Simple Traveler Vacations, LLC

09/03/2026

Most people we talk to don’t have a shortage of places they want to go.

They have the opposite problem.

Italy is on the list. The Candian Rockies are on the list. Hawaii is on the list. Maybe there’s a big family trip, a river cruise, Antarctica, or that one place you’ve been talking about for years.

The harder question is often figuring out what should come first because not every trip makes equal sense at every point in life.

Some trips are easier while the kids or grandkids are a certain age. Some are worth doing while everyone in the family can still comfortably travel together. Some require more vacation time, more physical activity, or more money than others. And some simply need to be planned farther ahead.

Your bucket list doesn’t have to get shorter.

It might just need an order.

If you could pick only one trip from your list to take next, what would it be? Share it in the comments below.

📸 Meredith & DeWayne with part of their family in Split, Croatia this past summer.

09/01/2026

Beth is going back to Japan next summer, and this time, she’s taking a group with her. 🇯🇵

From July 26–August 7, 2027, she’ll be hosting a 12-night cruise aboard Celebrity Millennium with stops in Tokyo, Shimizu, Osaka, Kochi, Busan, Hakodate, and two days in Aomori during the Nebuta Festival.

And because this is one of our hosted trips, you still get plenty of freedom to explore on your own, with the added benefit of traveling with someone who has been to Japan multiple times and can help with the little things that make the trip easier: language, transportation, customs, food, and all the questions that inevitably come up along the way.

We also have some really strong group pricing right now:

Oceanview for 2: $4,669.44 (save $2500 from booking directly online)
Veranda for 2: $6,401.44 (save $5200 from booking directly online)

Yes.. these rates and savings are REAL!

Both rates include the Classic Beverage Package and Basic Wi-Fi, and a $900 deposit holds your room. Final payment due April 27, 2027.

This is a really good fit for someone who wants to experience Japan without feeling like they have to figure every single detail out alone.

And the Nebuta Festival alone makes this itinerary pretty special.

Ready for Japan? Reach out to us and let us know!

08/31/2026

We had longtime clients planning an Alaska cruise recently, and one of their family members strongly recommended a particular cruise line. They had sailed with them before, loved the experience and were convinced it would be perfect for our clients too.

The problem was that we knew these clients pretty well. We had planned several trips for them already, and based on the way they like to travel, we really didn’t think this particular cruise line was going to be a good match.

We told them that.

They ultimately decided to follow their family member’s recommendation, so that’s what we booked for them.

When they came home, one of the first things we heard was, “You were right. This wasn’t for me.”

Her family member hadn’t given her bad advice. They had recommended an experience they genuinely loved. She simply travels differently.

That happens more often than people realize.

08/28/2026

Hot Take: Your travel agent’s job isn’t always to save you money.

Sometimes it’s helping you spend the money you were already planning to spend better.

A nonstop flight instead of losing half a day to a connection.

A hotel in the part of the city you actually want to be in instead of commuting back and forth every day.

The excursion you’ll still be talking about five years later instead of the one that happened to be cheapest.

There are absolutely times when saving money is the right call.

But “lowest price” and “best value” aren’t always the same thing.

08/26/2026

There are a few travel things I’d be paying attention to right now if I were planning anything between now and next year.

1. Holiday airfare deserves your attention now.
If you already know you’re flying for Thanksgiving or Christmas, this is the point where I’d start watching fares and schedules closely. Waiting doesn’t automatically mean paying less, and the best flight options can disappear before the cheapest ones do.

2. Fall and holiday travel are still very doable.
We’re seeing plenty of people turn their attention to September through December travel now that summer is winding down. If you have some flexibility with dates, destination, or trip length, there are still really good options out there.

3. 2027 is not as far away in travel-planning terms as it feels.
Cruises, Japan, Hawaii, Europe, Alaska, milestone trips and other high-demand vacations are already being booked well into 2027. In some categories, demand is already strong enough that suppliers are adding more capacity for destinations like Europe, Alaska and Japan.

None of that means you need to panic-book anything.

It just means late August is a really good time to look at the calendar and ask, “What travel do we actually want to make happen over the next 12–18 months?”

If you’ve got a trip in mind and you’re not sure whether it’s something you should be planning now or something that can wait, drop the destination or trip type in the comments and we’ll tell you what we’d be watching.

08/25/2026

Ready for Japan in 2027??

Beth has space on her group cruise!!! And she’s offering big savings when you book with her :)

Less than a year until we're cruising around Japan! And I've still got room in my group (at an amazing rate) if you want to join!

This is going to be such a fun time and a great intro to Japan (plus one day in South Korea!). Want more details? Check out the link below, or send me a DM!

*Price is total for two people!*

https://app.tern.travel/trips/1yHcC6tNAixnQzXEWSukWA/landing_page

08/24/2026

We’re so excited to officially welcome Katie Docherty to the Simple Traveler Vacations team! 🎉

Katie brings exactly what we want in an STV agent: she cares about people, pays attention to the little things, and genuinely loves helping someone turn an idea for a trip into something they can’t wait to experience.

And the best part? She’s officially open for bookings NOW.

Want to get to know Katie a little better? We introduced her properly in this week’s STV newsletter... including some of her favorite travel memories, the destinations she’s most excited to plan, and a little about what made us know she was the right fit for our team.

Already a subscriber? Check your inbox now.
Not on the list yet? We’ll drop the link in the comments and send you Katie’s issue.

Help us give her a big STV welcome. ❤️

~ Meredith

07/23/2026

We help our clients even when they are well-traveled.

Thank you, Meredith for always checking in our your people!