Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 21

BRAVE-ish on HenLitCentral

Thank you to Carolyn and HenLitCentral for this spotlight article all about my memoir, BRAVE-ish! AND pre-order the AUDIOBOOK for Brave-ish! It comes out Feb 27, 2024 and is narrated by me, LISA NIVER, the AUTHOR!Meet Lisa Niver, an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents. This University of Pennsylvania graduate sailed across the seas for seven
years with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Renaissance Cruises and spent three years backpacking across Asia. Discover her articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as her site WeSaidGoTravel, which is #10 on the top 100 Travel Blog List for 2024.

On her award-winning global podcast, Make Your Own Map, Niver has interviewed Deepak Chopra, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and as a journalist has been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For her print and digital stories as well as her television segments, she has been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and three National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist twenty-five times.

Named a #3 travel i nfluencer for 2024, Ni ver talks travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles, her YouTub e channel with over 2 million views, and in her award-winning memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

���In a youth-obsessed culture where ageism has been called the ���last acceptable bias,��� Niver confronts her fears of being alone, supporting herself through travel, and starting over again in midlife. Her story illustrates that we can blaze our own path, if we are brave enough to begin with small steps.��� HOLLY CASSANDRA CORBETT Author of The Lost Girls, VP Consciously Unbiased

LINK for BOOK: https://lisaniver.com/braveish/
Reviews: https://lisaniver.com/brave-ish-reviews/
PRESS: https://lisaniver.com/press/

READ EXCERPT OF BRAVE-ISH HERE!

Winner:  Goody Business Book Awards: Memoir/Self-Help
Runner-up: Zibby Awards: Best Book for The Strong Woman
Semi-Finalist (Was long list, then short list, now semi-finalist, waiting to hear about finalist) for The 2023 HEARTEN Book Awards Semi-Finalist for Inspiring & Uplifting Non-Fiction

Check out Lisa���s upcoming WOMEN���S TRAVEL FEST 2024 events here.

Book Summary:

Although Lisa Niver has traveled in far-off locales from Vanuatu to Nepal and received numerous accolades for both her writing and her top ranked website, what people don���t realize is that this began from the wreckage of a rotten romance.

Newlywed Niver was on the adventure of a lifetime. She had quit her job, rented out her condo, and was traveling around Asia. To the outside world, Niver was a woman living out her dreams of exploring ancient ruins in Cambodia and seeing orangutans in Borneo. In private, she was keeping a dark secret. But, when she found herself lying on a sidewalk in Thailand, looking up at the sky in severe pain, she knew things had to change. At age forty-seven, Niver found the courage to set course on a new life.

Feeling like a failure, pushing fifty, and moving home to her parents��� house to start again from scratch, Niver started taking one tiny ���brave-ish��� step at a time to take her life far away from the old one and into the adventurous world of travel writing. These small hurdles led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. From diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding at 3 Gs, to indulging in wild escapades, Niver found herself traversing the world on a journey of reinvention, personal growth, and discovering what it actually means to be ���brave.���

While Brave-ish chronicles Niver���s inspiring expeditions to distant corners of the world including Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya and Mongolia this is more than a travelogue. Niver���s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Brave-ish inspires readers to dream big, take risks, and embrace the unknown to create a life filled with wonder and excitement, even when courage seems elusive.

Praise:Featured in Conde Nast Traveler Women Who Travel Book Club: 10 New Books We Can���t Wait to Read this Fall  https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/women-who-travel-book-club-fall-2023 

As seen in Forbes Best New Non-Fiction 
Read here!

���Niver���s global travel exploits had me simultaneously chewing my fingernails and cheering her on as she challenged herself to greater and riskier feats in search of self. Compelling and engrossing. A must-read for fans of Wild and Eat, Pray, Love!��� ALKA JOSHI A New York Times Best Seller, a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick- The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris ���Lisa Niver���s Brave-ish is a page-turner and inspiration for anyone who finds themselves at rock bottom in mid-life. Through both grand adventures and small, life-savoring gestures, Niver pieces herself back together after heartbreak and hardship. Readers will have the great pleasure of traveling the world through Niver���s stories and will be cheering her on. Don���t miss this book full of heart, adventure, and, of course, courage!��� CHRISTIE TATE A New York Times Best Seller, a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick- GROUP and B.F.F.Get in touch with Lisa here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaniver
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisaniver
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaniver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.niver
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wesaidgotravel/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaellenniver/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LisaNiver
web: We Said Go Travel: http://wesaidgotravel.com/

���Rife with witty banter. A laugh-out-loud family dramedy that feels like a much beloved night out with friends.�������ChickLit Cafe��
Women���s Fiction | Comedy Drama ��� Amazon

For fans of Maria Semple���s  Where���d You Go Bernadette  or Camille Pagan���s  I���m Fine and Neither Are You , comes the perfect laugh-out-loud dramedy AND THEN THERE’S MARGARET about marriage, midlife and a controlling, manipulative and self-absorbed mother-in-law thrown into the mix. MULTI-AWARD-WINNING debut novel, AND THEN THERE’S MARGARET, takes readers on a relatable and hilarious ride, as Allie realizes the only way to survive the angst of family is to let go���.and let be.

“Perfect for women���s fiction books club wanting to explore complex and turbulent family relationships. It���s a playful coming of (middle-age) novel.��� ��� IndieReader

When Allison Montgomery’s beloved father-in-law and long-time confidant passes away, her mother-in-law, Margaret, ‘temporarily’ moves in. From rearranging the furniture and taking over the kitchen, to undermining and embarrassing Allie at every turn, including funding her daughter’s escape, throwing a hissy fit at the mall, and publicly equating Allie’s glass of Chardonnay to full blown alcoholism, Margaret turns Allie’s life upside down causing her to bounce between a sincere desire to support her grieving mother-in-law and an intense urge to simply push her out of the nearest window.

Feeling annoyed, trapped and even a little childish, Allie struggles to avoid a complete meltdown with help from her fearless and audacious best friend, a plan for reinventing herself and enjoying a second act, and, yes, a few glasses of Chardonnay. Along the way, Allie discovers the reasons behind Margaret’s attitude toward her all these years. Does it help? Maybe…

2022 Chick Lit Cafe – CLC Book Excellence Award Winner – Women’s Fiction/Humor 2022 Indie Book Awards Finalist – Chick Lit (Fiction) 2022 Maxy Awards Winner – Literary & Humor 2022 Readers’ Choice Book Awards – Finalist – Best Adult Book 2022 Readers’ Favorite – Finalist – Humor/Comedy

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AARP: 7 Travel Podcasts For Your Airport Entertainment

Thank you AARP and Cheryl Maguire for including my podcast, Make Your Own Map, in the article, “7 Travel Podcasts You Can Listen to While Waiting in the Airport.”

BRENT PETERSEN, RADIO MISFITS / KELLY & LAVINIA / KIMBERLY TATE AND TAMARA GRUBER / IHEARTMEDIA, INC./DARLEY NEWMAN / LISANIVER.COM / 10XTRAVEL / WORLD FOOTPRINTS LLC / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

7 Travel Podcasts You Can Listen to While Waiting in the Airport: Spend your time learning tips to maximize your travel experience

By Cheryl Maguire, AARP

Published January 16, 2024

One way you can plan for your next vacation is by listening to travel podcasts. You can also learn about places you might want to visit, or you can experience the destination if you���re unable to go there. We spoke to travel experts to find out which podcasts are worth listening to, especially if you are stuck waiting at the airport. We then spoke to the podcasters to learn more about their shows. The podcasts can be found on most major platforms. Here are the ones the experts recommend.

IHEARTMEDIA, INC./DARLEY NEWMAN / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

Travels with Darley

Host: Darley Newman���

Traveler type: Travel like a local���

First episode: November 2023

Each episode of the Travels with Darley podcast is based on Darley Newman���s TV series that focuses on how to travel like a local around the world. ���I���m writing [the podcast] almost like it���s a book in a way, in which you are going to the location but you can really visualize it,��� she says. ���You���re experiencing the adventure in the journey, and there are practical travel tips or travel hacks within them.��� She creates an immersive feeling by including real-time background sounds. ���We���re white water rafting and you���re in the boat, you���re hearing the water or you���re hearing the guy yelling at you,��� she says.

LISANIVER.COM / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

Make Your Own Map

Host: Lisa Niver���

Traveler type: Brave traveler

First episode: December 2022

Niver���s Make Your Own Map podcast focuses on how to step outside of your comfort zone. Niver began the podcast after she turned in the manuscript for her memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty. ���The focus of my podcast is the journey, which means different things in each episode,��� she says. ���When listening to my podcast, people will learn about the place or the person and get tips for how they can evolve as a traveler.���

WORLD FOOTPRINTS LLC / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

World Footprints

Hosts: Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick ���

Traveler type: Conscientious traveler

First episode: 2009

The husband and wife team of Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick host the World Footprints podcast. Previously, they held jobs as lawyers; Tonya was also a White House appointee at the Department of Education. They bring their background of education and social justice to their episodes about travel. Originally, they had a show on terrestrial radio, then moved to a podcast format to have more freedom over what they produced. ���We love to tell the stories that nobody else is telling,��� says Tonya Fitzpatrick. There are ���so many gifts that travel offers us and we try to showcase those.���

KELLY & LAVINIA / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

There She Goes

Hosts: Lavinia Spalding and Kelly Chappie

Traveler type: Storyteller traveler

First episode: April 2021

Lavinia Spalding and Kelly Chappie met each other through their husbands and decided during the pandemic to start the There She Goes podcast. Since they couldn���t travel, they were eager for something travel adjacent. Each episode features an essay written by a woman traveler; authors read their essay during the podcast. Chappie explains that each season is a combination of stories, what they evoke and where the people are going. She says they try to cover a broad range of story types and locations.

BRENT PETERSEN, RADIO MISFITS / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

Destination Eat Drink

Host: Brent Petersen���

Traveler type: Foodie traveler

First episode: December 2018

Petersen began his podcast Destination Eat Drink after a 15-year career in radio. ���I love this idea of what we call in radio, theater of the mind,��� he says. He explains that means helping listeners create images in their mind as they listen to the story. ���My mantra in the podcast is: Food is culture, culture is food.��� In other words, you can learn a lot about people based on what they eat and how the food is prepared.

KIMBERLY TATE AND TAMARA GRUBER / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

The Vacation Mavens

Hosts: Kim Tate and Tamara Gruber���

Traveler type: Family traveler

First episode: April 2016

The Vacation Mavens podcast is hosted by Kim Tate and Tamara Gruber. After meeting at a Kansas City travel conference in 2015, they started a podcast because of the lack of options focusing on family travel that weren���t related to RVs or Disney. Originally, their focus was on younger families, but now that their kids are teens, they also discuss topics such as ���momcations��� or girlfriend getaways. ���Tamara and I both love to share tips that help others plan vacations and get the most out of their trips,��� says Tate.

10XTRAVEL / MIKALAI MANYSHAU/GETTY

Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel  ���

Hosts: Bryce Conway, Emily Jaeckel, Matt Brown and Travis Cormier

Traveler type: Reward traveler

First episode: June 2023

If you love reward points, then the Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel is for you. The four hosts offer a comprehensive look into how to use travel-related reward programs to your advantage. They created a podcast after readers who took their free travel course requested an audio version. ���Our focus is to teach our audience how to use credit card points and miles to lower the cost of their travel and help them travel better,��� explains Emily Jaeckel.

Cheryl Maguire is a freelance writer whose work has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Parents Magazine, Healthline and many other publications. She is a professional member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. ���������

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THANK YOU Los Angeles Travel Show 2024

Thank you so much to the Travel and Adventure Show! I loved speaking in 2023 and 2024 in NYC, Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Thank you to KTLA TV News for including me in your live broadcast from the LA travel show at the Brasil booth with my memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, and to talk about upcoming best travel spots!

My talk in LOS ANGELES at the Travel and Adventure Show “Are You Brave Enough? How to Make Your Dream Trip Happen” SUNDAY Feb 4, 2024 at 2:45pm at the Savvy Traveler Theater Thank you to Vroman’s Bookstore: I loved signing my book for everyone who bought it! SO SPECIAL! THANK YOU! Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty More about LISA NIVER:

In 2023, I spoke at the Travel and Adventure Show in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas.

I spoke at the Chicago Travel Show on January 13 and 14, 2024.

Come hear me speak in Feb 2024 at the Women’s Travel Fest in Mexico and in April 2024 at the Women in Travel Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more about my future events, click here.

Lisa Niver, Pauline Frommer and Rick Steves at the Vroman’s Bookstore booth signing books!

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Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort: A Relaxed Retreat by the Sea

Nestled along the shores of Miami Beach on Millionaire’s Row, the Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort is a haven for travelers. With direct access to the beach and the nine-mile Miami Beachwalk, it’s a welcoming hotel that captures the lively spirit of Miami while providing a relaxed atmosphere that I personally love. Sit poolside in a cabana or steps away on the beach on a bright yellow lounge chair and soak up the sun while listening to the waves.

One standout for me is the commitment to sustainability ��� they even offer reusable water bottles to guests. The hotel has a rich history, dating back to 1951 when the Allison Resort first opened its doors, and the on-site restaurant pays homage to this history and it’s part of the North Beach Resort Historic District. Artfully designed with warm tones and bold touches, the resort���s newly renovated 231 Boho-Deco inspired accommodations represent a fusion of modern comfort and timeless Miami style.

What I really appreciate is the proximity to Miami’s attractions ��� South Beach, the Art Deco Historic District, and the vibrant nightlife of Ocean Drive are just a short drive away. Hilton Cabana Miami Beach is pet-friendly, a feature which adds an extra layer of inclusivity to the family-friendly experience.

Being part of the Hilton family is a bonus. I love accumulating points through the Hilton Honors program, enjoying those member-exclusive benefits, and being able to redeem rewards across the extensive Hilton hotel portfolio.

Moreover, besides the beach, Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort boasts a fitness center, multiple pools, and a great setting for families to unwind by the sea. Personally, I love how the beach feels more private and open, creating the perfect atmosphere for a leisurely walk. Plus, the speedy WiFi is a game-changer for me ��� staying connected has never been more convenient.

Rent a bike or paddleboard, and explore the area along the shoreline. An enjoyable experience is waiting you at Hilton Cabana Miami Beach Resort!

I have stayed at Hilton Hotels and Resorts around the world-see videos below of some of my favorites:

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Five Books That Make Flight Time Disappear

Thank you to Shepherd for publishing my list of best books to take on your next flight! The best books that make the flight time disappear because you feel in the story

By Lisa Niver

Who am I?

As both a lifelong traveler and reader, I cannot start an adventure without a great book. Having owned a Kindle since 2008, I consistently carry a virtual library, curating an assortment of captivating reads for every journey. As a travel journalist, I fly multiple times a month, which amplifies my need and understanding of the perfect in-flight companions; stories that transport and captivate. As an author with a memoir to my name, I appreciate the transformative power of storytelling. This blend of literary passion, frequent travel, and personal authorship has led me on my search for engaging, unforgettable books that mesmerize the reader.  

I wrote…Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty

By Lisa Niver

What is my book about?

It is an empowering memoir that takes readers on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery and resilience. Written with wit and candor, the author recounts 50 challenges she did before she turned 50 as a way to reinvent her life after her divorce. With a perfect blend of humor and heart, it inspires readers to embrace change, confront fears, and find strength in vulnerability. This captivating narrative is an ideal companion for a flight, offering a compelling story that resonates long after landing. 

The books I picked & whyThe Henna Artist

By Alka Joshi

Why did I love this book?

When I read this book, I felt like I was back walking on the streets of India. Alka Joshi’s vivid storytelling will transport you to a world of vibrant colors, rich traditions, and compelling characters.

In this first book of the Jaipur Trilogy, Lakshmi, a skilled henna artist, navigates a complex society, unraveling secrets and defying societal norms. Joshi’s exquisite prose and the book’s engrossing plot offer the perfect blend of escapism and depth, making it an ideal companion for a journey.

As you soar through the skies, it promises to transport you to another time and place, making the flight feel like a brief detour into an enchanting literary world.  

Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life

By Christie Tate

Why did I love this book?

Christie Tate���s candid memoir made me feel like I was part of her therapeutic group experience. I could hear the dishes breaking when she took her anger out on them, and I jumped with joy at her successes.

With humor and vulnerability, she explores the complexities of relationships, mental health, and self-discovery. The book’s engaging narrative and relatable insights make it a page-turner, providing a perfect distraction during a flight. Tate’s wit and vivid writing create a sense of connection, making it an ideal companion for a solo journey.

Whether you’re seeking introspection or simply a captivating story, this book offers a thought-provoking companion to your airborne adventure.

Woman on Fire

By Lisa Barr

Why did I love this book?

I could not put down Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr.

This book is a captivating tale of passion, history, and mystery. Set against the backdrop of 1940s Chicago and war-torn Europe, the novel follows the journey of a resilient journalist navigating love and espionage.

Barr’s evocative prose and meticulous research transport readers to a bygone era, creating a rich tapestry of emotions. The intricate blend of romance and suspense ensures a thrilling reading experience perfectly suited for the transient nature of air travel.

As you glide through the clouds, let the pages of this book transport you to a riveting tale of love, courage, and intrigue, making your journey truly unforgettable. 

Every Note Played

By Lisa Genova

Why did I love this book?

Each of Lisa Genova���s books brings her deep understanding of neuroscience into the portrayal of a family’s journey with a medical issue, making the novel both heart-wrenching and enlightening. 

This book is an emotionally charged novel about a renowned pianist confronting the devastating progression of ALS. It captures the complexities of love, loss, and redemption.

I was especially drawn to this book since my aunt had a similar progression with the same illness. Genova���s compelling exploration of the human spirit and the transformative power of compassion always brings me to tears. As you soar through the skies, let this book be your poignant and immersive literary escape. 

1,000 Places to See Before You Die

By Patricia Schultz

Why did I love this book?

This book is the perfect travel companion for a flight, inspiring wanderlust and igniting the excitement of exploration.

I met the author many years ago at the Travel and Adventure Show in Los Angeles. She has been an incredible mentor to me, including suggesting that I speak at the same show as her! Her comprehensive guide invites readers to diverse destinations across the globe with vivid descriptions, cultural insights, and practical travel tips. Schultz’s passion for travel infuses every page, making it an engaging and informative read.

Whether you’re planning future adventures or simply seeking inspiration, the book’s well-curated list of extraordinary places provides an enchanting escape, turning your flight into a thrilling prelude to the adventures that lie ahead. Embark on a literary voyage with Schultz and let the anticipation of discovery accompany you at 30,000 feet.  

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National Hotel Miami Beach is a Historic Gem!

As I step into the timeless embrace of the National Hotel on Miami Beach, I find myself transported to an era of architectural splendor and coastal allure. This original Art Deco landmark, crafted by architect Roy France in 1939, stands proudly as the exclusive adults-only retreat along the sun-drenched shores of Miami. Recent renovations have seamlessly woven modern comforts into its historic fabric, preserving its allure.

The National Hotel beckons with the South Beach’s longest infinity pool, a captivating 205-foot stretch of liquid serenity. I swam every day and enjoyed this unique opportunity to swim outside in a pool longer than a long course which is normally hard to find.

Inside, the hotel unfolds as a tapestry of history and eclecticism, offering 137 individual guest rooms and suites. I loved the design elements like the push button phone by the elevator and the giraffe inspired carpet design. The lobby lounge exudes a comforting ambiance, the Mareva 1939 Spanish restaurant boasts award-winning culinary delights, and the newly opened Martini Bar adds a touch of sophistication. Meanwhile, the Aqua Bar and Grill allow guests to savor the ocean breeze. Join me in a journey where the past meets the present at the National Hotel, promising an exclusive Miami Beach experience that marries elegance with contemporary luxury.

We loved the acclaimed Spanish cuisine at Mareva 1939, which is recognized as one of Miami’s finest dining establishments. Flavio took incredible care of us and we loved every course from the Los Classicos tapas of Spanish Cheese Platter with quince, almonds and toasted bread and Patatas Bravas, with aioli and spicy tomato sauce to the Principales of Braised Short Ribs with boniato puree, pickled mustard seeds & mushrooms and the Pan Seared Branzino with potato cream and bilbaina sauce. We loved each course made with spectacular ingredients and served with panache! We could feel the heart and soul that executive chef Sergio Chamizo, who was born in Barcelona and raised in Madrid, brings to the hotel���s Spanish concept restaurant, which features dishes he grew up with at home in Spain. While I had rum from Venezula, Nola enjoyed two beautiful and tasty libations one called the Endless Passion made with Don Julio Blanco, passion fruit, agave, fresh lime, orange blossom and Bells ON with Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal and home made Bell pepper cordial, clarified lime, oregano. For dessert, we shared the caramelized torrija brioche with coconut ice cream and pink guava. Sitting outside near the pool made the entire experience even more spectacular.

From the two pools, you are steps away from a walk on the gorgeous sand beach. You can choose to lounge poolside in a cabana or oceanside in a cabana. I strolled along the water taking photos of the unique lifeguard stands and loved the way the colors changed at sunset. I would highly recommend this property and definitely stay here again. I cannot wait to swim in the long pool again and again.

In November, I was in Miami at the Arlo Wynwood which was walking distance to the Business Traveler Awards where I was a judge. I swam in their rooftop pool, enjoyed an art opening in their galley and the Wynwood Walls. I knew when I came back to Miami, I wanted to stay along the sea so I could walk with my toes in the sand every day.

This visit to Miami in Jan 2024, I stayed before I sailed on the brand new Icon of the Seas. Whether you are staying in Miami or setting sail, I know you will love your stay at the historic adults-only National Hotel.

Icon of the Seas by Bobby Laurie

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Talking Travel: Jan News 2024

Jan News 2024 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:I loved speaking in Chicago at the Travel and Adventure Show and on NBC Chicago Today about my memoir, Brave-ish! EVENTS

Come meet me in Los Angeles at the LA Travel and Adventure Show. I will be signing my book in the Vroman’s Bookstore booth # 1251 on SAT Feb 3 and SUN Feb 4 at 1:30pm and speaking on Sunday at 2:45 in the Savvy Traveler Theater.

February 16-19 in Mexico at the Women’s Travel Fest 10 Questions With Women���s Travel Fest Speakers: Lisa NiverApril 12-14 in Utah at the Women in Travel Summit

Learn more about my events: click here and my articles here

NEW PRESS INTERVIEWS: Make Your Own Map Podcast Featured In AARP’s “7 Travel Podcasts You Can Listen To While Waiting In The Airport”

���One way you can plan for your next vacation is by listening to travel podcasts. You can also learn about places you might want to visit, or you can experience the destination if you���re unable to go there. We spoke to travel experts to find out which podcasts are worth listening to, especially if you are stuck waiting at the airport.���

Read Article

Looking For TRAVEL BENEFITS? Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card By Chase

I was honored to be selected to share on camera for the holidays about the Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card by Chase.

Watch the TV Segment

Brave-Ish Featured On Debby Waldman’s “Some Of My Favorite Memoir Reads From 2023”

���Brave-ish was one of my favorite memoirs of the year because it covered such a range of emotion, from the absolute depths of Niver���s horrible marriage, to the way she picked herself up with the support and love of people who truly cared about her and created the life she always wanted. I love stories that show deep resilience.��� ��� Debby Waldman

Read Article

The Best Books That Make The Flight Time Disappear Because You Feel In The Story

As both a lifelong traveler and reader, I cannot start an adventure without a great book. Having owned a Kindle since 2008, I consistently carry a virtual library, curating an assortment of captivating reads for every journey. As a travel journalist, I fly multiple times a month, which amplifies my need and understanding of the perfect in-flight companions; stories that transport and captivate.

Read Article

Brave-Ish With Lisa Niver At Moments With Marianne

Are you looking to create a life of wonder and excitement? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Lisa Niver on her new book Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

Listen Podcast

Thank you to Harvard-Westlake School for sharing about my new book in the alumni news.

I wish I could share my new book with my favorite Westlake teacher, Joannie Parker. I wrote about her class and being at the United Nations Global Assembly for Ms. Magazine:��https://bit.ly/Joannie23��My memoir,��Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, is now available. Thank you to everyone who came to my events at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena and Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica. I hope to see you at one of my future events. I will be speaking at AdWeek NY, Business Travel Awards Miami, DEMA in NOLA, Penn Bookstore in Philly and a keynote in London. I have virtual events too–I am doing a global book club with Wanderful��and an author’s corner for BookFest. Invite me for your next book club or conference. INFO:��https://lisaniver.com/braveish/��Thank you for all of your support for me and my writing! I am very grateful for my education at Westlake School for Girls and look forward to reconnecting. Please contact me through my website or on social��@LisaNiver.

AWARDS for Brave-ish

SEMI FINALIST: Brave-ish is now in round 3 of the Hearten 2023 HEARTEN Book Awards for Inspiring & Uplifting Non-Fiction. I was on the Long List and then the Short List and now a SEMI FINALIST!

WINNER: Goody Business Book Awards: Memoir/Self-Help

Runner-up: Zibby Awards: Best Book for The Strong Woman

We Said Go Travel is #10 on the 100 Best Travel Lifestyle Blogs and websites for 2024

and I am also the #3 Top Travel Influencer for 2024 for Afluencer as well as #10 of Female Influencers Brands Can’t Get Enough of for 2024!

THANK YOU for watching my podcast! It has now been seen and heard in 41 countries on 6 continents!

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WATCH my podcast, “MAKE YOUR OWN MAP: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE?” on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Podcast,  Google Podcasts, Audacy, Audible, Anchor, Pandora & iHeart Radio

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My Podcast: “Make Your Own Map!”

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Embrace the stage weaving tales that resonate and uplift the hearts of many.”

BRAVE-ish, One Break-up, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty

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The post Talking Travel: Jan News 2024 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

A Triumphant Trio: Celebrating Awards for My Book, Podcast, and Website

It’s time for a bit of CELEBRATION! I wanted to share recent honors for my book, my podcast and my website. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my stories and videos. Thank you for all of your support. BOOK AWARDS: Goody Business Book Awards: Memoir/Self-Help Zibby Awards: Best Book for The Strong Woman The 2023 HEARTEN Book Awards Semi-Finalist for Inspiring & Uplifting Non-Fiction My Podcast, Make Your Own Map, won 2nd place for Diversity in TV/Streaming at the NAEJ Awards
My website is #10 on the top 100 Travel Lifestyle Blogs and Websites I am also the #3 Top Travel Influencer for 2024 for Afluencer as well as #10 of Female Influencers Brands Can’t Get Enough of for 2024! I want to send a special thanks to my awesome literary agent, Chip MacGregor and my phenomenal Post Hill Press editor, Debra Englander! This team has believed in my book from the very beginning. I am deeply grateful! And here is a new review from Midwest Book Review: THANK YOU for all of your support. COMING SOON: Feb 27, 2024 get ready for the AUDIO BOOK of Brave-ish narrated by ME!!

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Bring Them Home. We Need To Go.

114 Days. Supporting Israel during this crisis.��

By Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner, Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanuel of Closter, NJ

Eventually, Israel will regulate its breathing and start to metabolize the indigestible that happened 114 days ago. Questions will fester about failures and security breakdowns and hubris, protest movements and radical Knesset members all that precipitated the darkest day in 75 years. These are all important questions, and they should and will be dealt with.

But what do we do from the Diaspora to offer support in the days and weeks ahead?  Since October 7, my heart physically hurts. Like it was punched. Hard. So what can we do now while we continue to grieve and worry?

We can go to Israel.

I have been to Israel now 3 times since October 7.�� Once with some rabbi colleagues and twice with my congregation.�� We went to console, to volunteer, to stand in solidarity and to bear witness.�� This is a moment in the timeline of Jewish history. We cannot sit back from our armchairs in the diaspora. This is a turning point for our people. We need to go.

Sunrise in Jerusalem, October 2015 by Lisa Niver

I have traveled to Israel many times with my colleagues and friends from J2 adventures, who have been particularly brave and amazingly creative and helpful in creating meaningful (albeit tragically sad) and important experiences for us on the ground, while coping with their own ongoing grief. We have been awed by the stamina of our intrepid guide educators (whom we love!) and who have walked alongside us on our solidarity trips as our guides – some Israeli, some American, and some non-Jews ��� all who are identifying with the existential questions that they all face living in Israel at this moment in time. They took us to places like K���far Azza Kibbutz and some really emotionally difficult places that are by no means the normal spots we frequent on our ���normal��� trips to Israel.  We realize that the Israel economy is taking a major hit as a result of the war, as it always does.  If we can continue to go and support our Israeli colleagues, even if it means experiencing Israel in ways different from how we have experienced Israel in the past, it is up to us to stand tall in the face of that adversity.  It���s up to us to help keep the Israeli economy moving.

I came to K���far Azza (and to Israel on these solidarity trips) now for the very same reasons I visit Poland; to take testimony. To refute those who deny our painful history and now reality. To bring hope and hugs to the suffering survivors and to bring a proverbial hammer and nail for when it is a time to rebuild. And rebuild we will. But this pain is raw. In the Jewish timeline of mourning, we have just barely finished the��Shloshim �����30-day period ��� post burial. Time has not begun to digest this atrocity. We are far from the process of healing.

Heroes without Capes

Not every hero wears a cape. Israel is full of cape-less heroes. Scores of books will be written about them. Meet one. Dvir.

DVIR

Dvir is the uncle of 10-month-old twins. Dvir makes me look scrawny. He is strong, tough and steely at first glance. His eyes and voice were worthy of a different body. Dvir is spent, exhausted, worried and breathless. When I met him, I got the idea his tear-tank was running on empty.

On our first rabbinic mission to Israel, post October 7, one of our very first meetings was with Dvir, the burly uncle of 10-month-old twins. These babies��� parents were murdered early on the 7th of October in their home. Dvir���s nuclear and extended family live in K���far Azza, near the border of Gaza. On our trip, we met with Hatzalah first responders who were the very ones who took custody of these orphaned infants early in the morning of the 8th of October when they could be saved safely. The babies were crying ferociously and were dangerously dehydrated. The Hatzalah responders called their headquarters asking for counsel. Never had they encountered an experience with treating babies when no parents were present or accessible. On this same day, we met the medics who treated the dehydrated babies and visited the same hospital where they were examined and nourished and reunited with aunts, uncles and grandparents.

On a different day during our solidarity tour, we donned military grade helmets and bullet proof vests for a tour of K���far Azza. Three residents who used to live there took us around and told us stories of people who lived in the Kibbutz. I intentionally use the past tense. They also shared the fate of each person as we passed their home. ���This one was killed. This one was kidnapped. This one was injured. This one was a miracle. This one was out of town that weekend,��� they shared matter-of-factly. Unreal. A few minutes deep into the devastation and horror, tiptoeing over broken glass and charred walls and bullet holes in every direction, the guide pointed out the home where terrorists used the babies to draw people in and kill them. The very same twin babies whose uncle Dvir we met, and who the responders from Hatzalah saved and brought to the hospital. We saw the remnants of their nursery and what must have been their stroller on the porch of their home. I could not believe how close we were to their story.

Then, we left K���far Azza and headed to a small village just a little North of Tel Aviv, called Shfayim, where my kids used to play in the water park during our summers in Israel. Most of the displaced residents of K���far Azza are making Shfayim their home for now. We went to meet these internal forced refugees and hear them recount their stories. Each was more frightening than the last. We saw the homes and destruction and their stories closed a loop of their nightmarish saga. Upon walking in to Shfayim, I saw a woman whose face looked familiar, but I could not place her. She was on the floor playing with twin babies. I had a strange intuition. Without permission, I plopped myself down on the floor where the babies were holding on to furniture, cruising.

I turned to the woman and calmly asked in Hebrew, ���Are you Dvir���s sister?���

���Yes��� she said with a look of some surprise since I came out of nowhere and clearly knew her, but still, little is surprising her these days. I then reached out my hands to the twins and one came to my embrace. I said to her, ���These are the twins.��� I did not ask the question. I was making a statement. She looked at me with eyes that said yes. No nod. No words. But we both knew. I kissed one of the babies on his forehead like he was my own. He is all our babies. I played peekaboo with him. He flashed giant smiles my direction that showed me his baby teeth breaking through their gums. He kept a keen eye on his brother. Thank God for those smiles, or I would have been streaming tears. No one needed that. These kids will have a lifetime of people looking at them and crying. Let them smile and learn to walk. On our first day of our mission, we met D���vir and heard his story and the story of his twin nephews. On our second day, we met the medics who rescued the twin babies and transported them to the hospital. We visited the hospital that treated them and reunited them with their aunts, uncles and grandparents. The next day, we saw the home where these twins lived and the place where life was ripped from their parents. The following day, we walked into the relocated community of K���far Azza, now in Shfayim, and the first sight we encounter are these same twins. In the flesh. In diapers. Smiling. Drooling. Whining. Sucking a bottle.

The twins��� story has been woven into each day and is living in my heart and head. It will be forever. These babies. Our babies. Their pain. Our pain. Death and life. Smiles and tears. Despair and hope. One thread weaving through it all. Is the thread making a quilt to warm us or is the thread unraveling the blanket of security and comfort?

Go to Israel. Bear witness.

Tell Dvir���s story and the twins��� story so that the next generation will never forget October 7, 2023.

David-Seth Kirshner is currently the Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Closer, NJ and has been very active nation-wide in the leadership of the Conservative movement.  Rabbi Kirshner is the Past President of the New York Board of Rabbis, a member of the Chancellor���s Rabbinic Cabinet at the Jewish Theological Seminary and was selected among 50 rabbis to participate in the inaugural class of the Kellogg School of Rabbinic Management at Northwestern University.

For more thoughts on Israel and Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner���s reflections on the war and his recent trips, you can read his book�� Streams of Shattered Consciousness , published by Xlibris.

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My Chicago Winter Adventures 2024

I was honored to be back in Chicago to speak again at the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show.

The Westin O’Hare was a luxurious winter haven for my stay so I could be prepared to share my stories at the show and on NBC Chicago Today about my award-winning memoir, Brave-ish.

Matt Rodrigues, Lisa Niver and Cortney Hall on NBC Chicago Today.

I wanted to be in Rosemont since I was speaking two days in a row at the Travel Show at the Convention Center. “Westin Hotels & Resorts empowers guests to enhance their well-being while on the road through their Six Pillars of well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well.” The Westin O’Hare has wellness interwoven into every facet. I slept so well on the award-winning Heavenly�� Bed that I may purchase one for myself and the Heavenly Bath indulges you in a spa-like escape within the confines of your own room. I loved the rain shower and the thick comfy robe and towels.

The WestinWORKOUT�� offerings include Fitness Studios with TRX fitness equipment, and you can request in the app or at the front desk to use their Gear Lending program for the Recover and Recharge Kit by Hyperice which includes Hyperice���s most sought-after recovery gear such as the new Normatec Go, Hypervolt Go 2, and Hypersphere Mini or the Sculpt and Flow Kit by Bala which includes Bala���s full body workout essentials such as bangle weights, resistance bands, balance blocks, and a Westin branded yoga mat. You can see all of it in my video from my stay at the hotel.

Swimming is part of my travel ritual and is an important counterbalance to the energy required and excitement of speaking. I picked this hotel so that I could swim every day which allows me to unwind and recharge amidst the demands of my schedule.

The Westin O’Hare has a shuttle service seamlessly transporting guests the short distance to and from the Chicago O’Hare airport multiple times an hour. In the cold and rain, I took the shuttle to the airport and then the Blue Line to downtown Chicago to meet my friends.

During the day, I had signed books with City Lit Books at the Chicago Travel Show and wanted to check out their bookstore in Logan Square. We ate next door at Lula Cafe, which has an organic and comfortable dining experience.

The next night at the Fairmont Lodge, the experience was nothing short of magical, combining the elegance of the Fairmont with the nostalgic joy of toasting marshmallows. I ate with local Chicago authors, Christie Tate, who wrote both BFF and Group and Alison Hammer, author of several books including You and Me and Us and we enjoyed our mocktails, charcuterie and conversation. Making s’mores was a huge highlight!

Thank you to PADI and the Travel and Adventure Show for the opportunity to speak and to NBC for including me on their show. I am so grateful for these opportunities. I loved my stay at the Westin O’Hare and hope to return in another season when I can wander on the River Walk without my coat and gloves and explore the Westin Chicago River North.

Next I will be speaking at the Los Angeles Travel Show, Women’s Travel Fest in Mexico and Women in Travel Summit in Utah. See all my events here. I hope to meet you in person at one of my talks.

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