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🌟 Got Goals for 2025? | Opal and Finch
Published 5 months ago • 7 min read
Hip hip hooray! it's 2025 - we've officially cast-off from the dock and are now sailing off into another year of adventure. I do hope you have some great adventures planned and already on the calendar for this coming year. Maybe next year you'll start the year with a polar plunge! 🤣
Swimmers at the traditional New Year’s Eve swimming at Lake Moossee in Moosseedorf, Switzerland, Dec. 31, 2024. (Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP)
Are you a resolutions person? I try to be. Most years I buy a new calendar or journal to track my goals, resolutions, or whatever I've determined needs doing. For the most part I keep up with them but not always. There's something about a blank sheet of paper and new pens that inspires me to new ideas and/or clarity. If I have time, I find a short personal retreat away from home to be incredibly productive towards inspiration. Last year I was fortunate to spend a 2-night retreat at Miraval Austin and came away rejuvenated for what turned out to be a very busy year. If you can, I highly recommend doing this sort of retreat alone or with friends.
It's always curious to see what resolutions are popular. Unsurprisingly there's not much movement in the top ten, and three out of the top four 2025 resolutions are around health - physical, mental, and financial. 2025 will see the majority of us putting down the muffin and picking up the barbell.
Not sure about you, but I find I need a solid incentive for starting and staying true to a fitness or health resolution. Might I suggest making your reward a fabulous trip? Use travel as your reason to
jump on the elliptical, run in the rain, or eat more greens than gravy.
Travel is just easier overall when in reasonable health with generally good strength so it makes sense that travel is the perfect reward for success!
Here's some ideas to focus your health goals with travel in mind -
Focus on core, leg, ankle, and foot strength so you can navigate all the stairs, cobblestones, uneven surfaces, and distances you'll walk enjoying the sites in that dream location.
Build your arm strength so you can put your carryon in the overhead bin, haul your suitcase through airports or on/off trains, and carry it up flights of stairs.
Focus on building your VO2 so your lung and heart capacity are ready and you aren't faced with altitude sickness at the higher altitudes if Machu Picchu or Kilimanjaro is on the list
and if you're thinking about a trip of any kind, email me - let's get you outbound. I look forward to helping you fill your passport with stamps from those amazing journeys that create memories for a lifetime.
If you are just curious about a destination or have questions about travel, join me for over at Meetup and Teams for my upcoming conversations.
Open Q&A on Travel: Join me on the third Monday of the month for a Q&A about travel. Get free advice about the trip you're working on. Register here
Slovenia/Croatia |January 9 (thursday) 7 pm CT: Register here
Travel in Egypt and Jordan |January 23 (thursday) 7 pm CTRegister here
River Cruises | February 20 (thursday): 7 pm CT: Register here - which River Cruise line is right for you?
Be sure to check out my website at www.opalandfinch.com for updates. And I appreciate your sharing with your friends and family.
Want a 30% off DEAL on working with me? See the details below on how to take advantage of my current sale between now and February 1.
Great things happening in travel. Are you ready to bring travel to your life?
Have a beautiful week.
Need to book a quick HOTEL? Use this link to book on your own and still get all those Virtuoso Amenities because of our partnership with Virtuoso.
Travel INSURANCE -Use the link to purchase a travel insurance policy with Travel Insured, my preferred travel insurance partner.
General Travel Tips and ideas | Check out the website section Travel Tidbits for more travel tools and information ->the page is getting a refresh so it's not as pretty as the other options.
If you aren't following @opalandfinch👇 here are the links 👇 and I always love it when you tag me on your trips with @opalandfinch or #opalandfinch
Yay! In 2025 I am not charging a booking fee when you know exactly where you'd like to book. Free is such a great price - and that free includes all my services.
For all custom trips, I am offering for a limited time 30% off my planning fee. I want you to be able to get on that trip you've been dreaming about. Purchase between now and February 1, 2025 and you'll get my fee at a discounted price for a future trip, and it'll be good for travel through June 2026, giving you time to make plans. This offer is good for current and future clients.
If you pre-pay in full by January 15, 2025, you'll receive a 30% discount,
If you pre-pay by February 1, 2025, you'll receive 20% off.
If you know you're going to be traveling in 2025, this discount is a great opportunity to save yourself some money and get a fully customized trip. For those of you who have been wanting to use a travel advisor, this is a way to see what all the fuss is about at a great value. I'd be pleased to work with you. Use these links to purchase - feel free to forward to friends or colleagues.
For more information about my fees, here's a link to my Welcome Guide.
Hotel of the Year: Bulgari Hotel Roma
A decadent oasis in Rome’s Campo Marzio district, the 110-room Bulgari property is all rich woods and cream-colored travertine and linens, with views overlooking the Mausoleum of Augustus. Find the glitzier side of the Italian fashion house on display in a 16,000-square-foot spa and pool, adorned with Bisazza mosaic tiles.
Best New Hotel: Raffles London at The OWO
Winston Churchill once addressed members of British intelligence from The Old War Office in London’s Whitehall neighborhood. Now the stately Edwardian landmark welcomes its dignitaries as a 120-room Raffles hotel – the brand’s first in the UK – designed by Thierry Despont, who reimagined the wood-paneled spies’ quarters alongside grand Piastraccia marble halls.
Best River Cruise Line: AmaWaterways
Continuing to innovate on the classic European river cruise, AmaWaterways pioneered ocean-style ship offerings (including a pickleball court) on the Danube aboard its 196-passenger AmaMagna. In 2025, the company will debut seven-night South American cruises – the first along Colombia’s Magdalena River – traveling between Cartagena and Barranquilla. The 60-passenger AmaMagdalena sets sail in January.
Best Ocean Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises
The 30-year-old cruise veteran’s new 728-passenger ship, Silver Ray, makes its Americas debut this winter. A 15-night sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Lima spans Christmas and New Year’s Day, visits six countries in the Caribbean and South America, and features an overnight in Cartagena. Every suite comes with butler service, and most have private verandas.
Best Airline: Singapore Airlines
With plenty of superlatives to its name – world’s longest flight, first to operate the world’s largest commercial aircraft – it’s no wonder Singapore swept Virtuoso advisors’ votes as the year’s standout air carrier. Worth the splurge!
2024 Best of the Best Virtuoso Awards
Best Expedition Cruise Line: Quark Expeditions
In 1991, Quark cofounders Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell shepherded travelers to the North Pole on what became the first tourist expedition through the Northeast Passage. More than 30 years later, the line has become one of the leading polar explorers. Aboard Ocean Explorer, travelers spot icebergs from the comfort of a cinematic two-story lounge and outdoor Jacuzzis.
2025 Virtuoso Benefits for booking through Opal and Finch
HOTEL & RESORT BENEFITS
From Argentina to Zambia, we have personal contacts at over 1,200 exceptional Virtuoso-preferred properties in over 100 countries. Through our exclusive Virtuoso arrangements, we’re able to offer our clients VIP treatment and compli- mentary extras.
· Preferred rates and availability · Room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability · Value-added amenities (minimum of $100 value) · Daily breakfast for two · Early check-in & late checkout, subject to availability · Complimentary WiFi
CRUISE BENEFITS
We partner with the world’s leading luxury cruise lines to custom-tailor your at-sea and port experiences. And, as our client, you’ll automatically be eligible for Virtuoso Voyages complimentary extras reserved exclusively for Virtuoso travelers.
Through Virtuoso, we partner with over 75 of the world’s top commercial and private air carriers, car rental programs, and travel insurance providers to secure negotiated fares products, and services.
Exclusive negotiated global air fares & upgrades (including Private Jet/Charter)
Hello. I’m Martha Day, owner and head travel designer at Opal&Finch, a travel company based in Dallas, TX, and (spoiler alert) I LOVE travel. I have the best job as I get to assist others with their travel.
My goal is simple: to provide travel planning, management, and concierge services to busy people so they can take memory-filled vacations even when schedules are packed and it seems impossible to get away. Whether you head to a far-flung exotic destination, choose to relax deck side on a ship, or need your feet in the sand kicking back by the sea, whatever you choose, my desire is for you return home rejuvenated with great stories that bring smiles.
If you’re looking to travel, I’d love to help bring your travel dreams to life.
*Proud to be a certified Virtuoso Voyages Host* (ask me what this means for you!)
Opal&Finch is an independent affiliate of Gifted Travel Network - a Virtuoso® Member Agency | Gifted Travel Network, Inc is registered with the following state licenses: California - Seller of Travel Registration No. 2113317-40, Washington - Seller of Travel Unified Business ID (UBI) # 603 308 394, Florida - Seller of Travel Registration No. ST39093.
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