Rules for the Road

In 2004, when I dreamed up the WOW! Travel Club – to offer experiential, immersive journeys to some of the world’s least-visited and most awe-inspiring places – I could hardly wait to get the message out to the world.

But I struggled with one thing: I wanted to discriminate. Yes – discriminate.

I didn’t want any of “those” travelers on my trips. You know who “they” are: loud, demanding, disrespectful divas and drunkards – expecting everyone to adapt to their preferences and priorities. I had experienced such people through my years of operating corporate and association groups. There were never many of them, but it only takes one such traveler to spoil the experience for everyone.

And I didn’t want ANY of them on our WOW! journeys. Aside from categorically stating, “Ugly Americans need not apply,” I wasn’t sure how to effectively communicate this message.

The answer came in a stream of consciousness one day, as words flowed onto the page with effortless ease:

“I vow to travel with my sense of wonder and my sense of humor.

I vow to leave a place as good as I found it.

I vow to be thoughtful of the places I visit and considerate of the people with whom I travel.

I vow to be on time, or will catch up to the group at my own expense.

I vow to rotate seats on the motorcoach.

I vow to communicate any grievances to the tour leader promptly and privately (i.e., I will not whine!)”

I wrestled with verbiage for the last vow. “I vow not to be an Ugly American” wasn’t quite right. I wanted to spin that promise in the affirmative. I finally landed on this:

“I understand that travel requires patience, tolerance and a sense of humor. If I can’t relax and enjoy the unexpected, I vow to stay home!”

These would be the WOW! Vows – to which all travelers would consent. They were printed on the back of our business cards. Prominently posted on the website. And travelers would check a box stating their agreement when they signed up for a trip.

These vows still differentiate us from our competitors! Very rarely has anyone abused the WOW Vows – and as soon as they have been gently reminded (sometimes by their fellow travelers) – they shape up.

I did feel theneed to add one more vow a few years ago, when political conversations became polarizing:

“I vow to refrain from political conversations within earshot of the group.”

All our WOWees have appreciated this latest vow – no matter their political persuasion – because it’s nice to leave those conversations at home!

Rules for Life

A few days ago, I got a Facebook message from Grency Rodriguez, who was our favorite tour guide in Cuba. She asked me to send her the WOW! Vows.

I was happy to do so, but I asked her, “Why do you ask?”

Grency, who now teaches 3rd graders at a private school in Hialeah, Florida, promised to show me her “grand idea.”

And this is what she sent me:

Update on our Grency!

Between 2010 and 2015, I took ten groups to Cuba. Organizing legal travel to Cuba was always challenging. I could write a book (maybe I will!), because the rules were ever-changing. America’s restrictions, Cuba’s rules . . . with the Cuban people as pawns in governmental tussles. But those were some of the most fascinating and enjoyable journeys of my life.

To refresh my memories of Cuba, I looked back at some of my blogs (I’ve been publishing these for a lot of years!), and this one from Oct, 2015 is still quite relevant: Eleven Do’s and Dont’s for Cuba.

We had many excellent tour guides, but when I met Grency Rodriguez in 2014, she was “it” forevermore! Every traveler who was on a Grency-led trip will agree with me – right?

Grency emigrated to the U.S. in June of 2018. She had been here several times previously as a tourist, and that year, she brought her six-year-old son, Arturo. She stayed the full six months allowed on her tourist visa, and was granted a 6-month extension. During that time she applied for the Cuban Adjustment Act (which dates back to 1966), and was approved for permanent residence.

She’s in her 2nd year as a 3rd-grade teacher at a private school in southern Florida. She told me, “In addition to teaching the academic subjects of math, English, and science, I wanted to teach them how to go through life. I was trying to think of a creative way to share the lessons, and then I remembered your WOW Vows.”

With just a bit of tweaking – the WOW! Vows are great rules for living an honorable life!

I called her this morning and we talked and talked and talked, just like old friends. Because that’s what we are! She spoke about what it’s like these days for the average Cuban: dismal, because of COVID. Which is ironic because the Cubans were on the front lines helping resolve the Ebola crisis in West Africa several years ago. But now their economy – strangled in part by the U.S. embargo – is in shambles and people are hungry, just like during the days of their “Special Period,” after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Shiny new hotels stand empty. Her tour guide friends are sitting at home with no work. Grency sends food parcels to her mother in Havana.

But Grency has totally assimilated to America. She’s happy and her son is thriving. She even has her own channel on YouTube! (She’d love for you to subscribe!) In this, her first English episode, she recommends seven Cuban films. Locked down in COVID quarantine? Any of these films will hopefully kindle your wanderlust to return to Cuba, or – if you’ve never been to this amazing country – maybe you’ll put it on your “must-visit” list when it’s finally safe to travel. Which WILL happen one of these days … just don’t know when!

Grency has promised – if the WOW! Travel Club ever goes back to Cuba – that she’ll happily play tour guide once again!

Maybe you’ll join us?