“AS SOON AS I SAW YOU, I KNEW AN ADVENTURE WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.”
– A. A. MILNE, WINNIE THE POOH
The vast openness of Arizona, the palm trees in Key West, Florida, the city life of Vancouver, British Columbia, a cruise through the Mediterranean, the stunning views in Santorini, Greece. I long to show my daughters the world and I’m doing this by starting with a detailed travel bucket list. A list that is forever changing, growing, and expanding to accommodate bigger and ever-evolving family dreams.
As our family goes about our day-to-day lives and we hear about new and incredible places, we add them to our list and a big part of the joy of each new vacation is the dreaming and planning that comes with it. From saving for each new adventure to creating the itinerary to the moment you set out on that trip, there’s nothing quite like a family vacation.
The latest addition to that travel bucket list is our first ever cruise vacation through the Mediterranean. This little family is planning an escape from the Suburbs this fall when we hope to be sailing through the Mediterranean Sea with stops at the stunning ports of Barcelona, Cannes, Rome, Florence, and Pisa. To make this dream a reality, we need to get into planning and saving mode right now! Here are my best tips to help you get another check on your own travel bucket list:
*Dream Big. Create your travel bucket list, quit dreaming and start planning. Think about what it is in life that makes you happy, where your happy place is, and what you want to see or do most in the world. Flip through magazines or Pinterest pages for inspiration, then put pen to paper and write out those dreams one by one. Having your dreams written down on paper makes it much more tangible. Besides, half the fun of travel is the planning.
*Set Your Budget. Educate yourself on the cost of flights and accommodations to your dream location, figure out what is realistic for you and set some goals. Create a budget for your vacation and stick to it.
*Pick A Date. There will never be a “perfect” time to take a family vacation. Co-ordinate those calendars and find a time that works best and set it in stone.
*Start Planning. Half the fun of travel is the planning. Research the flights, hotels, rental cars, food expenses, rental homes or cruise ships and shake out all the numbers.
*Collect and Use Aeroplan Miles. A fabulous way to help with the dreaming, the planning, and the getting there is to take advantage of all the perks Aeroplan has to offer. Aeroplan has just announced plans to transform their program into a complete travel and leisure offering, dedicated to connecting members with the people, places and moments that matter most. Here’s everything you need to know to help you be ready to travel sooner:
Aeroplan is promising to transform travel planning as you know it into an extraordinary experience. Take a peek at this little video that will introduce you to Aeroplan’s commitments. Aeroplan will offer:
1 The freedom to choose any seat on more of your favourite airlines.
2 The power to reach your travel plans faster – with more partners, you can easily collect more miles.
3 A complete travel offering in one place – with a greater selection of accommodations, car rentals, destination activities and travel packages.
4 Unmatched flexibility and convenience – with payment options when booking and thousands of everyday items in stores and online at more than 150 partner brands.
5 A more personalized journey.
6 An altogether transformed user experience. So easy to use from either my mobile to online to the Aeroplan Contact Centre.
Aeroplan will be more personalized, convenient and flexible. They offer more ways to earn and redeem miles, making it even easier for members to get to where they want to go a lot faster.
So, go ahead, what are you waiting for? As I always say, eat the cake, buy the shoes, take the trip. That next vacation is calling!
Do you love to travel as much as I do? I hope so because I’ve teamed up with Aeroplan to bring you an incredible giveaway! If you want the freedom to choose any seat on more of your favourite airlines and a faster, more flexible path to your next dream holiday, then enter now for your chance to win 5,000 Aeroplan Miles! Start saving for your next vacation today! To enter, simply answer this mandatory question: Where is your next dream vacation? Then use the rafflecopter form provided to earn those extra entries.
This giveaway is open to Canadians only, excluding Quebec, and to all those who have reached the age of majority in their Province. Closes July 31, 2018. Prize fulfillment is the responsibility of Aeroplan and you must be an Aeroplan member or sign up for an Aeroplan card to participate in order to claim your reward. This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. In exchange for this post, I have received perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own. #withAeroplan
We mostly use our credit card to save up points to help with the cost of travelling. We are also big Airbnb fans as we find the places are cheaper and often better than a hotel!
I recently signed up & just received my Aeroplan card! Time to start collecting miles for my dream vacation! My bucket list has going to Vegas again & also Disneyworld with the kids!
Lots of great tips! I definitely have a travel bucket list that grows daily. Thanks!
Excellent recommendations! My next dream vacation is Greece – going this fall!
You’re right, there’s never a perfect time, so pick a date and do it. Otherwise it just won’t happen. That’s true of many other things too.
Great tips for planning a vacation!
I wish I could have a bucket list. I can’t even spare a dime.