Travels by Niki

Travels by Niki I plan epic travel experiences for career-driven professionals who want a stress-free vacation.

09/04/2026

I talk to a lot of people who say this when we start planning.

“I just want to RELAX.”

Then we start talking about the trip, and somehow there are four hotels, three cities, a list of restaurants they saw on Instagram, and something planned for almost every day.

I get it. You've finally taken the PTO and flown somewhere you've wanted to visit for years. Of course you want to make the most of it.

The problem is, we can very quickly turn “making the most of it” into trying to fit everything in.

Sometimes I purposely leave an afternoon open. I'll recommend the hotel that's easier to get around from, even if another one photographs better. I'll look at flight times and transfers because arriving exhausted at 11 PM changes how that first day feels.

Those little decisions add up.

If what you really want is to come home feeling rested, that's something we should be planning for from the beginning.

Tell me, what does a truly relaxing vacation mean to you?

Travel Agent and Travel Advisor are often used interchangeably, so let’s clear the air.In short, they offer the same res...
09/03/2026

Travel Agent and Travel Advisor are often used interchangeably, so let’s clear the air.

In short, they offer the same result: a booked vacation usually with discounted rates or perks you wouldn’t be able to get when booking on your own.

Where they differ is how they get to the end result of the booked vacation.

I refer to myself as an “advisor” because more often than not, someone is coming to me with an idea of their trip but unsure how to pull it altogether or if it will even work for their travel style. Thus, I use my insider knowledge and personal travel experience to advise them on the best options for them.

If there are moments where someone comes to me with the exact resort or cruise they want to book, I don’t stop communicating with them once the transaction is completed. I set up multiple points of communication from the moment they book until they travel to ensure they are fully prepped and ready.

So, yes, at the end of the day, I am a travel agent, but your experience with me goes far beyond the booking.

Both are completely valid ways to work with me.

09/01/2026

If Pearl Harbor or Hanauma Bay is on your Oʻahu list, these are two plans I'd figure out before you get there.

For Pearl Harbor, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is free to visit, although Recreation.gov collects a $1 service charge per reserved ticket for the USS Arizona Memorial program.

Reservations are strongly recommended and currently release in two windows: 8 weeks and 24 hours before your visit.

One thing I wish we'd done differently was allow more time for everything ELSE at Pearl Harbor. The Arizona Memorial is only one part of the experience, and there are additional museums, ships and historical sites you can visit.

Hanauma Bay is another one you don't want to casually save for “we'll figure it out when we get there.” Timed reservations are part of the current visitor system and inventory is released close to the visit date.

We really enjoyed both experiences. I just would've planned parts of them differently knowing what I know now.

Save this for your Oʻahu planning folder so these don't sneak up on you.

If you're used to another cruise line, I wouldn't assume your usual pre-cruise routine will work exactly the same way wi...
08/28/2026

If you're used to another cruise line, I wouldn't assume your usual pre-cruise routine will work exactly the same way with Virgin.

One thing I'd pay attention to early is dining.

Virgin doesn't have the traditional main dining room setup, and their signature restaurants are popular. When your dining reservation window opens depends on the fare and cabin you've booked, so that's one date I'd actually pay attention to.

I also wouldn't panic if every single thing isn't planned before embarkation. Some onboard experiences aren't available to reserve until you're actually on the ship.

There's a little learning curve on your first Virgin sailing, but once you understand how they do things, it makes a lot more sense.

Still deciding whether you'd even enjoy Virgin in the first place?

Comment MATCH and I'll send you our **Would You Actually Enjoy Virgin Voyages?** short quiz.

08/26/2026

Jet lag actually worked in our favor 😂

We did the Lanikai Pillbox sunrise hike toward the beginning of our Oʻahu trip, and since we were already naturally waking up ridiculously early, getting up before sunrise wasn't nearly as painful as it sounds.

It ended up being the perfect start to one of my favorite days of the entire trip.

If you're flying to Hawaiʻi from the mainland, take advantage of those early wake-ups while you have them!

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