Get Away!: Design Your Ideal Trip, Travel with Ease, and Reclaim Your Freedom

Review\n"Get Away! should be essential reading for anyone who is eager to travel but feels trapped in a routine or overwhelmed about how to pull it off. Axelrod demystifies trip-planning, turning it from a chore into a pleasure. Designing a getaway with his guidance will lead to greater freedom, creativity, and contentment."
-Roger Dow, President & CEO of US Travel Association\n"Get Away! is the definitive trip planning guide for the modern traveler. Axelrod teaches readers insider tips that experienced travelers know but have never written down. Learn how to design a trip on your terms so travel becomes an integral component of a fulfilling life."
-Casey Hanisko, President of Adventure Travel Trade Association\n"This comprehensive work is both a trove of practical advice and a paean to the idea of travel.\nTo say that Axelrod is a world traveler (he is also a photographer) is a rank understatement. He has set foot on all seven continents, most much more than once. In fact, such is his passion that an alternate subtitle for the book could be "Live To Travel, Travel To Live."\nChapter headings include "No More Excuses," wherein he knocks down all the standard reasons for not going on a trip and addresses Covid-19; "Flight School," in which he guides readers through the Byzantine world of air travel (reservations, frequent flyer miles, bargain hunting, the impact of Covid-19, even seating); and "Food, Fun, and Freedom," adventures at the destination itself. He is a font of pithy pronouncements: "Build your dream trip as if you were building your dream home"; "A well planned trip...integrates into, rather than interrupts, your life"; and—on souvenirs—"Please do not be that nincompoop who comes back from Puerto Vallarta with a giant sombrero." And who else might seize on a Tourbillon watch as a metaphor for building an itinerary—or even know that there is such a thing. Naturally, there are anecdotes from some of his trips (Bosnia, Tahiti, Greece). And even though the sojourn in Tahiti was more disaster than delight, he manages to wring some pleasant recollections out of it.\nPositive thinking is an ineradicable part of Axelrod's makeup, and readers will admit that it is infectious. In a "don't take my word for it" gambit, he deftly backs his arguments with experts in the field of travel research, a real growth industry. The copious backmatter includes pages upon pages of reference notes—the man is a bear for research. Certain chapters, like the one on air travel, can be overwhelming if readers are not familiar with app culture, arcane websites, and the credit card shuffle. On the other hand, he often summarizes dense discussions with bulleted lists, a convenience for overloaded readers, and likes to set up and then torch straw men, a sprightly way of presenting arguments.\nAn impressive guide that will persuade readers to pack their bags." - Kirkus Reviews\nPlanning a trip doesn't have to be hard, and taking that trip doesn't have to be stressful. Regardless of work commitments, family obligations, or finances, your travel dreams can become realities. Get Away! provides the confidence and step-by-step guidance you need to design a transformative travel experience, perfectly tailored to your preferences.\nLet expert world traveler David Axelrod equip you with the essential tools, checklists, and mindset to choose your destination with purpose, craft an airtight itinerary, book your flights with finesse, and kick pre-trip anxiety to the airport curb. Learn how to maximize your travel time and savor all the wonders you set out in search of and more. Return home invigorated, with clarity, perspective, and enduring memories.\nDon't waste any more time planning a trip that doesn't pan out or postponing taking one at all. Get Away! is your ultimate ticket to the world. Read it, and any travel experience you desire can be yours.