The Travel Journal
The stuff I tell clients over coffee before they book — short reads, no fluff, all from real trips.
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
The fee question everyone asks first. Here's the honest answer — when I charge a planning fee, when I don't, and why my price matches the one you'd find online either way.
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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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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 isn't a fancier package off the shelf. Here's the real step-by-step of how a personalized international vacation gets built, start to finish.
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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 can't herd twelve people through three countries. Here's what a real travel agency does once a trip gets big, complicated, or international.
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