Suitcase Stories
Some of the best souvenirs can't fit in a suitcase.
They come home as stories, memories, and new ways of seeing the world. Here, you'll find travel inspiration, practical guidance, and experiences from across the globe to help you dream, learn, and explore with confidence.
What Traveling with Kids Actually Teaches Them (That School Never Will)
Travel is one of the most powerful teachers. Learn how exploring the world helps kids gain perspective, confidence, and life lessons beyond the classroom.
Travel Through My Eyes: Tanya Saenz
Discover why meaningful travel is about more than checking destinations off a list. Drawing on experiences from more than 25 countries, this story explores the value of personalized travel planning, local culture, unforgettable food, and thoughtfully designed itineraries that help travelers slow down, connect with a destination, and create memories that last a lifetime.
Meet Our Travel Designer: Gretchen Pattillo
Discover how a passion for international travel became a mission to design personalized vacations with thoughtful planning, expert guidance, and unforgettable experiences.
Meet Our Travel Designer: Staci Delk
Travel is more than booking flights and hotels, it is about creating the moments that become family stories for years to come. Meet Staci Delk, Travel Designer with Great Circle Travel, and discover the experience, passion, and planning philosophy that guide every itinerary she creates.
Meet Our Travel Designer: Jennifer Crawford
After visiting 47 countries and spending 12 years designing unforgettable vacations, one travel advisor shares why meaningful travel is about more than checking destinations off a list. Discover how authentic experiences, local culture, and thoughtful planning create journeys you'll remember for a lifetime.
The Perils Of Being Overly Ambitious
As part of our "research and development," we recently completed the entire Cotswold Way, walking 106 miles from Chipping Campden to Bath. The experience confirmed what we already suspected: this iconic route is best enjoyed at a slower pace, with more time for village exploration, scenic views, and the simple pleasures that make the Cotswolds so special.
Meet Our Travel Designer: Keri Jenkins
Meet Keri, a travel designer who discovered her love of travel while living in Singapore with her husband and two sons. With extensive travel experience, a passion for meaningful adventure, and an eye for detail, Keri creates thoughtfully planned trips so her clients can focus on enjoying the journey.
Meet Our Travel Designer: Tanya Saenz
Meet Tanya Saenz: born in Mexico, 25+ countries explored, and ready to help you turn "someday" into your next unforgettable trip.
The Costa Rica Resort I Still Think About: Why We Loved Nayara Springs
Discover why Nayara Springs is one of Costa Rica's most unforgettable luxury resorts. From sloths and rainforest sounds to incredible dining and romantic villas near Arenal Volcano, this adults-only retreat delivers a truly magical experience.
Family Vacation Planning Made Simple: Tips for a Smooth and Memorable Trip
Learn how to plan a stress-free family vacation with simple tips for budgeting, choosing travel dates, and creating unforgettable memories together. ✈️👨👩👧👦🌴
Confession: I Used to Be an Overpacker (Until Greece Taught Me a Lesson)
After dragging an oversized suitcase through Greece, I learned a valuable lesson: less luggage means more freedom. Discover practical packing tips for Europe and travel with less stress.
Why I Went to Peru Twice in One Year
Last May, I joined a group of women on a trekking adventure with Salkantay Trekking. The plan was simple enough: hike through the Peruvian Andes, experience the beauty of the Sacred Valley, and ultimately arrive at one of the most iconic destinations in the world—Machu Picchu.
What I didn't expect was how deeply the experience would impact me.