Turtle Shell Travel

Travel Advisor with Fora Travel

Tag: summer

  • Fall highlights and what I’m working on as a travel advisor in September

    Empty nest, caring for elders, and booking the best trips

    Summer passed by in a blink, and I spent the majority of it caring for my elderly parents – one with mild dementia and one with a fresh hip fracture followed by a stroke. They’re both still with us – there adapting to a new living situation (situation) and the keep working together to manage their days. It’s quite admirable, actually.

    I haven’t hated spending much of my time in the Midwest this summer. It’s been hot and sunny and I love watching the corn grow tall and the beans turn yellow. As beautiful (and temperate) as Maine is, average highs of 85 are the way to spend the summer (with a/c).

    I’ve also had the chance to use my new carry-on bag, to transport TWO laptops (work and personal) through the airport. It fits under the seat, thankfully, although I often will put it overhead and put my (overloaded) purse under the seat.

    Summer was punctuated by sending both kids off to college. One matriculating with pomp and circumstance and the other heading off with his headphones on to start junior year. Last night was my first night with an empty house, but it was far from sad. It’s the way the world turns – our little ones grow to be big ones. You can call it the empty next, open door, or just a quiet place. I miss them and the past years, but am excited about what the future holds.

    Tufts matriculation – 2025, all 1800+ new students

    So what am I doing today? Planning travel of course. A sabbatical to Italy for friends is on tap. In the wings is a February break warm weather getaway for two families and a St. Lucia honeymoon. I’m listening to the hits of 1988, 1989 and 1990 (thank you, Spotify) to remind me that I was young once, and eating Chipotle leftovers. Not all days as a travel advisor are glamorous. While I’ve flown a lot to Chicago in the past 9 weeks, my time spent on the ground has been very ordinary.

    My goals for the next 3 months, is to get ready for Christmas with my college kids, plan some more great trips and keep checking on Mom and Dad. I’m working with a life coach to fine time my direction for the next 10 years, and enjoying quiet evenings with my husband in our quiet place.

  • Travel prices impact summer plans

    Even though my sister (who is an airline pilot) tells me TSA volume is nearly back to 2019 levels, some sources are reporting that Americans are looking at all of their travel options when trying to get to that family reunion, wedding, lake home, or postponed celebration of life for a dear friend or family member. The summer of 2022 shows all the signs of making up for the last two summers, when get-togethers and celebrations were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But high oil prices are driving higher airfares, forcing travelers to look for other options.

    Traveling for a family of 4 from the east coast to the midwest may have cost $1200 3 years ago, and now airfares could make that same trip cost $2400 – an increase of 100%. According to a recent Skift article, 70% of surveyed Americans have noticed these higher prices and have many have looked into travel alternatives. Families may choose to travel by car or train to meet have that special trip come in close to budget for the summer of 2022.

    Fishing with Dad (GO ILLINI) in Wisconsin

    I’ve even thought of skipping our annual trip to “the lake” in Wisconsin, because airfares and car rental prices are much higher than I budgeted for last fall. But with older parents, siblings and cousins I don’t see often, I hate to miss out on these times together. Time to take a close look at the budget to see if we can swing it.

    Have you had to change your travel plans for summer? If so, have you found ways to make expenses more manageable?

  • Almost June, nearly summer

    It’s May 31.

    How often do we really stop to pause and think about what it means to be May 31? This date is usually wrapped up just after a holiday weekend (as it is today) and is filled with end of school and graduation celebrations. Some people (educators) are retiring. New doctors are graduating from medical school and packing up and heading off to residency.

    May is a transition month and it never fails to feel rocky and unsettled for me. It’s always been a time of moving, celebrating, grieving. While I’m sure I’ve done these things in other months. I am certain that May has held the most CHANGE for me, and will continue to do so for the next several years as my kids venture out into the world.

    image of my unsettled May self

    So, how do I settle the rocking boat? By planning the summer and picking out what I want to write, read and see over the three summer months.

    I’ve decided to take a new tack with this blog and and start entries that start with the question, “What if…”

    What if I only read spy novels this summer? Would I better understand politics, would I be able to solve the puzzles? You’ll find out with me. I just requested from the library books with classic characters that I read about in the “5 of the Most Famous or Notorious Spies in Fiction” blog post by David Adams Cleveland on the criminalelement website. What a resource. I’ll let you know how it goes.

    Do you have any favorite spy characters or books to recommend this summer? What are you reading?

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