I know it’s been a tough year for the world, and my heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones, whose lives have been upended by our global crisis and who are struggling financially.  The most vulnerable, like the 100,000+ school children in NYC who are homeless, are the most deeply impacted by the pandemic.  The holidays are coming up, and you’ll see charities that we respect who are working to bridge these gaps of need.  I hope that you’ll consider sharing your good fortune, for those who could use a hand up.

With just a few months left in the year, I’ve had a chance to reflect on what has been essentially Chernobyl for the travel industry.  Yes, we have been significantly impacted at Galavante, but what I decided to do very early on, is forge ahead.  Within 3 weeks of lockdown, we pivoted and put our resources into investing into informing and inspiring our friends like you, through our talented writer’s articles.  Most of us aren’t traveling right now, but it doesn’t mean we can’t find joy in cooking a recipe inspired by travel, watching a fun video about the world and enriching our knowledge in some way.  It’s been an honor to share the world with you, and we’re going to keep on going, and create even richer experiences for you with our new website launching in a few weeks, as well as our travel show, The 195, which is moving forward. We are storytellers at Galavante, and excited to have a platform that will allow us share stories of fascinating people, places and culture around the world.

Even with the travel industry at a standstill, I’ve chosen to chart my own path for my journey, as well as for Galavante.  I’ve been on over 18 flights, 3 foreign countries and around our beautiful country since the start of the pandemic and endured multiple COVID tests to get where I needed to go. I have experienced firsthand the stranger-than-fiction process of international health screenings to confirm that, yes, there is still a world out there, and yes, it is worth exploring. But not for everyone.

For Americans, travel is divided into two buckets; domestic, and international.  Right now is prime time to explore our country, where places like Jackson Hole and Santa Fe, have just inspired me, and I would return at any opportunity.  International travel though is another case.  I think you really need to have a strong desire for travel, coupled with being able to roll with a lot of uncertainty, to travel internationally in most countries, especially if you are flying commercial.  Private is a whole other story, of course, and if you’re thinking about the holidays, let’s talk.  At Galavante we’re one of the few people in the industry still out there in the world, and we’re here for you, as you decide how to chart your own path, forward.