Moments that Matter

The theme of the Travel Counsellors Annual Conference 2019 was “Moments that Matter”. Travel experiences feature highly on my own “moments that matter” list because by their very nature they tend to be experiences outside of normal day to day life. It’s also that time of year, when you tend to reflect on another year past and think about the new one about to begin. The Year 2020, how futuristic does that sound! Yet, here we are, about to begin a new decade.

What destinations are on your wish list? January is traditionally a very, busy time of year in the travel industry. Over the Christmas break, families often have the chance to sit down and discuss ideas on where to go for their next holiday, be it a winter or summer break. There are often airline sales and special early booking discounts so it makes sense to plan ahead & secure the best deal by booking early. My plan is to go on a Nile cruise. Egypt is very much back in the headlines again, for all the right reasons. The Grand Egyptian Museum, in Giza is due to open in late 2020. The Tutankhamun Exhibition – “Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh” is currently running in London. To visit Egypt has been on my Wish List since secondary school days so I’m very excited at the prospect of finally going.

I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled to many destinations, but my wish list never seems to get any shorter! Everyone is different. For some people it’s a country they’d like to visit or a city. To see some of the world’s most iconic buildings; The Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, The Eiffel Tower, The Burj Khalifa, The Pyramids of Giza. For other people it could be seeing Nature at its most spectacular; the Cherry Blossom in Japan, the colours of the Fall in New England, the Aurora Borealis in Norway, Victoria Falls on the borders of Zimbabwe/Zambia.

Great sporting events are often a “once in a lifetime” experience. To go to a Formula 1 Grand Prix, to attend a World Cup Rugby/Football game or go to an Ashes match, to follow the Tour de France or go to the Olympic Games. To build a holiday around a sporting event is a fantastic way to see a bit of the country you are visiting. Wildlife experiences also feature highly on a Wish List. Seeing the wildebeest migration in Kenya, taking a hot-air balloon trip over the Serengeti at sunrise, swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives, watching Brown Bears fishing for Salmon. These are moments that matter, they will be experiences you’ll never forget. Dreams can become a reality more easily than you think. Many people tend to save their Wish List for retirement but with retirement age extending & pension pots not always fulfilling expectations the time to travel is now. Live in the moment & start ticking off that Wish List.

Happy New Year!