It's been a while.

Welcome to the new Merakiva Travel, and its newsletter.

Over the last few years, Merakiva Travel has changed.

What started as a group trips company (for 'millennials and zillennials') has become, primarily, a travel agency. Some of you have been clients, and some of you had no idea Merakiva could plan your travel.

Today, Merakiva Travel officially stands on its own as a travel agency. Come to Merakiva to plan your group trip, your honeymoon, that cruise you've been eyeing, or even your annual Disney World pilgrimage. I can plan and book it all. Planning something or thinking about a future trip? Let’s talk, just hit reply or check out the newly redesigned merakivatravel.com.

This newsletter is all about getting you excited about travel and sharing the deals that make it happen. As a travel advisor, I have access to offers the public can't see and subscriptions to sites that alert me when fares drop. I'll be sharing those, plus a Place I'm Obsessed With.

While I can only travel so much, I never stop digging deep and learning about the many places in our world. Sometimes they're obscure, sometimes they’re personal, sometimes they're tourist meccas (sometimes… it's Mecca). They might relate to a deal or just whatever came up on my TikTok feed. I can't promise you'll find every place interesting, but I can promise I care enough to write a few hundred words about it.

But you might be asking: what happens to the old Merakiva Travel, the group trips company?

Today also marks the first look at a new vision for archaeological group travel:

Stonebound Expeditions

Stonebound is built on one simple idea: Adventure Archaeology. These are trips that capture the spirit of exploration, excitement, and pushing out into the frontier. They get off the typical tourist path and get you physically into the world. Think kayaking through ancient waterways, hiking up a mountain to a Roman theater, or driving ATVs through the desert to a fortress overtaken by the sands.

The idea came to me while sitting on top of a pyramid looking over the hundreds of miles of surrounding jungle. This is archaeology. This is adventure. This is what I want to share with people.

More to come about the first batch of Stonebound trips. But you can sign up here to be the first to hear when trips drop. And while you're there, share it with a friend (or two, or three) who might also be interested.

But for now, the first place I can't stop thinking about: Namibia. (And the deals below)

Place that I’m Obsessed With

Over the last couple of months, I've become obsessed with Namibia. Africa, in general, is so much larger and has so many more interesting places than most Americans realize.

Through some random googling (it turns out searching "obscure places" gets you to some obscure places), I ended up on a fascinating abandoned town, Kolmanskop. It's the archetypal ghost town, with the desert sand steadily reclaiming it. Some of the images look fake, like something out of a movie.

German colonists founded it in 1908 to mine the diamonds found in the sand nearby. So despite sitting in the middle of the desert, it became a wealthy town built as if it were in Germany: houses that look like they were picked up from somewhere in the German Alps and dropped on top of a sand dune.

But like many colonial company towns that existed only to house the workers who extracted the resources nearby, when the diamonds ran out, the town was abandoned. With nothing but the mines to sustain it, the last residents were gone by the 1950s. Namibia's constantly shifting dunes began covering the buildings and blowing through broken windows, filling the rooms with eerie piles of sand.

But Namibia is much more than that. It's the second-least densely populated country in the world (after only Mongolia), and unlike Mongolia's steppes, much of the country is desert. Along most of the coastline, the dunes run straight into the sea, making for some of the most dramatic ocean views I've seen.

Those sandy beaches slope into the ocean, creating huge, shifting sandbars hidden just below the surface. Add the hot desert air meeting the cold Atlantic currents, which creates dense fog along the coast, and you get a navigational death trap. So many ships ran aground there that it earned the name the Skeleton Coast.

You also can't talk about Namibia without mentioning its fraught history as a German colony. Many of Namibia's towns, like Swakopmund and Lüderitz, look so German you'd think Walt Disney built them as an amusement park. It's one of the most bizarre visual contrasts out there. Who would think you could eat a traditional Black Forest cake in view of a massive sand dune?

Sadly, that isn't the only German connection. Namibia was also the site of a horrific genocide carried out by German colonial forces: the Herero and Nama Genocide. Widely recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century, it also saw Germany's first concentration camps. Up to 65,000 Herero, around 80% of their entire population, were killed, along with roughly 10,000 Nama. It's a painful part of Namibia's history, but understanding it is vital if you want to visit.

And visit it you should!

This deep dive into the history opened the door to a question: can I actually go? The answer was a resounding yes.

Namibia is one of the great hidden gems of travel today. Because it's one of the safest countries in Africa and so sparsely populated, it's a rare place where you can DIY a safari and create your own adventure.

The classic Namibia trip involves renting a 4x4, usually with a built-in rooftop tent, or a larger van with an interior sleeping area, and driving around the country. You're not just driving off-road across wide-open desert. You're visiting the oasis waterholes where wildlife gathers. That means lions, zebras, and elephants, all within view of your tent (don't worry: the camps inside Etosha National Park are fenced).

Truly, I don't know of a better way to experience the wildlife and landscapes of Africa than doing it yourself. While you can plan it all on your own, some camping and off-roading experience is recommended. For those who want a bit more support, there are great guided options that keep the intimacy of a self-drive but add experienced drivers and guides. Tours that I would love to help you plan (reply here and we’ll get those plans rolling).

Two months ago, I knew nothing about Namibia. Now I'm itching to hop on a safari. If my obsession is turning into your obsession, reply and let me know. I'll work with you to find the right option, from the ultimate off-roading 4x4 to a luxurious guided trip through the dunes. Let's do it.

Travel deals below:

Travel Deals This Week

Flight deals

Fares like these tend to vanish within a few days, so if one catches your eye, reply and I'll check live prices for your dates.

New York (JFK & Newark)

Aruba · from $315 round-trip, nonstop from Newark (usually ~$550) A Dutch Caribbean island just off the coast of Venezuela, so it sits south of the usual hurricane track and is reliably sunny. Think white-sand Eagle Beach, flamingos, and a desert interior full of cacti and sea caves. Also JFK nonstop from $354. Travel: October–April, plus June

St. Maarten · from $285 round-trip from Newark (usually ~$520) One island, two countries: the Dutch side has the beach where jets skim over your head on landing, and the French side has Grand Case, the Caribbean's unofficial food capital. October and November are the tail end of hurricane season, which means quieter beaches and better hotel rates before the December rush (and worth adding travel insurance). Travel: October–November

Porto, Portugal · $429 round-trip, nonstop from Newark on TAP (usually ~$1,015) Tiled churches, a double-decker iron bridge, and port lodges across the Douro where tastings are part of the tour. Fall and early winter bring mild temps in the 50s–60s and some rain, but far fewer crowds, lower prices, and Christmas markets by December. Bring a raincoat and stay for the second glass. Stack the flight with one of the discounted Celestyal cruises (below) or check out a sample itinerary of a week in Portugal. Travel: October–December

Madrid, Spain · $495 round-trip from JFK, connecting in Lisbon (usually ~$800) The Prado in the morning, a long lunch, tapas crawls after dark, and the whole country a fast train away. Wide dates, so this works for a fall city break or a spring escape. Travel: October–March, plus May

Bangkok, Thailand · $889 round-trip from Newark (usually ~$1,525) Street food, gilded temples, and rooftop bars over the Chao Phraya. October is the end of the rainy season, and November kicks off the cool, dry high season. If you can swing late November, you'll catch Loy Krathong (Nov 25), when thousands of candlelit floats drift down the river. Travel: October–November

Baltimore (BWI)

St. Maarten · $270 round-trip (usually ~$550). See New York above.

Cancún, Mexico · $346 round-trip (usually ~$510) Yes, the beaches, but Cancún is also the doorway to the Yucatán: cenotes to swim in, Mayan cities like Chichén Itzá and Tulum, and the new Tren Maya to string them together. Dates run all the way into next summer. I'll give you a hint that the first Stonebound Expeditions[stoneboundexpeditions.com] trip may be utilizing this route on one of the qualifying dates. Travel: October–July

Aruba · $403 round-trip (usually ~$680). See New York above.

Got points?

Iceland · 28,000–31,000 points + ~$250 round-trip on JetBlue, nonstop from New York or Baltimore (cash fare ~$850) JetBlue's TrueBlue lets you pool points transferred from several credit-card programs, so scattered balances can add up to one real trip. Spring and summer 2027 dates price best, which is good timing for midnight sun. Travel: now through September 2027

Points bookings come down to timing and knowing which program to transfer to. I can help you figure out the best use of what you've got. How far ahead to book with points →

Cruise & vacation offers

For people who swear they're not cruise people

Virgin Voyages · $100 bar tab per cabin, stacked with 70% off your second sailor Adults-only, no buffets, no kids' clubs, more boutique festival than floating buffet. It's built for people who never pictured themselves on a cruise. Book a balcony or suite in October and get a $100 bar tab on top of the current savings. This one is only available when you book through me. Book by Oct 31 · almost every sailing through 2028

Celestyal · 7-night Mediterranean cruises from $549 per person A Greek-run line with an uncrowded, port-heavy style. Think the best of a Mediterranean ferry with the comfort of a traditional cruise. The $549 fares are winter sailings (December–February) linking Lisbon, Tangier, Valencia, Mallorca and Barcelona, with port fees, gratuities, Wi-Fi and drinks with meals included. Winter in Spain is one of my favorite times. Stack the cruise deal with a flight deal to Lisbon or Madrid to see the Mediterranean for cheaper than you ever imagined. Book by Nov 2

Grown-up, well-fed, and in no hurry

Oceania Cruises · up to 40% off most stateroom categories A cruise line that's really about the food, with mid-size ships, a country-club-casual style, and no formal nights. Specialty dining, gratuities and Wi-Fi are included, plus your choice of wine & beer or a shore-excursion credit. The sale covers the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and Northern Europe. Book by Nov 3

Cunard · up to 35% off select voyages The last of the great ocean-liner lines: afternoon tea, dress-up gala nights, and the Queen Mary 2 sailing between New York and Southampton. Summer 2027 Mediterranean sailings (Italy, Greece, Croatia) start around $1,180 per person for 7 nights. Book by Dec 7

Small ships, a big world

Windstar · free all-inclusive package + $300 deposits Sailing yachts, not your traditional cruise ship. Travel with a few hundred guests and a platform off the back for kayaking and swimming. The free package covers gratuities, Wi-Fi and drinks, on select sailings through 2027 (like Tahiti, the Canaries, the Caribbean, Europe). Book by Nov 17

Swan Hellenic · free balcony upgrade + $250 per person onboard credit Expedition ships with fewer than 200 guests, from the Arctic and Greenland to West Africa and Raja Ampat. Book an oceanview on a select 2027 voyage and sail in a balcony cabin. Reduced solo supplements on some cabins.

One of the only cruises I've ever seen that stops in Namibia! If the idea of a giant cruise ship hasn't appealed to you but you want see some of the world's lesser destinations, this is for you. Book by Nov 7

HX Expeditions · an extra 5% off cabins, 10% off suites, on top of current sale prices The Norwegian expedition line, now 130 years in, going to Antarctica, Galápagos, Greenland and Alaska. For the once in a lifetime expeditions, like a 12-day Antarctica trip (from about $9,700), that extra 5% is roughly $500 per person back in your pocket. Book by Nov 9 · departures through March 2028

The champagne's already poured

Silversea · save up to $2,500 per guest The ultimate luxury cruise experience, with all-suite ships equipped with a butler, all-inclusive drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi. Savings apply on select voyages worldwide, with deposits from 15%. A favorite of some of my clients. Book by Nov 2

Want in on any of these? Just reply to this email. I'll check availability, find the right dates or sailing, and handle the booking from there.

Until next time,

Marshall | Merakiva Travel

Just reply to this email to start planning your next trip.