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10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Travel

March 7, 2017 by

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Do you want to see the world?

Or are you traveling because of your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend makes you? Maybe they say something like, “If you love me, you’ll travel with me.” That’s called manipulation, and you may want to reevaluate your relationship and decide if it’s worth it.

Many people, and you may be one of them, think that they have to visit as many countries as they can. The truth is you don’t have to become a savvy world traveler. You can stay in “your own backyard” and live a happy and healthy life.

If the thought of packing for a vacation makes you want to throw up, don’ do it. Just stay home!

Read on to learn why you shouldn’t travel. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventure, Arizona, Escorted Coach Tour, Europe, Family, Group, Travel, Vacation

Thanksgiving: How to Navigate Your Holiday Travel

November 21, 2016 by

Thanksgiving-Blackwell Travel

Can you believe that Thanksgiving in the U.S. is upon us? I can’t!

It seems as if the month of November has been one dramatic event after another, at least for me.

In the U.S., we had a heated (and still dramatic) presidential election.

Personally, I’ve been dealing with my sister having a mild heart attack. Luckily, she doesn’t have heart damage and is on the road to recovery.

I’ve also lost a few loved ones.

The passing of my cousin was and is totally unexpected. I’m still in shock and have been processing my emotions around her death. I feel the urge to grab my backpack and passport and travel for about six months to one year. Yes, I would be escaping. But I feel that travel could help me deal with the tragedy of my cousin’s passing.

But, I digress…

If you’re traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, check out this video about the do’s and don’ts of Thanksgiving travel! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family, Group, Pets, Travel

Holiday Travel with Your Pets Doesn’t Have to Cause Chaos

November 9, 2016 by
Holiday Travel with Pets-Blackwell Travel

When Benny Met Harriet. Christmas 2009. Sadly, Harriet was put to sleep in May 2014 because she was sick. Benny is still going strong!

According to a national survey of pet owners, nearly 40 percent take their dogs on vacation with them. Ten years ago, it was only 20 percent. And keep in mind that many airlines won’t allow you to ship your dog in cargo.

Ah, the holidays.

If you live away from your family, you may be traveling across the U.S. or to another country to spend time with them. But if you have pets, you may not want to leave them at home, especially if they suffer from separation anxiety.

I remember the first time I flew home for Christmas.

It was 2009, and I was living in Chandler, Arizona and decided to fly home to Parma, Ohio (southwest of Cleveland) for Christmas. I had two cats (still do) and decided that Benny (highly attached to me) would travel with me. CeCe, my other cat, is the epitome of “independent cat” and would stay home.

I took Benny to his veterinarian and secured the proper health documentation along with tranquilizers. Not for me, for him. Ha!

Benny needed a travel regulated carrier, so I bought one. He’s since outgrown it. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventure, Arizona, Family, Pets, Travel

The “Travel Agent is Obsolete” Myth Debunked

August 30, 2016 by

The time has come to bust the myths about travel agents.

“Don’t use a travel agent” is TERRIBLE advice.

The question is why?

A travel agent can actually be a great resource for you.

He or she can help you plan your dream vacation and reduce your stress because you won’t have to search hundreds of online travel sites to find the travel package you want.

So, what’s the problem? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventure, All, Escorted Coach Tour, Family, Group, Travel, Vacation

How to Improve Your Travel Experiences [And Actually Enjoy Trips]

August 16, 2016 by

Admit it. You may be a cranky traveler or one that has super high expectations that not even God himself or herself could meet. Does this sound like you? If it does, you’re sabotaging your travel experiences.

The only person you control is YOU. For example, Mother Nature who may dump tons of snow in your area, making it impossible for your plane to take-off to the Caribbean. You can’t control the weather! But you could be prepared to wait it out by reading a magazine, listening to music, etc.

Instead of getting upset at the slightest issue and ruining your vacations, learn to rise above travel challenges.

Fortunately, you can learn how to improve your travel experiences and actually enjoy your trips. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventure, All, Arizona, Escorted Coach Tour, Europe, Family, Group, Travel, Vacation

8 Adventurous and Family Things to do in Arizona

August 2, 2016 by

Have you taken a family vacation to Arizona? If not, you may consider traveling to the Valley of the Sun and participating in the adventurous activities. Some of them are not for the faint of heart, so make sure you choose things to do that everyone will enjoy.

You’ll find that Phoenix has a pleasant climate all year round. However, temperatures can soar past 100 during the summer. If this is too hot for you and your kids to handle, you may want to visit during the fall, winter and spring months.

Keep reading to learn about the eight adventurous and family things to do in Arizona. Bring lots of sunscreen! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventure, All, Arizona, Family, Travel, Vacation

London Travel: 7 Reasons to Visit Today

July 19, 2016 by

Admit it. You’ve often wondered about London travel. But now with Brexit, you may be too scared to visit the city. Poppycock!

Push your fears aside, embrace travel to England, and start packing today. If you don’t go, you may regret it. You don’t want that, do you?

There are a wide variety of things to do and see in London, England, from museums to having afternoon tea at a café or in your hotel’s restaurant. I’ve visited the city and haven’t even scratched the surface. It’s why I’ll travel to London over and over again.

Keep reading to learn seven reasons to visit London, England today. Once you’ve finished, you may want to book your vacation as soon as possible. [Read more…]

Filed Under: All, Escorted Coach Tour, Europe, Family, Group, Honeymoon, Travel, Vacation

Everything You Need to Know about Brexit

July 12, 2016 by

You’ve probably heard or read about Brexit. But do you really understand it? What happened is the citizens in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland voted on June 23, 2016 to decide whether or not the UK should leave or stay in the European Union [economic and political union between 28 European countries].

The Brexit results were 52% to leave and 48% to stay. More than 30 million (71.8%) people participated in the Brexit vote.

If you’re like most people, you’re probably confused about the Brexit vote and may have questions, such as:

  • What does this mean for travel to the UK?
  • How will this affect my Great Britain vacation?
  • Is it safe to travel to the UK?
  • How far will the U.S. dollar go?

It’s too early to know the consequences of Brexit. And rumblings of a revote have been circulating throughout the UK. No one knows if this will or will not happen. [Read more…]

Filed Under: All, Escorted Coach Tour, Europe, Family, Group, Travel, Vacation

10 Postcard Notes to Send to Family and Friends

June 1, 2016 by

Did you know that sending travel postcards has become a lost art? Well, I’m here to bring it back. People love to receive things in the mail. I mean. Who wouldn’t want to receive an unexpected handwritten note in the mail?

It’s great that you buy your family and friends souvenirs from wherever you’ve traveled. But giving them something more personal, something that may put a smile on their face is so much better. And the fact that you took the time to write and send a postcard may impress them.

Read on to learn the 10 postcard notes you can send to family and friends.

10 Postcard Notes to Send to Family and Friends

Here are 10 postcard notes that you can send to family and friends. They’ll laugh. They’ll cry. They’ll want travel with you because they don’t want to miss out on the fun. [Read more…]

Filed Under: All, Arizona, Escorted Coach Tour, Europe, Family, Group, Honeymoon, Travel, Vacation

Are You Afraid to Travel with Your Cats?

May 13, 2016 by

Travel with your cats. You may think that this is crazy advice. But I’m here to tell you that you can take your feline friends with you on vacation.

In September 2007, I moved to Chandler, Arizona. I missed having a pet and my friends told me to get a cat because they’re easy to care for and would be better suited for apartment living when compared to a dog.

In August 2008, I went to the PetSmart in Chandler, Arizona and noticed that they had adoptable animals from a local rescue, Mixed Up Mutts and Shepherds Too. I was confused because the adoptable animals were cats and one kitten, Benny (he’s the black and white cat in the picture) — there were no dogs.

Long story short, I adopted Benny and then in early 2009, I adopted CeCe (she’s the tabby cat in the picture) from the Arizona Humane Society.

For Christmas 2009, I decided to fly back to Ohio to see my family. I had a feeling that CeCe would not enjoy air travel (she was still getting used to me) and decided to hire a pet sitter to watch her and flew back with Benny.

Benny was the perfect airline traveler. He slept during our flight and my fellow travelers commented on how they didn’t even know that my carry-on, which was actually a pet travel carrier, contained a cat. I didn’t think air travel with cats was a big deal, and it wasn’t. See that. You can travel with cats on an airplane!

Keep reading to learn how you can travel with cats. It’s not as difficult as you may think. [Read more…]

Filed Under: All, Family, Pets, Travel
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