All Inclusive, cruises, Family, Girls' Weekend, Travel services

10 Reasons to Use a Travel Agent

Booking trips online seems like an easy choice, but you can spend days trying to find the best travel itinerary. It can be very confusing, and you never know if you are getting good value for your investment. Instead of spending hours online and getting overwhelmed with details, have a 20-minute conversation with me! I will put together the best trip for your interests and budget. Here are ten reasons to use a trusted travel advisor to plan your next vacation: 1.Expertise I have been a travel advisor for over a decade and have helped hundreds of clients. Are you
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Hotels, Romantic Getaways

“We are the Magic”

Young love. There’s nothing like it. I met Mark when I was 18 years old, and we got married when I was 22. Yes, 22!   I had just graduated from Ball State University with a degree in departmental English. Twenty-two years old with an English degree – the recipe for young marriage and grad school.  I had no idea what I wanted in life, but I knew who I loved–and it was him. He had graduated the year before, and he spent that year saving money for my engagement ring and for law school. I spent my last semester of
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All Inclusive, Destination Weddings, Hotels, Romantic Getaways

A Cultural Adventure at Hotel Xcaret Arte

The following is a guest post by Passport and Pen client, Natalie, who chronicles her week at the new Hotel Xcaret Arte in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Hotel Xcaret Arte opened its doors July 2, 2021, and Natalie and her husband were among its first guests. This adults-only property all-inclusive property has 900 guest suites and is dedicated to paying homage to the art, hospitality and sustainability of Mexico. A sister resort to the original Hotel Xcaret, the new Hotel Xcaret Arte has 9 restaurants, also known as gastronomic experiences, and boasts some of the most distinguished chefs in Latin America.
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All Inclusive, Family, Romantic Getaways, Staycations

National Plan for a Vacation Day is January 26

National Plan for Vacation Day: Looking Ahead to Brighter Days The Passport and Pen is excited to announce it is supporting National Plan for Vacation Day (NPVD), the annual day for Americans to plan their vacation for the entire year at the start of the year, on January 26. Though many Americans are not ready or able to take a trip just yet, there is a wealth of information that says simply planning a vacation can increase happiness. In fact, 97% of survey respondents say having a trip planned makes them happier—and that’s exactly what we will encourage Americans to
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You Haven’t Experienced Mexico Until You Visit Cabo

If you’ve been to Cancun and you think you’ve been to Mexico, think again. You need to go to Cabo. Los Cabos, located at the tip of the Baja California peninsula, is nothing like the hotel zone of Cancun or the dense mangrove forest of Riviera Maya. It’s desert, and it feels like Southern California or Arizona. Cabo is in the state of Baja California Sur (“baja” means “lower and “sur” means “south”) so it is literally Lower California South. Cabo boasts jutting cliffs, rocky beaches, coarse sand, countless varieties of cactus, and fascinating animal life. I saw swooping pelicans,
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Covid-19, Disney, Family, Girls' Weekend, Hotels, Travel Hacks, Travel services, Universal Orlando

COVID Preparedness: Disney vs. Universal

Many people have asked me about my experiences at Universal Orlando and Disney World in the height of the COVID pandemic.  Is it safe? Which park does a better job of cleaning and sanitizing? How did it feel staying at the resorts? Well, read on, and read all the way to the end because I’m doing a FREE giveaway! My kids and I stayed at Universal Orlando on June 15-22, 2020, and my daughter and I stayed at Disney World on August 3-6, 2020. I thought the best way for me to answer these questions is to have a little
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Family, Franklin, TN, Work Life

To My Kids, as They Return to School

I wear a lot of hats in this crazy life I lead. If you have read my blog, you know a little bit about how I spend my day. I am a travel consultant and a writer. I have blogged about health issues, Caribbean travel, and going to theme parks during COVID, but I haven’t written about the biggest part of my life: being a wife and mom. Last week, my four precious kids went back to school after five months of being home. There were moments when we all got stir-crazy and a little sick of each other, but
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Health News

Remember Chadwick Boseman by Getting Screened for Colon Cancer

Chadwick Boseman, you are a man of great talent and inspiration to so many. You will be missed.   “Mom, did you know Chadwick Boseman just died?” My daughter called out to me from the living room on Friday evening. I was in my room, and I was walking out to tell her the same news. I think the whole world found out at the exact moment, and all of us have been grieving on social media ever since. Today, August 31, marks the 23rd anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, another public figure who did so much good in the
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Covid-19, Disney, Family, Girls' Weekend, Travel services

COVID Magic at Disney World

Is the magic still happening at Disney World, even during a pandemic? Read about my experience going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom during COVID. I love Disney World. It’s one of my favorite places to go. I’m 44 years old, and I’m unashamed to say I never get tired of going to a Disney park. My husband thinks I’m weird for loving Disney so much, but I thoroughly enjoy myself every time I go. I love the theming, the characters, the attractions, and best of all, the Cast Members who work so hard to give personalized attention
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Disney, Family, Franklin, Staycations

Sweet Haven is a Sweet Addition to Westhaven, Franklin

If you know me, you know ice cream is my favorite food on earth. I’m instantly drawn to the ice cream aisle as soon as I walk in the grocery store. I dream about ice cream. I know all the ice cream shops in town. Or so I thought. Sweet Haven Sweets and Treats is the newest ice cream shop in town, and it just happens to be down the street from my home. Located in Westhaven neighborhood in Franklin, Tennessee, off New Highway 96 , Sweet Haven opened on July 2– without even telling me! The secrecy lasted only
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