Google Review: Blair Kaplan Venables on Grief Trips

I've been on multiple grief trips with Happy Grieving… and I keep going back. That probably tells you everything you need to know, but I'll say more anyway.

I've joined the Bali Grief Trip twice, plus Australia and the Maldives. I've shown up as both a participant and a co-facilitator, which means I've experienced these trips from both sides… and I would choose them again and again in either role.

If you're trying to decide which trip to go on, what you should know is that there isn't a "best" one. They're all incredible. The magic isn't just the destination; it's the people who end up in the space with you. Every single trip has its own energy, its own inside jokes, its own tears, its own breakthroughs. So if you're stuck choosing, go with what calls to you. Trust that. The right group will meet you there.

The grief workshops are powerful without being overwhelming. You're not thrown into the deep end and expected to perform your pain. You're gently guided into it, supported through it, and given space to process in a way that actually feels safe. There's a mix of structured conversations, reflection, and connection that helps you understand your grief instead of just surviving it.

And then… You step outside, and you're in Bali, or the Maldives, or Australia.

That's where something really beautiful happens.

You start to feel, in real time, what it means for grief and joy to coexist. You can cry in the morning and laugh over dinner. You can share your story in a workshop and then go swim in the ocean with people who truly get it. It's not about "moving on." It's about expanding your capacity to hold both.

The travel side of these trips is just as thoughtfully curated, and Rachel continues to blow my mind with her planning. We're talking premium accommodations, incredible food, and seamless private transport. Everything is taken care of so you can actually exhale. You don't have to plan, coordinate, or think. You just get to be.

But the real luxury? It's the people.

The friendships that come out of these trips are the kind you don't have to explain yourself in. They span across the world and are built on something deeper than small talk. These are people who understand grief without you having to translate it. People who can sit with you in the hard moments and celebrate you in the light ones.

Grief Trips by Happy Grieving has created something truly special. Not just trips, but experiences that stay with you long after you've unpacked your suitcase.

If you're feeling the pull to go… go. And I'll probably see you there!

Originally posted as a 5-star Google review of Grief Trips by Happy Grieving. Read the original review on Google Maps