The Travel Journal
The stuff I tell clients over coffee before they book — short reads, no fluff, all from real trips.
Cruises Sep 29, 2026 · 4 min read
A yacht-style ship carrying 100 guests or fewer sails into the harbor towns of Croatia, Italy and Greece, and the Caribbean coves the big ships skip. Here is how the trip feels on board, the trade-offs to know, and what to check before you book.
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Cruises Sep 24, 2026 · 4 min read
The Columbia and Snake, the Mississippi and Puget Sound each give you a very different small-ship trip close to home. Here is how the three compare, why ship size changes everything, and what to check before you book from Texas.
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Cruises Sep 23, 2026 · 4 min read
St. Thomas and Tortola feel nothing like the big-name Caribbean ports. Here is what sets the US and British Virgin Islands apart, how a cruise actually gets you there from Texas, and what to check before you book.
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Cruises Sep 23, 2026 · 4 min read
A family reunion, a church group, a few couples and a crowd of close friends all want different cruises. Here is how the people you bring point to the right ship, and what changes once you're booking several cabins together.
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Travel Planning Sep 17, 2026 · 4 min read
Toes in the sand, a safari at golden hour, Japan in cherry blossom season. Your first answer says a lot about the trip you actually want, and how far ahead it needs to be planned.
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Africa Sep 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Pyramids and temples, or spice markets and the Sahara. Two very different trips on the same continent, and how I help you pick, time, and plan the right one.
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Cruises Sep 1, 2026 · 5 min read
From Magnolia, The Woodlands or Conroe you can drive to your ship. Here is what that saves, what it costs you in choice, and when it is the right call.
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Cruises Sep 1, 2026 · 5 min read
The gap between a mid-range river cruise and a luxury one is smaller than the brochure price suggests. Here is the arithmetic, done honestly.
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Planning Aug 11, 2026 · 5 min read
The six-month rule, blank-page requirements, renewal timing, and the entry documents that catch people out at the gate.
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Planning Aug 11, 2026 · 6 min read
Cancellation versus interruption, why medical cover matters most abroad, and the exclusions people find out about far too late.
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Tropical Jul 21, 2026 · 4 min read
Every island sells the same postcard and they are not interchangeable. How to match the island to the trip you want.
Read More Europe Jul 7, 2026 · 5 min read
A first trip to Europe comes down to one question: unpack once and let the river move you, or cover more ground by land.
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Family Travel Jun 23, 2026 · 5 min read
Both make a great week. They're built for different families, though. A no-fluff guide to choosing between Disney and Universal, and when to just do both.
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Planning Jun 9, 2026 · 4 min read
When I charge a planning fee, when I do not, and where the money actually comes from. The question everyone asks first.
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Wine Travel Jun 3, 2026 · 5 min read
Eight friends, one group chat, and a shared dream of vineyards. Here's how I turn that into a real itinerary nobody fights about — the Vino Vacay way.
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Cruises May 27, 2026 · 4 min read
Not all balconies are equal, and the cruise line is counting on you not knowing the difference. A plain-English guide to the upgrades worth paying for.
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Local May 13, 2026 · 4 min read
Good food, a featured destination, and a room full of people who like to go places. A look inside the Travel Club, and how to get on the list.
Read More Weddings Apr 22, 2026 · 5 min read
A wedding on a beach sounds simple until you're managing forty guests, three resorts, and a dozen flight itineraries. How I take that part off your plate.
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Planning Apr 1, 2026 · 4 min read
The most common money mistake is waiting too long. How far ahead to book cruises, resorts and peak-season travel.
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Group Travel Mar 18, 2026 · 5 min read
A good retreat sharpens a team. A badly planned one wastes a budget. The real planning framework, the retreat types that work, and where to start.
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Group Travel Feb 11, 2026 · 5 min read
Group tours are great when they fit you and miserable when they don't. A plain guide to matching the trip to your travel style before you book.
Read More Local Jan 14, 2026 · 5 min read
Not all travel agents are equal. What to look for, what questions to ask, and why a local Houston-area agent makes complex international trips easier.
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Planning Dec 10, 2025 · 5 min read
The honest case for using a travel advisor — what you actually get, when it's worth it, and how the cost works out (often less than you'd guess).
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Planning Nov 19, 2025 · 5 min read
A custom trip is not a fancier package off the shelf. The real step-by-step of how a personal itinerary gets built.
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Family Travel Oct 29, 2025 · 5 min read
Planning a theme-park trip yourself is a part-time job for a month. Here's what a real Disney and Universal agent does, and what to look for in one.
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Tropical Oct 8, 2025 · 5 min read
The right island at the wrong time of year is a rained-out vacation. A month-by-month guide to where the tropics actually shine, and where to skip.
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Group Travel Sep 17, 2025 · 5 min read
A booking website cannot herd twelve people through three countries. What a real agency does once a trip gets complicated.
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