Self-Care for Dummies, ~ from Sheila of Lush Life Travel
Published: Sun, 07/14/24
Updated: Sun, 07/14/24
Live Your Lush Life
Travel Newsletter
Sunday, July 14,
2024
Self-Care for Dummies
Hello, !
Welcome to Lush Life Travel's weekly newsletter.
In this week's newsletter, we'll focus on:
1. Self-Care for Dummies
2. River Cruise Corner - Melodies of Danube
3. Adventure Travel Corner- Limited Lindblad Sale - Galápagos and
Antarctica: 25% Wild Adventure Savings
4. Wellness Travel Corner - Equine Experience
5. Testimonial of Week- AMA Waterways Tour
6. Women's River Cruise - Wellness on Water
7. Virtuoso Life - Some Recent Issues & Newsletters
8. Preferred Hotel Programs- Can You VIP Me?
9. Special Offers from Lush Life~ Direct affiliate & Virtuoso partner
Let me know if you'd like to schedule a complimentary consultation!
1. Self-Care for Dummies
I'm just back from a glorious 4 days at Miraval Austin Wellness Resort. And I've learned a little about self-care for dummies!
The dummy in this situation is me. Maybe you might see yourself in that characterization too, but, read this as a self-schooling.
Like many women with work, kids, family, and a
whole host of responsibilities, self-care isn't much a priority for me. I tend to focus on care-giving for everyone else. I don't carve out some time for me, so to take 4 full days to focus on my self-care and wellness at Miraval Austin was an awakening.
And besides the self-care, the food and service at
this resort was just exceptional.
Let me share just a little here, and I"ll follow up
with a bit more next week. (And check out the wellness corner article below about Miraval's Equine experiences.)
The arrival day got off to an incredible start for
having an epic time at Miraval Austin Resort & Spa! You're met at the Austin airport for a shuttle that whisks you away to the resort on a nature preserve, 25 minutes away.
They have a gazillion activities to choose from, my brain
almost short-circuited from excitement. But then I remembered, self-care is the name of the game. So, I went for a hot oil massage, a tour of the property (yurts, culinary kitchens, and infinity pools, oh my!), and finished it off with a 'wine and your sign' wine tasting and astrological reading. Can you guess my sign?
The
first full day did not disappoint!
I started the day with a morning nature walk
around the property and preserve, with a morning meditation and gong banging all before breakfast and then a visit to their Cypress farm.
This was followed by lunch, and learning how wine
and wellness align before the most fun of cardio drumming, Texas zen yoga, a Swedish massage, and a samba dance lesson.
After a wonderful supper, I also did this amazing
floating , sound bath aerial where I was nestled in a cocoon swing to relax and meditate while our teacher enveloped us in the most amazing vibrations and sounds.
Here's a
five minute feature that highlights AMA Waterways'
Five Minute Feature highlights one of AmaWaterways's newest itineraries in France ... the Melodies of the Danube! Watch this five minute video tour of AmaWaterways Melodies of the Danube luxury river experience from Budapest to Vilshofen. Take a quick journey and discover all the beautiful
sights on the Upper Danube and get in touch with me, as your preferred travel advisor to find out dates, prices and the best promotions available!!!
To reserve your spot on this cruise please get in touch with me for available dates and the best promotions
And, I can extend to you an offer for new bookings only if made this week with me. I can extend a 5% off the voyage fare(for the cruise, before port fees) to either one couple, or one solo passenger. (Kindly note, you have to call me to get this private sale. You
cannot book on my AMA website or through AMA directly.)
My normal cruise booking and management fees would still apply.
Get in touch with me to get on this cruise and get all of the best prices
and promotions.
3. Adventure Travel Corner - Limited Lindblad Sale - Galápagos and Antarctica: 25% Wild Adventure Savings
Antarctica. Galápagos. With their iconic wildlife, spectacular vistas, and fascinating history, these destinations capture the imagination like no other.
Now, we're extending your chance to experience the wonder of these legendary places with remarkable savings of 25% off select 2024 and 2025 voyages. If you are traveling with children, you can save an additional $1,000 for each child
under 18.
Book by July 16, 2024 to take advantage of this rare opportunity. Terms & Conditions - Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call Sheila for details.*
Miraval resorts are known for their equine experiences. I'm not a horse rider at all, but felt I had to learn more about what Miraval offers. And yes, they do offer both riding and non-riding equine experiences, and they are all open to non-riders, beginners, or
experienced riders.
The experience I chose to do was the Miraval Equine Experience. As the description outlines, this experiences allows you to "work alongside our specially selected horses and expert facilitators to practice living life in the moment. Horses are creatures of the present, unconcerned with past regrets or future drama. They offer
a way to help us notice personal patterns that could be restrictive in this exercise and life."
I signed up for this fee-based session, and was surprised that I was the only guest - so I had a personal session with the equine expert, Leigh, who spent some time chatting with me, and besides learning about my horse experience (none, other than watching my daughter,
and maybe riding a pony years ago), she also asked me about my work/ life choices, and how I operate my days, how I respond to stress, etc. etc., Then she led me to a field with 10 horses to meet them, and then ultimately pick the horse I would be working with. Little did either of us expect that Pepper would walk up to me right away, and sniff me out. I took some time to say hello to the other horses, but ended up working with Pepper, of course.
A horse with one blue eye was really special - but it was the brushing of Pepper's coat, and grooming her, and then leading her around the field that was both meditative and instructional. Horses don't tell you they don't want to do something, and they only follow if
they trust you, and you show no hestancy. A very fun a morning in Austin, Texas, as I embraced my inner cowgirl.
It’s so rewarding to receive wonderful #ClientTestimonials , such as this one from my
long-time client, JC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️AMAWaterways Tour⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"We are first time river cruisers and Sheila made it a straightforward process. Very friendly, professional, answered all our questions thoroughly and quickly.
Her weekly newsletter is informative. I have already recommended her to
family."
🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠
Thank you, JC, for always taking the time to leave some wonderful and kind comments on my @virtuosoltd verified client feedback site. I truly appreciate it.
6. Women's River Cruise - Wellness on Water
Imagine a getaway that's all about you! Sheila's Women's Wellness Cruise is not just a trip; it's a radical act of self-care amidst the
beaty of Europe, from Budapest to Prague in October 2024. Dive into a world of luxury, connection, and rejuvenation with award-winning Virtuoso luxury wellness travel advisor, Sheila Gallant-Halloran of Lush Life Travel.
Thanks Candace Sampson and "What She Said" for terrific blog post about my Women's Wellness Cruise. And see https://lushlife.ca/what-she-said/
Check out this ad appearing in PostMedia newspapers across Canada.
And check out this Daytime Ottawa TV appearance. Here's my interview talking with Derek Fage .
Just remember, there are three steps to Embrace “Your Grace”:
STEP 1.) STEP ON UP - savour, sip,
self-care
STEP 2.) STEP ONBOARDyour moving boutique hotel room
STEP 3.) STEP ONSHOREto cities and towns along the Danube River
Let me know if you'd like to secure your spot. (And yes, there are some husbands coming. At least 3 are booked thus far!)
This will be a 7-night Danube River cruise, that sets sail from Budapest on Oct. 4, 2024, and heads to Nuremberg, before finishing its voyage with 2 nights in Prague on Oct. 13, 2024. See all the details : https://tinyulr.com/LushWellCruise
Self-care is not a luxury. It's a necessity!
7. Virtuoso
Life Issues
Here are some recent Virtuoso Life issues for you to peruse.
Travel advisors, like me, often have access to a range of exclusive perks and amenities when booking luxury hotels. Here are some special perks I may be able to provide when you book your hotel stay through me:
Room Upgrades: I often have relationships with hotel management (particularly luxury hotels), allowing me to secure room upgrades at the time of booking, ensuring a better view, larger room, or added amenities.
Complimentary Breakfast or Credits: I can negotiate special perks like complimentary breakfast, spa credits, dining credits, or
other perks that enhance the overall stay.
Early Check-In and Late Check-Out: Through my connections, I may be able to negotiate early check-in or late check-out times, providing more flexibility with your schedule.
Special Amenities: I may be able to arrange for special
amenities in the room upon arrival, such as welcome gifts, champagne, or personalized touches to make the stay more memorable.
Priority Access and VIP Treatment: I can secure priority access to facilities like spas, restaurants, or events within the hotel, ensuring a more exclusive and VIP-like experience.
Customized
Experiences: I can arrange unique experiences tailored to your interests, such as private tours, exclusive excursions, or special events within the hotel premises.
Concierge Services: I can often offer personalized concierge services, ensuring your preferences are noted and catered to throughout your stay, from restaurant
reservations to special requests.
Flexible Booking and Cancellation Policies: I may be able to negotiate more flexible booking terms or cancellation policies, providing peace of mind in case plans change unexpectedly.
These perks often go beyond what is
available through standard booking channels, adding significant value to the overall luxury hotel experience.
I am a Virtuoso luxury advisor, Four Seasons preferred partner, and member of preferred hotel programs like Belmond Bellini, Rosewood Elite, Accor Luxury Step and Fairmont Famous Agent, Leading
Hotels, etc., etc.
I rarely book hotel only reservations for clients (I specialize in river and expedition cruises, customized trips to Australia and Africa), I have ways to leverage my relationships to benefit my clients. Hotel only bookings are subject to my normal professional fees. https://lushlife.ca/2022-fee-schedule/
See some additional detail on these preferred HOTEL PROGRAMS
Note: There is a stop gap measure if you are planning a last minute trip, and you only need a hotel stay. If you do not require my assistance, or VIP'ing, or add ons like transfers, concierge service, etc., you can self-book luxury properties on my Virtuoso
website. You can now browse and book hotels online https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/travel/luxury-hotels at your convenience. (If you self-book hotels, I will waive
normal booking and management fees. But if you need additional assistance after the booking, VIP'ing, transfers, concierge assistance, etc., and/or the hotel stay is part of a larger holiday, normal professional fees will apply.)
9. Special Offers from Lush Life, a Direct affiliate & Virtuoso
partner
I run my boutique travel agency, Lush Life Travel, as an affiliate of Direct Travel. As Direct is one of the largest Virtuoso luxury travel network partners, I get access to some terrific offers for my clients.
Here are some offers from a few of our favourite travel supplier partners. Let me know if you'd like to book one of these holidays .
When you work with Sheila at Lush Life Travel, you get access to our in-depth knowledge, honed over 18 years experience in travel (with another 20 years in financial services). Atop our foundation of financial risk management skills; we have layered the bricks to build a wall of travel knowledge and relationships.
We leverage all of our expertise to help you live your lush life through travel.
So, schedule a consultation - and - don't forget to
complete this Pre-consultation Survey The call can't be confirmed without it.
The dummy in this situation is me. Maybe you might see yourself in that characterization too, but, read this as a self-schooling.
Like many women with work, kids, family, and a
whole host of responsibilities, self-care isn't much a priority for me. I tend to focus on care-giving for everyone else. I don't carve out some time for me, so to take 4 full days to focus on my self-care and wellness at Miraval Austin was an awakening.
And besides the self-care, the food and service at
this resort was just exceptional.
Let me share just a little here, and I"ll follow up
with a bit more next week. (And check out the wellness corner article below about Miraval's Equine experiences.)
The arrival day got off to an incredible start for
having an epic time at Miraval Austin Resort & Spa! You're met at the Austin airport for a shuttle that whisks you away to the resort on a nature preserve, 25 minutes away.
They have a gazillion activities to choose from, my brain
almost short-circuited from excitement. But then I remembered, self-care is the name of the game. So, I went for a hot oil massage, a tour of the property (yurts, culinary kitchens, and infinity pools, oh my!), and finished it off with a 'wine and your sign' wine tasting and astrological reading. Can you guess my sign?
I started the day with a morning nature walk
around the property and preserve, with a morning meditation and gong banging all before breakfast and then a visit to their Cypress farm. 
This was followed by lunch, and learning how wine
and wellness align before the most fun of cardio drumming, Texas zen yoga, a Swedish massage, and a samba dance lesson. 
After a wonderful supper, I also did this amazing
floating , sound bath aerial where I was nestled in a cocoon swing to relax and meditate while our teacher enveloped us in the most amazing vibrations and sounds.
Amazing. I love this place.
