Blog

Hi Everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that some companies were doing a better job than others taking care of their customers.   I received this letter from Dan Sullivan, the CEO of Collette Vacations.  Collette is a family company.  Dan Sullivan is the CEO and his daughter Jaclyn Leibl-Cote is the President.   They have been one of the companies I’d give an A+ rating to for their helpfulness with cancellations right now.   I thought I would share:

Dear Guests & Travel Professionals, Collette Family & Friends,

It seems as if in a blink of an eye, everything changed. And in a way, it has. For so many of us our everyday is far from ordinary as we stay at home and do our part to help the world heal.

Right now, we all are keeping a greater physical distance, but emotionally, we’re coming closer together. We’re seeing it manifest in so many ways – from video chats with friends to daily check-in texts, nightly dinners with our families to sharing similar struggles online with others all around the world.

There is no denying we will emerge from this personally changed. But one thing we’ve learned in our 102-year history – the love for travel never fades.

The desire to set out and connect with new cultures, taste new foods, and experience a slice of life unlike your own is rooted deep within us all. Travel isn’t just a thing we do. It’s a feeling – a part of life that fills us with joy, engages our curiosity, and broadens our perspectives. It is everlasting.

While the two of us stay in our respective homes doing our part to keep our communities safe, we talk about how travel will be back again – better than it’s ever been. The thing that will change is our perception of it.

Having all shared this same situation, we hope to find a more empathetic and more engaged world, creating more profound connections in every aspect of our life.

Once again, we will pick out our favorite clothes and tuck them neatly in our suitcase. Soon enough we will eagerly sit on the tarmac, ready to jet off to a new destination. We will step foot in new places and feel the energy of a new adventure. Travel will be back.

Being in business for 102 years, we’ve seen many trying times like these. We use learnings from the past to apply them to today. We make sure our guests and employees are safe. We support our travel professionals and their unique challenges. We take care of our families and check in on our loved ones. We talk about past adventures and future hopes.

In whatever shape or form it may take, we can promise Collette will be here for YOU – now and always.

We encourage you to recall the special moments you’ve had while traveling and talk about future plans. Share these stories with friends, family, and the countless communities of travelers online. Let’s look fondly on our past with a hopeful eye toward the future.

Take care of yourself. Take care of your family. And when the time is right, we’ll be ready to experience the joy of travel to reconnect us all.

Please stay safe and healthy.     We will travel again when this is over.

2020-2021

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of IrelandOne of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, 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.

Coming soon!   July, 2021   Alaskan Cruise

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada Discover the many charms of the Canadian province of Quebec, from its natural and historic wonders to some of its most luxurious hotels. You’ll spend two nights each in European style grandeur at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the regal Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in the Charlevoix region, and the incredible Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. Discover Montréal on a panoramic tour. Learn the tradition of maple syrup making at a local sugar shack. Decide how you want to tour Quebec City: by foot or by coach. Embark on a whale-watching expedition with a naturalist guide. Visit a lavender farm and learn about the production of this fragrant plant. Behold the spectacular Montmorency Falls by cable car – the perfect vantage point to watch the falls thunder into the St. Lawrence. Your French Canadian adventure awaits.

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

We are now home from Florida and hunkered down at home.  I pray that all of you are safe and healthy.

For those of you who have been putting off getting your REAL IDs, the government has moved the deadline to 2021, so not to worry.

Disney announced this weekend that travelers can make or modify reservations for travel after June 1.    They do not have a new opening date announced.  If you make a reservation now for later this summer and they are still not open, they will allow you to move your reservation.

I think I spoke about this next topic in previous blogs, but with such a focus on cleaning and disinfecting these days, this bears repeating:

When you return from a trip, and throw your dirty clothes in the laundry room, what do you do with suitcases, backpacks, etc?    In our house, they remain in the garage until they are cleaned.  Smarter Travel has good suggestions for cleaning these items:

• The wheels and handles are the most important parts to clean.  Use a disinfectant wipe to thoroughly wipe off each wheel.  Retract the handle and wipe down handle as well as the shaft.
• Most soft sided suitcases can be cleaned with a disinfectant wipe as well but you should try an inconspicuous place to make sure the disinfectant does not harm the color.  Wipe it down paying particular attention to the bottom of your suitcase which is usually the dirtiest.
• A disinfectant wipe is the easiest and quickest way to clean a hard sided suitcase as well.   Do a spot test on that to make sure the color won’t be affected.
• Magic Erasers do a great job on scuff marks.
• Goo Gone will take care of those stickers the airlines put on your suitcase.
• Vacuum the inside of the suitcase.
• Use a stain stick to treat any stains inside the luggage.
• Make sure everything inside and out is dry before storing so that you don’t get any mold.

Once your suitcase is clean, a timesaver for your next trip is to store things that you always take with you, like travel pillows, chargers, adaptors, etc.   It makes life easier when you are ready to repack.

2020-2021

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of IrelandOne of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, 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.

Coming soon!   July, 2021   Alaskan Cruise

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada Discover the many charms of the Canadian province of Quebec, from its natural and historic wonders to some of its most luxurious hotels. You’ll spend two nights each in European style grandeur at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the regal Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in the Charlevoix region, and the incredible Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. Discover Montréal on a panoramic tour. Learn the tradition of maple syrup making at a local sugar shack. Decide how you want to tour Quebec City: by foot or by coach. Embark on a whale-watching expedition with a naturalist guide. Visit a lavender farm and learn about the production of this fragrant plant. Behold the spectacular Montmorency Falls by cable car – the perfect vantage point to watch the falls thunder into the St. Lawrence. Your French Canadian adventure awaits.

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

It is still far from normal around here.   I have spent another week trying to take care of our people who have had trips cancelled, or who have wanted to cancel or delay their trips.

I don’t know how many of you are aware of this, but Fuller Travel is a member of a large consortium called Travel Leaders.    They assist with things like advertising and training.  In the midst of this mess, I received the following email from my Business Solutions Manager.  It did give me some encouragement today and hope that it does the same for you:

I wanted to share some good news that I received from earlier today. I know we will continue to have a lot of challenges, but it is also important to share some positivity through these trying times.

-China has closed down its last coronavirus hospital. Not enough new cases to support them.

– Doctors in India have been successful in treating Coronavirus. Combination of drugs used: Lopinavir, Retonovir, Oseltamivir along with Chlorphenamine. They are going to suggest same medicine, globally.

– Researchers of the Erasmus Medical Center claim to have found an antibody against coronavirus.

– A 103-year-old Chinese grandmother has made a full recovery from COVID-19 after being treated for 6 days in Wuhan, China.

– Apple reopens all 42 china stores,

– Cleveland Clinic developed a COVID-19 test that gives results in hours, not days.

– Good news from South Korea, where the number of new cases is declining.

– Italy is hit hard, experts say, only because they have the oldest population in Europe.

– Scientists in Israel likely to announce the development of a coronavirus vaccine.

– 3 Maryland coronavirus patients fully recovered; able to return to everyday life.

– A network of Canadian scientists are making excellent progress in Covid-19 research.

– A San Diego biotech company is developing a vaccine in collaboration with Duke University.

-Travel and Lodging has started to come back in China after 14 weeks of the crisis. 

Follow the CDC guidelines, let’s care for each other,  stay close to your customers as many of you have know them for years and stay focused on your safety and of those around you.

The tough times that we will endure over the next few months will pass and as a Nation and as an Industry we will become stronger. 

Matthew McCarthy|Business Solutions Manager- North Central U.S.|Travel Leaders Network

I also want to thank all of you who have sent me a text or called to see how things were going.   I really want you to know that I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness.  My prayer for today is for the health care workers and first responders who are on the front lines of this crisis.  They are true heroes.

Hopefully, we’ll be able to get back to normal before too long.   In the meantime, please take a look at the tours that we have and maybe you’ll see something that piques your interest.

2020-2021

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of IrelandOne of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, 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.

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada Discover the many charms of the Canadian province of Quebec, from its natural and historic wonders to some of its most luxurious hotels. You’ll spend two nights each in European style grandeur at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the regal Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in the Charlevoix region, and the incredible Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. Discover Montréal on a panoramic tour. Learn the tradition of maple syrup making at a local sugar shack. Decide how you want to tour Quebec City: by foot or by coach. Embark on a whale-watching expedition with a naturalist guide. Visit a lavender farm and learn about the production of this fragrant plant. Behold the spectacular Montmorency Falls by cable car – the perfect vantage point to watch the falls thunder into the St. Lawrence. Your French Canadian adventure awaits.

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

No new blog this week.   I am spending every waking hour trying to assist my people who are currently traveling and those who will travel in the very near future.   Stay healthy, my friends.

Lynn

2020-2021

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau   Taking waitlist requests.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378   Enroll now.  I am still holding seats but will need to return any unsold this next week.

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

In last week’s blog I gave you links to two sites that will give you good information regarding the Coronavirus.    Those are official links and I use them myself. http://cdc.gov  or  http://who.int 

It is important, however, to note that cybercriminals are capitalizing on the public’s desire to learn more about the outbreak.   There are reports of phishing scams that attempt to steal personal information or to infect your devices with malware and ads that peddle false information or scam products.   For example a phishing email that used the logo of the CDC Health Alert Network  claimed to provide a list of local active infections. Recipients were instructed to click on a link in the email to access the list and then asked to enter their email login credentials which were then stolen.

It is also important to note that if you have reservations to travel in the near future, many of the airlines,  cruise lines and  tour operators are working to make changing your reservation to a later date or different destination much easier.  Many of them have also eased cancellation fees.   If you have reservations booked through our agency, please know that I am watching this very carefully. This is a fluid situation, and I am forwarding any pertinent info as I received it.

Aside from coronavirus, Smarter Travel gives us a few hints on what not to do when traveling to large cities:

• Don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk to check directions or take a photo.  Move to the side, out of the way.
• Don’t take a cab or ride share during rush hour.  It will probably take you much longer to get to your destination than if you take public transportation.
• Don’t stand on the wrong side of the escalator or moving sidewalk.  If you are just standing, stay to the side so people can get by you.
• Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes.  Make sure you pack shoes you can walk multiple miles in, and there are plenty of shoes that won’t make you look like a tourist.
• Don’t push your way onto public transportation.   Let people exiting get off before you try to get on.
• Don’t feed the pigeons.  Places like Venice are imposing large fines on people who do this.  It’s bad for the birds and the city.  Pigeons carry diseases that can infect humans and the leftover food attracts rats.

Most of these “don’ts” are common sense, but it is amazing what people do in an unfamiliar environment.

2020-2021

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau   Taking waitlist requests.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378   Enroll now.  I am still holding seats but will need to return any unsold this next week.

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Coronavirus has certainly taken the top spot in travel news this week.   If you have a trip booked with Fuller Travel please know that we are in constant contact with our tour operators and will communicate with you about your particular trip if there is anything to report.  You are always welcome to shoot us an email or call as well.  A very good place to get information is on the CDC website:  http://www.cdc.gov Another good website to check is the World Health Organization:  http://wwwwho.int

One of my very favorite travel writers is Robert Turen.   He is usually right on point and I thought I would summarize some of his travel thoughts for you from his December 19 column in Travel Weekly:

•  When you can’t decide where to go, go to Ireland
•  Don’t be rude to anyone behind an airline counter, or your behavior will become part of your profile available for all to see until you are too old to fly.
• Hotels don’t have the right to fill your mini fridge with overly priced cans and bottles. Have the hotel empty it before you arrive so you can stock your own items.
• You may want to bring your Hermes, Ray-Bans, and Jimmy Choos.  Really savvy travelers never go anywhere without a pack of bacterial wipes.
• The biggest mistake most travelers make is booking a 3 or 4 star hotel where a really great 5 star exists.  Think about on-site security.  Think about the neighborhood.   Think about how often sheets and bedspreads are changed.
• For an important, real, water experience consider a week on a Ganges River boat cruise, followed by a wonderful week of luxury almost anywhere.
• The United States is less safe, statistically, than 83 other countries.   Go to one of the 83 and relax.
• Always avoid staying in a hotel room that is higher than the highest point the local fire department ladders can reach.
• The quickest way to spot a fool is to find the person at the table who says, “I’m done with Italy.”   You will never be done with Italy.
• You can always spot folks in business class who are not clients of ours. They’re the ones  actually drinking the onboard coffee.

2020-2021

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau   Taking waitlist requests.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378   Enroll now.  I am still holding seats but will need to return any unsold in just a few weeks.

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

The 200 million Americans who do not yet have Real ID will be allowed to submit their documents online to their local Department of Motor Vehicles offices, according to a recent report by USA Today.  While almost 100 million Americans now have compliant licenses, it’s just seven months until the October 1 deadline.  200 million Americans still do not have their compliant licenses.  Travelers will still need to bring  their documents to the DMV in person but having everything ready online will speed the process.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is partnering with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains to add packages with both land and rail options for 2021.  The itineraries will be be offered on its Venice-based northern Italy river cruises.  The trips will take travelers through Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia.

Travel Reminder: When traveling make sure you take extra medication.   It can be tricky to get refills outside the US if you are delayed.    Ten years ago we took 80 people to Italy and just before we were due to fly home, the Iceland Volcano blew and we were stranded there, some of us for 5 days.  Many people ran out of medication.  We were fortunate enough to be in Rome and because there were so many of us, paramedics came to us, wrote down our prescriptions, and had them filled for us.  If we had been alone, it would have been much harder to take care of this problem. Experts advise taking an additional 7-10 days of medication with you.

2020-2021

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau   Taking waitlist requests.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378   Enroll now.  I am still holding seats but will need to return any unsold in just a few weeks.

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we’ll stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

With all the talk in the news this week revolves around viruses,  it might be time to take a look at some easy things you can do to keep yourself healthy while traveling.   Smarter Travel has some ways to help you do just that.

• Drink only bottled water that you open yourself.  Some places refill their bottles.  You want to make sure they are sealed.  When ordering drinks, don’t forget that ice cubes are typically made from tap water.    Even though tap water may be fine for those who live in a particular location, it may not be fine if you are not used to it.  You can usually ignore this in the US or Canada.
• If you eat food rinsed or washed in tap water, you may also be at risk.
• Stay out of the airplane setback pocket.  They are notoriously filthy.   It isn’t a bad idea to wipe down your tray table (babies get their diapers changed on these), armrests, and belt buckles.
• We, personally, never drink from the glasses sitting on the bathroom sink in hotels .
• Hydrate while flying.   Alcohol doesn’t really count as hydration.    The best thing to do is bring your own water onboard.
• Part of learning about a new culture is trying their food but be careful about switching up your diet too drastically.   It’s better to start gradually by trying a few new things but bombarding your system with all new food is probably not a great idea.
• East at places that are busy.  Going into a deserted restaurant is not a good idea.  It may be a sign that the food has been sitting around a while.   Go where the people are.
• If you have a concern about the food, eat only what has been boiled or peeled.
• Get your rest.   When we were a lot younger, we could stay up late and get up early, but along with hydration,getting enough sleep is one of the best things you can do to prevent illness.
• Make sure you bring your medications and sun screen along.
• Studies have shown that hand washing is the best preventative.  If you cannot wash your hands, make sure you have had sanitizer with you.

In other news, it’s going to be a little more expensive to go visit the Mouse.  Disney just raised their ticket prices  at both Disney World and Disneyland for the second time in eight months.

One of the questions that is asked almost every week is, “Do I need a passport to take a cruise”?   The simple answer is no, if the ship is departing and returning to the same port.   Having said that, it is not a good idea to sail with just your government documents.  Should you become ill or injured while in a foreign country it will be very difficult to get back into the States without your passport.   If the ship would need to return to a different port, you would also be in trouble without a passport.   My advice is always: get the passport.

2020-2021

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau   Taking waitlist requests.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378   Enroll now.

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast to Boston.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

England formally withdrew from the European Union as of January 31.  The country now goes into an 11 month period of transition where things will pretty much remain the same as England tries to come to terms with trade agreements with the other nations still in the EU.

Once this transition period is over  (December 31, 2020) there will be changes for citizens of the UK and those of us  traveling to or through the United Kingdom.  Tourists may have to use different lines at airports and cruise terminals with additional checks in place to gain access to the country. This could lead to border delays as no country has yet built the infrastructure to cope with full scrutiny of large volumes of arrivals.    We’ll just have to wait and see how this moves along.

Smarter Travel had an excellent article on the importance of  choosing your seat wisely on long haul flights.

• Seat location is one of the most important factors , especially on overnight flights when you hope to get some sleep.  Try to get a window seat.  It will give you something to lean and and you won’t have anyone climbing over you or bumping you.  You’ll also have some control over the window shade.
• Think twice about bulkhead or exit row seats.  The extra legroom is great but some of these seats have armrests that cannot be raised.    Also, many times bulkhead seats are often reserved for families with babies and young children and can be noisy.
• Seats near the rear of the plane may be noisier due to the planes’ engines and galley or restroom noise.  The good news is many times there are a few empty seats back there so you might be able to stretch out.
• To help you choose your seat, check out Smarter Travel’s sister site, http://SeatGuru.com  which offers color-coded seating charts for nearly every plane on every airline.

2020-2021

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau   Taking waitlist requests.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  A few seats remain.

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378   Enroll now.

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast to Boston.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

The big travel news this week is, of course, Coronavirus.  While this is definitely something to keep an eye on, unless you are planning to travel t0 China ( our government has already issued a do not travel alert), you can be assured that tour operators, airlines,  and cruise lines are watching this closely. Cruise lines have already instituted policies that will not allow anyone onboard if they have traveled to China recently.  Tour operators won’t be far behind.  Some countries, including the Bahamas, are also implementing bans for people who have recently traveled to China.

The Washington Post (Jan. 27) had an excellent article about what types of food you can bring to eat while flying and what you should avoid.   I’ve summarized a portion of the article:

• You can bring whatever you want to eat onboard but be mindful that other people do not want to smell what you are eating.   The smell of pungent food permeates the entire cabin.
• Avoid “loud” foods.   Before chomping into that large Fuji apple, consider the people who have to listen to you.  Corn nuts, carrots, etc.  are just plain irritating.
• Avoid messy foods and fizzy drinks.  Don’t bring food or drinks that run the risk of getting all over while you’re smashed next to strangers.  Soup, chips and salsa, exploding carbonated beverages can ruin your flight and that of those around you.
• If you are traveling with a toddler, you almost have to have snacks but be mindful of the type.  Smashed chocolate chip cookies or Cheetos  aren’t a great idea.
• Be aware of common allergens such as peanuts and shellfish.
• You are allowed to bring small bottles of alcohol onboard, but you will not be allowed to drink your own alcohol while flying.
• Maybe the most important thing to remember is not about the food.   Before you use that tray table, wipe it down.   Babies get changed on them, people drool on them, and bits of unconsumed food may linger.  Take a couple of seconds and wipe it down.

Happy Palindrome Day   0202/2020

2020-2021

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau   Taking waitlist requests.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  Call for availability.

June 16-26  Shrines of Italy   This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour,  St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica.   Deposit now.

August 15-23 Canadian Rockies  We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from a specially designed snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.  Stunningly beautiful scenery.  Enroll now!

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Deposit now!   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October 6-14 Autumn Colours  Join us as we fly into Boston and weaver our way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  We’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee and Woodstock on our way to the White Mountains where we’ll stop in Conway and up to  bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.   On our way back to Boston we stop at historic Portsmouth as we work our way down the coast to Boston.   Enroll now!

NEW October 31-November 9, 2020  Sunny Portugal   This is an amazing tour at offseason pricing.   $2999  per person double occupancy includes air from Detroit. Visit Lisbon Cascais, Obidos, Sintra. Enjoy the stunning coast of the Algarve and enjoy Lagos where Moorish and Renaissance influences meet towering cliffs. Explore Faro, the gateway to the Ria Formosa lagoon landscape, and much more.   I only have 20 seats for this tour. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623

NEW November 14- November 22, 2020 Spotlight on the French Riviera   Enjoy this wonderful tour while staying in the same hotel.   You will be based in the beautiful city of Nice but will have an opportunity to explore a different area each day.  You’ll explore Nice but also Grasse, St. Tropez, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul deVence among other areas.   You will be home before Thanksgiving!  Again, this trip is $2999 per person double occupancy including air out of Detroit.  Again, limited amount of seats.  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478

 2021 

January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from  Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco.  We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit;  Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica;  San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and  Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in  San Francisco.  Taking deposits.

April,6-17, 2021    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 the 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.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland

Coming Soon!  August, 2021  Charming French Canada

September 10, 2021 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.  Taking deposits now!

Lynn