Designing Dream Trips: Tips from an Expert

Have you thought about your “Dream Trip”? Retirement is the perfect time to embark on unforgettable adventures. We spoke with Molly Glasgow, a luxury travel specialist, to get some advice and tips from an expert on how to make your dream trip a reality with ease and flair.

The First Step

The start of retirement often brings a desire to travel while health and energy levels are high. Many retirees are excited to travel more in their early retirement years, tackling the trips they couldn’t manage during busy work schedules.

Planning travel, however, can feel daunting. Online research often leads to information overload, making it hard to find the best options. Working with a professional like Molly Glasgow can take away some of the overwhelming details of planning a dream trip. Her personalized travel itineraries help retirees craft trips that suit their unique interests and travel needs, so your dream trip stays stress-free.

What is a Curated Travel Experience?

Curated travel experiences go beyond traditional vacations. Molly’s expertise lies in understanding her clients’ preferences and creating personalized itineraries tailored to their specific goals. Here’s how she does it:

1. Discover
   Molly starts with a complimentary 45-minute discovery call. During this session, she asks detailed questions about your travel interests, pace preferences, and desired experiences.
2. Design
   One of the challenges in retirement travel is understanding costs, particularly for luxury travel planning. Molly helps set realistic budget expectations, from European escapes to domestic adventures like the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
3. Connect
   Molly leverages her affiliation with Brownell Travel, North America’s oldest host agency, to provide insider access and exclusive experiences. Molly handles every detail, whether it’s a behind-the-scenes tour of the Churchill War Rooms or private cooking classes in Italy. Her connections with vetted local partners ensure authentic cultural immersion travel.
4. Experience

While you’re living your dream trip, you have the confidence your curated travel experience is working in the background. Travelers receive a digital itinerary, accessible via an app, so they always know what’s next without stress.

5. Share

Molly schedules time to catch up with you after your dream trip, to hear all the highlights and new memories you’ve made. Your stories and experiences help her learn to make each new dream trip you plan the best one yet.

Solutions for Your Planning Nightmares

Travel has changed in big and small ways over the years and keeping all the details on track can get in the way of you enjoying your retirement. If you’ve encountered any of these travel planning nightmares, working with Molly’s process can turn the nightmare back into a dream.

1. Information Overload

Many retirees struggle to sift through the vast amount of online travel information. Molly’s expertise simplifies the process, helping clients focus on what matters most to them.

2. Navigating Post-Pandemic Travel

COVID-19 reshaped travel, making it essential to stay updated on the latest destination guidelines and availability. Molly’s connections provide clients with accurate, up-to-date information, including insights into destinations still recovering.

3. Customizing Travel Pace

Not everyone wants a packed itinerary. Some travelers prefer a relaxed pace, while others thrive on adventure. Molly’s consultative approach ensures each trip matches the traveler’s desired tempo.

4. Quality Accommodations

Avoiding disappointment with accommodations is critical. Molly personally verifies luxury properties, matching clients to hotels or villas that meet their preferences, whether they’re seeking large resorts or boutique experiences.

Popular Dream Trip Destinations

Looking for inspiration? Here are some standout options:

1. European Escapes

• Italy: Explore Tuscany’s rolling hills, Florence’s art scene, and Amalfi’s coastal beauty.
• Scotland: Dive into family heritage with private tours and historical site visits.
• Portugal and Spain: Surround yourself in rich history, stunning architecture, and culinary delights.

2. Domestic Adventures

• Kentucky Bourbon Trail: Indulge in a tailored exploration of America’s finest distilleries.
• Palm Springs: Enjoy a luxurious long weekend amid stunning desert landscapes.
• Miami: Savor vibrant nightlife and world-class dining with friends.

3. Enriching Excursions

• African Safaris: Witness breathtaking wildlife in their natural habitat.
• Peru: Visit artisan markets and experience the majesty of Machu Picchu.
• Japan: Immerse yourself ancient traditions, modern cities, and exquisite cuisine.

Beyond the Destination

Your dream trip isn’t just about the destination—it’s about the experiences along the way. What memories do you want to create? Molly’s personalized itineraries go beyond the surface, offering cultural interactions like:

• Cooking with local chefs in their homes.
• Touring artisan workshops and markets.
• Accessing exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, such as the Crown Jewels in London.

Achieving retirement and embarking on your dream trip is an accomplishment that can be celebrated with elevated, curated travel experiences.

Tips for Trip Planning

To make the most of your trips of a lifetime, follow these key steps:

1. Start Early: Plan 12-18 months in advance, especially for high-demand destinations like African safaris or Japan.
2. Create a Destination List: Write down your top dream list destinations to prioritize your travels.
3. Consider Timing: Consult a travel advisor to determine the best times of year to visit your chosen locations.
4. Set a Budget: Be realistic about costs, factoring in luxury amenities and private experiences.
5. Seek Expert Help: Partner with a professional travel planner to handle logistics and ensure every detail is perfect.

Why We Travel

Molly’s clients often have deeply personal motivations for travel, from celebrating anniversaries to overcoming loss. For example, one family sought a multi-generational trip to honor their heritage. Molly arranged a private guide in Scotland, taking them to ancestral sites and creating lasting memories. Stories like these highlight the value of personalized travel planning, which starts with you and your dream trip.

Bonus Travel Tip

There are so many reasons to travel, and traveling as a retiree adds to the list. You may want to stick to day trips after years of travelling for work or explore the world at length the way you wished you could when work kept you in one spot. Maybe you want to travel to learn something about yourself or share your retirement dreams with the people who matter most to you. Your dream trip could be a list of dream trips, big and small.

Whatever your reason may be, here’s a simple but important bonus travel tip for you:

 If you like travelling (or have always wanted to) and you’re approaching retirement, start bringing those dream trip ideas into your retirement planning discussions sooner rather than later. Our clients have the confidence of their personalized, up-to-date retirement plan to get those dream trip dates on the calendar when the time comes. And, with a travel expert like Molly Glasgow, you can have your dream trip down to the little details without the stress of planning alone. Check out her website out at www.mollyglasgowtravel.com.

If you have any questions about how your dream trip fits into your retirement plan, or would like more information about Molly Glasgow, schedule your complimentary call with us.