Happy Thursday!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, if you are in the US, and everyone is having a good December so far!

As always, I'm glad the Black Friday emails have slowed down and the crazy shopping days are over. I do all my shopping online to avoid the crowds, and my Christmas shopping has been done for over a week now!

I'm excited to be able to take this month to enjoy time with friends and family instead of trying to shop and think of last-minute gift ideas.

I also spent my few days off for the holiday planning and booking a ton of my travel for the first half of 2025. It's crazy that these trips are coming up fast, but I'm excited, as it will be six months between my last international trip and the next time I leave the country in February (assuming I don't plan anything last minute in January... which is very possible!)

I'll share more about my 2025 travels next month, but I'm VERY excited about the destinations I have planned, a few of which are places I didn't picture myself ever going.

Do you have anything planned for 2025 yet? Let me know! Or, if you need some ideas, I'm always here to help :)

Be sure to check out the giveaways below. There are a LOT this week, including 12 days of giveaways from Holland America, with the grand prize being a 4-month cruise for two!

As always, reply to this email if you want to chat or want some travel ideas!

Have a great weekend :)

Sarah

Some links in this email are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you click the link or make a purchase through the link. This is at no extra cost to you.

Travel Giveaways

US, Canada, UK, Australia: Holland America’s HALiday Giveaway starts TODAY. They are giving away 150+ prizes, and you need to enter every day to win. The grand prize is a 4-month cruise for 2 in 2025 or 2026. Make sure to visit the Holland America website every day between now and December 17, 2024, for your chance to win!

​Upgraded Points is giving away a trip to Universal Orlando Resort, including flights, three nights at a hotel, and more. Enter to win by today, December 5, 2024

​Gear Patrol is giving away a trip for two to Puerto Rico, including a cocktail class and restaurant gift cards for a full culinary experience. Enter to win by December 6, 2024

Ireland: The Irish Times is giving away a trip to London that is perfect for foodies. Enter to win by December 8, 2024.

​Lumi Experiences is giving away a trip for two to ski in France, worth over $10,000. Enter to win by December 11, 2024.

​Visit Aberdeen is giving away a Cabin Vacation bundle to this South Dakota destination. Enter to win by December 15, 2024

​HAWAIʻI Magazine is giving away round trip flights to Hawaii on Alaska Airlines to one person who votes in HAWAIʻI Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Cast your votes and enter to win by December 15, 2024

​MyRadar is giving away the Ultimate Storm Chasing Adventure, including airfare, hotel, and three days of Storm Capsing with a professional. Enter to win by December 15, 2024

​Verizon is giving away a trip for two to Super Bowl LIX, which includes flights, accommodations, game tickets, and more. Enter to win by December 15, 2024

​The backlabel is giving away a trip to Brooklyn, including a three-night stay at the Hoxton Williamsburg, $500 for travel, and more. Enter to win by December 15, 2024.

UK: The Manchester Evening News is giving away the ultimate all-inclusive family holiday worth £2,000. Enter to win by December 16, 2024.

​AARP is paying off someone’s rent or mortgage for a year. Enter to win by December 18, 2024.

​The backlabel is giving away a trip to Charleston, including a three-night stay at the Dewberry Charleston, $500 for travel, and more. Enter to win by December 18, 2024.

Black Friday Sales

A few companies still have Black Friday sales going, including EF Ultimate Break, EF Go Ahead Tours, and Daily Drop Pro.

Travel News

I’ve been sending lots of lists of the best places to travel in 2025 - what about where not to go? Fodor’s released their list of places to reconsider visiting next year due to over-tourism.

Anchorage, Alaska, was just named the most “peaceful vacation destination” in the United States. Read more from Travel + Leisure.

Check out seven tips from National Geographic to make travel less stressful.

Travel Insurance

One of the things I get asked about the most is travel insurance. Should you get it, and if so, which one?

YES, you should have travel insurance, as you never know when things may go wrong. SafetyWing is my go-to for travel insurance because it covers so much, is easy to purchase for days or months, and is affordable.

Many credit cards also include travel insurance. Personally, I get SafetyWing on top of my credit card insurance.

Learn more about SafetyWing and the benefits of using them in my blog post about travel insurance.