Helping curious travelers travel smarter—one tip, one story, and one journey at a time.

Hello, friends!

Welcome! I’m so glad you found your way here.

If you’re wondering, “What exactly is the Traveler’s Handbook?”—you’re in good company. Truth be told, we’re just getting this adventure started together.

After several years of helping clients plan vacations as a professional travel advisor, I noticed something. Whether someone was headed to Disney, Alaska, Europe, the Caribbean, or somewhere in between, many of the questions were exactly the same.

Do I need a passport?

What’s the difference between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?

Should I buy travel insurance?

What’s the best luggage?

How early should I get to the airport?

What travel apps are actually worth downloading?

How much should I tip?

What in the world is a Digital ID?

One day it hit me…

Why not create one place where all of those answers could live?

That’s how Journeys With Jani: Traveler’s Handbook was born.

This isn’t a finished book.

It’s a living handbook that will grow a little with every article, every trip, every lesson learned, and every change the travel world throws our way. My hope is that one day this becomes the first place you visit when you have a travel question—or when you’re simply dreaming about your next adventure.

What’s better than advice? Advice you don’t have to pay for.

Now, before you get too excited…

I’m probably not going to tell you exactly where you should spend your vacation dollars.

That’s one of the biggest reasons professional travel advisors still matter. We get to know you before recommending destinations, resorts, cruises, or itineraries. Travel isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the best vacations are built around the people taking them.

What I am going to do is help you spend those vacation dollars smarter.

I’ll help you understand when to travel, how to prepare, what to pack, which programs are worth joining, where you can save money, and sometimes… where you absolutely shouldn’t.

Because a little knowledge before you leave home can make all the difference once you’re there.

Here’s something else you should know about me…

I don’t have all the answers.

Honestly, I don’t trust anyone who says they do.

One of my favorite things to tell my clients is:

“I might not have the answer right now, but I’ll have the right answer for you shortly.”

That’s more than a favorite quote—it’s how I approach travel.

The travel world changes every single day. Airlines update policies. Countries change entry requirements. Cruise lines introduce new procedures. Technology evolves. New destinations emerge while old favorites reinvent themselves.

I’d rather take a little extra time to verify something than give you an answer that’s outdated, incomplete, or just plain wrong.

This handbook isn’t just about me.

You’ll certainly find my own travel tips, experiences, and observations throughout these pages.

But you’ll also find outstanding information from tourism boards, destination experts, fellow travel advisors, travel writers, industry professionals, government agencies, and other trusted sources.

If someone else has already created an excellent resource, I’d rather share it than reinvent it.

Whenever I reference another source, you’ll know it. Credit belongs where credit is due, and I believe the travel community is stronger when we learn from one another. My goal isn’t to be the loudest voice in travel—it’s to help you find the most reliable one.

A new chapter…

This handbook represents a new chapter in my own journey, too.

I still love planning vacations, and I can’t imagine ever completely stepping away from helping clients create unforgettable memories. But somewhere along the way I discovered another passion.

I love writing.

I love researching.

I love teaching.

I love finding answers.

And I love taking complicated travel information and making it easier to understand.

As the travel industry continues to evolve—especially with technology and AI—I find myself just as excited about helping travelers navigate those changes as I am about planning their next vacation. My hope is to continue growing this handbook while helping the incredible team at Take Time To Travel embrace the future of travel with confidence, curiosity, and the same personal service that has always set us apart.

Because I truly believe the future of travel isn’t about choosing between technology and people.

It’s about using great technology to serve people even better.

One last thing…

One of my favorite travel quotes says:

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

Mine too.

So whether you’re planning your very first vacation or your fiftieth, I hope you’ll pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee, browse around, and come back often.

This handbook will never be “finished.”

It will keep growing, changing, and improving right alongside the incredible world of travel.

After all… None of us has been everywhere.

But we’re working on it.

I’m so glad you’re here.

Welcome to the journey.

MJ Aylsworth-Gunter ❤️

Professional Travel Advisor
Take Time To Travel