LEGGO is IJUS Travel’s monthly spark of inspiration—part magazine, part guidebook, part love letter to exploration. Each issue blends founder Mika Smith’s personal travel stories with curated escapes, cultural insights, insider tips, and exclusive offers. From soulful journeys across the diaspora to villa vs. resort wisdom, LEGGO is your incentive to move from from daydream to departure.
FROM DAYDREAM TO DEPARTURE LEGGO
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YOUR MONTHLY SPARK OF TRAVEL INSPIRATION FROM
JAMAICA TRAVEL GUIDE
HOLIDAY TRIPS
GET ‘EM WHILE THEY ARE HOT DEALS
2026 PREVIEW
PACK YOUR BAGS, OPEN YOUR HEART, AND LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
SEPTEMBER ‘25
CALIFORNIA SELLER OF TRAVEL #2151995-50
TABLE OF CONTENT
04
07
05
06
SENEGAL FOR NEW YEAR’S
JAMAICA TRAVEL GUIDE
JAMAICAN CHRISTMAS
MAUI FOR THANKSGIVING
11
14
08
13
HOT DEALS & STEALS
CABO VERDE CARNIVAL
HOLIDAY GETAWAYS
2026 TRIPS IN THE WORKS
16 NAPA BLACK FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE
15
JAMAICA SPRING BREAK
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LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
Travel has always been more than vacation for me—it’s a heartbeat. My own began in the early ’90s when I won a McDonald’s sweepstakes and flew to Dakar, Senegal, traveling with Alex Haley’s son. At just nineteen, I stepped through the Door of No Return, listened to griots, danced to African rhythms, and haggled in the bustling markets. Cultural tourism had me hooked. I promised myself then: one new international destination every year. I kept that vow. Buddy-pass hookups, endless discount sites, every reward mile I could earn—I worked every angle. I’ve returned to the Motherland many times, and this December I’ll go back to Senegal for the first time in thirty years. The excitement feels just as electric as it did on that very first trip. Life added new chapters. When I moved to Atlanta, bought my first home, and started a family, I began a tradition of holiday travel. We’d spend Christmas on a cruise, or New Year’s Eve in Cuba. Eventually, extended family realized it was a new tradition and joined in. Ready to start your own tradition of holiday travel? See our curated list on p. 9 – 11. My adult daughter (aka my broke little best friend) still joins me annually in Hawaii to celebrate our November birthdays & Thanksgiving. Find out how to join us on p 7. She’s even stepping in as IJUS Travel’s college liaison, curating trips like our upcoming Spring Break in Jamaica (details on p. 17).
Recently I took my mom and her friends to Jamaica for her 70th birthday—her first visit to the island. We chose an all-inclusive resort for this trip, and they loved it so much they’re already planning a villa stay for later this year. Learn the difference between resort and villa travel on p. 5. Since 2017, I’ve been the go-to planner for family reunions, work retreats, and girlfriends’ getaways. Years in corporate hospitality taught me how to design seamless experiences, and now, with the support of FORA, I’ve launched IJUS Travel—a modern travel advisor service for companies and individuals alike. From first spark to final boarding pass, I bring hands- on planning, booking, and on-the- ground support that turns vacations into intentional journeys. This magazine is an extension of that passion. Leggo is where daydreams take flight: a monthly collection of destinations, insider tips, and soulful stories to move you from “maybe someday” to “I’m on my way.” I’ll share more about carnivals and my dance background in future issues (IYKYK), but check out how you can join me to sabar through the streets of Senegal (p. 7) and samba through the islands of Cabo Verde (p. 15). For now, I invite you to open these pages, catch the rhythm, and let the journey begin.
EDITOR & FOUNDER’S NOTE
WELCOME TO THE VERY FIRST ISSUE OF LEGGO
Leggo!
(Top to bottom) My mom’s birthday crew in Jamaica. An atlanta radio host, tour guide, and me on the Senegal trip in the early 90's.
Founder & Editor, Leggo | IJUS Travel LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
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JAMAICA THIS
LEGGO | SEPT ‘25 MONTH'S HOT SPOT Intentional • Joyful • Unforgettable • Soulful IJUS travel
VILLA VS HOTEL JAMAICA TRAVEL TIP VACATION YOUR WAY
Private villas in Jamaica promise an elevated, intimate, and customizable retreat—perfect for those seeking luxury fused with authenticity. Conversely, hotels provide seamless convenience, predictability, and social ambiance—ideal for travelers who prioritize simplicity and shared resort-style experiences.
Privacy
Staff
1
2
If you value exclusivity - private pools, gardens, and multiple living areas then a villa is ideal. In a hotel, shared spaces like lobbies, pools, and dining areas offer less privacy and interaction with other guests.
Villas often comes with dedicated staff—chefs, butlers, housekeeping. Hotel concierges and hospitality, while efficient, are spread across many guests, limiting personalization.
3
Flexibility
4
Value
Set your own rhythm for meals, sleep, and socializing without having to adhere to hotel schedules at a villa. If scheduling is your jam, hotels offer structured routines with constraints on shared spaces.
Significant savings per person are possible at villas with a larger group. Resort fees, restaurant mark-ups, and conveniences come at a price at hotels. But a smaller group may get better value at a hotel. Location 6 Nestled in quiet cliffside views, or verdant hills—villas often offer immersion into Jamaica’s natural beauty. Clustered near towns or resort zones—hotels are convenient, but often less serene.
Authenticity
5
Homespun décor and local cuisine at villas offer deeper cultural immersion and authentic culinary experiences. Hotels may offer polished, but generic Jamaican experiences, sanitized for mass appeal.
Let us design your Jamaican escape - private villa or luxe hotel, chef prepared meals or buffets, hidden beaches, dancehall nights, we got it all!
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LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
JAMAICA FOR THE HOLIDAYS
DEC 22 -29, 2025
Island Jingle,. Unwind Season
This Christmas, every sense is awakened—sunlit mornings, vibrant flavors, rhythmic music, and the luxury of a private villa retreat. Jamaica becomes more than a holiday; it’s a
season of joy, connection, and unforgettable island magic.
FLIGHTS FROM MKE INCLUDED, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
$3200 pp Limited spots. Reserve now. ijustravel.com/ocho-rios-2025
IJUS travel
LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
THANKSGIVING IN MAUI
GIVE THANKS
NOV 28 - DEC 2, 2025
This Thanksgiving, trade crowded tables for golden coastlines, and swap stress for serenity. Join us in Maui for 5 days of pure presence— where turquoise waves greet you each morning from your ocean-view room and daily breakfast fuels your adventures beneath the sun. Explore the island’s wild side with curated excursions: bask on sun- kissed shores, catch a wave, or meet Maui’s most majestic animals up close. Round-trip flights from LAX, airport transfers, and immersive itinerary are all included—because this trip is about receiving, not rushing.
$2500 pp Limited spots. Reserve now. ijustravel.com/hawaii-2025
Intentional Joy. Unforgettable Sunsets.
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LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
SENEGAL 2025
Inspired Journey Unified Sound DEC 21 - JAN 4
Sync your heartbeat with the pulsing drums of Casamance and bask in the lantern-lit glow of the New Year’s Fanal in Saint-Louis. This 15-day odyssey carries you through Senegal’s living history and luminous coastline. Curated by IJUS Travel and guided by master drummer Aly Guissé, the journey invites you to reconnect with ancestral rhythms—feel the heartbeat of sabar beneath your feet, share in night-long Taneber celebrations, and trace the echoes of resilience and joy that cross the Atlantic. More than a tour, it’s a homecoming to the Motherland, where music, dance, and community open their arms and welcome you home.
MORNING BEATS. MARKET STROLLS. NIGHT-LONG DANCING UNDER THE STARS.
$3500 pp Limited spots. Reserve now. ijustravel.com/senegal-2025 IJUS travel
LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
WINTER GETAWAY HOLIDAY GETAWAYS
Still buzzing from its feature in White Lotus, Thailand offers both beach and adventure, making it the perfect place to reset. STILL WEIGHING OPTIONS FOR WINTER GETAWAY?
01
Thailand
02
Mexico
An easy flight from many US cities, Mexico offers upscale beaches in Punta Mita and historic charm in San Miguel de Allende.
03
Whistler
For Canadian ski-in/out convenience and the apres- ski fireplace of your dreams, Fairmont Chateau Whistler is a top pick.
IJUS travel
LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
WINTER GETAWAY
EUROPEAN
HOLIDAY MARKETS
Prague
Nuremberg
Prague’s Christmas markets begin on November 29th and are open every day (including the holidays) until January 6th. The main markets are at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, just a 5-minute walk from each other.
One of the most famous Christmas markets in the world, the Nuremberg markets date from the 17th century. This year’s opening ceremony is set for November 28 at 5:30 pm, and the market runs until Christmas Eve.
Vienna
Budapest
Austria’s capital is home to some of my favorite markets: Karlsplatz (November 21 to December 23), Am Hof (November 14 to December 23), Spittelberg (November 14 to December 23), and the the Old Viennese Christmas Market in Freyung Square (2025 dates TBD).
Don’t miss the Christmas Fair at Vorosmarty Square for local crafts (Nov 18 to Dec 31. The Christmas market at St Stephen’s Basilica (Nov 18 to Jan 1) is smaller, but arguably even prettier with a light show projected on the façade of the Basilica daily from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
IJUS travel
LEGGO | SEPT ‘25
CONTACT
Have a trip in mind? Message me so that we can start planning. And sign up for our list so you don’t miss when new group trips, travel tips, and deals drop.
404-680-5369
mika@ijustravel.com
www.ijustravel.com
SEPT ‘25
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