tough. My nature of wanting to plan and control is really making it difficult to live in the moment.

But- that has also been my biggest blessing. I have tried to seek the gifts in each day. It has been so lovely to watch the world wake up from winter and move into spring. And here in the southern US we had the most glorious spring I ever remember! Our family has taken daily walks/runs/bike rides and have been enjoying connecting with neighbors from across driveways and yards. I have been so thankful to live in a neighborhood and in an area where we can get outside, walk around, and enjoy nature. As this quote says, Wilderness is a necessity of the human spirit and I am thankful I can explore some of that wilderness just in my own neighborhood.

I won't lie though- it's been hard. I am starting to get that itch to go somewhere and do something. I am trying to be wise and compassionate with all of my decisions about slowly emerging in the world.

For me, personally, I want to make sure I am not just thinking about what I want or MY desire to get back out and travel but also considering what is best for those around me. We decided as a family to book a mountain and beach house where we can explore new areas but mostly outside and distanced from others.

I am looking at other possibilities for late summer and fall but holding all plans and options loosely. I want to get back out and explore as much as the next person but I also want to be mindful of different state's and countries' infrastructures and be careful not to take something to a place that can't handle it as well as we can in the US just because of my selfish desire to get back out in the world. I also want to weigh all the risks- from air schedule changes to mask-wearing, to getting sick in a foreign country- are these things things I am ok with or should I just wait?

There are so many things to think about and no clear answers. I would love to hear what you think- where are YOU at with all of this?

05/27/2020

Walt Disney World presented their proposed plan for reopening today. This plan is not official until it is signed off on by the governor but a few things of note:
- Disney will have a phased reopening with magic kingdom and animal kingdom opening on July 11 and Epcot and Hollywood studios opening on July 15
- there will be a reservation system to control capacity. Further details will be given later
- masks will be required by cast members and guests for the duration of the time in the parks
- there will be temperature screening upon entry
- mobile ordering and touch less ordering will be implemented whenever possible
- physical distance guidelines will be marked
- there will be more hand sanitizing stations, enhanced cleaning protocols, plexiglass installed, and more
- fireworks, parades,character meet and greets (and possibly other entertainment) will be cancelled for now

There are still many questions about how all of this will look. Disney is a giant organization with a lot of moving pieces. I trust that they have a lot of smart people working together over the next 6 weeks to iron out all of the details to allow them to get up and running while protecting the health of their cast and guests.

What does this mean for you?
Right now, Disney is pausing all bookings. This just means that for a short period they are not allowing any new bookings. I expect this is to allow them to figure out what their capacity is, adjust rooms in inventory, and figure out what to offer when they start taking bookings again

If you want to travel to Disney when they open, be prepared for a lot of changes. This won’t be the same Disney trip you are used to or may imagine. That doesn’t mean it will be bad but you can’t compare it to former trips. I expect things will change a lot over the next few months so I will stay on top of changes and communicate that to clients. Be prepared to wear masks - this isn’t an option and if you choose to visit Disney, you are choosing to follow that rule. If this isn’t possible for you, let’s wait to book your trip until later.

I’m looking towards Disney’s further with curiosity, anticipation, and excitement as I see how they continue to imagineer experiences for their guests. It may be different but I trust the magic of Disney.