Traveling With Your Parents, Successfully
On the first few trips, every item on the itinerary, every meal we had, felt like it had to be the BEST. Now that everyone is more used to the cadence and has a broader swath of memories from each trip, there’s less pressure for every bite to be amazing or every day to be monumental. Great meal, mediocre meals, the most memorable days, horrific travel days, things start to feel less dramatic and all part of the experience. The more you travel, especially later in life, the more comfortable you are stepping into the foreign and unknown. For me personally, I have also learned to carve out windows of time to myself on the annual trip. I schedule blocks of time for all of us to go and do our own things, as I know that my own happiness and enjoyment hinges on some independent wandering and exploration. Also do not be fooled, I would say that we are bickering, still, for a good 30% of the trip. Because what would a trip with your parents be without it? But I can actually say now that in the memories from the last five years of the annual parents trip, I cannot remember a single disagreement we got into but I do remember every walk we took, site we saw and bite we ate. Call your parents! Ask them if they want to take a trip!
Field Notes for Summer
If you are traveling this Summer, there is a good chance that one of the below destinations may come into play. Summer is busy. I hope yours is full of adventures with friends and family, but also, try to squeeze in a little solo trip - even a night or two pays dividends.
With Love From A Repeat Trip
I make a habit of returning to destinations I love. I often even try to return within the next year or two. An initial visit to any beloved spot is really to feel it out and get a lay of the land - a sense of the pockets you enjoy spending time and the “don’t waste your time’s” as we Dipas call them. There is a magic in returning to a place.
Highs and Lows of a Road Trip
Sun is out.
Big coffee.
Water bottle full.
Bag of snacks.
Green estimated trip time on the googs.
Do Air Your Grievances To The Hotel Manager
I would classify myself as a frequent traveler and sometimes fussy hotel guest. Last week, I traveled to Iceland. When my travel companion tested positive for Covid the day before departure, the trip became a solo mission. I flew overnight, landed in Reykjavik, spent too much time picking up a vehicle, hiked to see a waterfall, and finally arrived at Hotel Husafell in West Iceland about a quarter to six. I was in a fragile state at best.
