Somehow I Travel
A custom trip planner, helping you to experience the world
618.520.6262
Let the Adventure Begin!
I am a housewife and mother of 6 kids. I love my day to day life. But I also never wanted my average day to be my only kind of day. Inspired by a husband who values experiences more than things, I have spent the last 20 years collecting experiences. I go around the world seeing, tasting, and doing as much as I can while I can. I have been to 49 countries on 4 continents (soon to be 5), and 47 US states (I’m coming for you Maine, North Dakota, and Rhode Island!). And, as a wife and mother of 6 kids, I’ve had to learn how to do it creatively, economically, and efficiently.
There is no one right way to travel. I’ve traveled internationally: alone with my kids, with my husband, with a parent, with in-laws, with couples, with friends, with kids’ friends, etc. I’ve gone for months, for weeks, and for a long weekend. Each of these trips was it’s own unique experience, and couldn’t have happened if I limited myself to a “traditional” vacation.
And what experiences I’ve had! I’ve:
- climbed to the top of Machu Pichhu.
- taken my daughters to the women’s World Cup in France.
- hang-glided over the Canary Islands.
- crossed the Atlantic on a cruise ship.
- walked across Hobbiton in New Zealand.
- shopped Christmas Markets in Ireland, France, Monaco, Germany, Finland, Estonia, and Italy.
- observed Memorial Day at Omaha Beach.
- found local soccer teams for my kids to guest play in tournaments with.
- dove the Great Barrier Reef.
- made chocolate in a local’s kitchen in Ecuador.
- taken my kids to the things they were learning about in their textbooks, like Stonehenge, Waterloo, the rainforest, etc.
- driven the entire circle highway of Iceland.
- celebrated Sweden’s Independence Day in sight of their monarch.
- slid down a waterfall in Costa Rica.
- slept in the open air overwater in Tahiti.
- listened to Pavarotti in Budapest, Mumford and Sons in London, Maroon Five in Luxembourg, and Edward Sharpe in Paris.
- seen Picasso’s, Rembrandt’s, Michelangelo’s, and the works of most of Europe’s major museums and many of their minor ones.
And on and on and on.
Friends and acquaintances always ask me how I plan it, where I start, what sites I use. I see that many people want to experience the world, but don’t know where to start. For those people, this is where to start.
What I Offer
5 levels of service; for each level, you’ll complete a form letting me know who would be traveling, your budget, what you’re interested in, how experienced a traveler you/your group is, etc.
$299 - I’ll provide you with 3-4 suggested trips that meet your interests, with ideas for pulling them off, making them unique and special, and tips for keeping costs in check. I’ll also provide you with my lessons learned from all my travel (things like, put your youngest child at the front of your group as you enter customs to maximize your chances of getting put in the expedited line, how to reduce your airfare, etc.).
$599 - In addition to the above, we’ll land on a specific trip and I’ll provide you with a recommended customized itinerary. Basically, I’ll give you the detailed travel, accommodations, activities, etc. I would be using if I was taking the trip.
$1,499 - In addition to the above, I’ll serve as your travel command center during your trip. I’ll provide real-time recommended adjustments to the itinerary for travel delays, weather challenges, mood changes, etc. I’ll also help you troubleshoot issues as they arise. If your lodging turns out to be a dud, I’ll help you find a new place. If your activity gets rained out, I’ll suggest ways to save the day. If someone gets sick, I’ll help you figure out where to go. These are all things I’ve experienced during travel that I can help you resolve.
$2,999 plus expenses - In addition to the above, I’ll accompany you on the trip and help you navigate the grey. I’ll be as present/removed as you’d like and will help make your trip as memorable as possible. This service is best for those who’ve not yet traveled much, want to, but can’t bring themselves to take the leap alone.
$3,999 plus expenses - If you want to show your kids more of the world than you have free time, I will take them. I’ll plan a fun, educational trip full of local culture and experiences. They’ll learn about exchange rates, language barriers, local customs, and more. And, they’ll learn how to travel. You won’t just be giving them the gift of one trip. You’ll be giving them the gift of a lifetime of travel, as they become familiar and comfortable with going out into the world to explore.
