Waking up to fresh juice delivered to your room. Savouring the flavours of a different world. Doing nothing at all or squeezing in different activities every waking hour. Family vacations offer an escape from the chores, weather, and everyday routine and it’s something we love to do together.
Many people view their vacation starting once they reach their destination but I love to think of the journey as part of the escape. Following a few simple tips can cut down on travel stress but remember comfort is key to slipping into vacation mode.
I like to dress with our destination in mind and if we’re on a plane that probably means we’re heading somewhere warmer like Hawaii or the California coast. Don’t be surprised to see me in something tropical, perhaps a patterned shirt with linen pants that can be rolled shorter when we hit warmer weather. A nice pair of TOMS classic slip-ons are perfect to slide out of my bag when the plane lands. Dressing the part from the start will have me dreaming of sunshine and tropical drinks.
For a personal pick-me-up I like to slip the travel size approved Kaia Natural Juicy Bamboo bamboo clothes and Saje Natural Wellness Arrive Revived Jet Lag & Travel Mist in my carry-on bag. A simple application helps to keep me calm, relaxed and ready for our family escape.
American Express Canada’s partnership with the GTAA means waiting for our plane to depart from the Toronto Pearson International Airport is even easier. My family’s favourite Cloud 10 perk has always been the free WIFI throughout the airport. With the evolution of this service to include free entertainment downloads, our pre-flight time just got even better. While my oldest is posting her pre-vacation photos to instagram and my other two kids are distracted with iPad games, I can grab a free digital book from Harper Collins on my Samsung tablet. I think this trip calls for a little espionage with Joakim Zander’s The Swimmer.
Enjoying a little vacation reading while waiting for the plane to board or when we’re in air is a perfect way to transition into a mellow mood. It’s even nicer when the book download is free! This isn’t just a privilege to me as an American Express Gold Cardmember but it’s a free service available to all travellers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport thanks to American Express Canada.
So what will be your form of escape on your next trip? Is it 2014 Giller Prize finalist The Betrayers, perhaps an escape into a submissive matrimonial relationship of I Take You, or maybe a collection of short tales in Daydreams of Angels? If music is more your thing choose a song from a collection of Sony Music artists like Bruno Mars to One Direction.
Of course the family is eager to get to the final destination right away but Cloud 10 perks and privileges are just one way you can start your vacation right from the departure lounge. And we all know a relaxed mom means a better journey for the whole family.
This post is sponsored by American Express Canada but all opinions expressed are my own.