Blog

Hi Everyone

In recent years,  hotels have increasingly added fees throughout the booking process.  You may even see additional mandatory fees when you check in.   The Pennsylvania Attorney General believed Marriott to be in violation of consumer protection laws and eventually settled  with Marriott when the chain committed to prominently disclosing the total price of a hotel stay, including room rate and other mandatory fees on the first page of its booking website.  the settlement only pertains to Marriott at the moment but critics of resort fees are hoping momentum has shifted in their favor.

It seems that we take one step forward and two steps backwards the travel world.  This past week, the US announced that they will require all air travelers entering the US, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, to test negative within one day of departure for home.  Travelers already had to take a test before returning home.  The only thing that has changed is that you now have to test closer to the time you fly.   One of the things that is interesting to note is that at this point the regulations only apply to air travelers.   If you return to the US on a cruse ship or drive across the Mexican or Canadian boarder, these rules do not apply.   Travelers should also know that the federal mask mandate requiring face masks to be worn on planes, trains and public transportation has been extended through March 18,2022.

If you have been to DisneyWorld lately and stayed off site, you probably had a rude awakening when you got to the parking lot.  Disney’s trams which take you from your parking space to the Transportation and Ticket Center have not been running since they reopened during the pandemic. That has made for very long walks in the heat for a lot of people.    Disney just announced that the trams will return to the Magic Kingdom this month and the other three parks “throughout “2022”.  It’s a start but hopefully the other parks will get their trams running sooner rather than later.

Hi Everyone,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you and your families are staying well.

Many of you have trips planned in 2022 which may have you wondering if you should travel.  As I’ve said many times, everyone has to decide for themselves when it is time to start traveling again.    As you might imagine, I’ve been watching the progress of many of the countries that we are planning to visit this year.  While some countries in Europe have suffered setbacks recently, others are doing pretty well.  I can tell you from a vaccination standpoint that many of the European countries are doing very well.  For instance, Italy has 76.7 percent of their people fully vaccinated, France 79%, Ireland 76.5% , Portugal, 86.9%.  There are some countries in Europe who have not been as successful with their vaccination program.   Some countries are having a winter spike right now which I hope will be short lived for them.

This week we learned of a new emerging variant that we don’t know much about quite yet.  Countries across the world, including the United States are banning travel from Southern Africa at least until more is learned about this newest threat.

If you are thinking of going down under, both Australia and New Zealand are doing well and plans are in the works to open their borders.

We are hopeful that our tours will operate this year, and we are proceeding with a positive outlook and a bit of caution.  The fact that almost all tour operators and the majority of countries are insisting that all participants be fully vaccinated gives some added assurance that our people will be able to travel safely.   (This is not a political statement.  It is the reality for those who intend to travel.)   Hopefully, we will continue to make progress against COVID and get back to some semblance of normal soon.

I do want to thank the  Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan for acknowledging Fuller Travel Service as a finalist for the 2021 BBB Torch Award for Ethics.   I truly appreciate their acknowledgment, as operating our business with the highest of ethics is our goal and the trust that all of you place in us is taken very seriously.

2022-23 Tours

Hi Everyone,

I read an interesting article this week about cell phones and cruising.   We used to tell people to make certain to turn off cell phones when boarding, or be prepared for a large bill at the end.   Now, the cell phone is a necessity for cruisers.   More and more cruise lines have upped their technology games.   Cell phones  are now used to check in before your cruise. You can use the ship’s network to order drinks and schedule dinner times onboard, to chat with friends onboard, and even open your stateroom door when you get close. You can peruse dinner menus ahead of time, and your excursion tickets may be right on your phone.   On a recent cruise, we had completed our pre cruise check in (online on the cruise line’s app) before getting to the terminal, so we just went through security and right onto the ship.  Wait times were minimal or nonexistent.

This past Tuesday, we held a Zoom meeting with Collette Vacations and my representative from Collette talked about the Black Friday sale going on right now.   If you are interested, we recorded the session and you can view it here:

https://collette.zoom.us/rec/share/PhqOUEA96PvP63GHp0GD5Hhrdu1eCL73stWNbhso7cdKC2jxGAOixGuTmjSX-osD.orG5Az5mheNKXq4-

Flying for Thanksgiving?  The TSA reminds us of what items we can carry on and what needs to be checked.   As far as food, if it’s a solid item, then it can go through a checkpoint. However, if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag.  Food items often need some additional security screening, so TSA recommends placing those items in a clear plastic bag or other container when packing them at home and then removing those items from your carry-on bag and placing them in a bin for screening at the checkpoint.

Thanksgiving items that can be carried on:

• Baked goods. Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies. and other sweet treats.
• Meats: turkey. chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or cooked.
• Stuffing.   cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
• Casseroles.
• Fresh Vegetables and fruit
• Candy
• Spices

Thanksgiving foods that should be carefully packed with your checked luggage:

• Cranberry Sauce
• Gravy: homemade or in a jar.
• Wine, champagne or sparkling cider
• Preserves, jams, and jellies
• Canned fruit or vegetables
• Maple Syrup

For more info go to tsa.gov

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hi Everyone,

Last week  I told you about Collette Vacations’s upcoming Black Friday sale.   My business development rep and friend, Ed McKenna, will host a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, November 16, at 9:30am to let us talk about these special discounts.   I’d love to see some of you on the Zoom call.   Here is the link.  Just copy and paste.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__collette.zoom.us_meeting_register_tJIucOyvrD8rHNCR3dgSaLhFVRyqkWj4VGlq&d=DwIGaQ&c=F7sDt_DpXZayiu1mgdrqUQ&r=8qunlZGPmwIB83RfOwpY3MaNSOcpWm9mQlx8blc6E5g&m=pRp2kKsl3TtJbN-d2a-ELEMkFh3zULbTzSVqEdXtY66ybv8MsAbyN0mXdL0JeAFD&s=kQQY2nl6gJNpTcYBTABuQC8iDakPH9EQaZ5Zk49b_D0&e=

Please know that there is no obligation and no high pressure.  It is just an informational meeting. Hope you can join us!

The cruise lines have been ramping up and we are seeing more ships coming online.   Carnival just announced the extension of their COVID protocols which include sailing with only vaccinated passengers at least through March, 2022.  As you know, I just came off a Princess ship (one of Carnival’s sister brands) and I was very impressed with their protocols.  In addition to requiring vaccination and testing before boarding, the crew was absolutely diligent about sanitizing tables between passengers in the dining areas, buffets are served by the crew,  and even the tenders that carried us to a private island had all seats and railing disinfected after every run.   I learned  that the crew is no longer allowed to go ashore at the ports to lessen the chances of exposure and spread to passengers.

Even though the world is opening, companies are still implementing COVID protocols to help keep people safe.   I noted some of the protocols that Princess implemented on our cruise.  Collette Vacations just announced that participants on all domestic tours must be vaccinated and that requirement will last at least through April , 2022.  There are already updated vaccine requirements for international travel. 

Hi Everyone,

I am finishing an amazing cruise on the Enchanted Princess, Princess Cruise Line’s newest ship.   Skip and I were lucky enough to be invited on the shakedown cruise of this beautiful ship.    We were instructed to experiment with the Medallion, enjoy the dining venues and entertainment, and just give feedback to Princess about the experiences. We did attend a seminar and participate in a video for the naming ceremony of the Enchanted Princess but had some time to enjoy the ship, as well as a day at Princess’ private island.  There are no paying passengers aboard this ship as it is pretty much invited travel agents and Princess employees.  Princess now has 6 ships back in service with the remainder of their fleet scheduled to  gradually resume sailing by 2022.  A few interesting stats: Since the return to service, Princess has sailed 55 voyages with 86,000 passengers onboard,  served 2.4 million drinks,  served 87 thousand pizzas and made 192 thousand dining reservations.  At this point, Princess is only allowing vaccinated passengers onboard who must be tested no sooner than 2 days before boarding.  Masks in public areas are required.  Hand washing stations are located at the entrance to all dining venues and are monitored for compliance.

It is no secret that the COVID vaccine card  can be fraudulently reproduced.   It is a crime to do so and we have been made aware that travel agents are being approached by clients to book travel using an illegally reproduced card.   Travel agents could be prosecuted if they book travel knowing that their client was going to use the card illegally.  It would be hard for me to believe that any of our clients would attempt something like this but just for the record, we have zero interest in booking travel with anyone who wants to circumvent any type of rule.

Tour operators are gearing up for Black Friday sales.  Collette Vacations will have an amazing Black Friday Sale that will run from November 15-30, and include discounts from 10-20% on select tours.   Collette is one of my preferred suppliers.  My business development rep and friend, Ed McKenna, will host a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, November 16, at 9:30am to let us talk about these discounts.  I’ll post the Zoom information in next week’s blog.  I hope you will put this on your calendars.  You don’t  have to sign up ahead of time, but I’d love to know if you will attend.   Just shoot me an email at lynn@fullertravelservice.com

Hi Everyone,

I am sure you have read the news regarding updated rules for entering the US, both for American Citizens and tourists.   The new rules change the testing time for inbound citizens who are unvaccinated and returning to the US.  Unvaccinated travelers must provide a negative COVID test taken within one day of their return.   Vaccinated citizens must provide a negative  COVID test 72 hours prior to their return, the same as it has been.

For tourists, only fully vaccinated, non-citizens will be allowed to enter starting November 8 and must provide proof of a negative COVID test taken within three days of travel.

The White House also announced that airlines will now be required to check all passengers’ proof of vaccination as well as collect contact tracing information for all passengers prior to travel for international travel.

Hi Everyone,

Hawaii’s Governor announced this week that visitors are welcome to resume visitation starting November 1. “Beginning November 1, we want to invite and encourage fully vaccinated visitors and residents to travel for business or leisure transPacific and inter-island.”  All travelers must still register their trips on the SafeTravels Website.  Vaccinated travelers or those that present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival can avoid quarantine.

There is no doubt that the world is opening for travel.   I have people booking cruises, all-inclusives. tours, and independent travel.    I am really excited to help my clients with their travel plans.    There is, however, much to think about when traveling outside the United States.  It is important to learn the entry rules for each country as they all differ just a little.  The rules also change frequently.  We also have to think about the rules for connecting through a country to get to your final destination.    All of these things can seem a bit overwhelming but it’s just a matter of paying attention to details and then making sure that you have the proper documentation.   I have had several people travel to Europe and they had a great time because they had what they needed.   The good news is that if you travel to Europe, you won’t find the normal crowds.   All of my travelers reported enjoying places like the Louvre, Versailles, Prague without tons of people jostling for space.

We are seeing QR codes (Quick Response) everywhere these days.  Those are the little square shaped grids you see on almost everything.     If you are not familiar with QR codes, they operate much like a barcode but have a great deal more info on them. Many restaurants are replacing their menus with QR codes. Some stores are even allowing you to pay with a QR code so you don’t have to touch anything.   To use a QR code, you just open the camera app on your smart phone and make sure the code is in the little box you’ll see, then click and the information should pop up.  Travel sites are beginning to use QR codes to give you info about potential destinations and trips.  I would definitely recommend that you don’t just click on every QR code you see. There are fake sites so always click on things from websites that you know to be valid.

2022-23 Tours

April 4-15, 2022    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   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. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Will need to return unsold seats to Collette next month. Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July Alaska Cruisetour (dates vary)  Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.     Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Fr. John Klein will accompany us on this pilgrimage.   Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1059364

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations    https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1063914

2023

January 17-February 1   Panama Canal      This is a full transit of the Panama Canal through the new locks from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.  Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur Nicaragua, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Locks transit, and Cartagena, Colombia before disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour in 2022.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

The news this week that the United States will open their land and sea borders to vaccinated international travelers should give a boost to the economy as the travel industry is a multi billion dollar industry.   It should also result in more flight itineraries to international destinations for Americans.  It has been very difficult to find decent air pricing or routes as there are just not enough options.

Cruise lines are gradually bringing back their ships a few at a time and are sailing out of several ports in the US.  They are sailing with enhanced protocols due to COVID-19 but so far things appear to be going well.  Most of the ships are not sailing at full capacity. Vaccinations, testing, and masks are required.  The cases that have arisen have been dealt with quickly to prevent spread of the disease.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted these reminders about when not to tip on cruise ships.  Cruise Critic had a piece about cruise line tipping this week:

1. The Bar. The price of drinks on a cruise line already has the tip built in.  No additional tipping is necessary.  (Some cruisers feel as thought they get better service if they tip the bartender at the beginning of the cruise.)
2. Specialty Restaurant    When you reserve at a specialty restaurant and pay the extra fee, you don’t need to worry about tipping.  It’s already in that extra cost.
3. The Spa    You should always check your receipt at the spa.  Many cruise lines add that gratuity to your final bill.
4. Kid’s Club   No need to tip the staff when you pick up your children from the Club.
5. Ship’s Officers, Cruise Director, or Maintenance People: No need to tip.

Most cruise lines add the gratuities for your cabin steward and restaurant waitstaff to your final bill.  That gratuity is shared with the dining room, buffet and specialty restaurant wait staff, cooks, laundry staff, and the general housekeeping staff that cleans the ship’s common areas,.   If you have been especially happy with your service from a particular individual, no one will refuse an extra gift at the end of the cruise.- Cruise Critic, 10/14/21

Every ten years, the people of Oberammergau, Germany perform the Passion Play, a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. The villagers promised God that if their village was spared from a plague,  they would perform the ‘Play of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ’ every ten years.  The play usually takes place in the years that end in “0” but because of COVID it was moved to 2022.  The nest scheduled performance will be 2030.  We do have a group going to Oberammergau and there is limited availability.  This video shows a bit of the performance:

Oberammergau Passion Play 2022

2022-23 Tours

April 4-15, 2022    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   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. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Will need to return unsold seats to Collette next month. Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July Alaska Cruisetour (dates vary)  Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.     Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1059364

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations    https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1063914

2023

January 17-February 1   Panama Canal      This is a full transit of the Panama Canal through the new locks from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.  Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur Nicaragua, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Locks transit, and Cartagena, Colombia before disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour in 2022.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Hyatt had purchased Apple Leisure Group. This group includes among  several others, Apple Vacations and Funjet Vacations.  We then learned that Wyndham is  collaborating with the Playa Group of resorts.  Marriott has added 20 resorts to their Autograph Collection, and Hilton is planning to open resorts as well.  Time will tell if this is a good thing.  I hope we don’t see the end to resorts that have their own character and reflect the character of the region they are located in and are not left with cookie cutter resorts.

Many people wonder about the difference between economy and premium economy.  Premium economy can go by different names such as  comfort+, premium, World Traveler Plus, etc.    Premium economy is an attempt to bridge the gap between economy and business class.   It is definitely less expensive than business class but deciding whether it’s worth it or not can be difficult.  Realize that the experience will be closer to economy than business.   Typically, you won’t see larger seats or different meals but it is different on different airlines.  It may be nothing more than a couple inches more legroom and a complimentary drink.   It can be, depending on the route and airline, under a $100 to upgrade or it could be almost $1000 more than economy.    Everyone has to decide for themselves whether premium economy is worthwhile.   If you are on a long haul flight and can gain a few more inches of comfort, I personally think it is worthwhile.  If you are taking a 2 hour flight, probably not.  When booking air,  it doesn’t hurt to take a look at all your options.

Next fall we will take a short tour called Southern Charms.  There is more info below in the tour section but Collette has a 1 minute video to introduce the tour.  Great little trip.

2022-23 Tours

April 4-15, 2022    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   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. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Will need to return unsold seats to Collette next month. Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July Alaska Cruisetour (dates vary)  Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.     Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1059364

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations    https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1063914

2023

January 17-February 1   Panama Canal      This is a full transit of the Panama Canal through the new locks from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.  Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur Nicaragua, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Locks transit, and Cartagena, Colombia before disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour in 2022.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Disney World just kicked off their 50th anniversary celebration which will last for the next 18 months.   Remember that if you are planning a trip to Disney World  in the near future you must make reservations with whatever parks you want to visit.   The parks are capacity controlled  so it’s important to get those reservations.

Last week I reported on a successful Paris river cruise for a group of my travelers.   They had a great time, felt safe and were happy with the protocols the cruise line had put in place.  This week I have a small group traveling out East for a color tour.    I will report on their trip when they return.  It does appear that the world is opening, and with proper safety measures, people are enjoying travel again.

Iceland seems to be a bucket list destination for many travelers.   Here is a short video from one of Collette’s tours.   It’s worth a couple of minutes:

Because we sponsor so many tours (see below) people sometimes forget that 50% of our business is sending families, couples, or individuals on vacation.  This week I worked on spring break trips for several families, and arranged  cruises for others.   I hope you will think of Fuller Travel Service for your next trip, even if it is not a group tour or cruise.

2022-23 Tours

April 4-15, 2022    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   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. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July Alaska Cruisetour (dates vary)  Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.     Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1059364

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations    https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1063914

2023

January 17-February 1   Panama Canal      This is a full transit of the Panama Canal through the new locks from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.  Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur Nicaragua, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Locks transit, and Cartagena, Colombia before disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour in 2022.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn