Gift an Adventure for Christmas

December 3, 2015

Check out my segment on Utah’s Fresh Living Show (KUTV)

Having a difficult time deciding what to give to Christmas for someone special?  I believe the best present you could do is give them a memory that will last a lifetime. Recently I just saw this quote, and I loved it.

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Ok, so I do admit that I love Diamonds, but in reality most material things do not last.  I am usually not reminiscing about that perfume I got for Christmas 10 years ago.  Yes, it was fantastic smelling, and it served its purpose, but I didn’t ponder or dream about it.  However, I will always remember the weekend excursions to get away or a particular cruise or the trip I took with my friends or family.

With Christmas coming up, I thought I would give a few fun travel ideas as well as how to give it to that special someone.  I have done all of these trips, and they are all wonderful.  I understand that not everyone can take time off work to do a long journey. But a great Christmas gift is even taking a weekend and staying in a hotel somewhere.  I love to go downtown with my husband for one or two nights and just relax and explore.  It is a break in the routine, and honestly I feel that when you escape the routine it is the best time to bond.  I am also doing a giveaway right now for a gift certificate for $200 towards a trip through my company Fun For Less Tours.  All you need to do is follow my blog, follow my Instagram (secretsofatraveler) and leave your email with a comment.  Tag your friends for more entries!  But for now, let’s begin with a few different ways to travel.

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Family trip

I know my best moments with my kids have been while traveling.  But traveling with kids has their issues, so I want to make it as comfortable as possible.  An all-inclusive resort in Cancun is fabulous (trust me, my kids loved it).  My family can spend hours on the beach swimming and snorkeling (as snorkel gear is free rental) and drinking a free pina colada.  We can stuff ourselves with yummy Mexican food all day long.  Then at night we can watch shows at the resort.  Plus I can send kids off to play in the kids area.  You can also spend a day exploring the ruins of Chichen Itza and Ek Balam.  And when you get home those memories and photos will last a lifetime.  I still talk to my siblings about the fun trips we did when we were younger and the crazy moments that happened.

Christmas morning under the tree will be fun with all sorts of Mexican treats.  Because you are spending money on a big trip for the family, you don’t need to spend a lot of money for the presentation of the journey.  At the party store or on Amazon.com I found fun maracasfake mustaches and sombreros.  Place these under the tree for each member of the family.  Chips and Salsa can be left where the plate of cookies and milk for Santa is.

My travel company I own with my family has an excellent Mexican all-inclusive tour in Cancun.  Feel free to check it out at funforlesstours.com

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Couples or Friends trips

I love a good Caribbean cruise.  One of my favorites is the Southern Caribbean.  With ports to Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. John, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados you can not go wrong!!  Now those are just the islands, let me tell you about the ship.  The ship our company uses for this cruise is Adventure of the Seas through Royal Caribbean.  They have an indoor ice-skating rink, a rock-climbing wall, miniature golf and much more.  However, many other ships are out there doing the Caribbean.  The days are filled with food, beautiful islands, shopping, site-seeing and, of course, more food.  The nightlife also has plenty to keep you busy.  This is a great gift to get away with your loved one.  But it is also fabulous if you are single and do a trip with friends.  The Southern Caribbean can never be a wrong choice.

An excellent way to present this is to get a bunch of mini drink umbrellas that you can get at a party store or Amazon.com.  Place these all around the tree as decorations.  Under the tree, you can put blown up beach balls as well as some shell necklaces.  I found fun bon voyage banners that can also be placed around the tree or on the wall.  Can you imagine the excitement Christmas morning?  For presents, you can wrap up special items to bring on the cruise, such as sunglasses, swimsuits, beachwear and sandals or flip flops.

We do offer this as a tour with my company.  If you are interested in coming with us, feel free to look at funforlesstours.com.

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Couples Epic Romantic Trip

Some places in the world just scream romance.   A Mediterranean cruise is a longer trip and, of course, more costly, but well worth it.  A trip that is enjoyable for anyone, but especially couples.  Imagine walking through the Colosseum in Rome, visiting the Piazza del Duomo in Florence, taking a gondola ride in Venice and then heading over to see some of the beautiful Greek Isles.   A once in a lifetime romantic getaway.  One that I highly recommend.

Venetian masks and hats can be found online at Amazon.com or any party store.  Place these on the tree.  I also love the giant helium alphabet letter balloons.  You can use these to spell out the word Italy or Love.  Either way I’m sure you will impress.  Print out photos of the places you will be visiting and place them all around the room.  Something else that would be fun would be to give them a keychain of the Leaning Tower or Pisa.  Something they can hold on to until and get excited about daily until the traveling begins.

If you are interested in our Mediterranean cruise with my company, please go to funforlesstours.com

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An Epic Adventure

My company has been taking thousands of people all over the world.  And believe it or not, many of them say that their favorite trip is China (if you visit the right places in the right way).  I know you probably weren’t even thinking of going to China, but this is that once in a lifetime epic trip.  I can not say enough how amazing it is.  The other trips that I have mentioned above can be organized with any other company, hotel or cruise line.  You will have a fantastic time regardless if you come with my agency, as the most important thing is that you go and have fun!  However for this one I must say that if you want to see China right I recommend using our company.  China has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.  The culture is so unique and different surrounded by sites dating back hundreds and sometimes thousands of years.  You can cruise down the Yangtze River as well as the Li River in Guilin (which is one of my favorite cities in China).  There isn’t much that I can say to describe this beautiful place.  If you are looking for a real Epic adventure, then this is one I highly recommend.

Fortune cookies anyone?  These are fun to place in small bowls in the room. Asian hats can also be found online at Amazon.com or party stores.  There are many fun Chinese decorations that I found all over such as dragons and banners around the room.  Don’t forget to put under the tree a gift card for your favorite Chinese restaurant to get you in the mood and excited to go on your excursion.

If you are interested in our China trip, please look on our website funforlesstours.com.

Well, those are some of my favorite trips and recommendations.  Please leave any comments or questions you might have!  I want you to know that whatever you do, just try and go somewhere.  Create some memories this Christmas with your friends and family. Memories that will never fade and will stay with you throughout this life.  Go Adventure!

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  • Dru Beecher December 3, 2015 at 11:46 pm

    I love following your adventures. Thanks for the tips!

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:48 am

      Thank you so much friend! ?

  • Natascha Perez December 7, 2015 at 10:11 am

    [email protected] love this giveaway!!

  • Annie clark December 7, 2015 at 10:14 am

    Pick me!!!!

  • jan December 7, 2015 at 11:16 am

    travel of any kind is the BEST gift ever! Memories last a lifetime.

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:42 am

      Yes! I think the best too!! Love my adventure memories. Thank you!

  • Leeaine Burnett December 7, 2015 at 11:35 am

    Thanks for the inspiration – we just got back from a trip to New York City and realized how healthy travel is for renewing our relationship and expanding our horizons – we need to make it a priority !!

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:35 am

      I love this! I totally agree. Isn’t it such a wonderful time to reconnect and bond. I’m so happy to hear this!

  • Cindy December 7, 2015 at 11:37 am

    These adventures look fun. Now that we are empty nesters, we have decided it’s time to reconnect and see what’s out there after 35 years of marriage, work and raising our children! This would be awesome to help achieve that goal! [email protected]

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:40 am

      This is so exciting for you. What a fun new adventure! And of course adding some traveling would just be so much fun. Good luck! Thank you!

  • Debbie Thompson December 7, 2015 at 11:58 am

    I think travel is the best gift gift for making memories!!! They will remember that more than the toy they received

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:39 am

      I agree!! It really is some of my very favorite memories. Thank you!

  • Melanni Loewen December 7, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    What great ideas. I never would have thought of the gift of travel at Christmas. Travel memories do last forever.

    • Jamie December 7, 2015 at 1:57 pm

      Yes!!! Sometimes just a weekend away or a state away can be a really fun Christmas present!! They really are memories that will always last.

  • Brookie Smith December 7, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    We traveled to the US Virgin Islands last year for Christmas. It was our last big trip with my momma before she passed away. I have some of the sweetest memories from that trip and many before. What a gift my parents gave us by traveling with us!

    • Jamie December 7, 2015 at 1:56 pm

      I love this so much!! My sister passed away six years ago unexpectedly. A few months before her death we did an Antarctic Cruise. It will always be one of my favorite trips because it has some of my fondest memories with her. I am so glad you were able to spend such an amazing time with your mom. ❤️❤️

  • Tirzah December 7, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    This is a super fun giveaway!

    • Jamie December 7, 2015 at 1:54 pm

      Thank you!! It’s my favorite gift I could help go towards! ?

  • Janet Meyerhoffer December 7, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    No travel agency does world class tours like Fun for Less.❤️ [email protected]

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:33 am

      Thank you so much!!! Seriously love you and am grateful that you have gone with us! We are lucky to be able to travel with you!

  • Elizabeth December 7, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    Great to find you as my daughter 17 is off on a gap year next year before going to college. Madagascar for 3 month and more being planned. People think we are crazy. Not you though or us!

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:32 am

      Coolest ever!!! You really are an awesome parent!!! This is going to be an epic life changing year for her. That is very exciting!!! ❤️❤️

  • Kortni December 7, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Done and done. Yay! I totally have a girl crush on you BTW. And our boys still need to play!
    Millerk17@hotmail. Com

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:31 am

      Ha ha. Yes please!! I must say you and your kids have best hair ever! ?

  • Natalie Malan December 7, 2015 at 10:34 pm

    This is so great!!! Traveling is my husband’s passion, and I’m the lazy one that does none of the planning and just tags along! I know…. I’m so lame! But he’d be super surprised if I planned something.
    (My full name at gmail is my address 🙂

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:29 am

      Ha ha! I know it can be a lot of work to get everything ready! Thanks!

  • Megan December 7, 2015 at 10:44 pm

    I’m super excited to follow your adventures! Thank you for all of the great ideas!!

    • Jamie December 8, 2015 at 5:28 am

      Thank you so much!!! I appreciate you following.

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