Happy 2015 from Travelstride!
We hope the New Year brings you the kinds of travels that are at the top of your wish list. Maybe that long-dreamed-of small-ship cruise to the Galapagos or hiking to Peru’s Machu Picchu or bicycling in Greece.
Or, perhaps, a Danube river cruise to Budapest, an extended visit to California’s Yosemite National Park, or a week of birding in Costa Rica will get your travel juices flowing.
The world is wide, the possibilities for exploration nearly endless.
Coping with Roadblocks
All too often, though, the wanderlust dreams of January turn to wander-dust when “realities” set in. The challenges of planning our exciting bucket-list trips set up roadblocks before we ever leave home.
We start to plan, say, an African safari and get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there.
What country or countries are best to visit? Should we stick with the best known safari destinations such as Kenya or Tanzania, or try something a bit different, like Namibia or Botswana?
And what about safari operators? A quick google search reveals hundreds of them. How is it possible to choose wisely from so many?
And then there are budget considerations. Can we really afford a safari this year? What does one cost, anyway?
And, of course, the time constraints. How can we find the time to plan a safari half a world away, purchase all the appropriate tickets and permits, arrange for lodging as needed, make sure our passports and visas are in order, and (in our spare moments) brush up on a few phrases in Swahili?
Relax: Stride Is Here to Help
Our first advice is to relax: If you’re reading these words, you’ve come to the right place.
We created Travelstride to help make your New Years’ travel resolutions come true, all the way from January to December (and, if you so choose, points beyond -- how about a winter 2016 trip to Antarctica, where, of course, it’s summer)?
Stride is the one place online you can turn to for finding a pre-planned, authentic multi-day trip that’s exactly what you’ve been dreaming of, no matter the destination or activity:
We help you quickly narrow down your options until you’ve found that one, perfect trip with your ideal travel provider.
We let you know what the trips cost and what level of luxury -- or basic comfort level -- you can expect. Not to mention what’s included in the base price, such as meals, transfers, support services and the like -- so you can be sure it fits your budget.
We specify the level of activity -- from easy to extreme -- that you’ll encounter on each trip. If you’re expecting a guided stroll through Tuscany, you won’t end up climbing Mt. Vesuvius (unless you want to).
Best of all, we take the worry and frustration out of planning a trip -- because the travel we feature is all pre-planned, leaving you to concentrate on fun stuff like choosing which shoes to bring and polishing your photo techniques.
Pre-Planned -- Not Inflexible
Does “pre-planned” mean you have to take an organized guided tour with a number of other people?
No, although that can be a thoroughly satisfying -- and sometimes surprising -- option for many travelers.
Besides organized guided group tours -- which, by the way, can be just as authentic and adventurous as you wish these days -- you might want to select a guided tour customized just for you, in which you (and some family and friends if you wish) are the only ones along. You can even travel independently, but have a travel provider take care of all the pesky logistics before you leave.
On some organized tours -- especially walking and bicycling tours -- you can travel at your own pace by day and meet up with the group at night for dinner and an overnight in a comfortable lodge or inn.
In short, “pre-planned” doesn’t mean you’re stuck on one of those strictly regimented back-on-the-bus-off-the-bus tours like your grandmother might have taken.
Find Your Perfect Trip Right Here
So browse Stride’s site, compare a variety of destinations, activities and travel providers with our easy-to-use tools, and find that perfect active trip or trips that will help make 2015 one of your most memorable ever.
And don’t forget, social science research has shown that money CAN bring lasting happiness, if you spend it on experiences -- such as eye-opening travel -- and not on things.
If being happier isn’t a 2015 New Years resolution, then perhaps it can be a very big bonus.
And if we should meet out on the trail -- or river or sea -- be sure to say hi. We love to get feedback, with the aim of making our site as useful as possible for anyone looking for authentic, no-hassle travel throughout the world.
Remember, a journey of a thousand smiles starts with a single click. Resolve to start your New Year’s resolutions today.
