Travel Appreciation | Colesville Travel

11 Things You Will Appreciate More When You Travel Again

Cynthia Amin • August 18, 2020

I don’t know about you, but I will never again take a vacation for granted. After everything we’ve been through, I am going to treat all my vacations like “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences.

I am sure we will all be viewing everything differently and appreciating our long-lasting friendships, nature, art, and history a lot more when we travel again.

I want to share with you eleven (11) ways how we can appreciate travel more post Covid-19.

1. Our Cocktails Will Taste Better

When Covid-19 is over we will sip and savor every bit of our cocktails. Can you imagine how that first cocktail on the beach or in that long-awaited hotel will taste post Covid-19? I am dreaming about having a Lemon Drop Martini made with Grey Goose vodka with my feet up and starring into the ocean. No doubt, my martini will taste even sweeter. Have you thought about what your first drink will taste like?

2. We Will Appreciate Digging Our Toes in the Sand

We’ve become used to walking around the house in slippers or sneakers and wearing house clothes. We have been walking through the same rooms, on the same carpet, and looking at the same tiles on the bathroom floor. After Covid-19 we can run barefoot on the beach, feel the sand between our toes, and the hot sun beaming on our faces. We will never again complain about washing the saltwater out of our hair or being hot and sweaty. We will never worry about these things again.

3. We Will Appreciate Walking Through Museums Again

After Covid-19 we will walk through the museum and listen and pay attention to the tour guide. We will learn about the paintings at the Prado in Spain, we will visit the Egyptian wing of the Louvre in Paris, we will visit the Vatican and marvel at David in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. We will be eager to learn about the world and its rich history.

4. We Will Cherish Our Friendships

We will cherish and appreciate the people we meet during our travels. We won’t take connecting with others from around the world for granted. We will be kinder, friendlier, and more considerate to those we meet during our travels. Our conversations will have meaning, and we will strive to build lasting friendships.

5. Pasta and Pizza Will Be Amazing

Imagine how you will feel when you order a plate of pasta or a margherita pizza in Florence, Italy with a glass of Chianti. You will have a newfound love for this simple carbohydrate. A big difference from eating pasta and pizza from the local pizza shop on the couch in front of the TV watching Netflix.

6. We’ll Connect and Laugh with Locals

We will visit local schools and communities and give back when we can. Many local communities and businesses have suffered because of Covid-19 and now is our chance to give back. We will happily meet the locals, listen to them, hear their stories, learn from them, laugh with them, and perhaps assist if our circumstances permit.

7. Our Travel Will Have a Purpose

Having the luxury of travel taken away, when we do travel again, we will travel with a purpose. No longer will travel be taken for granted. We will spend more time planning, researching, and ensuring our vacation goes according to plan. Our vacations will be more meaningful.

We may travel to visit friends and family or do volunteer travel for charity. We may migrate to begin life somewhere else, take religious pilgrimages and go on mission trips. We may travel for health or medical reasons. Perhaps go on a wellness retreat or culinary and wine tour. Traveling is a good remedy for stress, anxiety and depression and is all about exploring new places, cultures, cuisines, rituals, and different lifestyles.

8. We’ll Have a Newfound Love for Nature

After being confined for so long, we are going to want to get out and explore wide open spaces. Spending time in nature helps with mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, stress and increases feelings of well-being.

Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. If you are not ready to travel outside the U.S., there are many national parks and attractions in the U.S. to explore.

9. Mental Health While Traveling Should Become a Top Priority

We now realize the importance of our mental wellbeing when we travel. The next time we travel, we will disconnect properly. We will put down our phone, immerse ourselves in our surroundings, do some exercise, perhaps even learn how to meditate. We will stay active, eat healthy, and develop good sleeping habits. And most important, we will look for reliable, compatible friends to accompany us on our travels. Looking after our mental health while traveling should be one of our top priorities.

10. Treasure Your Travel Memories

There are lots of ways to make your travel memories last longer and never taken for granted. Rather than leaving thousands of photos on your camera roll, print them out, frame them, even make a scrapbook. You can create a memory box, a quilt, or begin a travel journal. You can also document your trip on social media or start a blog. These suggestions will help you treasure your travel memories forever and give them the love and joy they deserve.

11. We Will Appreciate Our Homes More

When we return home, we will appreciate our home and our surroundings. We must remember that our home has kept us safe and comfortable for many months. Our home has protected and shielded us from Covid-19 and that is something we will never forget.

When you are ready to travel again, please contact Colesville Travel at 301-989-1654 or email us at info@colesvilletravel.com. We are currently booking travel for 2021 – 2022.

In the meantime, stay safe,

Regards,

Cindy

COLESVILLE TRAVEL

Phone: 301-989-1654

Email: info@colesvilletravel.com

Website: www.colesvilletravel.com

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Before You Book That Group Trip: 8 Things Women Over 40 Should Look For

By Cynthia Amin • November 10, 2026

You have found a beautiful group trip online. The photos are stunning, the destination has been on your list for years, and the itinerary sounds exciting. Before you reach for your passport—and your credit card—pause for a moment. Not all group trips are created equally. A thoughtfully designed journey should offer more than transportation, hotel rooms, and a long list of attractions. It should provide the right balance of culture, comfort, connection, and professional support—especially for women over 40 who know how they want to travel. At this stage of life, we are no longer interested in returning from vacation feeling as though we need another vacation. We want meaningful experiences, quality accommodations, enjoyable company, and enough breathing room to appreciate where we are. Before booking your next women’s group trip, here are eight important things to consider. 1. Is the Itinerary Exciting or Simply Exhausting? Some itineraries look impressive because every hour is filled. But visiting five attractions, changing hotels, and rushing through meals every day does not necessarily create a memorable vacation. It may only create tired travelers. A well-designed group trip should have a natural rhythm. There should be exciting days, slower moments, comfortable travel times, and opportunities to explore without constantly watching the clock. Ask yourself: Will I have time to enjoy the destination? Are there too many early mornings? How often will we change hotels? Is there free time built into the itinerary? The goal should be to experience the destination—not race through it. 2. Are the Hotels Comfortable and Well Located? A beautiful hotel loses some of its appeal when it is far from restaurants, shopping, and the places you came to experience. For mature travelers, location matters. After a full day of sightseeing, you may want to walk to dinner, enjoy a nearby café, or return to your room without spending another hour in traffic. Before booking, look beyond the star rating. Consider the neighborhood, accessibility, room size, elevators, air conditioning, and proximity to the day’s activities. Comfort is not an unnecessary indulgence. It is part of a well-planned travel experience. 3. Does the Trip Go Beyond the Tourist Attractions? Famous landmarks have their place. You should absolutely see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, and Lisbon’s beautiful waterfront. But the most memorable travel experiences often happen beyond the postcard view. Look for opportunities to learn about the destination’s history, meet local people, enjoy regional cuisine, explore neighborhood markets, hear traditional music, or discover stories that are often left out of standard tours. For many women of color, cultural depth and representation are especially important. We want to understand the full story of a place including the African, Indigenous, and diasporic influences that helped shape it. Meaningful travel allows you to return home with more than photographs. You return with a deeper understanding of the world. 4. Will You Have Time to Yourself? Group travel does not mean the group has to be together every minute. You may love the scheduled tours and group dinners while still wanting an afternoon to shop, visit a museum, enjoy the hotel spa, or simply sit at a café and watch the world go by. That personal time is important. The best curated group travel for women over 40 provides companionship without taking away your independence. You should have people to share the experience with and the freedom to enjoy part of it your own way. 5. Who Is the Trip Designed For? A trip can visit your dream destination and still be the wrong trip for you. Pay attention to the intended audience, group size, activity level, transportation, dress expectations, and overall travel style. A tour designed for backpackers will feel very different from a thoughtfully paced cultural journey for professional and mature women. Ask whether the experience matches what you value: Do you prefer a smaller, more personal group? Are you comfortable with the amount of walking? Do you want nightlife, relaxation, culture, or a combination? Will you feel welcomed and understood? The right travel group should feel comfortable not like you have to change who you are to fit in. 6. Is the Pricing Clear? A low starting price can quickly become much higher once you add transfers, tours, meals, gratuities, resort fees, and other expenses. Before paying a deposit, make sure you understand exactly what is included and what is not. Review: Accommodations Transportation between destinations Airport transfers Tours and entrance fees Meals Gratuities Travel insurance requirements Single-occupancy costs Optional excursions Deposit and cancellation policies A reputable travel professional should explain these details clearly so you can make an informed decision. 7. Who Will Support You Before and During the Trip? Beautiful marketing can sell a trip. Professional support is what helps the trip run smoothly. Who will answer your questions before departure? Who will provide travel documents and preparation guidance? If a flight is delayed, a transfer is missed, or something unexpected happens, who will help? After more than 30 years in the travel industry, I know that the details travelers never see are often the ones that make the greatest difference. A well-planned trip should include more than a reservation. It should provide communication, organization, preparation, and someone who understands how all the pieces fit together. 8. Does the Journey Feel Like It Was Designed With You in Mind? This may be the most important question. You should be able to picture yourself enjoying the trip not merely keeping up with it. A well-designed journey should reflect the way you want to travel now: comfortably, confidently, and with purpose. It should offer beautiful places, engaging experiences, enjoyable meals, thoughtful pacing, and opportunities for genuine connection. That is the philosophy behind Colesville Travel’s curated group journeys. Our Portugal Uncovered: Black Heritage, Wine & Coastal Beauty experience, September 23–October 3, 2027, was designed with these principles in mind. The journey combines Lisbon’s culture and African heritage, the beautiful Algarve coast, Porto, Portuguese cuisine, and the vineyards and scenery of the Douro Valley. It is not about seeing how much Portugal we can squeeze into a few days. It is about experiencing the country in a way that feels rich, memorable, and enjoyable. Choose the Experience, Not Just the Destination A destination may capture your attention, but the design of the journey determines how you will experience it. Before booking your next group trip, look beyond the beautiful photographs. Read the itinerary carefully. Ask questions. Consider the pace, accommodations, cultural experiences, free time, pricing, and professional support. You have worked hard for the opportunity to see the world. Your time and investment deserve a journey created with care. At Colesville Travel, I create thoughtfully planned international group experiences for women who value culture, comfort, connection, and expert guidance. If you are ready to travel but do not want to handle all the details or wait indefinitely for someone else to join you let’s begin planning your next meaningful journey. Visit www.colesvilletravel.com or call 301-989-1654 to learn more about Portugal Uncovered and other upcoming group experiences. The world is waiting. Make sure you experience it well. Cindy #GroupTravelForWomen #TravelForWomenOver40 #WomensGroupTravel #MatureWomenWhoTravel #CuratedGroupTravel #CulturalTravel #MeaningfulTravel #WomenWhoTravel #LuxuryGroupTravel #PortugalTravel #PortugalUncovered #TravelWithCindy #ColesvilleTravel