Travel is an incredibly special experience. It’s made even more special when we get to share it with our loved ones. Family trips offer a chance to create memories that will last a lifetime!
Joan Ngugi and her daughter Cassia, are a mother-daughter duo from the USA, who were able to share the magic of travel together on their recent Europe Highlights trip with Expat Explore in April 2022. Cassia even celebrated her 9th birthday in Paris! After enjoying a fantastic time in Europe, Joan and Cassia shared more about their experience with us. Take a look at their best memories from their tour below!
Sharing the love of travel with your family
Following two years of travel restrictions, Joan was excited to press play on travel again. Towards the end of 2021, Joan was back on the road as soon as travel was open again! In April 2022, the avid traveller was able to bring her daughter Cassia along on the 10-day Europe Highlights tour.
“I was searching for an affordable multi-country tour which would plan everything and all I had to do was show up and enjoy the trip,” shares Joan. Her search brought her to Expat Explore and she booked her first tour with us. Over 10 days, Joan and Cassia took a round trip from Rome through Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Switzerland.
Highlights of the Europe trip
There were many memorable moments and highlights along the way for the mother-daughter duo.
Joan’s highlight of the trip was a “magical” night time gondola and water taxi trip through the canals in Venice. “I was in heaven!!! That moment is still fresh on my mind and I think of it if anything stresses me out, it became my Zen moment,” she adds.
For Cassia, the youngster’s favourite part of the tour was meeting all of the other travellers and staff on the tour bus. According to her mom, Cassia is an extrovert and she says she loved meeting them all and would like to take future trips with the same crew! Cassia’s favourite cities were Pisa and Paris – Cassia enjoyed the excitement of spending her 9th birthday in this beautiful city!
Group Travel: From strangers to family
Another highlight of the trip for both Joan and Cassia was the other travellers!
“I loved it as I got to know each and every person and we became a family,” says Joan, “The best thing about travelling with strangers is that you definitely have one thing in common already (travel) so you can communicate with ease.”
Even at the young age of 9, Joan says Cassia felt like a part of the group on this tour, “The other travellers were very friendly and caring towards my daughter and she can’t stop talking about them and wants to travel again – only with the same group haha!”
Joan adds that group travel also gives you the chance to learn from other people, including “their languages, culture and countries they have been to.” You also get lots of recommendations from fellow travellers!
Related: Get inspired for your own mother-daughter vacation with these trip ideas!
Choosing an organised group tour
When planning, booking and embarking on an Expat Explore trip with her young daughter, Joan enjoyed peace of mind. “I have done this before on my own and spent almost three times more money as I booked everything on my own. It was not relaxing and I had to spend a lot of time researching. Now, I’d rather go on an organised tour.” says Joan.
The feeling continued onto the tour itself, “Being with an experienced driver and guide who knew where we were and advised us on safety measures made me feel secure. The hotels booked were in safe areas too.”
The incredible impact of travel on all of us
Over the years of travelling to different destinations, Joan has learned that travel can have an incredible impact on you and the people around you! She explains, “It opens your eyes, minds and hearts. You get to see what exists beyond your border and you learn a lot about other cultures while taking in the beautiful world that we live in.”
Personally, Joan is passionate about travel thanks to it exposing her to wonderful, new things and the incredible feeling that comes along with that kind of adventure, “I love seeing other countries, exploring cultures, history and food and I just feel complete and rejuvenated every time I am travelling.”
What the future holds
More travel is definitely on the cards for Joan and Cassia! “My next destination would be South Africa. I have always wanted to go see Nelson Mandela’s home but I have had a hard time deciding on my own and now I would love to do it with Expat Explore,” she says. Would she do an organised tour again? “Most definitely,” says Joan, “This time I plan on bringing a group with me! This was one of my best vacations ever so thank you, Expat Explore.”
Related: Join the South Africa Escape tour to discover the best of this beautiful country.
Finally, this passionate traveller has some sage words of wisdom for anybody who has never travelled before: “You are missing out on what this beautiful planet has to offer. Try it at least once if you can. Travel is life!!”
Do you agree with Joan that travel is life? Then it’s time to make incredible memories of your own on one of Expat Explore’s convenient, fun and affordable group tours! Take a look at our upcoming departures here and don’t miss out on our Summer Sale specials!