That beach you wish you were on....

Travel has been an important part of my life from a young age. My parents were separated, so I would fly to visit my dad at least once a year wherever he was posted with the military; far-flung places like Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Northern Germany! Seeing Europe in my teenage years was an incredible experience and gave me a real understanding of the cultural value behind travel. It also sparked a lifelong goal to see as much of the world as I can! 

I've been fortunate enough to travel to Costa Rica on my own, and then again for my Honeymoon. Other North American travel to parts of Canada, Las Vegas, Cancun, Seattle, and Disneyland.

My wife and I have gone on two incredible trips in the past few years that revolved around backpacking in SE Asia. I planned them all myself through the endless maze of online booking engines...before I was a Travel Agent.

The first trip took us from Malaysia, to Thailand, and then Nova Scotia to visit family. We were on 13 different flights over the 30 days!

The following year we went back to Thailand, Malaysia, and then Hawaii for a family wedding on our way home. With my mom joining us in Thailand for the first 2 weeks of the trip.

On our flight between Malaysia and Hawaii, I set us up with a 15hr layover in Seoul. Why? Because the Seoul airport organizes free tours for passengers that are on long layovers. We left the airport on a charter bus and saw some interesting cultural sites with a great guide leading the group when we left the bus. Two days a week there are tours available to the DMZ (Border with North Korea), but we missed them. To fill time back at the airport we went to a moderately priced spa with hot tubs, saunas and Nap Rooms, had a good meal, had a robot carry our bags for a bit, and carried on to Hawaii.

Why is that story important? Because that's how I plan travel. I create trips that are so unique, that even the layovers make a good story.