Creating a Vacation

LAWD, it takes a lot. I’ve got a lot of ideas and a lot of time. I spend too much time on the computer exploring my ideas – Where to go?How to get there? What to do when we get there? How to get back all in one piece?

I got into this business so I could travel more affordable. I am not interested in throwing myself out to the world and end up with “Sam the Slasher” on one of my trips. I come up with a place to go and tell my friends and hopefully they tell their friends. So far, that has made the group travel intimate and manageable. I enjoy small groups 6 – 20 is great. My friends seems to enjoy it, too. Up to 35 is barely doable and getting hard to manage.

Generally, I make all the arrangements for getting there and back and hotel stays. Once we are there, people are on their own. I provide brochures of interesting things to do. I may make a recommendation of an of an excursion and we may end up all going to gether but, mostly “do you.” It’s hard to get 2 people to agree on something much less 6, 10 or 20 people. It takes the burden off of me  to make sure people have a good time. Most of my firends/clients are independant and know how to make their own “good time.” We get to share our experiences on the way back. It’s been fun.

At our last travel party , as a group we decided we wanted to go to New York City  $ days) and to Washington, DC (3 days) for the African American Museum in September, 2019. So, that’s what I am putting together.  I am a charter memeber of the Smithsonian African American Museum and had hoped that would help in getting tickets. PIPE DREAM! Their system is “jacked!” I feel caught between a rock and a hard spot. If I am to offer such a trip I cannot get us there in “hopes” we can get in. I am NOT willing to have my people stand in line at 5 am in the morning in “hopes” of getting in. The museum offers tickets in advance but not far enough in advance. I like to plan 1 year to 18 months out. They offer some sort of raffle system now for tickets in March. So, 4 – 5 months out. That sucks. I must  have transportation and hotels reserved before that. I’m sweatin.’

In the meantime, the time I have selected to be in New York is Fashion Week – second week of September. The weather is still nice. I think that would/could be a great and exciting time for my firends to experience NYC. LOTS of excitment. Runways everywhere, I am told – even in central park for free. That would be totally AWESOME! AND, the hotel prices are up by $50 – $100+ more a night. mmmmmmmmmmmm What to do? A different week could happen. I like excitement, tho. I don’t have to be in NYC for 4 days. We could make it 3 and stay in DC 4 days. BUT, the day we arrive , which wont be until late afternoon or early evening, is counted as one of our days -SUCKY! Too much to see and do in a short time. I have to get as many tickets as possible for the Steven Colbert Show, The Daily Show with Trevor Noak, The Wendy Williams Show, The Apollo Theater, The African Burial Grounds tours, The Harlem Nights Tour, WHEW……, Hop-on/Hop-off bus,and whatever else. For people who have never been there, they want to do the normal tourist stuff – Statue of Liberty Tour, Twin Towers bomb site, Times Square, Central Park, etc. As I have said, I don’t make what we do a group event BUT, I would like to provide as much as I can to make it easier for my friends/clients.

The STUGGLE  is REAL. I’ve got work to do. Wish me well.

MarshaAgogo – Gone!