You're engaged, now what? Time to plan your dream wedding! Don't forget about your honeymoon to celebrate this next chapter with your new spouse. You may not even know where to start, so let us help you! Today we're discussing a few unique  destinations you can visit for your 2021 honeymoon. We will also be sharing the current COVID-19 requirements and guidelines for entering each of these destinations as of April 1, 2021. The requirements are subject to change according to local governments. If you choose to travel, remember to wear a mask and social distance. If you are traveling outside of the United States, a negative COVID-19 test is required within 72 hours before returning to the US. Contact your Brentwood Travel Consultant to stay up-to-date with the current COVID-19 guidelines regarding travel.

​Motor coach tours are a great option when you want an easy-going, yet exciting, sightseeing vacation. You may think, “What even is motor coaching?” or have questions before you want to book a motor coach tour. Today Brentwood Travel’s President & CEO, Stephanie Turner, and Executive Vice-President, Stacey Acree, are here to discuss why they love guided motor coach tours and answer some frequently asked questions about motor coach tours!

A Travel Agent is always a great resource to utilize when planning a trip, and now they are even more essential with all of the changes that have happened in the travel industry. Keep reading to hear just a few of the reasons why you should be using a Travel Agent in 2021!

You're engaged, and now what? Time to start planning the wedding of your dreams, but don't forget about the honeymoon! Take the stress out of planning your honeymoon by letting the Travel Consultants at Brentwood Travel plan the perfect honeymoon for you. And what's better than the perfect honeymoon? The perfect honeymoon, courtesy of your friends and family! Keep reading to find out more about registering for your honeymoon with Brentwood Travel.

Sustainability is important in all aspects of our lives. People are making more conscious choices that will have a better impact on our communities and the environment. We are realizing that there is only one planet earth and we need to take proper care of it. Many people have made sustainable changes in their daily lives, but have you thought about how you can make your traveling experience more sustainable?

The World Tourism Organization defines the term 'sustainable travel' as "tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities." It goes far beyond refusing plastic straws and bringing a canvas tote to the grocery store, it is striving to leave the areas and communities you visit better off than when you arrived.

Environmental Sustainability: The environment is obviously important to tourism. Both the natural environment (such as beaches, forests, waterways) and the built environment (such as historic buildings and ruins) must be preserved for an area to be environmentally sustainable. Environmental sustainability means making sure resources in an area (whatever they may be) can be preserved for use by future generations. It’s much more than just being “green.”

Socio-cultural Sustainability: When an area starts being visited by tourists, there are bound to be some social and cultural impacts of those tourists on the host community. Locals may see increased congestion and overcrowding in towns and cities, perhaps an increase in crime, the introduction of new languages and values, and perhaps even an influx of migrant workers to be employed in the tourist industry. Socio-cultural sustainability, then, means minimizing these negative impacts and focusing on more positive ones, such as promoting cultural exchange and preserving local traditions. This can usually be achieved by getting the locals involved in the tourism industry. Having the community involved will not only offer visitors a more genuine experience, but the locals will be more likely to see tourism in a positive light because they will be proud of it.

Economic Sustainability: The last pillar of sustainability revolves around perhaps the most important part – the money. Many people don’t take into account economics when thinking about sustainability, but it’s really the key to making a tourism venture sustainable. Economic sustainability means building linkages and reducing leakages – essentially, keeping the money local. A hotel or company owned and operated by a foreigner is not likely to contribute much to the local economy – the money will likely leak overseas instead. This is not sustainable. Not only should the community be involved in tourism, but they should also all share in the financial benefits gleaned from it.

As a proud member of Ensemble, we support the recent sustainability initiatives being taken on by the travel consortia. David Harris, Ensemble CEO, announced at the annual travel conference in October 2019 that Ensemble has partnered with nonprofit Cool Effect. This "enables Ensemble members to offset their clients’ flights quickly and easily using its Offset Tool" (afar.com). 

We are looking forward this partnership, as well as eagerly awaiting even more sustainable travel initiatives.

Avoid the plane and take the train
Become part of the emerging “slow travel” trend by going to fewer places and spending more time in each. Train travel is a good way to do this. Not only will you experience a deeper sense of place, you’ll also decrease your carbon footprint. Some of my favorite travel-by-train destinations include India, Southeast Asia, East Africa, and China.

Give, the right way
Many well-intentioned travelers bring sweets, used clothing, books, and pencils to hand out to children and villagers in developing nations. Sadly, this kind giving often has unintended consequences—it can sow community conflict and encourage a culture of dependency and begging. I watched two Maasai women in Africa fight over a T-shirt that a smiling tourist had handed out; in some parts of Asia, the first English words children learn are “Give me sweet.” It is better to give—be it money or goods—to reputable local organizations that work on social welfare programs, or to international groups that partner with them. A good one is Pack for a Purpose.

Say no to plastic
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling mass of human trash stretching across thousands of miles of the ocean, includes gazillions of throw-away plastic bottles and bags that will take hundreds of years, if ever, to break down—all the while wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Be a part of the solution by opting for locally purified water in recyclable glass bottles (in the tropics, I rely mainly on green coconuts to stay hydrated) and carrying tote bags in your luggage that you can use while perusing street markets and shops. Not only will this cut back on plastic waste, it will also reduce your carbon footprint–petroleum-based ingredients are a staple in manufacturing plastic bottles and bags.

Research your tour operators
I explore on my own most of the time when I travel, but when I do seek out the services of a tour outfitter, I always ask three questions before signing on: What are some of your tour company’s environmentally friendly practices? Can you give me an example of how your trips help to protect and support wildlife or cultural heritage? Do you employ local guides on your trips? 

Support the real local economy
Locally made crafts and souvenirs are not always cheaper, but purchasing them ensures your contribution to the economy will have a more direct and positive impact. In Cancun, for example, some gift shops sell “traditional” Mexican sombreros that are imported from China because they cost less, while village artisans who make the hats by hand charge more. The difference is not just in the price. Buying the real sombreros supports authentic cultural heritage and provides needed jobs for the locals who make them.

Never buy wildlife products—period
On a trip to Vietnam’s Halong Bay, I watched a group of American tourists haggling with villagers who were selling some of the most beautiful sea shells I have come across in my travels. Similarly, in Mongolia, I witnessed a couple of backpackers haggling at an outdoor market to buy a hand-stitched eagle hunter’s hat made from plush wolf fur. These travelers were inadvertently helping to support a growing marketplace for trafficking rare and endangered wildlife products as souvenirs. Just say no.

We're in the middle of what feels like a never-ending winter and dreaming of a warm getaway for spring break. Nothing beats a week of sun, fun and well-deserved relaxation! There are so many beautiful places to visit, so it can be hard to narrow it down to one destination. Here is some inspiration for your spring break trip this year!

There is nothing worse than planning an amazing trip, only to get sick during it or immediately after returning home. Traveling to new places can mean new germs, close quarters in places like airplanes and a different routine than what your body is used to. Here are a few things you can do to combat sickness while traveling, especially during cold and flu season!

There is nothing better for your body than getting a good night of sleep! Being well-rested before you travel is important so that you are prepared for your adventures ahead. Once you get to your destination, sleep is still SO necessary! You want to get the most out of the amazing destinations you visit. Getting 8 hours of sleep at night will help you do that by giving you a clear mind and rested body to fully enjoy the places travel to. Did you know that our white blood cells increase in number while we sleep? So when you are sleep deprived, your body's defense mechanism weakens, making you more vulnerable to sickness. Make sure you are getting proper sleep!

HYDRATION! HYDRATION! HYDRATION! Remembering to drink enough water is very important, especially while traveling. Long flights and days packed with adventure can leave you more dehydrated than normal. Remember to drink at least the equivalent of eight 8oz. glasses of water a day! Opt for water instead of sugary drinks during your trip to stay properly hydrated. You can invest in a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter, so wherever you go, you will have clean, filtered water ready to drink.

When traveling it always feels like there is so much to do, but so little time. People tend to pack as much as they can into every waking moment of their trip. Have you ever come back from traveling and thought, "I need a vacation from my vacation"? Avoid the burnout feeling by making a manageable itinerary where you can see everything you want to see while still having room to relax and enjoy. Planning your trip with a Travel Consultant can help you with that! They have the knowledge and resources to help plan your perfect trip.

One of the best things about traveling is trying new food! Many people use vacation as a time to indulge and eat much more food or less healthy food than their body is used to. This can cause stomach issues that you do not want to deal with while on vacation. To combat this, try sticking to a balanced diet while traveling. Be adventurous, but also cautious, when trying new foods in a new area. The CDC also suggests avoiding raw food, street food and bushmeat when traveling.

This one should be a given, but is also important remember! Be diligent with hand washing while traveling. Remember to bring hand sanitizer when you aren't near a sink and sanitizing wipes to disinfect the surfaces around you, especially when flying.

When most people come back from a trip they jump right back into work and their regular daily routine. Allow yourself an extra day or two after you get back to readjust and unwind. This can also be a great time to get some extra sleep and fully unpack before jumping back into things.

​Travel Consultant Christine Hakenjos recently traveled to New Orleans with 9 of her closest girlfriends to celebrate her bachelorette weekend! Bachelorette trips (or long weekend getaways to celebrate the bride’s “last fling before the ring”) are becoming more and more popular with millennials. Christine and her Maid of Honor, Lindsay, planned the most perfect weekend getaway, and we thought it would be fun to share their travels along with giving tips for planning the perfect bachelorette weekend that you can do WHEREVER you may travel!

When planning a bachelorette weekend getaway, it is always a good idea to create SOME sort of itinerary for your guests so that everyone has something to refer to when packing/preparing for their travels. Creating a cute graphic always makes things more fun and adds even more excitement to the upcoming trip!

​We traveled to New Orleans for my bachelorette on Halloween weekend, which also meant it was VooDoo Festival that weekend. For our photoshoot theme, we decided to match the rest of the city this time of year and go with a “witches coven” theme. We started our day with the shoot and it was a fun way to begin our day in NOLA! The photos all turned out AMAZING, and I love that I have such great photos to look back on as a reminder of such an amazing weekend. We then went out on the town from there and received SO many compliments about our theme and how coordinated we all looked. It was so fun! 

​When planning an out of town bachelorette trip (especially with a big group), do your research to find out the best places to eat and drink and make reservations at the restaurants ahead of time! You don’t want to have to wait an hour (or sometimes longer!) for a table big enough for your group because that is only taking time away from your weekend, or even WORSE you may not even get a table to begin with! So planning ahead for the places you KNOW you want to eat and drink at is always a good idea…. ESPECIALLY in New Orleans where eating and drinking is one of the reasons for traveling to such an amazing city!

​Having outfits planned makes packing easy, right?! So one of the days in New Orleans, we all picked an iconic celebrity to dress up as. It was so fun to be out and about in NOLA dressed as people that MOST of the general public knew who we were. 

​Sometimes drinking all day every day on a Bachelorette trip can be quite exhausting, and expensive! Acting as real tourists and booking an exciting tour can be a really good change of pace for your group and will also allow them to learn and see more of the city you are traveling to! Before departing for our weekend in New Orleans, we booked a “Louisiana Airboat Ride & Oak Valley Plantation Home” tour and it was truly one of the best things we did all weekend! It was so fun to do something so unique and different as a group. Getting to experience such beauty and learning about these destinations together was so special! 

​In addition to the “being a tourist and booking a tour”, you can also have fun matching t-shirts made ahead of time for your group to wear on the tour or any day throughout your weekend! For New Orleans, I had t-shirts made for the girls from a shop on Etsy that matched the entire theme of the weekend: “Till Death Do Us Party”, and gave it to them as a thank you for their travels. We wore them with jeans the day of the tour and the photos of us as a group were great!

​There is nothing like having a psychic read your tarot cards, especially with your BFFs! This was yet another fun activity we did while in New Orleans. Originally, we had planned for a psychic to come to our house to do our readings, but a tropical storm hit that evening so we ended up going to the French Quarter for ours. We landed at “Voodoo Authentica” after a few insider tips from my family, who are locals to the area. Voodoo Authentica happens to be a true Voodoo shop located in the French Quarter and that is where we had a group reading done by a true Voodoo Priest! The group reading was very insightful and was just another unique activity to do together that you don’t get to do every day.

Going to listen to live music anywhere is always fun, especially when you are in a city where live music is at the center of the culture. To end our amazing weekend in New Orleans, we thought it would be fun to hop around on Frenchmen Street and listen to live jazz at a local bar. We ended up grabbing drinks and small apps at Bamboula’s where they have live music all day and all night. Frenchmen Street is just a short walk from the French Quarter and totally worth the visit! 

Something fun to do as a thank you to everyone that traveled is to make them little goodie bags. In the bags that I gave my friends, I included the matching t-shirts that I gave everyone, but I also gave them each a little reusable skull mug, and a homemade “hangover kit” with makeup wipes, Advil, and gum. To top it off, I hand wrote each of them a thank you card, as I was so appreciative of everyone taking time off work and spending their hard earned $$ to travel and celebrate with me! 

The most important part about your bachelorette weekend is having fun with your friends. Tailor your weekend to what YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS enjoy doing, and it will make some of your best memories together. To take the stress off of yourself, work with a travel consultant to plan the PERFECT weekend getaway! 

The items you pack in your carry-on can make or break your flight. Our well-traveled staff knows a thing or two about flying, along with the essentials you need to pack for every trip. Some of our travel consultants are here to share their recommendations.
​Keep reading to find out their top picks!

Maggie Groene and Melanie Muchnick always make sure they bring their headphones on every flight! These are necessary for entertainment or drowning out the background noise on the plane. If you're trying to get some sleep while flying, try earplugs to cancel out noise!

Nowadays, your smartphone is an important part of traveling. From mobile boarding passes to getting an Uber after your flight, having a dead phone is not an option. Bring a portable charger so you won't have to worry about what percentage your phone battery is at.

Food and drinks at the airport can be expensive. Think ahead and pack a reusable water bottle and snacks! Doing this can save you the unnecessary expense. Emily Medina likes to make sure she has her reusable water bottle to use at the airport, as well as while she's on her trip. Michelle Busse and Melanie like to bring on-the-go snacks that are easy to pack, such as almonds, Chex Mix or fruit.

The best way to dress on travel days is in layers. You never know what the temperature will be like in the airport or on the plane. The weather may be completely different from where you board to where you land. Be sure to pack a jacket or sweater to stay warm! Emily suggests packing or wearing a scarf that can double as a cozy blanket for when it gets chilly on the plane. What a great tip!

Airports and planes are full of germs! Be sure to bring hand sanitizer every time you travel. This one is a no brainer!

You don't want to just sit and stare off into space for your entire flight. Bring books and magazines to pass the time while flying. Or download games, music, movies or TV shows on your smartphone or tablet to keep you entertained.

Need to get some sleep on your flight? Remember to bring a travel pillow so you can sleep comfortably and feel refreshed when you get to your destination.

We always hope for the best, but sometimes checked luggage gets lost, so Michelle and Emily both recommend bringing extra clothes in your carry on. You'll feel much better knowing that you can survive an extra day or two without your checked luggage.

My husband and I have always been huge Disney fans which means we absolutely love to vacation at Walt Disney World. My entire pregnancy people told me "you know you have to wait years before you go back to Disney World?" because people knew I would be dying to go back there and to most people it sounds like a miserable idea to take a baby to Disney. Well, when I announced I was planning to take my baby to Walt Disney World I got tons of push back! Of course I was a little nervous, but guess what - taking my 10-month-old to Disney was the best decision I ever made and I can't wait to go back with him! I will say it definitely was a different type of Disney vacation than what I've been used to, but it was completely worth it and here are some of my tips for taking your baby to Disney: 

1. Be on your baby's schedule

On previous Disney vacations my husband and I would be the first ones in the park and the last to leave each day. We had to ride every ride, see every show and close out the night with fireworks. Unfortunately, this plan doesn't work too well with a baby. Nap time, feedings and bedtime all have to be taken into consideration. But this doesn't mean you can't still have fun! Be sure to have a stroller that you can recline back so baby can nap during the day and you can walk around the Park or get a yummy snack. Also, slowing down your pace will actually allow you to enjoy more of the Parks than constantly being on the go, which we definitely learned on this trip. Don't expect your baby will be awake for every photo opportunity. You have to learn to just go with the flow. 
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2. Ship baby necessities to your resort

If you plan to fly to Walt Disney World it's not practical to pack diapers, formula and food in your suitcase. You'll lose valuable space and you'll probably get stuck paying for heavy luggage fees at the airport. Instead, go on Amazon before your trip and select the items that your baby needs the most and have them shipped to the resort you're staying at. This was a lifesaver for us! I chose everything I needed and changed the shipping address to the resort. Be sure to include "Guest" with your name and check-in date on the shipping label so they can easily find the package when you check in.
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3. Pack a change of clothes each day

Accidents and babies go hand in hand. You just never know when something will happen to a baby's clothes. Be sure that before you head out to the Parks each day that you have a spare change of clothes in your diaper bag. To quickly locate everything I recommend putting the change of clothes in a Ziplock bag, and this will also help keep the soiled clothes separate from everything else in your bag. Trust me, accidents WILL happen.
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4. Mark your stroller

Any time you want to hop on a ride you have to leave your stroller in the sea of stroller parking. It can be difficult to quickly identify which stroller is yours, so to help out be sure to have a sign that you can attach to the back of your stroller. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, you could use a brightly colored ribbon. However I like to be a little extra and full of Disney flair, so I had a custom sign made that I found here on Etsy. Remember, don't leave valuables in your stroller! 
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5. Get a stroller fan

I can't emphasize this enough, you have to get a fan to clip on your stroller! There is almost nothing hotter than the Florida sun and you have to have something to keep your baby cool. I purchased this rechargeable fan on Amazon and it worked wonders. We clipped it to the top of the stroller so our son couldn't mess with it but it was securely aimed on him at all times. 
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6. Utilize Fastpasses for baby-friendly rides

Fastpasses are free with your park admission and they're a great way to make your ride-planning much easier. You get three Fastpasses that you can book in advance, and once you've used all your Fastpasses at one park you can request additional passes. To avoid waiting in lines and causing our son to get restless, we only went on rides if we had a Fastpass (or if there wasn't a long wait time). They made our day so laid back and our son thoroughly enjoyed every ride he went on! Our son got to experience The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Frozen Ever After, "it's a small world", Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan's Flight, The Voyage of The Little Mermaid, Prince Charming Regal Carousel, Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and Kilimanjaro Safari. I loved how his face would light up with curiosity, he would let out happy squeals and clap his hands to songs! 
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7. Book Character Dining experiences

My son is obsessed with watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and I knew I wanted him to have the chance to meet all of the characters. The best place to do this is at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. I booked this during breakfast when I knew it wouldn't interfere with nap time and he would be in good spirits. It was the best way for us to have one-on-one time with each character without having to wait in long lines to meet them. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy all came to meet our son and he just couldn't get enough of them! It even brought a few tears to this Disney momma's eye.
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8. Document as much as you can

Since Disney is so dear to my heart I wanted to document as many moments as I could with my son. Before the trip I made "first" signs for different experiences I knew my son would have throughout Walt Disney World. It made us pause during the day to appreciate little moments and take in different experiences in a new way. Not to mention I have so many more pictures for our photo album because I captured the moment! 
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