When dreams become reality: SoulVenture Travels founder recounts recent adventures
Everybody has a dream trip - living out the Mamma Mia fantasy in the Greek Islands, spending New Years Eve in New York City, ziplining through the rainforests of Costa Rica. For SoulVenture Travels founder Jody, the dream has always been visiting the Croatian island her ancestors are from. In the fall of 2023, she was finally able to make her dream a reality, with the added bonus of bringing her family along. As many seasoned travelers know, it is well worth your time to travel to multiple countries when in Europe - Jody and her family did just that, integrating a river cruise, renting a car, and taking a ferry to see as much as possible. After returning from her dream trip, Jody has had time to reflect on the experience, reconnect to her love for not only traveling with AmaWaterways, but partnering with them, and reinvigorate her passion for helping others fuel their souls through travel.
The Itinerary
As a traveler, striking a balance between seeing everything and taking time to relax can be difficult. Needing a vacation after your vacation is an all too common sentiment. However, as an expert travel planner, Jody was able to avoid this travel blunder. With a cruise on AmaWaterways booked, Jody mapped out the perfect balance between on-the-go activities and relaxation pre- and post-cruise.
The adventure started with two days exploring Budapest. Jody and her husband, Tom, took it slow, sightseeing and enjoying the iconic thermal baths. Joined by her brother-in-law and his wife, with many more friends to be made along the way, they then embarked on a 7-night Central European river cruise with AmaWaterways. After disembarking, they headed straight for the Munich Airport, ready for the leg of the trip Jody had dreamed of for years: exploring Croatia and finally stepping foot on the island of Brač, where her ancestors are from.
Straight out of a fairytale, exploring Budapest
River Cruising with AmaWaterways
At SoulVenture Travels we don’t just partner with AmaWaterways, we personally travel with them too. “I believe it is important for me to experience the type of travel I sell so I can offer firsthand knowledge,” Jody said. “Cruising with AmaWaterways is a no brainer for me - it is a great way to see so many areas in Europe and their expertise is unmatched.”
River cruising is the perfect way to see as much as possible - even when on board, city sights are in view
On this particular trip, Jody, her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister-in-law set sail on the Melodies of the Danube cruise aboard AmaViola. With stops in eight culturally-rich, historic cities, this route was the perfect way to explore Central Europe. River cruising offers the perfect pace to truly experience cities without having to repack your bags between stops. “River cruising is ideal for the traveler that wants to sit back and relax while still kicking things up a notch whenever they want,” Jody said. “In each city we visited, the activity offerings were so vast, there was something for everyone.”
Along with expert tour guides, enchanting riverside scenery, and top-notch customer service, river cruising is also an incredibly intimate way to travel.
“With 150 to 175 passengers on board, river cruises are such a great way to meet people,” Jody said. “Unlike big ocean liners, you spend so much time with the people on board - both guests and staff. In each port the groups you do activities with are small and personable and the connections you make are everlasting. One of the things that originally drew me to partner with AmaWaterways was the fact that they are family owned - you really feel that when cruising with them.”
Beer tasting at a historic brewery in Bratislava, Slovakia
Their cruise took them through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. Highlights included wine and beer tasting, city tours, and attending a mini Oktoberfest. And of course, the food. All of AmaWaterways’ European ships are members of La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an invite-only gastronomic society united by a passion for wine and fine dining.
After a relaxing cruise, Jody and Tom took advantage of AmaWaterways’ airport transfer service, arriving at the Munich Airport filled with the anticipation of meeting up with two of their sons at their final destination: Croatia.
Back to her Roots: Exploring Croatia
“I have wanted to visit Croatia for so long,” Jody said. “I had the most overwhelming feeling of joy and excitement when we landed in Dubrovnik. That magic, that feeling, is what I mean when I say that travel fuels the soul.”
Croatia is known for its colorful coastlines, rich history, and friendly locals, all experienced by Jody and her family. After exploring Dubrovnik, the group took off in their rental car down the coastline, overnighting in the charming beach town of Makarska and spending time in the iconic city of Split. While on the road they swam in the Adriatic Sea, indulged in a traditional Croatian meal at Kaštil Slanica, and stopped at countless historical sites dating back centuries.
Jody stands among greenery while walking along the magical streets of Croatia
From Split, they caught a ferry to the island of Brač, Jody’s ancestral homeland. “The island is simply amazing,” Jody recalls. “Every sight is breathtaking, the people were so welcoming, and I was truly touched to visit my family’s village of Bobovišća. I just know I’ll be back again - I truly fell in love.”
Mother Nature knew Jody was living out her dream, with sunny skies overhead as she capped off her trip with a family boat ride among the Croatian islands.
The heart of the trip, visiting Jody’s ancestors’ village of Bobovišća
Fueling the Soul
Energized, inspired, and motivated to make dreams become reality, Jody arrived home from Croatia with a renewed vision for SoulVenture Travels. “I’ve been a traveler all my life,” she said. “Truly, travel is what keeps me going, it fuels my soul. My vision is for SoulVenture Travels to inspire others to get out there, visit places they can’t even imagine, and lean into their wanderlust. Not only do I want to help book these travels, I also want to be a one-stop shop for holistic travel information, sharing expertise from myself and my team to make travel approachable and hassle-free for everyone.”
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