Just Travel with Jody

05/27/2026

I know we're all in sandals-and-sunscreen mode, but hear me out for a second.

What if, for the 2027 holiday season, instead of the usual routine, you were bundled up in a medieval town square in Poland — warm drink in hand, Christmas lights everywhere, browsing handmade crafts you won't find anywhere else?

I'm putting together a small group tour of Poland's Christmas markets for late November 2027, and I just published the full day-by-day itinerary.

11 days. 5 cities. Warsaw to Kraków, with local food experiences, history, and a Christmas market in every single city along the way.

Take a look and see if it's calling your name 👇
https://www.justtravelwithjody.com/poland-christmas-markets

Let's just go to Poland!

Explore the best Christmas markets in Poland on this 11-day guided tour — from Warsaw to the Kraków Christmas market. 5 cities, local food experiences, and festive magic around every corner. Contact us to book your spot.

05/19/2026

Between rising fuel costs, flight cancellations in the news, and conflicts happening around the globe, I understand why some of you are hesitant to book a trip right now. Those concerns are real, and I hear them from clients every week.

But I just got back from Spain and Italy with my family, and I want to tell you what I saw: people living. Not worrying about headlines...just living. Locals gathering at an outdoor market on a Saturday morning, laughing and catching up like they've done it every week for years. People tucked into a secret garden bar down an alley you'd walk right past if you didn't know it was there.

We took a cooking class with a chef in Tuscany who walked us through traditional recipes that have been made the same way for generations. Wine in hand, flour everywhere, and the kind of experience you can't just recreate at home.

We stumbled into a wine festival in a little town called San Giovanni Valdarno that wasn't on any itinerary, just locals pouring wine in the piazza in front of a centuries-old church. You can't Google that. You just have to be there.

That's the thing about travel. It doesn't just show you a new place. It shows you how other people live, what they celebrate, and what they gather around. And it reminds you that the world is so much bigger... so much warmer than the news makes it seem.

Some of the best trips start with a little bit of fear and a lot of trust, but if you bring the people you love most and just go... you're on the right track.

05/12/2026

I've been getting a lot of calls and messages lately from clients who are nervous about their upcoming trips, and some who are thinking about canceling altogether. With fuel prices climbing, airlines cutting flights, and everything happening in the world right now, I get it.

But before you cancel, here is what I'm seeing and what I'd recommend.

What we know is that the conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global fuel supplies, and airlines are feeling it. Millions of seats have been pulled from summer schedules. Bag fees are up. Fuel surcharges are being added to international tickets. And budget carriers are getting hit the hardest.

But flights are still going. People are still traveling. The margin for just "winging it" is a lot thinner right now.

Here's what I'd recommend: book earlier than usual, build in flexibility where you can, choose refundable options when they're available, and don't cancel a flight preemptively! If your airline hasn't canceled on you, hold your booking so you don't lose your right to a refund or rebooking.

This is where having a travel advisor in your corner really matters! I'm watching schedules, monitoring changes, and if something shifts, I'm already working on a solution before you even know there's a problem. You don't have to sit on hold for three hours or figure it out alone at midnight in an airport.

Travel isn't off the table. It just takes better planning and the right person behind it. You can still just go, but... maybe call me first? 🤔

04/28/2026

Let's dream for a second. If you could gather your favorite people and go anywhere in the world together, where would it be?

Personally, Japan has been on my mind lately. The food, the culture, the contrast of ancient temples and ultra-modern cities... It's the kind of place that feels like nowhere else on earth. And I think it would make for an incredible group trip.

But I want to hear yours. Drop your dream destination in the comments, because putting together group trips is one of my favorite things to do. More people, more memories, and often better value than traveling solo.

Maybe we can make something happen. 👇🌍

04/21/2026

Can we talk about travel insurance for a second?

I know it's not the most exciting part of planning a trip. But after 26 years of booking travel, I've seen what happens when people skip it—and it's never pretty.

A medical emergency abroad. A family situation that forces you to cancel at the last minute. A flight cancellation that unravels an entire itinerary. These things happen more often than you'd think, and without coverage, you're absorbing every bit of that cost yourself.

Travel insurance isn't just a nice-to-have. It's the thing that stands between a difficult situation and a devastating one.

I offer Travel Guard coverage to all of my clients because I genuinely believe in it. I've worked with them for over 20 years, and they've never failed to pay a claim. It's one of those things where if you need it, you'll be so glad you have it. And if you don't need it? Great. That's the best possible outcome.

If you're planning a trip and haven't thought about coverage yet, it's worth checking with your credit card company to see what their policies cover. It's one of the easiest and most important parts of the planning process. 🧳

04/14/2026

In 2025, my husband and I sailed the Seine on the Tapestry II, and when I tell people about Avalon, a question I often get asked is: 'But what is there to actually do?'

I never have to think twice about the answer. The excursions alone are 100% worth the trip.

We're talking private visits to the gardens of Giverny that inspired Monet, guided walks through Normandy's historic villages, and mornings in Paris that feel nothing like a typical tourist experience.

What I love about Avalon is that they give you options. Want a guided excursion or simply to explore on your own? They have something for everyone. It never feels like you're being herded.

The Seine has this way of making art, history, and French culture feel deeply personal, and Avalon gives you the perfect platform to experience all of it.

If you've been on the fence about river cruising because you weren't sure how you'd spend your time—trust me, that won't be a problem. 🛳️

04/07/2026

There are a lot of you out there who look at tour package prices and think, 'but what am I actually paying for?'

We all want the best experience at the lowest cost. More often than not, a tour package is designed to give you exactly that. I broke it all down on the blog. Click the link below to read about it. 👇👇

Are tour packages worth it? As a travel advisor, I can give you the breakdown of why tour companies don't itemize their costs, what you're really paying for, and the questions you should actually be asking.

03/31/2026

I am officially counting down the days!

In 10 days, I'm heading to Bilbao, Spain with my oldest daughter and her boyfriend to visit my youngest daughter and her husband. Then the whole crew is heading to a Tuscan villa to explore Florence together. I feel so lucky to have this time with my family. 🙌

And you bet I'll be taking photos along the way to share with all of you!

Tell me, what trip are you most excited about this year? Where are you headed?

And if you don't have anything on the books yet, let's change that. We all need something to look forward to. Let's make it happen so you can just go! ✈️

03/24/2026

I frequently get asked why I partner with certain companies, so I wanted to start a series that mentions some trips I've been on and trips I've sent my clients on, using some of my favorite companies to work with. Let's start with Avalon Waterways.

I was going through some old photos the other day and found myself completely transported back to my Avalon river cruise along the Rhône and Saône from 2022. Jade and I sailed on the Poetry II through Burgundy and Provence, and years later, I still think about it.

Drifting past vineyards, wandering through little Provençal villages, waking up somewhere new every single morning... It was the kind of trip that stays with you long after you're home. Especially since I was able to do it with my daughter.

One of the main things that I like about Avalon is how they use the ship's space efficiently, which you'll see in the photos I took of our cabin below. These cabins are my favorite of any river cruise ship I've been on.

Floor-to-ceiling windows, thoughtful design, nothing wasted. Even the smaller cabins feel open and airy. But what really stayed with me was the service. I felt looked after from the moment I boarded.

As a travel advisor, I've recommended Avalon to so many clients over the years, but there's something about seeing those old photos that reminds me exactly why I do.

If river cruising has ever crossed your mind, let's chat so you can just go! 🛳️

And stay tuned for more reasons why I book with certain tour companies.

03/17/2026

🚨 Travel Alert: Longer TSA Wait Times

Heads up if you're flying soon—the government shutdown is causing longer TSA wait times.

• Domestic: Arrive 2.5-3 hours early
• International: Arrive 3.5-4 hours early

That's about 30–60 minutes more than you'd normally plan for. Better to be sipping a cocktail, relaxing at the gate, than sprinting through the terminal! 🍹☀️

Share this with anyone you know who's traveling soon. Safe travels, everyone! 🙏