Blog

Hi Everyone

Those of us in travel have wondered what would happen when we started to look forward to 2021.   We have all been somewhat pleasantly surprised at the number of 2021 bookings taking place.  Certainly, there are people who pushed their vacations to 2021 when they were cancelled this year but tour operators and cruise lines are seeing a big increase in reservations for next year.    I just booked some couples on a cruise for next May and many of the room categories are already sold out.   Uniworld, my favorite river cruise company, announced that they are way ahead in 2021 bookings.   If you are thinking of a tour or a cruise next year, get it under deposit.  I would suggest you try to get a refundable deposit and travel insurance so that you are not disappointed.

The next time you fly, you will undoubtedly see changes in the way you interact with TSA.  A lot of the changes are designed to allow TSA officers to do their jobs with less touchpoint.   Changes include:

• You will now be able to bring up to 12 ounces of liquid hand sanitizer though TSA.
• TSA will no longer handle a boarding pass.   You will scan it yourself and hold it up so the officer can see it without touching it.
• You will be required to keep an appropriate amount of distance between others passing thr0ugh checkpoints.
• TSA officers will be wearing masks, and while not an absolute requirement for passengers, you will be encouraged to do so as well.  You may be asked to lower the  mask for security confirmation.
• Any carry on food will now need to be placed in a clear plastic bag and then placed into the bin separately. (TSA Precheck members will be able to keep food in their bag.)

The release says that the TSA has already started to implement the changes and will continue to roll them out at airports nationwide by mid-June.

Did you know?   Even before the pandemic occurred, the airlines had to abide by the 24 Hour Cancellation Policy.    The Department of Transportation says airlines must let travelers hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a purchased reservation to be canceled within 24 hours without penalty and with a full refund.  All airlines operating to, from, and within the U.S. must comply with this rule.  The clock starts ticking on the 24 hours as soon as you purchase the ticket.

We are returning to Ireland next May.   I have included this video of one of the entertainment venues we’ll attend.  This is a bit lengthy so watch what you’d like.   It is a recording of a live broadcast so it will take a few minutes to load.   Very fun!

https://collette.zoom.us/rec/share/v-5_Np6tzjhOa4mR6B3_SI8xWYXlaaa80SMc-6IIzR2e1QsfIQ6TY0UdDwnInr3I

Lastly, this may not be the Memorial Day weekend we were hoping for, but please take a moment to remember all those who served and sacrificed for all of us.

 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  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!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

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!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Disney is the latest company to begin to reopen.  This week they will partially open Disney Springs, the shopping/restaurant area of Walt Disney World.   Although the parks are still closed and there is no formal reopening date, Disney is now taking reservations for July.   Disney Springs will be capacity controlled with limited entry points. Everyone must wear a mask and submit to temperature checks.   I do hope it goes well for them.

As countries begin to open, some countries in Europe are taking an interesting approach.  The Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have opened their borders to one another, creating a “travel bubble”.    Under the new rules, anyone who has not travelled outside the Baltic states in the past two weeks, is not infected, and has not been in contact with somebody who tested positive may travel freely through these three nations beginning Thursday.  Granted, these are small countries, but it is another positive step.-BBC

Last week I mentioned a few “firsts”.  Here are a few more:

• The London Underground , commonly known as “The Tube,” first opened in 1863. Wooden carriages were illuminated by gaslight and pulled by steam locomotives which made travel smelly and hazardous.
• Berlin’s Hotel Adlon was reputed to be the first grand hotel in the city but it was also the first to char-grill steaks indoors.
• All-inclusive resorts date back to the first Club Mediteranee  (known as Club Med) which opened in the seaside town of Palinuro, Italy in 1950.
• In 1912 in Munich, Germany,  Martin Sixt took his fleet of three cars and rented them out to consumers on an ad-hoc basis, and the car rental was born.  Sixt continues to rent cars throughout Europe and across the globe.
• The first steamship to cross the Atlantic was Savannah, an American ship named after the city where her owners lived and where she began her voyage to Liverpool in the summer of 1819.

2020

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

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

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

NEW November 7- November 15, 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  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!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

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!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

We are starting to see the first glimmer of hope in the travel world.   France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Germany, and Spain are all beginning to open their countries.   They are not ready for visitors but they are beginning to ease restrictions and are beginning to move forward.  The Caribbean has announced that they are now in the containment phase.   Carnival will take some short cruises yet this summer and Southwest may begin some international flights shortly.  All of this is promising and a start.

Have you ever wondered about where certain things originated?    Here is a little travel trivia from Travel Pulse:

• The first airport hotel was opened in 1929 at  what is now known as Oakland International Airport.   Airport hotels in those days also doubled as catering kitchens .
• The first hotel to provide soap and shampoo was the Inn on the Park in 1970 (today’s Four Seasons London.)
• Hotel room service was first noted at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria in the 1920s
• The Jet Age began on May 2, 1952 when passengers boarded the de Havilland Comet belonging to BOAC (the predecessor of today’s British Airways) at London’s Heathrow Airport for Johannesburg-with 5 stops along the way.
• In 1974, a manager at Hilton’s Hong Kong property introduced minibars into the guest rooms and the amenity took off as minibar sales boosted room revenue by a significant chunk.

I’ll include a few more “firsts” in next week’s blog.

Last week I told you that we were going to attempt our first Zoom presentation in cooperation with my Business Development  Manager  from Collette, Ed McKenna.  Ed will go through the itinerary for our upcoming Shades of Ireland tour.  He’ll be able to answer questions and address any concerns.   Obviously, we’d love you to join us on this trip and  we also know that many of you have already done Ireland.   The meeting may just be a chance to reminisce about your  trip if you have already been to Ireland.  If you are thinking about Ireland this will be a good opportunity to see the itinerary.   No pressure involved.    It will be fun to see many of you on Zoom!   It is scheduled for May 15 at 9:30am.   Here is all you will need to do with your computer.  Click on one of the numbers below.

Computer:

+16465588656,,97603216570#    

or

http://+13017158592,,97603216570#

You can also join by phone:

+16465588656,,97603216570# or +13017158592,,97603216570#

Meeting ID is 976 0321 6570

2020

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

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

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

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

NEW November 7- November 15, 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  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!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris. 

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

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!

October 9,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.

2022

February 11, 2022   South American and the Chilean Fjords  This 18 day cruise will begin in Buenos Aires for a two night stay.  We will then travel to Montevideo, Uruguay.   Enjoy a day at sea before arriving  Puerto Madryn where we will learn of this city’s Welsh heritage.  After another day at sea we will arrive in the Falkland Islands and Port Stanley.  Come face to face with penguins as you explore the rugged beauty of these islands. We will then sail the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  Our next port is Ushuaia where we can enjoy the tranquility of this end of the world city or visit Tierra del Fuego National Park.   From there we will sail to Punta Arenas.  We’ll cruise the Amalia Glacier and the Chilean Fjords before arriving at Puerto Montt where we will discover the Germanic traditions and scenic landscape dominated by the Osorno volcano.  Our last two days will be spent in Santiago, Chile before boarding our plane for the return  to the U.S.

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Conde’ Nast Traveler had a very interesting article this week about the passport.   Although the passport has been around since the late 1700’s,  originally they were available only to a few select citizens and were more of a status symbol.  They were more like a letter of reference than a means of identification. It was in the wake of first World War that passports became the document we know today.  The application fee was $1.    There were 20,690,491 passports issued in the U.S. in 2019.   Innovations have occurred over the years.  Many nations have begun to use biometrics that can be linked to the passport. For more information, check out Conde’ Naste Travel, May 2. Good read.

Tired of the same old things on TV?  Here are a few travel movies you may want to try: Out of Africa. Mama Mia, Two for the Road, The Godfather, Under the Tuscan Sun, Eat, Pray, Love.

We are very excited to tell you that we are going to attempt our first Zoom presentation.   My friend and Business Development Manager, Ed McKenna, will go through the itinerary for our upcoming Shades of Ireland tour.  He’ll be able to answer questions and address any concerns.   Obviously, we’d love you to join us on this trip but we know that many of you have already done Ireland.   The meeting may just be a chance to reminisce about your  trip.  If you are thinking about Ireland this will be a good opportunity to see the itinerary.   No pressure involved.    It will be fun to see many of you on Zoom!   It is schedule for May 15 at 9:30am.   Here is all you will need to do with your computer.  Click on one of the numbers below.

Computer:

 +16465588656,,97603216570#    

or

http://+13017158592,,97603216570#

You can also join by phone:

+16465588656,,97603216570# or +13017158592,,97603216570# 

Meeting ID is 976 0321 6570

Hi Everyone,

The growing list of of hotels that impose mandatory fees continues to grow.  Despite the Federal Trade Commission’s warnings that hotels may be violating the law, hotels continue to pile on fees.  The FTC has not taken any further action.   Those fees can range from $10 per night to more than $50 per night.   There may be help on the horizon as some of the states are suing hotel chains themselves.  It is important to read the fine print, and sometimes the fee is not even disclosed there.

If you need a new passport, you will need to wait.    Passport processing has been suspended except for life or death emergency situations where you must travel in the next 72 hours.  and then you must make application in person at a passport center.   You can still submit an application but you should expect significant delays.   The State Department is encouraging people to wait to apply until normal operations are resumed.

Some of you may be receiving an email each Thursday called Armchair Explorer.   That comes from my consortium and is an attempt to help lighten the travel news for you.    I noticed that my phone number is correct at the top of the piece but incorrect in the logo.   I am trying to get that fixed but if you need something, please use the number at the top.  You will receive these on Thursdays for the next few weeks.

While we await the end of this pandemic, my prayer is that all of you remain healthy and safe.   There will be a time when we’re able to get together and travel to wonderful destinations again.   In the meantime, we can reminisce about the amazing places we’ve been and the people we’ve met.  We can dream about the places yet to visit or revisit.   Most importantly, take care of yourselves and your families.

2020

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

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

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

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

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

 2021 

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

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit  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!

 May 9, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.

Coming Soon!   June,  2021 National Parks of America  

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

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,

Happy Easter, everyone!  We’ll all be celebrating a little differently today, but the reason for the celebration remains the same.  If you can’t be with your family today, I hope you’ll be able  to talk or video chat with them.

Here is a great little video about travel from Collette.  It’s it’s worth a minute of your time:

https://collette.wistia.com/medias/4gbvset8p9

While we are sitting home I thought it would be fun to share some pics of some of our previous trips so that we could remember some of the great times we had.   I would encourage you to go to my Fuller Travel Service Facebook page and share some of your photos.   It will help all of us smile a little remembering happier times we spent together.   Here is the link:   http://www.facebook.com/fullertravelservice

Most of the major airlines have extended their frequent flier status for another year so if you were wondering about losing any status, that’s at least one less thing to worry about.  Many of the major hotel chains are doing the same thing for their loyalty customers.

If your upcoming flight is cancelled or you experience a major schedule change, you can ask for a refund from the airlines.   The Department of Transportation has informed the airlines of their duty to refund for those reasons.

2020

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

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

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

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

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

 2021 

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

April,6-17, 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with Sant’ippolito!   Join us as we fly to the Sicilian Capital of  Palermo.  where we will spend 2 nights exploring the city.  There will be an opportunity to take optional tours to Cefalu, Monte Pellegrino, and the goal market.    We will then travel to Taormina by way of  Agrigento  to visit the Valley of the Temples.   Once in Taormina we will take a walking tour of the Corso Umbreto and on to the Piazza for a panoramic view of the bay.  The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an optional trip to Mt. Etna and Savoca, home of the “Godfather”.   We will then cross  the Straits of Messina and on to Calabria.   Here you will have an opportunity to visit the your family villages  located outside Cosenza.    After a stay in Calabria we head to Matera, Alberabello, and San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure.  Taking deposits!

Coming soon!  May, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.

May 30, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise    Paris and Normandy  

Coming Soon!   June,  2021 National Parks of America  

July 17, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.

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