All Travel Skills

Skilled Travel is Therapy 

Do you feel the call to explore? Here are the necessary travel skills for smooth dream fulfillment…

• Clarity – Sometimes we are called to travel but no matter where we go there are going to be unique things to see, do, eat, adventure & explore. Choose something for yourself especially if it’s a trip specifically designed to support someone else.
• Harmony – Being calm and peaceful inside is a skill that should be fully developed BEFORE travel. Being afraid to fly, having motion sickness, experiencing depression and/or anxiety should never be someone else’s responsibility. Know it, manage it, be clear that you will be taking something for it, if you will be groggy then ensure someone helps with transitions from one place to another. 
• Money Management – Are debts managed? If you love travel like I do, make Travel a line item in the budget. Sadly many of us who love to travel have struggled with this, but funding your travel passion needs to be at the top of the line items. Here’s my Pro Tip: Put a picture of where you want to go directly into your budget! That’s right, it took me years before I realized I could drop pictures into my spreadsheet. YEAH! Set aside money in a separate account and if you get all debt paid use a travel credit card and pay it off immediately after a trip.
• Planning – There is a list of things to put in place even for short trips. The longer the trip, the more important the planning becomes. It’s not just making sure dates line up but you never want to arrive somewhere with no place to sleep. Sometimes staying with people is nice, if it’s not, book a hotel! If lodging is booked then getting to and from lodging needs to be planned. If you or someone in your party has health challenges, budget a little extra for travel in
• Organization – As a reformed chaotic person I understand how difficult it is to become organized. This is a critical life skill that can be detrimental when traveling. There are things that must always be with you and if you misplace them you may not be able to travel. Someone just told me about a grandparent who forgot his driver’s license as a result he was not on the trip.
• Communication – I have had vacations ruined due to someone who was not prepared, there were others who could have offered socks, aspirin, tums, or a band aid and prevented some really terrible outcomes 2 of which were nasty blisters that are not only painful but if infected can end a trip quickly. Food preferences, allergies, likes and dislikes, CPAP machines and snoring and most certainly night terrors or sleepwalking. Please don’t be that person, the one that should have said something. Others can work with real information but what we don’t know is sometimes really impactful to our fellow travelers.
• Time Management – Chronic lateness has no place in travel. If you or someone in your party gets the time wrong, oversleeps, or is disrespectful about time there is likely to be arguing at least but horror stories abound about people missing planes, trains, boats, and tours. Be the responsible leader, leave early, bring a book, snacks, and earbuds and start vacation as early as possible taking time to sit back and enjoy people watching. You never know who you might end up hanging out with, I sat in an airport one with Sammy Hagar and his family – pretty cool!
• Observation – Anything goes! I was sitting on a plane once when the flight attendant asked someone in my row for something, he would not comply and things began to escalate quickly. She ended up giving the man something and he was required to report to security after our flight. I was very happy to be a passive observer and very grateful it did not escalate to anything worse. Travel is not the time to take a stand, make a statement, or treat others with disrespect. If something unexpected happens to you, do what my fellow passenger did and take the name of the person so you can follow up later. Here’s a good life rule – yelling at anyone isn’t necessary. Observe, take notes, bring your sense of humor, and always aim to leave people and places better than you found them. 

• Tropical vacation with little umbrellas in the drinks? I’m a certified Hawaii specialist and Islands are a primary passion.
• Any island group – Caribbean (700 islands), Australia (one big island and 8,222 more), New Zealand (slightly smaller island and 700 more),
• Family time? Take everyone to a favorite theme park, national park, or epic excursion such as plane or helicopter, ATV, horseback riding, train the scenic routes, or cruise on a ridiculously huge cruise ship that’s as big as some countries.
• Relax and renew? From Glen Ivy Hot Springs out west to the stunning Omni Homestead Resort in Virginia I’ll book you a getaway that will improve your health and well-being. These are my favorite vacations!
• Since I am also an Ordained Wedding Officiant I am happy to book groups with a discount, assist with destination and travel planning and details, and even Officiate your wedding.
• I’m currently working on a booking for a castle wedding in Ireland, and holiday adventures in Italy. That means I have extra deals, suppliers, and adventuring information to share.

Additional Resources:

Kids Travel Life Skills

Advanced Travel Skills

Tiff’s Top Travel Treasures

Affiliate Disclosure – Please take a spin around my new link, Tiff’s Top Travel Treasures is something brand new for me. (It’s supposed to be a link to some interesting Travel items on Amazon AND, what’s cool is that if there’s something you really love I believe you can add it to the list.) My entire website is the culmination of 7 years of writing, learning, making tons of mistakes, always knowing I don’t want to collect information or push ads and sales on people.

This is my first attempt at making money from my website, having some fun with anyone who gets this far, enjoying the learning and labors of absolute LOVE I am putting into this.

My site is evolving and some things may not work as I am completely self taught. I would appreciate a call, e-mail or text if you find things that don’t work, need improvement, need more information, or ideally you really loved and connected with.

If you shop with me please know that I will be putting all income into being able to see my son at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. I am a super proud mama and a lonely one too. Having my son start college on another continent has been heart filling and difficult.