The National Park Service set a record for visitation in 2024. There were almost 331.9 million recreation vistas logged at all of its 433 units. That includes famous national parks like Yellowstone but also places such as parkways, battlefields, national seashores, memorials, and historic sites.
Here are the most visited National Parks for 2024:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (12.19 million
Zion National Park (4.94 million )
Grand Canyon National Park ((4.91Million)
Yellowstone National Park (4.74 million)
Rocky Mountain National Park (4.15 million)
Yosemite National Park (4.12 million)
Acadia National Park (3.96 million)
Olympic National Park (3.71million)
Grand Teton National Park (3.62 million)
Glacier National Park (3.2 million). -adapted from CNN
When you are getting ready to take a long flight you may want to consider including compression socks when you pack your carry on bag. Blood clots are no joke and when you are sitting for long periods of time, the blood can become stagnant and blood clots can form. I am not a doctor but you may want to ask your doctor about these socks.
Before going on that European trip you’ve been looking forward to for a long time, make sure that you do your research to see if your destination requires an ETIAS. it is a visa-like form that you may need in addition to your passport. Many countries in Europe will begin requiring them sometime this year. London has already started. It is very easy to Google ETIAS and the documents can be applied for online.
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston, Idaho.- American Cruise Lines
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Call or email if interested. Collette Vacations
September 26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out early.
September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fall, 2026. Colors of New England. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fuller Travel Service is open 9:am-6pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
Behaving-badly season seems to have started early in Rome this year, with three visitors from New Zealand getting into trouble. The trio were stopped Sunday night as they started to wade into the Trevi Fountain. As they were being escorted away from the area, one of the tourists, a 30-year-old man, broke free of the police and jumped into the fountain as the authorities gave chase, a spokesperson for Rome’s Capital Police told CNN they were fined the equivalent of $520.-CNN
If your travel plans include New York City, you may want to visit New York’s Center for Jewish History. They are showcasing a tour of a full-scale recreation of the secret annex where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis in Amsterdam during WWII. The exhibit was set to end on April 30 but it has been extended until October 31.-CNN
America Airlines has announced that they will begin testing free wifi on a few of their routes to try to assess customer interest. I’ve got to believe there will be a lot of customer interest.-Travel Weekly
If you are going to Amsterdam this year, keep in mind that they will be celebrating an amazing milestone- its 750th anniversary! There are numerous festivities planned from cultural showcases and festivals to historical events.-Travel Pulse
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines 4 spots available due to cancellations. If you are interested, call right away as our deadline is approaching!
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. I have very few seats remaining and if they are not filled by the first of the month, Collette will take back any unsold seats. Email me for a brochure or to get more info.Collette
September 26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out early.
September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fall, 2026. Colors of New England. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fuller Travel Service is open 9:am-6pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
Hi Everyone, Several large tour companies are predicting another big summer for travel to Europe. The last couple of years Europe has seen record numbers of tourists and it looks like this year won’t be any different. Travel companies are noticing that, based on travel already booked for the summer, many travelers are gravitating to some of the more northern European countries hoping to avoid a bit of the heat that Europe has experienced in the last few years. Virtuoso said summer bookings to Scandinavia, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden are up 263% year over year.-adapted from TravelWeekly.
In an effort to combat the challenges of overtourism, the Italian city of Florence has issued a mandate requiring removal of self check-in boxes from vacation rental properties by February 25. These boxes allowed guests to check in independently but has drawn criticism for aesthetic and security concerns.-Travel Pulse
With two major US airlines planning to resume service to Israel this spring, tour operators are beginning to arrange their return to the country. United and Delta are planning to resume flights to TelAviv from the New York area in the coming weeks. -TravelWeekly
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines 4 spots available due to cancellations. If you are interested, call right away as our deadline is approaching!
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. I have very few seats remaining and if they are not filled by the first of the month, Collette will take back any unsold seats. Email me for a brochure or to get more info.Collette
September 26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out early.
September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fall, 2026. Colors of New England. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fuller Travel Service is open 9:am-6pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
You may remember that last year the city of Venice, Italy introduced an entrance fee for day visitors. The entrance fee was successful and this year the fee will double from last year’s 5 euro to 10 euros. The fee was applied last year on specific dates. The number of dates will also double for this year. These fees will apply on specific dates with 53 dates this year, almost twice as many dates as 2024. The dates will be from April 18-May 4 and then continue every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May through the end of July. As before, the fee will be due for visitors without an overnight reservation and will be due for visiting from 8:30am-4pm. The 10 euro fee will be halved for those booking four or more days in advance.-CNN Travel
Tampa International Airport recently announced that its new $1.5 billion Terminal D will be anchored by Delta Air Lines, which will have access to at least six gates, and also operate a new airline lounge in the space.-Travel and Leisure
Have you checked your passport lately? Although it is important to know when your passport expires, please also check the number of blank pages in your passport book. Many countries require a certain number of blank pages. Different countries have different rules. Some require 4 blank pages, some only 2, and others don’t have a requirement. If you don’t have the required number of blank pages for the country you want to visit you may be denied entry, you could be fined, or you could just be given a warning. Every border control officer has the right to decide what should happen.HuffPost
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines Call for Availability
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. I have very few seats remaining and if they are not filled by the first of the month, Collette will take back any unsold seats. Email me for a brochure or to get more info.Collette
September 26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out early.
September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fall, 2026. Colors of New England. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fuller Travel Service is open 9:am-6pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
In last week’s blog I mentioned that we will most likely all have to deal with ETIAS and ETA Applications in order to travel to Europe. One of my very astute readers told me that even though people under 18 or over 70 may be exempt, they will still need to go through the application process. Thank you, my friend.
Have you ever wondered if your passport number actually signifies anything, like where you live or your age? the answer is no. In the United States, passport numbers are not assigned based on any particular markers. Passport application locator numbers are different. The numbers assigned to you when you apply for or renew a passport can be used for checking the status of your application. American passports were previously nine digits, but since the State Department began issuing the Next Generation Passport in 2021, passport numbers are alphanumeric codes that begin with a single letter followed by 8 numbers. Every individual passport book has a unique number so if you’re renewing your passport, your new book will have a different number than your old one.-Travel and Leisure, 8/2024.
Delta. Air lines is limiting access to its airport lounges, and putting new restrictions in place this month for travelers who use a credit card membership to access the lounges. The new rules went into effect on February 1 and and limit the number of times travelers can enter a lounge depending on the type of credit card they have. The changes are an extension of Delta’s loyalty program overhaul and an effort to address crowding at Sky Club lounges.
Just an FYI: The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) was ranked highest overall amongst “mega” airports for the second year in a row. The airport provides air travel for 36.7 million travelers per year and operates over 1,000 daily flights. (J.D. Power defines a mega airport as one with 33 million or more passengers annually.)
Have a great week!
Lynn
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines Call for Availability
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. I have very few seats remaining and if they are not filled by the first of the month, Collette will take back any unsold seats. Email me for a brochure or to get more info.Collette
September26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out early.
September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fall, 2026. Colors of New England. Not quite ready for booking. Call to be put on an interest list.
Fuller Travel Service is open 9:am-6pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
Passport processing times have once again returned to normal, pre-pandemic levels. Passports are now being processed within six to eight weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service according to the U.S. Department of State. .-Travel and Leisure.
ETA fees are becoming very common for travelers. The UK has implemented their entrance fee program, with mainland Europe soon to follow. When the UK originally implemented a fee to travel or transit through the UK, anyone wanting to visit or merely transit through had to pay the fee. The UK has just announced that if you are just transiting through you will not need to pay the fee.
Although the start date is a bit iffy, US citizens will need to apply for an ETIAS when traveling to Europe this year, as it is a new travel authorization required for visa-exempt visitors to the European Union, including Americans. For more information, go to ETIAS.com. you will want to apply for an ETIAS at least 96 hours (four days) before travel. Most ETIAS applications are handled almost immediately, but better to be safe. It looks like people under 18 or over 70 may be exempt. Stay tuned.
Celebrity Cruises, a division of Royal Caribbean is going to expand into river cruising. Ten river cruises have been placed on order. Sometimes don’t you wish companies would stay in their own lane? The ships are supposed to be ready by 2027
Planning a trip to Maui soon? At the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa visitors can walk across the rooftop to a little corner set up with three large telescopes. It’s the location of the resort’s Tour of the Stars astronomy program. Guests and nonguests can book this tour through the resort’s concierge.
Have a great week!
Lynn
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines Call for Availability
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for I have a few seats remaining.Email me for a brochure.Collette
September26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out early.
September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Bookings will open soon!
Fuller Travel Service is open 9:am-6pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
The Atlantis resort has long been associated with the Bahamas but Atlantis will open its first US Resort in Hawaii. A California group purchased two oceanfront parcels for216 million. The resort is scheduled to be built on vacant land next to Aulani, a Disney resort on the west side of Oahu. Pacific Business News reported that the Atlantis resort will have 500 rooms and 500 condos. The timeline for building is roughly 5 years.-TravelWeekly
We have been talking about Real ID for a few years now but it looks like the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is finally going to begin enforcement of Real ID on May 7, 2025. Starting that day, only state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security requirements established but the REAL ID Act will be permitted for official purposes, including boarding commercial aircraft.
Do you ever wonder what some people are thinking? A passenger was recently detained at Los Angeles’ Airport (LAX) for having 82 fireworks in her carry on. Inside were 82 fireworks, three knives, two replica firearms, and canister of pepper spray!
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines Call for Availability
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for I have a few seats remainingEmail me for a brochure.Collette
September26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fabled region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out early.
September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Bookings will open soon!
We’ve spent a great deal of time in the last couple weeks talking about ETIAS which is the passport- like document you’ll need to enter any country in the Schengen region of Europe this year. It was supposed to start by now but it has been postponed yet again. It is believed that it will still happen this year but for now, no one knows when this will happen.
Planning a trip to Rome this year? The iconic Trevi Fountain just reopened after extensive renovations work. Visitors will now be restricted. visitors will be required to book online and pay 2 euros to enter. Once inside they will have 30 minutes to enjoy the fountain. If you are traveling as a group with a tour operator, check with them to see if they will be adding this site to your itinerary and you may not have to do the online booking yourself.
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Call for wait list info.Uniworld
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines Call for Availability
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.Email me for a brochure.Collette
September26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now.
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Book soon!
Just a reminder that my Business Development Manager ,Jerard, will be hosting a Zoom meeting about our National Parks tour. The meeting will be at noon on January 15. For those of you already signed up, this will be a glimpse of what you will see. For those of you thinking of enrolling, this should be very helpful for you. Hope you can join us.
If you have already copied the link for our Zoom meeting these links may also be helpful to you
Hi Everyone, Last week we mentioned that at some point in 2025 you will probably need an ETIAS to travel to most European countries. ETIAS is not really a visa but close to it. You’ll get it online before you travel. The United Kingdom has their own entry requirements. Travel to or through the United Kingdom will require visitors to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for short stays up to six months. The ETA is designed to streamline travel while making it more secure. Cost will most likely be £10 or about $13. If you are traveling anywhere outside the US make sure you do your research to see what requirements, in addition to passports, you will need.
Florence has just opened the Vasari Corridor which was a secret passageway for the elite of Italy. This corridor is now open. Less a corridor and more of a private trail through the center of Florence the space was designed for the ruling Medici dynasty in 1565 and connects Florence’s three most famous sites: Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Galleries, and Palazzo Pitti. -CNN
As we begin this new year you may want to pull out your passport to verify your expiration date. Keep in mind that you cannot travel right up to the expiration date of your passport. Most countries require you to have 6 months of validity left on your passport from the time you return home. Some countries only require 3 months of validity but it is always important to check your destination’s requirements.
2025-26 Tours and Sailings
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Call for wait list info.Uniworld
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines Call for Availability
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will experience Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now. Email me for a brochure. Collette
September26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more. Deposit now.
May 20, 2026. Empires of the Mediterranean.
Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises. This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region. On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia. Deposit now. Viking sells out quickly.
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. It isn’t time to book, but contact me to get on the interest list.
Just a reminder that my Business Development Manager ,Jerard, will be hosting a Zoom meeting about our National Parks tour. The meeting will be at noon on January 15. For those of you already signed up, this will be a glimpse of what you will see. For those of you thinking of enrolling, this should be very helpful for you. Hope you can join us.
Loading ...