How do you choose your next vacation?

I guess you could twirl a globe and point your finger, but then you might end up in the middle of a jungle or on top of Mt. Everest.  I think there are two clear ways to approach the matter:

1. Do a little research, checking your budget and travel wishlist.
2. Listen to your family and friends and hear where their dream vacation would take them. 

Last year, my mother-in-law, Alice (Dan’s mom) told my daughter, Nicole, that one of her “Bucket List” destinations was Lourdes, France.  Alice is a very religious person and I was surprised to know that she hadn’t been to Lourdes before.  When Nicole told Dan his mom’s wishes, he immediately decided that this would be her summer trip in 2010.  Usually the Sullivan family plans a trip each year and when I say the Sullivan’s, I mean a lot of people.

Dan’s mom and dad had seven kids and all of their kids had 17 grandchildren between them.  So with just immediate family, we can usually fill a bus. In the past, the Sullivan family has been to Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Prince Edward Island, and on a cruise to Alaska, just to mention a few of our family trips.

For our trip to Lourdes with Alice, Dan invited only his siblings, their spouses and his mom, so this year we will be a smaller group than usual, it will be more personal for her, something to share with her kids and their spouses. 

When Dan decided to go the France (we leave July 28), he thought it would be fun to incorporate Paris into the itinerary as well as Lourdes, so we are really looking forward to our trip to France. Paris is such a fun city, with its sidewalk cafes and culture. I’m especially looking forward to taking a nice walk along the beautiful Seine. 

Lourdes is a wonderful place to visit.  It is the home of Bernadette Soubirous who saw the apparition of “Mary” in a grotto.  Alice has read the book The Song of Bernadette and has also watched the movie by the same name many times. 

I personally have been to Lourdes twice.  The first time I went was in 1969 and then again in 2005.  Both times, I was moved to tears by this wonderful place.  I look forward to going again, and I am very excited to be sharing it with Alice.  I know that this will be the trip of a lifetime.

So there you go. It’s easy to plan where your next vacation can be.  Just listen to your mom, or your grandmother, or your husband or wife.  What is on their “wish list” of places to go and things to see?  If Nicole hadn’t listened to Alice, chances are we would be going somewhere else. 

Choosing and planning this trip is a dream come true for all of us, but will mean more because of Alice and her desire to go there someday.  Someday is almost here!

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posted by Jetsetter
Kathy Sullivan, Co-Manager, Community Relations
Collette Vacations

Tags: France, Travel Tips, Traveling Well

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