Blog

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

Hi Everyone,

Have you ever wondered which countries were the safest places to travel?   Wonder no more as Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection annual research study reveals the answers.

Here’s the complete list of the countries that  Berkshire Hathaway’s survey deems  safest for travelers to visit:

1. Australia

2. Sweden

3. New Zealand

4. Italy

5. The Netherlands

6. France

7. Iceland

8. Ireland

9. Greece

10. Japan

Interestingly, we have traveled to 9 of the 10 pf these countries the last few years and are planning return trips to Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Ireland in the next couple of years. (We have not made it to Japan yet.)

I have blogged about this in the past, but in only a few months, everyone will need to have a Real ID in order to board an airplane in this country.   A US Travel Association found that millions of Americans are unprepared for the looming deadline and an estimated 99 million say they don’t have any form of ID that will be accepted come October 1.  An estimated 182 million  (72% of respondents) say they don’t have  Real-ID compliant license or they are confused about the whole concept.  If you have not exchanged your license for one that is Real-ID compliant, I would urge you to do so soon because it is going to be very interesting as we get closer.    If you hold a valid passport, you can use that to fly, but otherwise, you will need a Read-ID.

It looks like the trend of allowing passengers to bring rabbits, turtles,  and birds on planes as emotional support animals could be coming to an end.  The US Dept. of Transportation announced plans this week to tighten the rules around service animals, the biggest change being that only dogs qualify.   The airlines have lobbied for this change in response to people who show up at the airport with pigs, turkeys, snakes and other unusual pets.  The airlines believe thousands of people scam the system each year by claiming they need their pets for emotional support.   That allows them to avoid the airline pet fees.   The ruling does not affect legitimate service animals that perform a task to mitigate a disability.  Last year, more than 80 veterans and disability groups endorsed banning untrained emotional support animals in cabins.  The proposal is currently in the 60 day period that allows the public to respond.  The rules could take effect anytime after that.

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!

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

In the last couple of years there has been a push for mainstream cruise lines to get into the expedition market.  Viking Cruises is the latest cruise line to throw their hat into the ring. They have  announced that they are building a line of exploration vehicles capable of  travel to Antarctica and the Arctic, and also to the Great Lakes in the winter, beginning in 2022.  Viking Octantis will sail the Great Lakes in January of 2022 and reservations are being taken already.  The ships are designed to fit through the narrow locks on the St. Lawrence River and will carry 378 guests.   Because the itineraries are in cold destinations, the cabins will not have balconies.   On the Great Lakes, the 13 day Canadian Discovery will include stops in Toronto, Quebec, Cap-aux-Meules, Halifax, and New York.  The Niagara itinerary will include Toronto, Detroit, Traverse City and Milwaukee.

One of the chores to accomplish before leaving on an international trip is to find a place to exchange money into the local currency of your destination.  There are some countries that readily  accept the US dollar though, either because they’ve adopted the currency, or it is used alongside the local currency.   Here are just a few:  Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Panama, Barbados, Belize, and Costa Rica.

News out of Venice, Italy:  After suffering from extreme high tides just a few weeks ago, Venice is now dealing with extreme low tides. According to the BBC, the canals right now look more like mud trenches.  The low tides are not as rare as the once-in-a-lifetime flood from last year.   I hope that Venice is able to get back on track quickly.

Disney Cruise Line is offering travelers who book their sailing by February 14 the chance to pay only half the required deposit when booking.   To qualify, travelers must book a 4 night or longer Disney cruise departing between June 2-May 31, 2021, with the remaining deposit balance due at final payment.    While this doesn’t really save you any money, it does allow you to hold onto it for a little longer.

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 our 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!

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

This week, I’d like to mention a few packing and travel tips:

• Use a packing list.   I  know it is difficult to take that extra step but a good reason to use it is that when you are ready to close your suitcase, put that list on top of everything and take a picture of it.   Should your suitcase get lost, you will have some proof of what was in it.
• Never check essential items.  Passports, medications, money, credit cards, jewelry, pricey souvenirs,  and electronics should also stay with you.  It’s not a bad idea to have a change of clothes in your carry on, just in case your bags take the scenic route getting to you.
• Use packing cubes.  They really do work.   Some people use compression bags which I haven’t tried but may be worth a try.
• Take spare Ziploc bags.   You never know when you might need them.   They weigh nothing and can serve a multitude of purposes.
• Remember that loose lithium batteries must be packed in your carry on.
• Double check the TSA’s list of prohibitive items before going to the airport.
• Make sure that you give your suitcase a unique identifier, especially if it is black.   Of course if you are traveling with me, I will give you luggage grips that clearly identify you as part of our travel group.
• Remember that the three most important things to keep close are money, medications, and your passport!

I get a lot of questions about where to buy different items for travel.  Here is a list of places that I frequent.   You may have your own.

• Suitcases, backpacks, packing cubes, travel accessories:  http://www.ebags.com
• Adaptors, convertors, TSA locks etc.   Anywhere that sells luggage. There are also a couple of really nice online companies:  http://www.travelsmith.com  http://www.magellans.com
• Travel Clothes:  http://www.chicos.com   Columbia, Eddie Bauer, http://www.rei.com  ,   http://www.travelsmith.com.   Watch for sales.

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 our 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  Ireland

Coming Soon!  September 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!

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Many tour operators and cruise lines are working to eliminate single use plastics.   It is really important to do this as inconvenient as it might be.  The plastic in the ocean are killing sea life.   As many of you know, we live part time on the coast and have see first hand the damage done to our sea life.   There are many ways that we as travelers can reduce plastic use while traveling.  Last year, a United Nations report indicated that 127 countries have adopted some type of legislation against plastic bags.   Consider packing a reusable cloth bag in your luggage.   Many hotels are eliminating personal size toiletries.  Consider bringing  your own in containers that are refillable.  Bring refillable water  bottles.   One hundred billion single use cups with plastic lids are thrown away each year.   Even small steps will lower our environmental impact  and make a difference in the destinations we visit and the world we share.

If you are planning a trip to Disney this year, it’s a great time to plan.  At Disney World, visitors can enjoy a free Disney dining plan with the purchase of a non-discounted minimum 4 night package with Park Hopper option that includes staying at a select Disney Resort Hotel.  This offer is valid for the next 10 days for arrivals most nights June 27-28, July 5-7, and August 20-September 8.  The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.  Disneyland in California has a great promo as well.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s largest in terms of passengers since 2000, went smoke-free starting January 2.   All smoking rooms inside the airport are now closed.  Many US travelers are already accustomed to smoking bans in public buildings.  However, foreign travelers who are used to smoking in their home countries and airports might find the ruling difficult.

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 our snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.   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  Ireland

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!

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!

Fodor’s Travel has a few good suggestions for all of us that even seasoned travelers often forget:

• Make a list of travel necessities a week in advance.
• Double check your passports and travel documents to insure they are valid and up to date.
• Get Travel Insurance.
• Travel with vitamins and immune system boosters.
• If you have dietary restrictions, don’t depend on the airlines.  Bring your own food.
• Pack small travel size snacks.
• Get a refillable water bottle.  Most airport restaurants will give you ice water.
• Airplanes are notoriously cool so dress in layers.
• Don’t take carry on luggage that you can’t handle. If it’s too heavy for you, it’s too heavy for the flight crew.
• Expect the worst when it comes to security lines.  It’s better to have to wait a little while at the gate, then get stuck in a long line at security and miss your flight.
• Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.  A headache is one of the first signs of dehydration.
• Never enter a lavatory without your shoes on!
• Wear compression socks for flights lasting more than three hours.

Do you ever wonder if that airplane blanket they give you for long haul flights is clean?   My rule of thumb is that if it’s sealed in plastic, it’s probably been washed.  “American Airlines states that all blankets are rewashed and repackaged after every use.”-Smarter Travel   I just have to assume that other airlines are doing the same thing.   If you are nervous about it, though, bring your own blanket.

Is there something you would like to see in the blog?  Email me suggestions for topics and I’ll work on them: lynn@fullertravelservice.com

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 our snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff. 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

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!

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!

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

If you are traveling over the holidays, take your patience.   Hopefully, the weather will be good with no cancellations or delays.   I have included a link to a chart  from Smarter Travel that details your rights should your flight be cancelled.   These same rules apply to any time of the year that you travel.

https://www.smartertravel.com/uploads/2019/06/ST-Cancellation-Fees-Guide.pdf

Traveling internationally on American Airlines?  They have added a feature to their mobile app that allows you to scan your passport allowing you to check your luggage and go directly to your gate without having to have your documents rechecked by a customer service rep.

Taking a cruise?   There are some things that you should never try to hide from from the cruise line.  Cruise Critic summarizes the most important:

• Pregnancy.  Most cruise lines will not accept a passenger over 24 weeks into their pregnancy.  Should complications arise, cruise ship medical facilities are not equipped to help mom or  a premature newborn.
• Contagious medical issue.    Most people book cruises quite a few months in advance so there is no way to tell if you’ll be sick at boarding, but if you do come down with something when it’s time to board, don’t lie to the cruise lines.  Most lines will make you sign a statement that you are well.   If you are not feeling well, the ship’s medical officers will evaluate you and they may just ask you to stay in your room for a few days to avoid spreading your illness.  If you really are too ill to travel, you have hopefully purchased travel insurance.
• Food Allergies.    These are becoming increasingly common, and in many cases, can be very serious.  Let the cruise line know in advance and they will work with you.  Most cruise lines can accommodate just about anything within reason as long as you give them notice.
• Weapons.  Cruise lines strictly prohibit weapons onboard so even if you have a permit, firearms need to be left behind.  The same rules apply for knives.  Many lines also prohibit any sharp objects such as scissors with blades longer than 4 inches.  Leave your can of Mace home as well.

Have a Merry Christmas!  This is such a special, sacred time of the year that however your family celebrates the holidays, I hope it is wonderful for all of 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 our snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff.

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

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. 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!

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!

Have a great week!

Lynn