Consolidated's Website Compass

WebsiteCompass 3 You hope that when you go on vacation, you’ll return refreshed and excited about the people you met and the things you saw. But what if a vacation could do even more than that? Make Your Next Vacation a Transformational Trip That’s the intention behind transformational trips, which include experiences that boost health, enhance well-being, and expand knowledge. The Transformational Travel Council (TTC) defines transformational travel as “intentionally traveling to stretch, learn, and grow into new ways of being and engaging with the world.” Such trips include meditation or yoga retreats, cultural tours, and wildlife adventures. You can also add transformational elements into any trip you take. Here’s how: Slow down. Notice the world around you. For example, sit in a park and just people watch. Take in the different languages, clothing choices, and actions. What do they tell you about the culture as a whole? Stay local. Reserve one day of your trip to just explore the neighborhood where you’re staying. Go into shops, interact with locals, and use your foreign language skills. Do something regular. Perform an ordinary activity, such as buying food at a grocery store. Noticing the little differences in how each culture does universal things will add to your understanding of the place. Get a local’s perspective. Take a cooking class or an architecture tour or engage in volunteer work. These activities will immerse you in the culture even more. Take notes. Record thoughts when you do any of the above activities. Focus on the big things, such as the famous sights you saw, but also the smaller things such as the conversations you had with locals. Check Out 2024’s Top Five Destinations Travel site Skyscanner has published its Travel Trends report for 2024. The following are the five destinations with the highest increase in searches over the past year. 1. Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands have a little bit of everything, including breathtaking beaches, friendly locals, and plenty of nighttime hotspots. 2. French Polynesia For a tropical experience further afield than the U.S. Virgin Islands, try French Polynesia, which includes the famous island of Bora Bora. 3. Osaka, Japan Even more popular than Tokyo this year is another Japanese city, Osaka, which is famous for street food, diverse cultural options, and a buzzing nightlife. 4. Tokyo, Japan Tokyo has much to offer, including Japanese arts and culture, traditional restaurants, and some of the most advanced technology in the world. 5. U.S. Virgin Islands This tropical paradise is easy for U.S. citizens to get to and includes more than 200 miles of beautiful beaches. QUICK TIP: On trips from the U.S. to Europe, Icelandair offers a stopover in Iceland with no additional airfare.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTMzNDE=