Obviously, the biggest travel news this week is the Global air stop that is affecting more than just the US. This is a Worldwideproblem. If you plan to travel in the next few days, continue to check your flights and be alert to any changes. It is difficult if not impossible to get through to the airlines. The airlines are working to get back online but it is not a simple process. Some airlines are beginning to fly. others are not quite yet.
Italy is one of my very favorite countries. I’ve traveled there many times and I will be going back. The Italian government has made people aware that they should always have a form of identification on them while traveling. Many tourists leave their passports in the hotel safe while out and about. This new policy may make people rethink that. At a minimum you may want to carry a picture of your passport page with you. If you are driving and have a problem, you will really need your passport.
We were all hoping that Europe might have a little cooler summer this year. but Southern Europe is experiencing very warm temps hovering around the 105 Fahrenheit mark. If you are traveling to Southern Europe, be mindful of the temps and the fact that some venues are closing due to the heat.
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Ready to deposit. A few spots remain. Uniworld
May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston, to Fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now. Collette
September26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants. We are accepting deposits but only have 5 seats remaining
The following trips are not quite ready for deposit but if you are interested in either of these, just shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the interest list. No obligation but I’ll be able to let you know asap when it is time for deposits.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise Not ready for deposits but call to be put on the interest list.
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not ready for deposits but call to be put on the interest list.
Fuller Travel Service hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm, Closed on Sunday.
Aruba has implemented a new sustainability fee that will need to be paid on arrival. The fee is $20 and is collectable when travelers arrive by air. -Travel and Leisure.
I read a very interesting article this week. Scammers are posing as airlines on social media and stealing sensitive data. This particular example cited someone who booked air on Ryanair and went back to make a change. A pop up immediately told her they would take care of it only they were not Ryanair. They were Raynair, a scammer who, of course, wanted to charge a fee to make the changes. Unfortunately, an increase of scammers is being seen on social media sites. If you book an airline ticket, book it through the airline or if it is part of a tour, book it through your tour operator. I would not recommend booking air on a social media site.-info from Fodor’s Travel.
If you are planning to fly this summer and are worried about flight delays or turbulence, book your flight in the mornings. Afternoons and evenings just increase the probability of flight delays and a more turbulent flight.
Sicily has always been one of my favorite places to visit but the Sicilians are asking tourists to skip them this year, no because they don’t want tourists. They have a serious water crisis. Smaller inns and hotels are having a difficult time getting water. Hopefully, this will be short lived for them as tourism is a bit part of their economy.
Upcoming Tours and Cruises
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.The deadline for the booking discount will close on July 17.https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Ready to deposit. A few spots remain. Uniworld
May 30-June 7, Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston, to Fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now. Collette
September26-October 8, 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants. We should have more info in the next couple of weeks.
The following trips are not quite ready for deposit but if you are interested in either of these, just shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the interest list. No obligation but I’ll be able to let you know asap when it is time for deposits.
Have a great week!
Lynn
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise Not ready for deposits but call to be put on the interest list.
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not ready for deposits but call to be put on the interest list.
Fuller Travel Service hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm, Closed on Sunday.
I hope that you had a wonderful, safe 4th of July.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Barcelona was working on a plan to keep housing prices affordable for their residents in the midst of so many houses and apartments rented for very high prices to tourists. As they try to balance welcoming tourists with making sure that their own people have affordable housing, Barcelona’s mayor has announced that it will bar apartment rentals to tourists by 2028 to help rein in soaring housing costs. They will scrap the licenses of over 10,000 apartments currently approved as short term rentals-CNN
EPCOT at Walt Disney World has finally completed a major renovation. This week, CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza which are the hub for all of Epcot’s festivals as well as home to a new stage show were completed. Before the construction Epcot consisted of 2 main areas: World Showcase and Future World. The transformation split Future World into three neighborhoods: World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery.
If you are trying to narrow down the countries you would like to visit, you may want to check out the following listing of the 10 safest countries in the world: 1. Canada, 2 Switzerland, 3. Norway, 4. Ireland, 5. Netherlands, 6. United Kingdom, 7. Portugal, 8. Denmark, 9. Iceland, 10. Australia-USA Today
Upcoming Tours and Cruises
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.The deadline for the booking discount will close on July 17.https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Ready to deposit. A few spots remain. Uniworld
May 30-June 7, Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston, to Fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
September 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants. We should have more info in the next couple of weeks.
The following trips are not quite ready for deposit but if you are interested in either of these, just shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the interest list. No obligation but I’ll be able to let you know asap when it is time for deposits.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise Not ready for deposits but call to be put on the interest list.
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not ready for deposits but call to be put on the interest list.
Fuller Travel Service hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm, Closed on Sunday.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stated that he wants to restrict cruse ship berths or create a bidding process for ships to call at the popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos. The decision to cap cruise visits could come as early as next spring because overcrowding is negatively impacting the two islands, according to a Bloomberg report. This is just the latest European country to try to figure out how to handle the huge influx of tourists that they are experiencing.
TSA, is looking at a slightly longer July 4 travel break (Thursday, June 27, through Monday, July 8) and said travelers should be prepared for “a sustained period of high passenger volumes,” with airport screeners expected to process more than 32 million individuals, a gain of 5.4% over the same period last year. The agency said the busiest day would likely be Friday, June 28, when the number of passengers screened was expected to top 3 million for the first time. The summer volume has already been building this month, when TSA recorded seven of the 10 busiest travel days ever, including Sunday, June 23, when airport screeners handled a record 2.99 million passengers. “We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. He said the agency is staffed up to meet its waiting time standards: 10 minutes or less in line for TSA PreCheck members and 30 minutes or less for the regular screening lines. Pack your patience.
Princess Cruises just unveiled a new “Better Than Best Price Guarantee for 2025-26 sailings. This program runs from July 1-September 2, 2024. Guests are assured that if they find a better price for the same Princess cruise, stateroom category, and sail date at any time before final payment, the cruise line will honor the lower rate and provide 120% of the difference in the form of an onboard credit. If you are thinking of sailing with Princess next year, this is a very nice perk but it is only available for a short time.
Have a wonderful, safe Fourth of July!
Upcoming Tours and Cruises
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.My deadline for booking will close in just a few weeks.https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Ready to deposit. A few spots remain. Uniworld
May 30-June 7, Columbia & Snake Rivers Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night journey. On your journey you will visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens, Cross the “Bridge of the Gods and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston, to Fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
September 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants. We should have more info in the next couple of weeks.
The following trips are not quite ready for deposit but if you are interested in either of these, just shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the interest list. No obligation but I’ll be able to let you know asap when it is time for deposits.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise Not quite ready for deposits
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not ready for deposits
Fuller Travel Service hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm, Closed on Sunday.
Yet another city, Barcelona, is proposing a plan that will eliminate short term rentals in their city. The short term rental market has increased by nearly 70% in the last 10 years and the cost of buying a home has risen 40%, pricing out many Barcelona residents. I hope a workaround can be found because Barcelona is a treasure.-Travel Pulse
Last week I mentioned that there are opportunities to renew your passports online. If you live in the Lansing/Delta Township area, they have posted dates for their upcoming passport drives. The drives help those of you who cannot get to the Township office during regular working hours. You will be able to get assistance applying for your passport but must call in advance for an appointment. Upcoming dates are.
Wednesday, July 10th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 15th– 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, September 9th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 8th– 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 20th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, December 19th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
I am often asked how early I think people should arrive at the airport. The rule of thumb is two and a half hours for domestic and three hours for international. Those numbers can be affected by how much baggage you have, or if you have TSAPrecheck or Clear. It can also be affected by the time of year. When you are trying to travel during the holidays, all bets are off. Better to be safe than sorry.
According to AAA, over 1.7 million Michigan residents are expected to take a trip of 50 miles or more between June 30 and July 4, surpassing last year’s holiday travel record by 76,000. Stay safe out there.
Upcoming Tours and Cruises
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.My deadline for booking will close in just a few weeks.https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Ready to deposit. A few spots remain.
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
September 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants. We should have more info in the next couple of weeks.
The following trips are not quite ready for deposit but if you are interested in either of these, just shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the interest list. No obligation but I’ll be able to let you know asap when it is time for deposits.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise Not quite ready for deposits
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not ready for deposits
Fuller Travel Service hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm, Closed on Sunday.
Online passport renewal is back, but only for a limited time and and limited number of applicants. If you need to renew your passport, the State Department has opened the online portal for renewals but will only accept a limited number of daily applicants. The program is scheduled to run for several months. It will open every day at midday and accept a limited number of applications. Make sure you are not planning to travel for 8 weeks when you apply as it still takes several weeks to receive a new passport. you can go totravel.state.gov/…e-passport/renew-online for more info.
If you have the National Parks on your wish list, you may be interested in the fact that Apple Maps is actually mapping the National Parks that will make spending time in the National Parks easier. Apple is also adding place cards that tell you trail length, difficulty, and elevation variations. The App should be released this fall.-Travel and Leisure
I am frequently asked if passports are needed for a cruise. Technically, if the cruise is a closed loop cruise (coming and going from the same US port), you do not need a passport. However, if there is a problem with either the ship itself and it has to divert to a foreign port to disembark, or if you should become ill outside of the US and need to be flown home, you will need that passport. Even on cruises where passports are not required, you will still need proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government -issued photo ID.
2024-25 Tours and Cruises
August 10-17, 2024 Iceland’s Natural Beauty. Discover Iceland’s majestic shores as you explore this northern isle’s coastal towns. Encounter unparalleled natural beauty and witness cascading waterfalls amid pristine fjord landscapes. Discover Viking heritage as you follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorer Leif Eriksson. Or observe the wealth of wildlife, from puffins to the gentle giants of the sea. Join us for a truly immersive experience that brings you closer to nature and all her splendor.-Viking Ocean
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.My deadline for booking will close in just a few weeks. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
September 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants.
The city of Juneau in Alaska just announced that they will be implementing restrictions on the numbers of cruise ship passengers that can disembark in their city. The requirement will not go into effort until 2026 bur Juneau is trying to strike a balance between hosting people in their city and the effect that thousands of people have on the quality of life of its residents. Cruisers will still be welcome but with restrictions.
I frequently get asked how much time must remain on a passport for it to be valid for travel. I usually tell people 6 months as that is the safe thing to have, but each country has a different timetable for passport validity. Some may only require three months while others require 6 months or more. It is really important that travelers understand the rules for their destination country. and also the fact that there may be more requirements than just the passport. You may also need a visa or an electronic entry ticket. For instance, the Dominican Republic requires an entrance e-ticket. It doesn’t cost anything but you must go online to apply for it before travel.
Brightline West broke ground this week on a high-speed rail that will connect Vegas and Southern California. It is expected to open in 4 years. The train will span 218 miles. The train will be fully electric and capable of reaching speeds up to 200 miles per hour. Brightline already has trains in Florida so good to see they are expanding to another area of our country. The high speed train I rode last month in Italy reminds me that have a long way to go to provide good, fast rail travel in this country.
2024-25 Tours and Cruises
August 10-17, 2024 Iceland’s Natural Beauty. Discover Iceland’s majestic shores as you explore this northern isle’s coastal towns. Encounter unparalleled natural beauty and witness cascading waterfalls amid pristine fjord landscapes. Discover Viking heritage as you follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorer Leif Eriksson. Or observe the wealth of wildlife, from puffins to the gentle giants of the sea. Join us for a truly immersive experience that brings you closer to nature and all her splendor.-Viking Ocean
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.My deadline for booking will close in just a few weeks. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
September 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants.
As the summer travel service ramps up, the National Park Service is warning people to keep a distance from wildlife. National parks are not zoos and there are no barriers between humans and wildlife such as bear, elk, or Buffalo. Just this week a visitor to Grand Teton surprised two bear. That person had to be airlifted to a hospital. Also, if you are planning a trip to the National Parks, many of them are now requiring reservations due to overcrowding so you will want to check with the parks you want to visit.
Remember to read the fine print when you agree to a hotel stay, a flight, an excursion, etc, Junk fees are becoming costlier and more ridiculous. Fees should either be disclosed at the time of booking if you book by phone, and they are required to be included in print if you book online. The problem is that they are usually in the fine print and many of us don’t have the patience to read that small print. Take the time as some of these fees are just nonsense and can be costly. USA Today had a great article about these junk fees this week.
If you love to cruise with Royal Caribbean, note that they have 2 sister companies that you can get status with if you sail. Travelers who typically sail with either Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, or Silversea will now be able to attain the equivalent status on all three brands.
Just a note,…If you are thinking of one of our upcoming tours, don’t wait too long to sign up. Tours are filling faster than ever. Most of our tours are with Collette Vacations that comes with a money back guarantee if you have to cancel your trip. It’s good until 24 hours before you leave as long as you have the Collette insurance.
2024-25 Tours and Cruises
August 10-17, 2024 Iceland’s Natural Beauty. Discover Iceland’s majestic shores as you explore this northern isle’s coastal towns. Encounter unparalleled natural beauty and witness cascading waterfalls amid pristine fjord landscapes. Discover Viking heritage as you follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorer Leif Eriksson. Or observe the wealth of wildlife, from puffins to the gentle giants of the sea. Join us for a truly immersive experience that brings you closer to nature and all her splendor.-Viking Ocean
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I am taking deposits as this is a very popular cruise and I am concerned the cruise will sell out. Uniworld River Cruise
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
We are finally home from an amazing trip to Europe. We left on April 30 to spend a few days in Rome with a portion of our group before meeting the entire group in Milan. We then spent three days in Milan before being transferred to our river cruise in Venice. We spent 8 days exploring all that Venice and the Venetian islands offered. From Murano, Burano, and down to Chioggia, we found much to enjoy. From glassblowing, the colorful island of Burrano where all the homes are painted a different color, and a luncheon at a ranch complete with beautiful horses, each day was different and delightful. When our group flew home on May 12 or scattered to their own adventures, we flew to Dublin to meet our next group.
After a rocky start for the group (air delays) we finally started to explore the wonders of the Emerald Isle. Starting in Dublin we quickly transitioned to the countryside with a stop at the Irish Stud Farm. We learned how racing horses are bred and raised. As we got close to these amazing animals, it was clear how well taken care of they were. We continued our trip to a little tasting at the Jamison Distillery,and enjoyed an afternoon in the beautiful coastal town of Kinsale. From there we visited the Garnish Island, and on to the small town of Dingle where we spent two nights enjoying this little town. I think one of the highlights of the trip was our stay in Inishmore on the Aran Islands. We were all delighted to stay in small pods with great views of the Atlantic. We visited a goat farm and held baby goats who had been born that week. On our way back to the mainland we cruised by the Cliffs of Moher to see the cliffs from the sea. Both of our trips were awesome, certainly because of all the amazing sites we saw but also because both tours included great people who enjoyed one another. It is really great to watch groups come together and become friends, not just fellow passengers.
In other news, we know that lithium batteries can be a potential fire hazard. This week a transAtlantic flight needed to be diverted as a laptop got stuck between the seats. It is unclear where or why it couldn’t be retrieved but the plane had to be diverted to Ireland to retrieve the laptop. Any item with a lithium battery — including cell phones, laptops, tablets, or smart watches — can be a potential fire hazard, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the batteries are capable of overheating and ultimately catching fire, particularly if they are damaged trying to retrieve them. I know that I have seen the warnings on flights informing people that they should not try to extract electronics if they get stuck in the seat but had not thought much about why.
2024-25 Tours and Cruises
August 10-17, 2024 Iceland’s Natural Beauty. Discover Iceland’s majestic shores as you explore this northern isle’s coastal towns. Encounter unparalleled natural beauty and witness cascading waterfalls amid pristine fjord landscapes. Discover Viking heritage as you follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorer Leif Eriksson. Or observe the wealth of wildlife, from puffins to the gentle giants of the sea. Join us for a truly immersive experience that brings you closer to nature and all her splendor.-Viking Ocean
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I am taking deposits as this is a very popular cruise and I am concerned the cruise will sell out. Uniworld River Cruise
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
We have had a great visit to the emerald isle. Here are a few of the places we visited:
Irish National Stud. Beautiful green Ireland. The Killarney Lakes on a foggy day.
The airlines are starting to publish the new rules under which they must refund passengers for things that are the airlines’ fault. The reimbursement is to be automatic and the funds returned to the passenger within 7 days of a problem. You will want to get on a particular airline’s site to read their statements.
This summer Uber will launch its Uber Shuttle service to airports in the US. We don’t yet know which airports will be included but when the service becomes available, customers will be able to see the shuttle option in the Uber app. Customers will be able to book up to 5 seats from 7 days in advance. They’ll be able to pay for and track their shuttle within 25 minutes of their departure.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Venice was instituting a daily for visitors just coming for the day. Venice has an army of workers trying to help visitors navigate this. When approaching Venice you will see many, many workers trying to help visitors navigate the free process and helping them accomplish this online. There are no gates or turnstiles. People are expected to have taken care of the online before arrival. At this point, the fee is just a pilot program but I think we will see this become the norm for cities that are experiencing overcrowding and affecting the way that the locals must live.
A fifth US tourist has been arrested in the Turks and Caicos for carrying ammunition. Hard to feel much sympathy for someone who doesn’t check the rules for a particular country before travel.
2024-25 Tours and Cruises
August 10-17, 2024 Iceland’s Natural Beauty. Discover Iceland’s majestic shores as you explore this northern isle’s coastal towns. Encounter unparalleled natural beauty and witness cascading waterfalls amid pristine fjord landscapes. Discover Viking heritage as you follow in the footsteps of intrepid explorer Leif Eriksson. Or observe the wealth of wildlife, from puffins to the gentle giants of the sea. Join us for a truly immersive experience that brings you closer to nature and all her splendor.-Viking Ocean
September 28-October 7, 2024 Best of Greece Take advantage of group pricing on this amazing cruise. Visit the ports of Athens, Santorini, Ephesus, Turkey, Mykonos, Volos, Thesaloniki, and Kavala before disembarking in Athens.-Celebrity Infinity.
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration. https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. I am taking deposits as this is a very popular cruise and I am concerned the cruise will sell out. Uniworld River Cruise
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
October 2025Colors of New England. We should get dates very soon.
April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise Not quite ready for dates.
Fuller Travel Service hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm, Closed on Sunday.
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