Maximizing Your Travel Experience

Everyone’s definition of ‘foreign land’ will be different.  Yours may be a beach holiday on some remote island, or a ski weekend at a mountain a few towns away that you’ve been meaning to get to for the last, if you’re anything like me, eight years;  whereas mine was a recent trip to India that was one part business, the other part personal exploration. Regardless of the destination, there are things we can do before traveling and while we are there to ensure we get the most out of our destination experience. 

1.       Research new destination early on – I often have good intentions to do this, but in the hustle and bustle of getting ready this one has a tendency to fall to the wayside – don’t let it!  In preparing for my trip to India my best source of information was talking to others who had been there.  From these conversations I was provided insight into the Indian culture that is not covered in tour books. These conversations also built my excitement for the trip which enhanced the travel experience from the very beginning.  I also bought an India tour book that I perused on the flight over to pick up on logistical things like when certain attractions were closed, and the handicrafts that would make for good souvenirs.  Through my tour book I found out that Hyderabad, India, where I would be based for 7 days, is the world exporter of pearls – a girls gotta love that kind of factoid. J

2.       Pack something that reminds you of home – I always travel with a cheerful, colorful hanging travel bag from Vera Bradley that my husband bought for me last Christmas.  Every time I pull this colorful bag out of my suitcase it makes me smile and reminds me of my husband who always knows the perfect gift to buy for me.  Added bonus is its practicality in that it holds all my lotions and potions, and hangs from a hook in the bathroom allowing me to keep all my creature comforts organized in the bathroom.  

3.       Stock up on travel size toiletries – Before any big trip I inventory what’s left in my travel bag and then raid the local drug store’s travel size aisle to restock.  I am a fan of mini hairsprays, deodorants, shaving cream, etc., and I use those airport friendly travel size containers to transport my daily shampoo and conditioner.  If you’re anything like me and religiously adhere to a standard face regime of toner, moisturizer, etc., I have found that department store cosmetic counters are very willing to please a loyal customer by providing your special lotions and potions in travel size containers.  Same holds true for perfume counters.  During my last ‘browsing’ session at Nordstroms I stumbled upon the greatest travel accessory – for $5 Nordstroms would fill a travel size atomizer with your favorite scent.   Mine lasted me 12 days in India and is still going strong - $5 well spent!

4.       When in Rome…  Traveling is a lot of work and it can be exhausting, but when in a new place push yourself to take in everything around you and seize every opportunity to explore off the beaten path.  With this being my first trip to India I went in with the mindset that I wanted to see it all and do it all – and I did!  After 21 hours of travel time I landed at Hyderabad airport at 4:30 AM.  By 10:30 that same morning I was enjoying a traditional Indian brunch with some friends followed by a 7 hour tour of the city – visiting temples, museums, and craft markets.  The people, stories, and sights that I saw in that first day far surpassed my exhaustion and really set the context for the remainder of my trip.  A few days into the trip exhaustion was taking over so I opted for a traditional Indian massage – a little pampering while still immersing myself in the Indian culture.  

5.       Record memorable moments as you go – This one I need to get better at but when I do take a few minutes to jot down my day’s experiences, I’m always appreciative when I return home because being so busy (and jet lagged) you tend to forget important nuances.  Be sure to answer the five ‘Ws’ (who, what, when, where, & why), and if you’re so inclined, jot down what your senses are telling you about a certain experience.  While in India I had so many fascinating conversations about their culture, including topics such as arranged marriages and the caste system that still exists, that I began to record highlights of these conversations in my online journal.   At some point I will work these stories into my ‘India Adventure’ scrapbook I will put together to remember this trip. 

I’m always looking for new and creative ways to get even more out of my travel experiences.  Please leave a comment sharing your personal techniques to maximize your travel experience.

Redefining the Meaning of 'The Good Life'

I can picture it like it was yesterday.... 20 years ago I was sitting at my desk in my bedroom doing eighth grade homework and was surprised to see my parents' car pull into the driveway;  unusual because a Muller car never left nor entered the driveway without at least two horn honks.  I ran down the hallway and down the stairs of our raised ranch and met my parents at the front door.  I knew instantly from their expressions that something was wrong.  Some would call this moment the end of my Camelot existence.  I call this the beginning of a truly authentic life because within a blink of an eye the important things in life came into focus and remained in focus. 
The day after my Mom had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the two of us played hooky from school.  My mom made a promise to me on that day from which she never wavered.  "Multiple Sclerosis will not rule our lives.  We will deal with it as a family but it will never be who we are."   
With 20 years of dealing with Multiple Sclerosis as a family under our belts, it has been our shared commitment to appreciating the extraordinary in the ordinary that allowed us all to transcend the challenges presented by the unpredictability of MS and focus more on life's blessings than life's obstacles.  Reflecting on my childhood, I recognize that the most poignant memories are those "small moments" shared as a family -

·        The living room picture window covered in steam from Mom's spaghetti sauce cooking in the kitchen.

·        Friday night family nights where a lot of talking, eating, and laughing took place.

·        Holiday traditions that ranged from Easter egg hunts, to long rides in the back of my parents' car to cut down the perfect Christmas tree, to my mom's pork and sauerkraut on New Years' Day intended to bring us all a year of good fortune. 

I treasure these traditions of family togetherness even more as an adult who now carries them on with my own family. 
Traveling together as a family continues to provide all of us such great joy and an abundance of wonderful memories.  In today's fast-paced, virtual, get-more-done-in-less time era, very few of us regularly take the time to slow down, reconnect, and create those meaningful memories that will be long remembered after the last email is sent and virtual scrabble hand is played.  My mom approaches everything in her life with such grace, and traveling is no exception.  Following is a list of tips we have gathered that have proven to enhance our travel experience.  These tips are geared toward addressing accessibility challenges, but most of these tips are useful for any traveler. 

1.     Have fun planning your trip.  For us, this upfront research of course includes identifying the level of accessibility in the areas we plan to visit.  We find word of mouth recommendations are so valuable, and with customer-centric sites like TripAdvisor, it is so easy to learn about different peoples’ experiences without the fluff.  Researching a location and uncovering all the ‘hidden jewels’ the location has to offer is such a great way to rev up for a trip, and for us ensures that we spend our precious vacation days doing what we want to do, not battling accessibility obstacles.

2.     People are so willing to help – let them.    Multiple Sclerosis has shown us the best in people.  Whether it be the four men who lifted my mom’s wheelchair over a long gravel path to allow her access to visit a Japanese tea room, or the man who carried my mom the 12 steps to board the Nile River Dinner Cruise, or simply the little girl who held the door to enter Harrods’ department store, people of every nationality, race and religion continuously go out of their way to lend a helping hand.  When you realize that you’re not in this thing alone, it is so much easier to embrace the possibilities that abound.   

3.     Use an aisle chair when you fly.  Airlines now equal accessibility thanks to the aisle chair, a skinny wheelchair that fits the narrow plane aisles.  When you make your flight reservation mention that you use a wheelchair and this ensures that you will board early and an airline representative will escort you directly to your seat using the aisle chair.  

4.     Lighten your load.  Every traveler knows that too much luggage can weigh you down and dampen your spirits; this is especially true when also trying to maneuver a wheelchair.  When we travel we lighten our load by shipping things to our destination ahead of time. 

5.     Consider cruising.  Cruising offers such ease, a plethora of options, and flexibility for travelers with accessibility issues.  Start by getting an accessible state room.  In addition to the mobility enhancements, an accessible state room offers extra square footage which significantly adds to the cruising experience.  If possible opt for a state room with a balcony.  For any traveler a balcony is a major perk, but especially for handicapped travelers, it is sometimes nice to be able to experience the ocean breeze from your own balcony rather than having to fight the crowds on the main decks.   Also, allow cruise staff to help you on and off the ship.  Added perk – you get to be at the front of the line every time!

6.     Bypass organized tours and opt for local tours.  Even before accessibility was a focus for us, my parents, both educators, instilled in us a love for getting to know a location’s true culture by exploring off the beaten path.  Today whenever we are in a new part of the world we bypass the expensive, organized tours and opt for a local taxi driver and ask him/her to show us their country.  With such pride we have been taken to the most amazing places that are rarely mentioned in the tour books, all while avoiding the crowds and rigid structure associated with organized tours.

I would love to hear what you do to enhance your travel experience…. 

My wish and challenge to you – regain control in 2012 and consciously make 2012 your best year yet!  You CAN change your life by consciously defining your own meaning of The Good Life, but YOU, and only YOU can make this happen.

Brooke Muller Horan is the creative mastermind behind the KIF Creations brand aimed at inspiring each and every one of us to seek out and cherish the extraordinary in the ordinary of our everyday lives!  KIF Creations embodies Muller Horan’s passion for opulent living and desire to leave one’s legacy through immersing one’s self into day-to-day living that maximizes every moment of the day.  The first, multi-themed product line created by KIF Creations has been a huge success in fine/high-end New England gift shops.

Store:  http://www.etsy.com/people/KIFCreations

Blog:  http://executivetoentrepreneur.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/KIFCreations

Website (to be officially launched early 2012):  http://kifcreations.com/

Please don't be a stronger - visit often and remember to leave your mark.