This Travel Tribe

The instant my cousin sent me a text asking if I could go to Poland with her to help Ukrainian refugees, I knew that I had to go. It was doing to stretch my time and energy but I knew that this was somewhere where I could really help others and it couldn't be missed. After the word spread a bit, there were 12 of us that set off to Krakow, Poland to find ways to assist the Ukrainians.

My friend, Chelsea Lamb, joined me on the trip and is joining me on this podcast episode today where we share all of the ways we were able to serve and how we were impacted by this trip. This was an experience unlike anything I've done before. In this episode, I hope you enjoy learning about our experience and discover lessons and insights for yourself so we can all keep finding ways to lift others.

Could you pack your needed items only in a carry-on for your next vacation? I think you can! Even for a month in Europe, an Alaskan cruise, or a week-long site seeing adventure in NYC, it is possible. Let me share why I think packing in carry-on luggage only gives you freedom plus I'll share some practical ways to make everything fit that you need without making any sacrifices.

Thinking about booking a group tour for an upcoming vacation? There are plenty of benefits to this type of trip plus a few drawbacks. I think a big part of planning a great trip is being informed about what to expect. Today my plan is to share my view on the positives and negatives of going on a trip with a tour company.

We've done group trips to Ireland, Spain, Switzerland & Austria, Scotland, Egypt, and Israel.

We recently returned from a group tour trip to Israel and Egypt and that got me thinking about all of the things I thought were great about this type of travel plus the things I don't love which may prevent me from booking another group tour in the near future.

If you are planning to cruise, there are a few essential things you should do the week leading up to your cruise that will make things run smoothly. I've been able to cruise many times and have gathered a list of everything that you will want to do the week before cruising like arranging transportation, printing boarding passes & luggage tags, pre-paying the gratuities, linking your credit card to your stateroom, and more. Follow along with my list in the show notes and you can check things off as you prepare for your cruise.

It's a rare occurrence that an opportunity is presented and I have an overwhelming feeling that I need to do it. This happened to me last week when I received a text from my cousin, Jana, telling me that she was thinking about going to Poland to help refugees next month and she wanted to know if I wanted to join her. Immediately I knew that I needed to go. But honestly, I fought that feeling. I'll tell you more about that in this podcast episode while I also share what we will be doing in Poland and how you can help us help Ukrainian refugee women and children. This is all about sharing an upcoming travel experience, unlike anything I've done before.

Heading to Long Beach, California? I have 7 fun things you can do while you are there. Long Beach is the LA port for Carnival Cruises so you may find yourself in town before a cruise or for a convention and need something to fill your time while you are there. There are some fun and unexpected things to do!

Who doesn't want to save money on their family vacations without sacrificing fun and exciting adventures? Today Kam Price from Our Family Passport joins Lisa to share five practical and simple ways to save money on your family vacation. These are simple things to add to your travel planning that will make a nice impact on your travel budget. More money saved means more vacations, right?

With travel seeming to open up again (fingers crossed!) it may be time to think about going on an international vacation with your family. Lisa is sharing the top things she considers and thinks about when preparing to visit international destinations. Tips on passports, money, shoes, cell phone use, safety, travel insurance, and more!

Gilbert, AZ! Have you heard of it? If you're coming to Phoenix or Scottsdale for a visit, don't overlook all of the fun you can have in Gilbert, AZ. Our family lives here and loves the Town of Gilbert. Today I'm sharing the things we love doing in Gilbert with different places that start with each letter of the alphabet. Ready? Let's get started with A…

Needing a little break but can't get out of town? You don't need to leave town to have a great getaway. Take some time to explore your town like a tourist. Lisa shares 10 fun suggestions for things you can do with your family this weekend right in your hometown.