Happy Thursday Hidden Gem Travel community! I’ve been hearing the term ‘revenge travel’ lately, meaning post-covid people are planning to travel like never before after being denied the ability to do so for the last year. How do you feel about that term?
Personal bias – I’m rarely a fan of names or phrases with negative connotations, so I’m not a fan of ‘revenge travel.’ However, I do agree that people are extremely eager to travel and travel well. It’s an exciting time in the travel industry! I’m going to coin the current boom, ‘catch-up travel.’
If you’re thinking about Mother’s Day gifts (just over two weeks away), I have a special, unique idea for you. In January, I announced an incredible new opportunity with Ancestry® and one of my favorite travel suppliers, Kensington Tours. The partnership was created to facilitate heritage journeys where travelers not only trace their roots but have experiences that deepen their understanding of their lineage.
Due to the popularity of that newsletter and realizing what an incredible Mother’s Day gift a trip like this would be, I’m presenting a virtual travel event on Zoom on May 4th at 7:00pm ET that will inspire you to plan a family heritage journey – talk about catch-up travel!!
The event is co-sponsored with the amazing Karen Sackowitz of Your Stories Ink and a Kensington Tours heritage travel and ancestry expert who will take us through examples of heritage journeys.
Register here: https://bit.ly/May4Heritage
Does walking in the footsteps of your ancestors intrigue you? If so, read on for more information and inspiration about designing your family heritage journey in case you missed this newsletter in January…
What is a Heritage Journey?
A heritage journey is a vacation where you explore your lineage and family history in a destination where your ancestors lived. This vacation type isn’t new, but what is new and improved is the partnership of Kensington Tours with Ancestry® which will take these journeys to a more meaningful and experiential level.
If you’re not familiar with Ancestry®, they’re the industry leader in family history with deep genealogical expertise and the world’s largest collection of online family history records. Kensington Tours crafts unique private-guided travel itineraries to over 100 countries. Add the expertise of your trusted travel advisor, and your heritage journey is sure to be a phenomenal success.
The program includes Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy (including Sicily), and Poland with many more destinations possible, including the USA!
With an Ancestry® genealogist and a private guide, you’ll walk the same streets as your ancestors and hear stories from local experts. It’s a profoundly meaningful experience!
There are three package choices when designing your heritage journey – bronze, silver, and gold. The level varies based upon the amount of research desired by your assigned Ancestry® genealogist.
For example, the bronze experience includes a private driver and is fully customizable to your interests outside of your heritage exploration. An Ireland itinerary might look like this:
> Dublin to Cork (with Dublin city tour with dockhands, EPIC Emigration Museum, Kilkenny Castle, Rock of Cashel)
> Cork to Killarney (with Titanic Trail Tour, Blarney Castle, Muckross House, Killarney at Leisure)
> Killarney to Newmarket on Fergus (with Slea Head, Conor Pass, and the Dingle Peninsula)
> Newmarket on Fergus to Shannon (with The Burren, Cliffs of Moher, and Dromoland Castle)
*Examples of optional add-on experiences are a connoisseur experience at the Guinness storehouse, a round of golf at an iconic course, and a traditional Irish musical night out.
Your itinerary will be customized by your Ancestry® genealogist, so you’re seeing Ireland’s iconic sites and experiencing your roots.
Note: You may choose from a variety of accommodations from 5-star to boutique hotels.
Family Groups and Heritage Journeys
If you love the idea of traveling with extended family, I’m happy to tell you that it’s very doable! As your personal travel advisor, I do the heavy lifting with designing your heritage journey, as well as the planning and organizing, for your family group. That’s a big stress reducer so you all can focus on the fun!
Of course, capturing the memories from this trip is of paramount importance. Enter Karen Sakowitz of Your Stories Ink, www.yourstoriesink.com, who can create a family heirloom, keepsake book from the cherished stories and photographs from your trip.
Planning Your Family’s Heritage Journey
Whether it’s just your nuclear family or the extended group interested in going on a heritage journey, NOW is the time to plan for a future trip. Why now? Because the best rates and availability are accessed a year or so in advance. Due to the highly customized nature of a family heritage journey and the full rebound for travel expected in 2022, this point can’t be stressed enough.
What’s the next step? Register for the virtual event on May 4th – it’s an hour of amazing travel inspiration you can’t get anywhere else!
Register here: https://bit.ly/May4Heritage
Wishing you and your family continued good health,
Susan
