Patty Z Travels

01/13/2026

If you hate planning travel but love amazing trips… this might be your new favorite corner of the internet.

I run a private Facebook travel group for people who:
• don’t want to spend nights comparing flights and hotels
• value their time more than hunting for “the best deal”
• want trips that feel thoughtful, smooth, and actually enjoyable

If researching for hours, booking everything yourself, and managing all the logistics sounds fun to you… you’ll probably hate it there.

But if you want guidance you can trust, zero pressure, and travel that feels easier and more elevated… you’ll fit right in.

Comment GROUP and I’ll send you the link.

06/07/2024

Our meeting of The Woodlands Travel Club was so much fun last night! We got to meet so many new people, welcome new members, and get SO excited for the trips we have coming up.

We have three group trip opportunities that are not exclusive to the Travel Club if you are curious about joining but would like to take a "Test Drive" first. I will be posting links to those on our Travel Curious - Your Friendly International Luxury Travel Community and on both websites in the coming days (hopefully over the weekend).

Those trips include:
- A weekend getaway to Fredericksburg with our w**e expert, Lindsey Schmidt Mangold
- A group cruise out of Galveston this December
- An adults-only cruise out of Miami in April with Carolyn Anderson Hudson

For the Club, our first members-only trip is going to go live in the next few weeks. That will be a family-friendly Spring Break adventure to Ireland!

This year is going to be amazing! We can't wait to share it with you!

02/05/2024

Got a case of the Mondays? 🙋‍♀️ Need something exciting on your calendar to get you through the week? RSVP for our Adventure & Expedition Travel night! W**e 🍷 , cheese 🧀 , friendly people 💃, penguins 🐧 (pics of penguins) we’ll have it all!

Tell your Valentine that you’re going to take them on the adventure of a lifetime on the 14th and let’s us put the bow on your gift the day after when they choose where to go. Easiest way to show your love to the adventurer in your life EVER.

Get ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime as we introduce you to the world of luxury adventure expedition travel with Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic. Our in-person event is your gateway to thrilling experiences and breathtaking destinations like you've never imagined.

01/12/2024

Get ready for 5 of my best tips to get you through yet another crazy travel year:

✈️ Book those flights well in advance. At least three to four months in advance for international trips and six to eight weeks for domestic trips.

🛫 Avoid basic economy fares. Friends don’t let friends book basic economy, and friends definitely don’t let friends end up with added fees and no chance of a refund in case plans need to change.

🔎 Avoid online travel agencies. I need a whole novel to cover all of the reasons, but the biggest one is the lack of consistency and care and the fact that you’re always at the bottom of the barrel when you book through an online travel agency.

✨ Look for added value. No surprises, travel is not as cheap as it once was, so finding ways to add value to your getaways is key. For example, working with a travel advisor is a great way to get access to better rates, promotions, extra perks, etc.

⏰ Give yourself maximum flexibility. Whether it’s booking the flex fare or refundable hotel rate or adding travel insurance (always have travel insurance!), give yourself lots of flexibility just in case things don’t go exactly as planned.

2024 travel, we’re ready for you!

01/07/2024

Part of the fun of my job is keeping tabs on always-changing travel trends

And here’s one trend for 2024 that I wanted to pass on to all of you:

This year expedition and adventure travel is trending. [As demonstrated by my husband in the photos 🦒.]

Why? The world has seen an explosion in tourism in the last couple years (because we all needed to ESCAPE). If you're like me, you saw lots of friends on the socials largely visiting the same places and encountering MASSIVE crowds. Not my cup of tea and, frankly, I'm not alone in that sentiment.

Enter expedition and adventure travel. Why would you travel to Patagonia, the Galapagos, or the lesser visited parts of Asia and Africa? To see the unspoiled parts of the world without the crowds and indulge in unique cultural experiences.

Do you have to camp to have an adventure? Absolutely not! My favorite type of expedition is one where I visit someplace totally unique and retire to a comfy bed and great food at the end of the day. [Pro Tip: Some types of "camping" are nicer than most hotels out there!]

And PS, if expedition and adventure travel isn’t your cup of tea, I plan trips all over the world, and we can design something that’s just for you!

Just head to the link in my bio.

01/06/2024

Hands up if the last time you planned a big family or friend group trip, you spent WAY too much time on Google trying to find the right flights and the perfect hotel. 🙋‍♀️

Or you got to your hotel or resort and realized it actually wasn’t your vibe 😳

Or putting the whole trip together was actually way more stress and confusion than you were expecting. 🙇‍♀️

I wouldn’t be a travel advisor if I didn’t remind you that it doesn’t have to be that way!

When you delegate planning for your big trips to me, you get the luxury of not having to worry about none of the above. 😎

If stress free and enjoying every moment is how you want to travel this year, I’m just a call away when you’re ready to have an expert along for the ride!

[Photo of me punking my husband with a pic in front of the whale fountain in Juneau. 🤣]

01/04/2024

Think about it:

No one ever sits and the end of their life saying “I wish I never took that trip”.

Take the trip! Where are you dreaming of going?

Amsterdam and The Galapagos are already on my travel list for this year.

I can't wait to put my explorer hat on and see all the amazing animals in the Galapagos. I'm especially excited to snorkel as it's one of the best places in the world to do so.

This isn't my first time in Amsterdam, so I'm really looking forward to checking out some of the sites I didn't visit last time and maybe spending a bit more time exploring the museums. For the most part, though, excited to check out some new-to-me river cruise partners!

01/03/2024

The post-holiday blues are definitely a thing!

How do you get through it when the twinkle lights come down and work starts back up again?

When the weather gets cold here in Texas and the holidays parties have ended, there’s one thing I like to do:

You guessed it: I get a trip on the calendar so I have something to look forward to! 🤩

Right now, the hubby and I are considering an old-fashioned road trip for the family this summer, a cruise (if we can fit one in) and a celebratory European river for a big birthday that’s coming up next year.

And while I prep and get excited for those trips, I’m also relaxing on the couch with homemade latte (perhaps with a bit of Baileys thrown in) and a fire in the fireplace to keep the vacation vibes alive.

How do you get over that post-holiday slump?