If you're flying during spring break this year, you may want to build in a little extra time at the airport. Some airports across the U.S. have recently reported security lines approaching three hours during peak periods, especially during the heaviest spring break travel days. When millions of travelers move through airports within a short window, even small slowdowns can create major backups at TSA checkpoints. The good news is that this usually happens during specific peak times, not all day. Early morning departure waves and mid-day weekend travel tend to be the busiest. Experienced travelers typically handle this in a few simple ways: • Arrive earlier than usual during peak travel weeks • Avoid the first departure wave of the day if possible • Use TSA PreCheck if you travel regularly • Keep carry-on bags simple so security moves faster Airport security delays are frustrating, but they’re also fairly predictable during big travel surges like spring break or the holidays. A little extra buffer time usually prevents the worst stress. Travel always has a few moving parts, and this is one of those moments where planning ahead makes the whole experience smoother. Quick question for everyone here: What’s the longest TSA line you’ve ever experienced? And did you find any tricks that made airport security easier?

An hour or two from Cape town is Betty’s Bay. Betty’s Bay is one of those rare coastal pockets where land, sea, and story all meet in a kind of effortless harmony. Stony Point, with its African Penguins and the constant movement of cormorants, gulls, and other seabirds, is the obvious headline—but the coastline itself is just as compelling. Kelp beds sway in the surge, waves fold over the rocky shelves, and the fynbos leans into the wind as if it has always known how to survive here. Just up the road, the Harold Porter Botanical Garden opens into a different world entirely—cool forested paths, sunbirds flickering through the proteas, paradise flycatchers looping their long tails through the shadows, and the waterfall tucked into the kloof like a quiet reward for those who wander far enough. In summer, the Disa orchids add their own burst of colour, a reminder that this landscape is layered with seasonal surprises. The Strandloper history is written into the coastline too, in the middens and the sense of long human presence woven through the dunes and stone. And if you follow the curve of the coast to the Kleinmond river mouth, there’s always the chance of spotting Pied and Giant Kingfishers working the shallows—another small gift for those who take the time to look. Tourists often rush through, ticking off penguins and viewpoints, but Betty’s Bay rewards patience. Fiona and I always visit for the birdlife and the photographic possibilities, and every time we leave convinced that three full days is the bare minimum to let the place reveal itself—tide by tide, trail by trail, bird by bird. More about our recent trip to South Africa in The Wildlife Lens

If travel has been sitting in the background of your mind —not urgent, just unresolved — this session is for you. On March 25 at 7 PM Central, I’m hosting a focused reset inside the hub. Travel Reset: 2026–2027 Not a presentation. Not a pitch. Not a commitment. Just a clear look at: • What 2026–2027 realistically looks like • Which trips are actually forming • What doesn’t need your attention • How to think about timing without pressure If you’re already inside Travelers, you’re automatically included. Come if clarity would make things easier.

Travel has this magical way of shaking the dust off your brain. One minute you’re staring at your own navel, the next you’re wide‑eyed, curious, and remembering there’s a whole world out there that doesn’t revolve around your to‑do list. When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with Reader’s Digest—mainly the humour pages. I clipped the best bits and glued them into a scrapbook like some people collect stamps. Eventually my business Filofax became the grown‑up version: part diary, part comedy notebook, part “what on earth just happened on that fam trip” log. One day, a few colleagues got hold of it. They decided my observations were far too funny to stay hidden in the leather binder. Their laughter ended up nudging me into a sales manager role… which then opened the door to becoming the UK director for a major travel consortium. All from a Filofax full of travel‑fuelled nonsense. Proof that in this industry, curiosity—and a good sense of humour—can take you a very long way.

I’ve spoken with more travel professionals across more situations than most people ever will. Conferences, trade shows, webinars, airport lounges, casual conversations—every corner of the industry. And there’s a pattern I can’t ignore anymore: Most of them are boring. Even the energetic, outgoing ones somehow manage to make me drift off. The reason is straight forward: They all sound like a sales brochure. Not a memorable one either—more like the generic kind you find in a hotel lobby rack, full of interchangeable phrases that could describe any destination, any company, any person. A Bit of My Background Before anyone thinks this is just cynicism, here’s the context. I spent about ten years as the director of a highly successful travel company in London. My work focused heavily on Spain, Turkey, and Southern Africa—three regions I know deeply, not just as products but as lived experiences. I’ve seen how powerful authentic storytelling can be, and I’ve also seen how quickly canned marketing language kills genuine interest. Why So Many Professionals Sound the Same The U.S. travel industry leans hard into polished, “professional” language. The problem is that this language has been recycled so many times it’s lost all meaning. Words like exclusive, unforgettable, tailored, and bucket‑list get tossed around until they become white noise. Strip away the branding, and most pitches are indistinguishable. The Fix: Find Your Own Voice Finding your voice isn’t about volume or enthusiasm. It’s about being unmistakably yourself. It’s the difference between: “We create customized, immersive travel experiences across the globe…” and "The first time I watched the sun rise over the Drakensberg, I understood why people fall in love with Southern Africa. That’s the kind of moment I help people find.” One is marketing. The other is human. How to Break Out of Brochure‑Speak - Tell the truth, not the tagline. What do you genuinely love about the places you send people? - Use real language. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend at a backyard barbecue, don’t say it to a client. - Share moments, not features. People remember stories, not bullet points. - Let your quirks show. Your voice is the only thing your competitors can’t copy. - Aim for connection, not perfection. Travel is emotional. Your communication should be too.