Happy April!

These past few months have been a whirlwind, which explains why we have been MIA (our Instagram has been a ghost town...oops)! If you missed the update at the beginning of the year, Zac and I got engaged, bought a house, and have been transitioning from full-time to part-time travel. Don't worry, though; between the wedding planning and house set-up, we've still found time to go on some adventures!

What's new for Mind Over Matter Travel?

Aside from the significant life changes we are experiencing, we are also making business moves! Last month, we started working with a business coach to help us scale our business to the next level. We look forward to sharing our developments with you throughout the year!

Where we've been recently

Although we aren't nomadic anymore, we have made it a point to keep the adventures going. Here's a little recap of what we've been up to these last few months:

• January: Wedding venue hunting around California
• February: Scottsdale, Arizona
• March: Caribbean Cruise, Las Vegas, Montana

Are you interested in visiting any of these destinations? We are here to help and provide personal recommendations based on our experiences. We offer FREE travel planning and booking services. Complete our travel planning inquiry, and we will reach out for an initial consultation.

Favorite experience

Last month, I took a one-week Caribbean cruise on one of Princess' newest ships, Sun Princess. I caught the tail end of their inaugural season and visited the ports of the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. All the stops were incredible, but a highlight was exploring the ship's luxurious and tech-advanced features.

Cruises are becoming a crowd-favorite way to travel, and they're quickly becoming one of our top trips to book. If you want to go on a cruise, we'd be happy to help! We can book on most major cruise lines and specialize in Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity, and Carnival. If you have questions about the best cruises or want to book one for yourself, reply to this email or complete our trip inquiry form.

Bucket list travel opportunity

A key way to have a transformative travel experience is by taking advantage of travel opportunities. I found this one for you:

9 travel contests and sweepstakes! Forbes compiled a list of 9 Test-Your-Luck Travel Contests And Sweepstakes For Spring And Summer. Some deadlines are as soon as today, so check the list to test your luck for a chance to win!

Transformative travel tip

Revisit a place with a new perspective! Most travelers are obsessed with chasing new destinations—but have you ever thought about going back to a place you’ve already been?

Portugal and Ireland are destinations we have visited in the past, but we are so excited to return this summer. The beauty of revisiting a destination is that you've changed. Your interests, mindset, and travel style may be different than the last time you were there.

Maybe you skipped the museums before, but now you’re intrigued by the city’s history. Maybe you stayed in the touristy center but are ready to explore the local neighborhoods this time. Or maybe you didn't enjoy it much the first time around and are ready to give it a second chance.

Revisiting a destination can be just as transformative as exploring somewhere new. This tip can help you have an even more purposeful and transformative adventure!

Travel must-haves

I got an AirFly as a Christmas gift and can't believe I haven't gotten one for myself sooner! AirFly is a Bluetooth wireless transmitter that lets you connect your wireless headphones to airplane TV screens. No more having to deal with the cheap, uncomfortable, wired headphones they give you on flights. Get your AirFly here!​

What's next?

If you want to follow along with our travels, here are our tentative travel plans for the rest of the year:

• April: California
• May: New York
• June: French Polynesia
• July: Azores, Portugal
• August: Azores, Portugal
• September: Ireland
• Oct. to Dec.: California

If you've been to any of these places and have particular suggestions, my inbox is always open! Or if you are looking for specific insight for me to share while I'm there, let me know.

If you want to follow our journey, connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

As always, thanks for being here 🤗

✨ Elaina