Your Bucket List Buster

Host Karen Duncan has just become certified with IBBCCES and she will discuss the rigorous course work it took to become one of the few Certified Autism Travel Professionals in the country and why this is necessary to help families whose children have Autism with Jacklyn Fratus.

Karen also focuses on how we all can help support tourism in the Caribbean by making sure we go back when they are ready for us to visit.  How about a Voluntourism Trip to help them put the pieces together after Hurricane Irma and Harvey?

Upcoming shows include sports tourism, music tourism and more..

Meet Karen at the River Cruising Meetup at Tortuga Flats in Round Rock Texas 6-8PM 

[email protected]

 

Traci Bogan describes her life’s challenges and how spending too many nights out after work in her younger days inspired her to travel the world..In doing so she found her life’s purpose of enhancing other’s lives through her speaking engagements and books and soon a movie based on her story..Are you a Dreamer or Dreampreneur? Learn the difference and hear this inspiring story of how travel opens your mind, your body and soul to what the universe has in store for you..

What is the Southwest Affect!  Learn how Southwest coming into your market helps lower air prices with other airlines.

And have you gotten on the music tourism band wagon yet?  Host Karen Duncan talks about how the music industry is really starting to impact the travel industry.

Karen also, talks about holiday travel in her thoughts for the week..Have you made your plans yet? Why not give everyone a break and go on vacation as a family.  If not a vacation at least get your airline tickets now.

Join Karen and her family on a 11 day cruise to Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico Dec 7th..Contact her at Your Bucket List Buster for more details.

And Traci Bogan is giving you a free gift for listening to today's podcast..Enjoy!

- Your Bucket List Buster special needs edition-great onsite interview with Gordon Hartman founder of Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio..We are doing the show live from this fantastic park –Named after his daughter Morgan who has physical and cognitive challenges.

Morgan's Wonderland is an An All Inclusive Theme Park, meaning it has something for everyone, able bodied, and special needs..The Whole family can come and have a great time together. Gordon Hartmen discusses all of the wonderful benefits of this park, his special needs employees and guest and why it was so important for him to build this fantastic place..The only one in the world.

Karen talks about her new workshop, Travel Tips

for Caregivers

Traveling by Air, Car, and Cruise

Children with Special Needs© and how you can have her come speak to your family group. 

Plus our friends at Wireless Traveler give their tips for the week.

Want to go on a respite cruise with specialist/staff and AWADAE families join us on March 18th..Go to AWADAE.org and get the details.  Also AWADAE.org has information on the One Love Caribbean Gala to help Caregivers and their families that need support get scholarships for this cruise.

Contact Karen at [email protected] for more details.

Ruth Medlin The Traveling Teacher-It’s Never Too Late to Start Traveling

Ruth is a successful business consultant that helps entrepreneurs and managers become more successful in their careers and companies to plan strategically in leadership, employee engagement and meeting facilitation. But when she’s not helping others she’s discovering the world..learn how she is catching up on destinations of the world. And how Paris is her once a year favorite destination.

Talking about not too late to travel some of the trends in travel this week include : Top trips for people over 50 and top Mancation Destinations according to #menwhoblog.  Also, Countries with the fastest wifi and our friends from Wireless Traveler talk about being connected in Cuba.

Join us at the Your Bucket List Buster Meetup with Caroly Szekeres of Scenic and Emerald Waterways at Tortuga Flats in Round Rock Texas on Aug. 26th at 6PM as we learn more about River Cruising

2018 Trips of the Weeks

Marco  Fernandes, Owner and  Vice President of Sagres Vacations a tour company that provides customized and destination specialist for Portugal and Spain experiences.. Sagres is famous for the school of Navigation built by Prince Henry the Navigator..

WE will also talk about the trends that have emerged in 2017 like the millennials being the largest traveling population, adventure and active travel, responsible travel and more..

Plus I’ll be announcing some our trips of the week..YBLB will hosting several trips around the globe next year so we will discuss those give you a little detail and you can find the rest on YBLB Facebook webpage under group travel.. The Danube River Cruise, Gambling Bus, Everyone can go Winter Cruise, etc.

Plus our travel tech options-Accessories, for the week are brought to you by The Wireless Traveler Telecom Thursday

Karen Duncan CTC, DS, CATP

[email protected]

http://Facebook.com/yourbucketlistbuster

Innovative and Imaginary Travel-MSC Cruises a Leader

Some of us have traveled a lot and we have this comfort level about where we go, what we do, what suppliers or cruise lines and resorts we use or stay at when we go. Today’s show is about stepping outside your comfort zone and finding out new places, new activities, and new companies to spend your travel dollars with..This is where it’s very important to find people you trust to steer you in the right direction..

Host Karen Duncan discusses how to find a new place or thing to do on vacation.  Find people in your family or sphere of influence where you trust their judgement and decisions and ask their recommendation..Or find a travel professional that is recommended or that you've researched and find out their expertise and ask them the right questions.

But MSC Cruises moving out from behind the more commercial lines by creating some fun, innovative ships, onboard programs, and promotions.  Rosalie De Los Hoyos the business development manager for several states including Texas is as passionate about travel and MSC Cruises as Karen is which makes for a fun and exciting show.  You'll be ready to get on board after listening to this show.

Karen also talks about the group trips that her  Your Bucket List Buster Meetup will be doing this 2018. And learn how to become a group leader.

Your Bucket List Buster hosts Joel Ryan of Beaches Resorts

 

Joel Ryan the Group Director of Kids Programming & Entertainment  for Beaches Resorts the family friendly arm of Sandals/Unique Vacations discusses the inclusion camps for all children visiting with their parents in Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean.  Beaches is known as all-inclusive and they have just certified many of their camp counselors with the International Board of  Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, with a Autism Certificate..The plan is to have as many employees at the resort certified as possible, 100% by 2019.

The accreditation ensures all of the kids camp and team members have the requisite knowledge, skills, temperament, and expertise to cater to all children.  The training addresses:

Sensory Awareness Competency

Motor Skill Competency

Autism Awareness

Program Development

Enviroment Competency and more

Host Karen Duncan also addresses additional resorts that cater to families and what type of vacations are best suited based on the challenges of children with special needs, such as Epilepsy, Down syndrome, and mobility accessibility.

Karen during her thoughts for the day lets us in on her passion a non-profit she started last September Adventures with Autism, Down syndrome, and Epilepsy in detail..She describes the need, the mission, and the upcoming benefits, fundraising, and needs of the organization.

Let's show some love to our Caregivers who provide endless love and support for our kiddos with special challenges by providing them a wish of rest, relaxation, rejuvenation, and reconnection on a respite vacation for the whole family!

[email protected]

Host Karen Duncan visits 7 National Parks to visit for the summer.According to an article by Melissa Popp, there are some National Parks that don't get the press or the crowds some of the others do..The diversity of our National Parks system has something new and adventureous for everyone. Giant Red Wood trees, Caverns, Wildlife, and Kayakors and Canoers dreams.

During My Thoughts for the Week, Karen discusses going dream of going to destinations made famous by movies and TV shows.  Like Croatia and Northern Ireland to visit the Game of Thrones sites.

The main segment of this weeks show is about American Cruise Line a progressive and very popular cruise line that sails the American Rivers..Karen talks to Susan Schultz the Director of Sales with American Cruise Line about the creative themed cruises, the different areas of the country, and the new ships they are building to increase capacity..These small ships have some great amenities and a historian, naturalist, or entertainment on every cruise.

I bet you've wondered about when is the best time to book your vacation..Well Your Bucket List Buster host describes the best time and where to get the best deals for your vacation for the new year..She identifies 8 tips to get the most bang for your buck on next years vacation. 

And much much more!

Want to be on the podcast and tell about your bucket list trip contact Karen..

Karen [email protected]

Your Bucket List Buster for Everyone

Inclusive Travel

Don’t let the fact that someone in your family has special needs like Autism, Down syndrome, Epilepsy or is in a wheel chair keep you from traveling. Theme parks are a big part of fun as a child and adult. Some theme parks are making it their business to keep special needs families in mind. Join us as we talk with Margalit Francus of Autistic Globetrotting as she provides tips on top theme parks that are inclusive for our families with special needs family members.  Margalit has two sons both with Epilepsy and one with Autism.  She’s become an expert in finding travel components that are special needs friendly.

Karen and Margalit discuss Disney and Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas.  Margalit shares lots of tips to making it possible for all families to check off their bucket list within the US and even internationally.  Share this episode with all the families you know that want to travel the world..

Karen is inspired to do a monthly episode on special needs travel because she founded Adventures with Autism, Down syndrome, and Epilepsy a 501c3 non-profit that provides respite vacations for families with special needs.  AWADAE focuses on the caregivers to provide them an outlet to have positive family experiences while attending workshops and fellowshipping with other parents advocating for their special needs children.

Alaska, One of America’s Greatest Natural Wonders

Join Karen Duncan host of Your Bucket List Buster and Sasha McGinn from Alaska Railroad as we discover the interior of Alaska by rail.

Learn about the fun things to do in Alaska, things you wouldn't expect like visiting breweries, botanical gardens,and visiting museums and cultural centers.  There are tons of fun activities for multi-generational family groups.  Everyone has gets to be delighted with this beautiful 49th state.

Did you know that Alaska cruising took over the top spot from Las Vegas as the #1 US tourist destination?  You won't want to miss this episode of traveling America.

Your Bucket List Buster

Karen Duncan