• “Be the change you wish to see in this world”- Mahatma Gandhi Beyond travel and raising inclusive young global citizens... I invested over two decades of my life working for Fortune 500 companies. These experiences shaped who I am today and who I aspire to be tomorrow. I wanted to share some very exciting news! I was invited to speak on a panel related to inclusion of refugees + immigrants and discuss Travel Plus Them at the Global Inclusion Online Forum. The forum includes various workshops, panels, and an expo (virtual booths) as well.  I can’t believe I am on the list of presenters along with many amazing global leaders in the space of diversity and inclusivity!!   Thanks in advance for your support! Check out Global Inclusion Forum for a list of events, workshops, and presenters.
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    “Be the change you wish to see in this world”- Mahatma Gandhi Beyond travel and raising inclusive young global citizens... I invested over two decades of my life working for Fortune 500 companies. These experiences shaped who I am today and who I aspire to be tomorrow. I wanted to share some very exciting news! I was invited to speak on a panel related to inclusion of refugees + immigrants and discuss Travel Plus Them at the Global Inclusion Online Forum. The forum includes various workshops, panels, and an expo (virtual booths) as well.  I can’t believe I am on the list of presenters along with many amazing global leaders in the space of diversity and inclusivity!!   Thanks in advance for your support! Check out Global Inclusion Forum for a list of events, workshops, and presenters.
  • Give your children one of the greatest gifts of life- a global education. Are you someone who wants your child to experience other cultures? Be curious? Become more open-minded? Spark their desire to become a global citizen? There has never been a more important time to teach our children about the world, so come travel the world with us. Introducing Travel Plus Them’s new worldschooling virtual educational program “Around the World in 60 Minutes.” My daughter Shyla takes you and your children on a virtual journey across the globe, exploring all seven continents and over 20 countries. Your children will learn... - Why it is important to learn about world - What is a continent versus a country Then across all seven continents by each country: - How to say hello in the country’s national language - Colors of the flags - National animals - Famous foods and festivals - What the country is famous for - And much more! This program created by Shyla for your children includes: - 60 Minutes of Virtual Learning- Engaging, hands-on early childhood lessons about the world, its culture, and people - 1 Learning Guide- A workbook with questions, coloring, and a word search -1 Craft Project- A fun “make your own” world passport book Please visit www.travelplusthem.com to learn more (link in bio). “A sprinkle of knowledge opens up a world of curiosity.”
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    Give your children one of the greatest gifts of life- a global education. Are you someone who wants your child to experience other cultures? Be curious? Become more open-minded? Spark their desire to become a global citizen? There has never been a more important time to teach our children about the world, so come travel the world with us. Introducing Travel Plus Them’s new worldschooling virtual educational program “Around the World in 60 Minutes.” My daughter Shyla takes you and your children on a virtual journey across the globe, exploring all seven continents and over 20 countries. Your children will learn... - Why it is important to learn about world - What is a continent versus a country Then across all seven continents by each country: - How to say hello in the country’s national language - Colors of the flags - National animals - Famous foods and festivals - What the country is famous for - And much more! This program created by Shyla for your children includes: - 60 Minutes of Virtual Learning- Engaging, hands-on early childhood lessons about the world, its culture, and people - 1 Learning Guide- A workbook with questions, coloring, and a word search -1 Craft Project- A fun “make your own” world passport book Please visit www.travelplusthem.com to learn more (link in bio). “A sprinkle of knowledge opens up a world of curiosity.”
  • Eid Mubarak to all Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. May all humans share, give, and bring peace to this world. I am sharing this picture of us in Egypt last month when we visited a mosque and synagogue on the same day and felt connected to both holy places.  As a Hindu, I find peace in all God's homes because I choose to embrace the diversity of our world. I will continue to expose my children to all that the world has to offer and share all of that with you. Thus, I am going to make a statement which I wholeheartedly hope that everyone agrees.... taking the lives of innocent people is not the answer to world peace.   - I am not some political expert nor do I want to be.  But as a human who has friends that are Jewish and Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian... We all have to find a way to raise our children to appreciate and embrace each other's differences for world peace.   - NO ONE should celebrate death of people and the destruction of others' places of worship.  - No matter what your faith, being complicit is not the answer to fostering inclusivity.    While we cannot solve the political problems in other countries, we can learn from history and can control our actions.  We must be the change we wish to see in the world.- Mahatma Gandhi.  How can we do that for our children? - People around the world and even in our neighborhoods are different from us. DISCUSS that with your children and how these unique characteristics are what make us beautiful! - When you meet someone who looks different from you, has a different name from you, celebrate different holidays from what you know- ENCOURAGE your children to SHARE, ASK + LEARN. The curiosity of a child is a beautiful thing! Just like a child would ask What superheros do you like?  What is your favorite princess?-- In the same way, your children can ask You don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah? I want to hear about a holiday that you celebrate.  Can you help me pronounce your name properly?  What does your name mean? Do you want to join me in raising inclusive global citizens?
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    Eid Mubarak to all Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. May all humans share, give, and bring peace to this world. I am sharing this picture of us in Egypt last month when we visited a mosque and synagogue on the same day and felt connected to both holy places.  As a Hindu, I find peace in all God's homes because I choose to embrace the diversity of our world. I will continue to expose my children to all that the world has to offer and share all of that with you. Thus, I am going to make a statement which I wholeheartedly hope that everyone agrees.... taking the lives of innocent people is not the answer to world peace.   - I am not some political expert nor do I want to be.  But as a human who has friends that are Jewish and Muslim, Israeli and Palestinian... We all have to find a way to raise our children to appreciate and embrace each other's differences for world peace.   - NO ONE should celebrate death of people and the destruction of others' places of worship.  - No matter what your faith, being complicit is not the answer to fostering inclusivity.    While we cannot solve the political problems in other countries, we can learn from history and can control our actions.  We must "be the change we wish to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi.  How can we do that for our children? - People around the world and even in our neighborhoods are different from us. DISCUSS that with your children and how these unique characteristics are what make us beautiful! - When you meet someone who looks different from you, has a different name from you, celebrate different holidays from what you know- ENCOURAGE your children to SHARE, ASK + LEARN. The curiosity of a child is a beautiful thing! Just like a child would ask "What superheros do you like?  What is your favorite princess?"-- In the same way, your children can ask "You don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah? I want to hear about a holiday that you celebrate."  "Can you help me pronounce your name properly?  What does your name mean?" Do you want to join me in raising inclusive global citizens?
  • Happy Mothers Day to all the moms and mom figures! All of you are celebrated and appreciated today and everyday. Personally- I don’t make a big deal about Mother’s Day. And guess who I became like.... my mom!!! Amongst the infinite things my Amma taught me- she always told me how to respect, love, and appreciate everyday and any day of the year. I speak to my mom multiple times in a day... even the days I am annoyed with her! Lol! I was blessed to spend some of my adult years living with my parents, commuting to work in NYC with them, and get picked up from drunken happy hour by them! Lol! After all, a mother’s body is the first home for a child. A mother is a mother for more days than those that exist in a calendar year. She is a mother for this lifetime and beyond- her soul will still hold on to the love of her children. As all the moms and mom figures experience extra love and appreciation today- just know your love and dedication are gifts to all those who know you every second of your life! After you wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.... please show appreciation to your mothers everyday. In this life, every day counts! Other another note- my husband has it easy, right? He never has buy me anything special!!! Why? Because I have the greatest gift and that is the amazing life I am blessed to live with my family everyday!
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    Happy Mothers Day to all the moms and mom figures! All of you are celebrated and appreciated today and everyday. Personally- I don’t make a big deal about Mother’s Day. And guess who I became like.... my mom!!! Amongst the infinite things my Amma taught me- she always told me how to respect, love, and appreciate everyday and any day of the year. I speak to my mom multiple times in a day... even the days I am annoyed with her! Lol! I was blessed to spend some of my adult years living with my parents, commuting to work in NYC with them, and get picked up from drunken happy hour by them! Lol! After all, a mother’s body is the first home for a child. A mother is a mother for more days than those that exist in a calendar year. She is a mother for this lifetime and beyond- her soul will still hold on to the love of her children. As all the moms and mom figures experience extra love and appreciation today- just know your love and dedication are gifts to all those who know you every second of your life! After you wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.... please show appreciation to your mothers everyday. In this life, every day counts! Other another note- my husband has it easy, right? He never has buy me anything special!!! Why? Because I have the greatest gift and that is the amazing life I am blessed to live with my family everyday!
  • People have asked me regarding 2021 summer trips: Is airfare going to be affordable or expensive? This is a multifaceted question dependent on: - where you live + - where you want to go - Timing (things are changing daily) + if that destination is tourist heavy during the summer months There have been some cheap fares to certain destinations if the airline has a hub in your local airport. For example: - If you live in Miami (American Airlines hub)- they offer a significant amount of flights to Central/South America and the Caribbean. - But if I wanted to go to Greece- the better options are nonstop from JFK or ATL on Delta- more flights and cheaper versus American Airlines with a layover in London. However, if you are considering Europe, South America, Asia, or Africa- airlines have either canceled their routes and/or frequency of flights. Hence the theory of supply and demand kicks in. The airfare may not be that cheap based on the demand. For example: - Miami to Cairo- we only had one logical choice of air travel - Turkish Airlines. Overall- flight frequency was limited and it was more expensive than normal with a high “fuel surcharge”. Crazy! - Why very limited choices? Emirates temporarily paused their flights to Fort Lauderdale. Qatar Airways frequency of daily flights has significantly minimized. Note- American Airlines (code share British Airways) was not going to Egypt. Other airlines like Lufthansa were triple the price and amount of flying time with multiple layovers across various cities in the US and around Europe. Some tips to find affordable air travel. Sign up and/or download the app for the following: - @kayak - they will send you alerts on flights and recommended flexible date options at better rates. - @skyscanner - they give you the option to shop for the cheapest place to fly to in the world from your home airport. This is great if have not selected a destination yet. - @thepointsguy newsletters - they frequently share flight and points deals. - Contact a fellow traveler @rohithamruthur who finds great options and helps people maximize travel and credit card points for AWESOME deals!! Stay tuned!
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    People have asked me regarding 2021 summer trips: Is airfare going to be affordable or expensive? This is a multifaceted question dependent on: - where you live + - where you want to go - Timing (things are changing daily) + if that destination is tourist heavy during the summer months There have been some cheap fares to certain destinations if the airline has a hub in your local airport. For example: - If you live in Miami (American Airlines hub)- they offer a significant amount of flights to Central/South America and the Caribbean. - But if I wanted to go to Greece- the better options are nonstop from JFK or ATL on Delta- more flights and cheaper versus American Airlines with a layover in London. However, if you are considering Europe, South America, Asia, or Africa- airlines have either canceled their routes and/or frequency of flights. Hence the theory of supply and demand kicks in. The airfare may not be that cheap based on the demand. For example: - Miami to Cairo- we only had one logical choice of air travel - Turkish Airlines. Overall- flight frequency was limited and it was more expensive than normal with a high “fuel surcharge”. Crazy! - Why very limited choices? Emirates temporarily paused their flights to Fort Lauderdale. Qatar Airways frequency of daily flights has significantly minimized. Note- American Airlines (code share British Airways) was not going to Egypt. Other airlines like Lufthansa were triple the price and amount of flying time with multiple layovers across various cities in the US and around Europe. Some tips to find affordable air travel. Sign up and/or download the app for the following: - @kayak - they will send you alerts on flights and recommended flexible date options at better rates. - @skyscanner - they give you the option to shop for the cheapest place to fly to in the world from your home airport. This is great if have not selected a destination yet. - @thepointsguy newsletters - they frequently share flight and points deals. - Contact a fellow traveler @rohithamruthur who finds great options and helps people maximize travel and credit card points for AWESOME deals!! Stay tuned!
  • 🌏May is AAPI Month-- Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  A month to celebrate the history, culture, foods, arts, music, dances, languages, and so much more diversity from the continent of Asia- which is where I am from! Did you know these facts about Asia? * Asia is the world's largest continent.  * Asia comprises 30% of the world's land area with 60% of the world's current population. 4.5+ Billion! China and India being the two most populated countries in the world! * There are 48 countries in Asia that are recognised by the United Nations. Two of these countries also share part of their territory on the European continent; these countries are Russia and Turkey.  * There are so many religions in Asia such as Hinduism, Islam, Shinto, and others which exist around the world!  * There are over 2,400 languages recognized in Asia with tens of thousands of dialects. An approach to learning more about Asia: Let's start with just the names of the various world religions. * I previously shared a post on this and many people asked me what they are.  See the video of my 4-year old daughter Shriya sharing the names of the world's major religions- many of them are in India!  * This type of exposure is something all parents can do from home.  Although we all have our personal beliefs and religion- being curious to learn about others beliefs shows respect and empathy.  * It is the role of the parents to ensure their kids are taught to have an open mind and be curious, and see people for who they individually are rather than assume that everyone is the same. * While religion is a sensitive topic, learning about other religions actually can strengthen the understanding of one's own faith. How can you teach your kids? You can just start with basics such as: - What are the names of the world’s major religions??? - What are their respective places of worship called? - What are the symbols / images that represent them? (Eg. Cross is Christianity, Om is Hinduism, etc). Over the course of the month, we will share insights from some countries in Asia that we have visited in the recent years.  As I say “A sprinkle of knowledge opens up a world of curiosity.”
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    🌏May is AAPI Month-- Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  A month to celebrate the history, culture, foods, arts, music, dances, languages, and so much more diversity from the continent of Asia- which is where I am from! Did you know these facts about Asia? * Asia is the world's largest continent.  * Asia comprises 30% of the world's land area with 60% of the world's current population. 4.5+ Billion! China and India being the two most populated countries in the world! * There are 48 countries in Asia that are recognised by the United Nations. Two of these countries also share part of their territory on the European continent; these countries are Russia and Turkey.  * There are so many religions in Asia such as Hinduism, Islam, Shinto, and others which exist around the world!  * There are over 2,400 languages recognized in Asia with tens of thousands of dialects. An approach to learning more about Asia: Let's start with just the names of the various world religions. * I previously shared a post on this and many people asked me what they are.  See the video of my 4-year old daughter Shriya sharing the names of the world's major religions- many of them are in India!  * This type of exposure is something all parents can do from home.  Although we all have our personal beliefs and religion- being curious to learn about others beliefs shows respect and empathy.  * It is the role of the parents to ensure their kids are taught to have an open mind and be curious, and see people for who they individually are rather than assume that everyone is the same. * While religion is a sensitive topic, learning about other religions actually can strengthen the understanding of one's own faith. How can you teach your kids? You can just start with basics such as: - What are the names of the world’s major religions??? - What are their respective places of worship called? - What are the symbols / images that represent them? (Eg. Cross is Christianity, Om is Hinduism, etc). Over the course of the month, we will share insights from some countries in Asia that we have visited in the recent years.  As I say “A sprinkle of knowledge opens up a world of curiosity.”
  • Thinking of planning a summer trip? Domestic US? International? Please join us today (Tuesday May 4th) on IG Live at 5pm ET- the marvelous globetrotting @millionmilermom and I will share our recent family international travel experiences. We will discuss some of the following questions that you asked: - When is the right time to travel? - How do I decide where to go? - What are the safety precautions I should take? - What is it like on the plane? How do you get kids to wear masks on the plane? - What are the testing requirements? - What are the main things that are different from pre-COVID? - And more!!! We hope to see you today!
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    Thinking of planning a summer trip? Domestic US? International? Please join us today (Tuesday May 4th) on IG Live at 5pm ET- the marvelous globetrotting @millionmilermom and I will share our recent family international travel experiences. We will discuss some of the following questions that you asked: - When is the right time to travel? - How do I decide where to go? - What are the safety precautions I should take? - What is it like on the plane? How do you get kids to wear masks on the plane? - What are the testing requirements? - What are the main things that are different from pre-COVID? - And more!!! We hope to see you today!
  • Thinking about Europe this summer? Some things to consider- Part 2 I received questions related to the European Union (EU) accepting US vaccinated travelers for this summer! Please read Part 1 first (Santorini family picture). While we are waiting to learn more, here are a few things to consider. - For all families, what about kids who are not vaccinated? * From the information that is currently available, this is still TBD. In the United States, the COVID vaccine is approved for ages 16 and older. * The information thus far has been focused on vaccinated people- the EU has not yet specified IF kids who are not vaccinated will be able to enter the EU countries. * Also note that there are still rules in these countries (e.g. must wear masks) and the locals in these EU countries are not all vaccinated. - Some European countries are currently accepting US + other tourists- vaccination is not required but all people (including kids) need a negative COVID PCR test to enter. Here are some of those countries (changes frequently). * Turkey, Albania, Greece, Croatia, Ireland, etc. * For all countries, you must check the local country tourism board regarding any other rules (e.g curfews, online health assessments, quarantine, etc.) * Also, do not interpret this as those countries do not care about COVID- that is not an accurate assumption. Every country has their requirements and rules to keep their residents and tourists safe. Other Expenses to Consider - ✈️ If you are booking tickets- make sure your tickers are either “refundable or changes allowed with no penalty”— so that you can alter your plans if needed. (Many airlines are offering that now). - 👃COVID testing to return to the US- not all countries or hotels offer this as a service and/or for free! This will be added expenses- can be $200 per person. My advice to everyone is: Before you finalize your travel plans, please do your all your research from various resources, travel influencers, and also seek advice from people who have actually traveled internationally during COVID. Your travel experience will be awesome but you need to be well aware of some of the unique nuances.
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    Thinking about Europe this summer? Some things to consider- Part 2 I received questions related to the European Union (EU) accepting US vaccinated travelers for this summer! Please read Part 1 first (Santorini family picture). While we are waiting to learn more, here are a few things to consider. - For all families, what about kids who are not vaccinated? * From the information that is currently available, this is still TBD. In the United States, the COVID vaccine is approved for ages 16 and older. * The information thus far has been focused on "vaccinated people"- the EU has not yet specified IF kids who are not vaccinated will be able to enter the EU countries. * Also note that there are still rules in these countries (e.g. must wear masks) and the locals in these EU countries are not all vaccinated. - Some European countries are currently accepting US + other tourists- vaccination is not required but all people (including kids) need a negative COVID PCR test to enter. Here are some of those countries (changes frequently). * Turkey, Albania, Greece, Croatia, Ireland, etc. * For all countries, you must check the local country tourism board regarding any other rules (e.g curfews, online health assessments, quarantine, etc.) * Also, do not interpret this as "those countries do not care about COVID"- that is not an accurate assumption. Every country has their requirements and rules to keep their residents and tourists safe. Other Expenses to Consider - ✈️ If you are booking tickets- make sure your tickers are either “refundable or changes allowed with no penalty”— so that you can alter your plans if needed. (Many airlines are offering that now). - 👃COVID testing to return to the US- not all countries or hotels offer this as a service and/or for free! This will be added expenses- can be $200 per person. My advice to everyone is: Before you finalize your travel plans, please do your all your research from various resources, travel influencers, and also seek advice from people who have actually traveled internationally during COVID. Your travel experience will be awesome but you need to be well aware of some of the unique nuances.