HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE CONTENTS 3
Traveling Happy
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The Road to Happiness...The Facts
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Monograms & Happy
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Happy Places
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A “Friend” In Your Destination = Happy!
13 Happy Travel Tips
15 What a Wonderful World. Happy Traditions
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE TRAVELING HAPPY Does travel make you happier? The answer … it depends. Happiness and travel sometimes don’t go hand-in-hand. In theory, vacations should equal happiness. Shouldn’t they? After all, taking time off work and time away allows us the opportunity to share experiences and memories with our families and friends. It gives us the chance to look at the world differently ... To introduce us to new scenery, different places, people and customs. When we travel the world, we often open our minds and hearts to the possibilities presented to us. A very happy idea … in theory. But theory doesn’t always translate into reality. In fact, research tells us that people are not happier after an ordinary vacation. In part, thanks to the stress involved in trip planning and hassles that occur on the vacation itself, when you’re on your own. After all, on vacation we’re often catapulted into the unknown, away from the comforts of home. We might feel unsafe. We can get frustrated with the inefficiencies of transportation. Getting lost seems inevitable and wasteful. And language barriers can feel insurmountable. All of this (stress) gets in the way of our finding happiness on vacation.
Traveling the world can be an amazing – and even better – a happy experience! It should be. You just have to know how to do it! That’s why we introduced travelers to Monograms – a stress-free way to travel the world. Monograms is dedicated to making travel simple (and simply happier) for you. How? • We choose great hotels for you in the heart of each destination. (No bad hotel stress!)
“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day, you will look back and realize they were the big things.” —Kurt Vonnegut
Our goal is to make every Monograms trip around the world a happy vacation. It’s a lofty ideal but an important objective because vacations – and traveling the world – should be enjoyable. Period.
• We arrange transportation from the airport to your hotel and between cities. (No logistical hassles!)
We have put together this handy guide to help ensure that you travel happy. And we hope you find that traveling happy with us, via Monograms, is your most direct route to happy travel!
• We include a half-day of sightseeing in each city to assist with orientation. (No sightseeing remorse – “I missed what?!”)
Enjoy!
• We help you get to the front-of-the-lines with VIP access into the must-see sites and landmarks (so you have more time venturing out and enjoying each destination). And, we introduce you to an on-site Local Host® who can arrange outings for you. (Enjoy every moment!)
Scott Nisbet CEO, Monograms
But it doesn’t have to be so hard. It can be fun. Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
returned to work with less energy after taking a stressful trip
The BEST trip
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
more meaning, 94% found and happiness, when traveling far from home.
WHERE EV E
78%
of people met with a local guide or knew a knowledgeable friend.
Come on. Get happy! Top 3 barriers for traveling happy.
93%
71%
NO
OH DA RL I
Oh Happy Day! The post-vacation glow.
of people ventured outside the U.S.
KNOW ODY SY B RY
AME. RN OU
85%
of people planned the trip more than 1 month in advance.
E STAYCAT IO OR M
! NS
90%
’S BE AD LET , VE NG
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Bad Trip. Bad Attitude.
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EITY? N TAN OP N O
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What makes a happy vacation?
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THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS...THE FACTS
experienced more energy at work when returning home from a happy vacation.
28%
Time Management
25%
Unfamiliar Destination
21%
Transportation
The Happy Catalyst?: A travel agent. The WORST trip
58% of people didn’t use a travel agent.
96% found their travel agent to be good and helpful.
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
MONOGRAMS & HAPPY There are good ways and not-so-good ways to see and experience the world. At Monograms, we’re focused on the “good ways.”
“Happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.” —Leonardo da Vinci Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE MONOGRAMS & HAPPY Here are examples of “Monograms Moments” that could make all the difference on your next vacation:
• In London, when others are stuck tapping their feet and waiting for a ride, we are offering you – our traveler – a half-day sightseeing, including Big Ben and the London Eye. • You are chatting about your interests with your Englishspeaking Local Host® in Lima (so she or he can help you make the most of your journey); meanwhile others are searching for help from strangers and dealing with language barriers. • When others are in Paris staring at train schedules, you are shopping, knowing that Monograms has already arranged your Eurostar transportation to your next stop tomorrow. • In South Africa, you’re enjoying a cable car ride up Table Mountain; meanwhile, others are figuring out how to get to their hotel.
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
• When others are stuck on a second cab in Rome trying to get to the Colosseum, you are on your second latte (you’ve already seen the ruins). • When others are staring at maps trying to determine the distance and travel time between Tokyo and Kyoto, you’re sitting back and relaxing on a bullet train (after receiving a personal escort to the train station from your Local Host). • While others are staring at their watches (in Geneva, the City of Watches) hailing a taxi, you’re traveling across the SwissFrench border to Chamonix, with a personal guide, excited to see Mont Blanc.
As you can see, Monograms takes care of the hassles when you travel so all you have to do is enjoy … the culture, the people, the place. Because vacations themselves don’t make you happy. How you vacation does.
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE HAPPY PLACES Find your Happy Place! Below is a list of countries that most people (and studies) agree are “happy!” Happiest Countries:
IRELAND CANADA UNITED STATES
UNITED KINGDOM
“I have decided to be happy because it's good for my health.” —Voltaire
SWITZERLAND
AUSTRIA GERMANY FRANCE
NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIA
*Lists borrowed, in part, from Forbes’ “World’s Happiest (and Saddest) Countries” and Fast Company’s “10 Happiest Cities in the World”
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE HAPPIEST CITIES
Geneva, Switzerland
Barcelona, Spain
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sydney, Australia
San Francisco, USA
Paris, France
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Madrid, Spain
Rome, Italy
Buenos Aires, Argentina Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
Geneva & Lucerne with Mont Blanc 6 days • from $1,890
Barcelona & Madrid 7 days • from $1,722
Amsterdam, Paris & London 10 days • from $2,465
Paris & Nice 7 days • from $2,040
A Week in London & Paris 7 days • from $1,381
Rome & Sorrento 7 days • from $1,446
Rome, Florence & Venice 10 days • from $2,104
Brazil Highlights 6 days • from $1,429
South American Selection 9 days • from $2,019
Australian Escape 10 days • from $1,999
Red Woods, Wine Country & Yosemite 10 days • from $859
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE (AND PERHAPS HAPPIEST) MONOGRAMS VACATIONS
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE A “FRIEND” IN YOUR DESTINATION = HAPPY! When you’re exploring a city or country for the first time, nothing beats knowing someone local (that you trust) to suggest must-see sites, offer insider tips and suggestions or help with language barriers. But how many of us have a family member in South Africa or a friend in Peru, not to mention the dozens of other destinations on our “bucket lists?” Enter Monograms. You don’t need to know someone in the countless international destinations you want to visit when you travel with Monograms. Instead, we offer you a personal, on-site Local Host® in each city and destination we visit in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific. When you arrive at your Monograms hotel (the place we’ve picked out for you in the heart of your destination), your Host will be waiting for you. She will offer you a letter, welcoming you to your destination as well as your daily itinerary and schedule, accompanied by her lobby hours. She will also provide you a city map, details about any excursions you’ve already booked through Monograms, restaurant suggestions and “Local Host Picks” – places she suggests. The packet of information your Local Host provides you will also include helpful hints and transfer information.
“No road is long with good company.” —Proverb
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
Your Local Host® can address any/all questions you might have. Some examples:
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND? CAN YOU HELP ME?
WHAT LOCAL CUISINE SHOULD I TRY?
WHAT ARE THE TIPPING CUSTOMS HERE?
WHERE DO I EXCHANGE MONEY?
In short, our (your) Host is there to help you remove all the stress and worry that can come with travel, replacing it with peace of mind (and even better, the chance to enjoy every moment of your vacation). Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
HOW SAFE IS IT IN A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD?
IS IT SAFE TO DRINK THE TAP WATER?
WHAT DID HE SAY?
She (or he) is your local connection to your destination, its culture and people. Your “friend” on vacation – someone to give you a hand while ensuring you make the most of your time away and time with loved ones. 12
HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
HAPPY TRAVEL TIPS Even with help from a Local Host®, it’s no secret that you can’t control every travel situation that may come your way on your next trip. But, you can take charge of your mood and ensure you encounter “happy moments” on vacation.
“Some pursue happiness, others create it.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
Here are some tips to help happy moments find their way into your everyday. Extend happiness. Consider taking two, one-week vacations throughout the year vs. one, two-week vacation. You’ll have more to look forward to and the opportunity to savor more memories. Music, music and more music. Before you go, create/ download a relaxing and uplifting playlist. Bring headphones and listen to your music as often as you want and/or need to. Give thanks – literally. Consider packing “thank you” cards and a pen. Then write and deliver impromptu “thank you” notes to brighten both your day and the day of those around you. Nothing says happy like gratitude. Stroll. Bring a pair of comfortable shoes and walk. Now, stroll around your destination. When you slow down your travel, the rewards are greater! You’ll encounter more of the local flavor of each neighborhood than you can by car, bus or subway. Eat, drink and be merry. A simple phrase with a long history … for good reason. If you stay well hydrated and well fed (easily done with help from trail mix, nuts and a great breakfast each morning), your energy level will stay higher. And having energy is an important ingredient in creating a happy vacation.
Sleep well. Consider packing lavender (or a lavender spray) for a good night’s sleep. Rest is key to every great vacation. It’s all about “yes!” Say, “yes” as often as you can. When you open yourself up to more, you will experience more. Plus, “yes” is a very positive and happy word. Look around and up! As you’re walking around a new city, be sure to look up … at the sky and the buildings. Some of the most beautiful, ornate architecture can be found closer to the clouds. End the trip well. If you build-in relaxation at the end of your trip, chances are greater that you won’t feel the need for another “vacation” when this one ends. One of the goals of a vacation is to relax and recharge your batteries so you’re more productive at home (and at work) when you return. Share. When you get home, share your travel memories with others (this is called “savoring” happiness). And consider giving the gift of travel to someone else!
Give yourself a dash of discomfort. Unfamiliar surroundings can be uncomfortable but that discomfort will lead to stronger memories. Some of the happiest moments in travel can be those you never saw coming. Fretting doesn’t work so take obstacles in stride. Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! HAPPY TRADITIONS It may not be possible for you to travel the world now, but that doesn't mean you can't adopt some of the world's happy customs. Here are some fun traditions from around the planet that, if embraced by you, might build more happy moments every day.
The Netherlands: Take the Party Out. In the Netherlands, when friends get together, they meet in a town square or neighborhood restaurant vs. gathering at someone’s home. This happy habit not only lets a typical host or hostess off-the-hook, it opens a group of friends up to more possibilities like meeting others or enjoying new foods or drinks. This idea also allows us more connection with our community – another opportunity to increase our happiness.
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” —Charlie Chaplin
England: Gurn to Your Heart’s Content.
South Pacific: Initiate Inati.
A “gurn” is a distorted facial expression and an English rural tradition that has been celebrated since 1267 (as is evidenced by the World Gurning Championship in Egremont, England). And while we’re not suggesting we create our own Gurning Championship, it might be fun to practice “gurning” with friends and family members on occasion. Laughing, after all, is good for us.
In the South Pacific’s Tokelau, the people embrace inati, a system of sharing resources between families according to need. Can you imagine if we all embraced the idea of inati in our lives? Sharing our resources (time, money, food, shelter) with others? There’s no question that giving and happiness go hand-in-hand.
Italy: Give a Squillo.
Spain: Enjoy a Siesta.
An Italian squillo is when you give a friend a call but hang up before they answer. In America, we might consider this to be an annoying prank, but in Italy, a squillo is much more thoughtful. It’s meant to show a friend you’re thinking of him or her. While we may not choose to ring a friend just to hang up, the sentiment of letting someone know you’re thinking of them is lovely. Send a text or email, a tweet or Facebook message with one simple thought: “Thinking of you today.”
The Spanish avoid the after-lunch work slump with a siesta (a nap between 2 PM and 5 PM). And while it’s not likely American bosses are going to adopt the idea of allowing employees to take a siesta, the principle can be adopted, in part, by enjoying a walk after lunch outside, taking a few minutes to listen to music or reading a book. We can and should re-charge our batteries mid-day.
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
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HAPPY TRAVEL GUIDE
Life is a beautiful ride.
Monograms • Happy Travel Guide
Enjoy the world with Monograms. Contact your preferred travel agent, visit Monograms.com for more information or call us at 866.744.6141.
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