Maria Stefanopoulos, Author at Ingenious Travel

Taking the Stress Out of Hosting A Group Trip

Posted in Adventure Travel, Baby Boomers, Europe, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Golf, Groups, Theme Vacations, on 30 November 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Going on a trip with a group is a wonderful way to travel. You’ll always have someone to explore with, you get to see things as a group you might not get to on your own, it’s safer to travel in numbers, and each person in the group will bring a different perspective to the experience. For these reasons alone, the idea of hosting a group trip often comes up as a good idea for families, friends, and even companies looking to host retreats.

If you decide to do a big trip as a group however, it’s no secret that it can be a little overwhelming. This is especially true if you’re the one putting it together. With that in mind, here’s a step-by-step checklist you can use to take the stress out of hosting a group trip:

Step 1- Decide where you want to travel to, and when you want to go.

Your best bet will be to initially come up with three options for the vacation as well as three separate times to go on the vacation. This is one of the perks of being the group organizer. Because you are setting the whole thing in motion, you can pick places you want to go and times that you are available.

Step 2- Consider the people you want on your group trip.

Will this group getaway be for business or pleasure? If it’s pleasure only, will this event limited to friends, family or a combination of the two? Or is this more about inviting people that you have common interests with, such as a networking/hobby/wine club/golf trip?

Travel Safety Tips for Seniors

Posted in Baby Boomers, General Travel Information, Travel Tips, on 2 November 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

When it comes to going on vacation, the last thing most people want to think about is safety. The simple reason for that, is getting away from it all is supposed to be a carefree and fun experience. Still, the truth is that we must keep safety top of mind because we’re the only ones in charge of making sure we’ll get back home in one piece.

Unfortunately, one group that is often a target for predators and criminals is senior citizens. Because of this sad fact, I thought sharing some travel safety tips for seniors would be a good idea.

How Seniors Can Stay Safe While Traveling

Know before you go

Before booking any trip, learn about the destination you will be traveling to. Most destinations will be just fine, but there are some that could pose a threat to tourists. Your best reference for travel advisories and warnings that you should be aware of is https://travel.state.gov/destination. The website breaks down threats by four levels. These levels are:

Dear Baby Boomer – It’s Time to Travel

Posted in Adventure Travel, All-Inclusive, Caribbean, Family Travel, General Travel Information, River Cruising, Travel Tips, on 5 October 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

There’s no better time than the present to start crossing those dream destinations off your list. Whether you’ve traveled to dozens of places and just need another vacation, or have worked and waited your whole life for this – you deserve to see the world if you want to. Baby boomer travel is more than just an internet buzz phrase. It’s the new way of self care, and these days is more important to people nearing or in retirement age than simply sitting around the house in their golden years.

What’s preventing baby boomer travel?

According to Groups Today, the top three barriers to travel include:

Cost (43%)
Health (34%)
And Security Concerns (28%)

What is a Christmas Market?

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, Gift Ideas, Groups, Holiday, River Cruising, Tours, on 21 September 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Starting around July, travel vendors, and city tourism boards begin promotions for upcoming Christmas Markets, in hopes of enticing travelers to come to their cities to visit and shop. But, what exactly is a Christmas Market, where do they happen, and which ones are the best ones to visit? We’ll answer these questions and more below.

A Christmas Market is a street market that involves vendors selling goods and gifts in celebration of Christmas. Some of these are more religiously focused on Christ and the church than others. They are usually set up about a month before Christmas day the week of Thanksgiving, but some are much shorter in length.

The best and most popular Christmas Markets also entail live shows and entertainment making it more than just a shopping event. For example, you could watch a Christmas play, try some new desserts, or spend the evening ice skating on a temporary ice rink.

Escorted, Hosted and Independent – Understanding the Different Tours

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, Gift Ideas, Groups, Tours, Travel, on 7 September 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

What is the difference between an escorted, hosted and an independent tour? This is a common question in the travel industry, and in this post we’re breaking down what they are, and the advantages of each. We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in!

Escorted Tours

An escorted tour is one that is conducted by a tour director. They will take care of everything from beginning to end. For example, your transportation to and from the airport, as well as transportation to and from your hotel for daily activities. You’ll also typically be with a group throughout your tour.

For some escorted tours it’s a one day affair where they will pick you up from your hotel in the morning, take you to see the sites, and then bring you back to your hotel in the evening. Typically there is a strict agenda with meal times, and places to visit set up for you as well.

All Aboard the Scenic Eclipse – Next Level Luxury Cruising

Posted in All-Inclusive, Cruises, Luxury, on 24 August 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Many people dream of a luxury vacation experience, but few people indulge in them. I’m not talking a first class vacation either. I mean beyond first class. Think celebrity status – white glove service, the kind of experience that makes you feel like the VIP you truly are. Enter the Scenic Eclipse yacht cruise vacation. This is the elite status getaway people salivate over, and you can have it for yourself.

Limited Guests, Unlimited Luxury

The trouble with many ocean cruise liners, even luxury ones, is that there are far too many guests on board. No matter how many staff there are, it’s easy to feel like you are just another number on those ships.

The Scenic Eclipse is a luxury yacht that limits the guest count to less than 230 people for an almost 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio, promising an exclusive vacation with one of a kind service you won’t get anywhere else. That is, anywhere else short of booking a private yacht with your own staff where you are the only guest.

Oberammergau Passion Play | Ingenious Travel

The Oberammergau Passion Play

Posted in Europe, Family Travel, Groups, River Cruising, Theme Vacations, Tours, on 10 August 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

If you are like most travelers, you are often looking for something unique to do when you’re visiting new places. Should Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany, or the surrounding areas, be on your list of destinations, the Oberammergau Passion Play is one experience you may want to add to your itinerary. You may be wondering what is the Oberammergau Passion Play, and what is so special about it? Keep reading to learn more.

The Origins of The Oberammergau Passion Play

Believe it or not, the origins of the Oberammergau Passion Play date all the way back to 1634, during the time of the bubonic plague. As the story goes, while this plague was ravaging Europe, the citizens of Oberammergau attempted to seal themselves off from the rest of the world in hopes the plague wouldn’t reach them. Unfortunately, a person carrying disease slipped through the cracks and dozens of people perished within less than a month.

As a result of these deaths, the town council came together and vowed to God that they would act out a play depicting the life and suffering of Christ for the rest of their lives if God would spare them. What the townspeople considered to be a miracle came to pass – no one else died of the plague. Therefore, the villagers stuck to their vow, and created and performed the Oberammergau Passion Play. They continue to do so today.

Cruising the River Seine with Adventures by Disney

Posted in Family Travel, River Cruising, on 3 August 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

River cruises have grown significantly in popularity in recent years. One big reason is because they are more intimate than large cruise lines can offer. Another is that the ships are smaller so they can visit ports the bigger ships can’t quite dock at.

If you have been considering trying a river cruise, perhaps the fact that Adventures by Disney is offering exciting cruise vacations will inspire you to cast aside your landlubbing ways and hit the waters for a new kind of journey. One of the cruise itineraries Adventures by Disney offers is via the River Seine. Read onto learn more about this 10-day/9-night experience that will help you discover the true essence of many things that France has to offer.

Don’t Wait To Travel With Your Kids!

Posted in Family Travel, Travel, on 13 July 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

“One day…we’re going to take the kids to Hawaii!”, “We really want to travel over to Europe, but we’re waiting until the kids are older” ; “We really want to go out West and see the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, but our summers are just too busy”. Do any of those statements sound familiar to you? The average American family doesn’t think they spend enough time together. Between school, work, sports, and extracurricular activities it’s no surprise that we are all feeling disconnected and burned out. The best way to reconnect with your loved ones is to get away. No distractions and no excuses: just you and your kids (or Grandkids) spending “quality time”, enjoying each other’s company and maybe even experiencing an unfamiliar culture together. “Next Year, maybe” turns into the year after that…and so forth…until you “blink” and are sitting at their high school graduation wondering what the hell happened!

Travel is proven to be a wonderful learning tool for children. Seeing how people live in other countries can open their minds and hearts and expand their imagination exponentially. Here are a few things that travel can provide for your family:

Ingenious Travel Can Meet Your Adventure Travel Needs

Posted in Adventure Travel, on 29 June 2018, by Maria Stefanopoulos, 0 Comments

Are you looking for something different for your next getaway? Then, perhaps an adventure trip is just what the doctor ordered. Ingenious Travel has partnered with Exodus Travels, and thanks to this partnership, we are proud to offer our clients:

More than 160 hiking itineraries
More than 90 cycling itineraries
Mixed activity trips featuring things like kayaking, canoeing and whitewater rafting
And so much more