Travel News

Hi Everyone,

None of us would probably enjoy swimming or playing in water that has algae.  However, if you plan on traveling with your dog this summer, keep in mind that some dog owners have lost their dogs to what is probably the result of a toxin produced by blue-green algae.   This algae occurs naturally in bodies of freshwater but when temperatures increase, the algae growth explodes and produce toxins that are very dangerous for our furry friends.  It is important that if you see algae in a lake you should not expose your animal to it.  -Fodor’s Travel

Walt Disney World in Florida just launched a new ticket offer for fall guests.  The Mid-Day Magic Ticket allows guests to enjoy admissions after noon at one theme park per day.  As of Thursday 2,3, and 4 day tickets are available for start dates on or before December 15, 2019.  Two day tickets start at $88 per day plus tax. Three day tickets start at $84 per day plus tax, and four day tickets start at $79 per day plus tax. 

Travel tip:    Before closing your suitcase for your next trip, remember to take a picture of the contents.   If you need to apply for reimbursement for lost luggage, you will have proof of the contents.   Also, slip a copy of your itinerary in the suitcase with your phone number.  It will be much easier for the airline to get in touch with you or return the suitcase to you should it end up missing.

2020/2021.

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Although we will not be traveling with this group, we are preparing it for Fr. Anthony Strouse.  Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip! September 12-23, 2020    

Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.  Ready for deposit!  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly and currently has an early payment discount so deposit asap.  

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

September, 2021  Rhine, Moselle, and Baden-Baden    Will be ready for deposit late Fall

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Marriott is making a major new investment in all-inclusive resorts and have plans to build five new all-inclusive resorts.  The new resorts, representing an investment of more than $800 million, are scheduled to open between 2022 and 2025.  Marriott is not the first hotel chain to have all-inclusives in their portfolios.  Hyatt has done a great job with their all-inclusive.

You may have read that some hotel chains are being sued regarding their hotel fees.   Many of the properties in Las Vegas just raised their fees to a total with tax of  $51.02!   These are fees that are paid at the hotel, not when booking.

Many times airlines are overbooked and they begin to offer incentives for people to take a later flight.  Most of the time these incentives are for vouchers for future travel.   If you decide to give up your seat, ask a few questions before taking that voucher.  How long is this voucher valid?  Am I the only person who can use it?  Do I have to use the entire amount of the voucher on one flight?   Cash is always preferable to a voucher, and if no one volunteers for the voucher and the company has to involuntarily bump you, then you are entitled to compensation in cash for that.   It’s always good to know your rights.

The people of Venice, Italy have been complaining about large cruise ships that dock in the center of the city, block views, and disembark a couple thousand people at a time.  The government of Italy just announced that cruise ships will begin to be  rerouted away from the city center beginning next month.   Instead, they will relocate to docks closer to the mainland.   

2020/2021

January 26-February 5  Princess Cruise, Eastern/Southern Voyager   This cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale and will visit Antiqua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk before returning to Ft. Lauderdale.  Group pricing is available.

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Although we will not be traveling with this group, we are preparing it for Fr. Anthony Strouse.  Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip!

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

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly and currently has an early payment discount so deposit asap.  

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,    

Relief may be on the way for the dreaded middle airline seat.     The FAA has approved a new staggered design for the middle seat.  The design places the middle seat a little lower and a little behind the other two seats.  It also will be 21″ inches in width as opposed to the standard 18 inches.   Seats will be going into approximately 50 commercial planes as the pilot program begins next year. 

Orlando theme park wars continue to ramp up.   Disney’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge  will open later this month, and Universal just announced that they are planning a new theme park called Epic Universe on 750 acres that nearly doubles Universal’s presence in Central Florida.

US Travel Research indicates that the US share of international travelers is expected to fall through 2022.  The US share of global long-haul travelers has been on a 4 year slid, reaching 11.7% in 2018,  representing a loss of 14 million visitors and $59 billion in spending.    If predictions hold true, it could mean a loss of $180 billion in spending.   Factors contributing to the decline in inbound travel includes the strength of the US dollar, ongoing trade tensions, and stiff competition from rials for international tourism. 

Travelers have come a long way from the use of paper traveler’s checks to the use of debit and credit cards.   Digital technology is now making inroads as travelers want to use e-wallets, real time bank transfers, and direct debits.  In many countries, these forms of payment have overtaken the traditional credit card.  

2020/2021

January 26-February 5  Princess Cruise, Eastern/Southern Voyager   This cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale and will visit Antiqua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk before returning to Ft. Lauderdale.  Group pricing is available.

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Although we will not be traveling with this group, we are preparing it for Fr. Anthony Strouse.  Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip!

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

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly and currently has an early payment discount so deposit asap.  

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi everyone, This week I read a great article on how to keep your home safe while you are traveling.   A few of the tips are worth repeating:

• If you do a lot of posting on Social Media, you may want to think twice about posting while you are traveling.   Hundreds of strangers may be reading your daily posts  which is pretty much the same as announcing to a crowd that your house is unattended.   I usually post things after I return.
• Be careful what you put on your answering machine or voice mail.  Callers don’t need to know that you are not at home.  They just need to know that you can’t come to the phone right now.
• Unplug your television, computer, toaster oven, and other appliances to protect them from power surges.  This will help you save power as well because many appliances draw energy even when they are turned off.
• If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, let your local police know.   Our township police will do a house check from time to time.
• Remove your spare key if you are hiding it somewhere around your porch.  Better to give it to a trusted neighbor.                     –Smarter Travel.

It appears as thought Disney may be getting into the aviation business.   Some agent sites are reporting that brightly colored planes will ferry guests in and out of Orlando to airports including Detroit, Chicago, LaGuardia, and Los Angeles.    Entertainment options will include Disney+ access and some character presence, particularly Buzz Lightyear.   It will be interesting to see how this develops.

Did you know that if the airline changes your flight times, you are entitled to change your flight to one more convenient for you on that day.   Typically, the airline change must be more than 60 minutes, but if you had a really inconvenient time to begin with, you could change to a different flight for no fee. 

2020/2021

January 26-February 5  Princess Cruise, Eastern/Southern Voyager   This cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale and will visit Antiqua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk before returning to Ft. Lauderdale.  Group pricing is available.

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Although we will not be traveling with this group, we are preparing it for Fr. Anthony Strouse.  Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip!

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

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly and currently has an early payment discount so deposit asap.  

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone, Disney has had a very big year with the opening of their new Star Wars attraction.    They have also just announced that the new Skyliner Gondolas will open on September 27.    The gondolas will connect two of the Walt Disney World theme parks- Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT – to four of the WDW Resorts: Disney’s Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century, and the new Riviera Resort when that resort opens in December.    Also, this week Disney announced a free dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted  5 night/6 day vacation package that includes a room at select Disney Resort hotels and tickets with the park hopper option.  Book by September 29 for most nights September 1-18, November 17-27, and December 8-23, 2019.  

Interesting article in this week’s Smarter Travel.    If you should become ill and need to speak to a pharmacist or a doctor, you may need to know the generic name for your over the counter medication.  Many doctors speak English but they may not understand brand names.   Here is a partial list:

• Advil/Motrin= ibuprofen
• Aleve= naproxen
• Tylenol/Excedrin= acetaminophen
• Bayer, others= aspirin
• Benadryl= diphenhydramine
• Dramamine= dimenhydrinate
• Bonine= meclizine
• Pepto-Bismol= bismuth subsalicylate
• Robitussin= dextromethorphan
• Antacids= calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, or magnesium hydroxide
• Imodium= loperamide

A Celebrity Cruises survey of more than 1,000 Americans (admittedly, a small amount of subjects, but interesting nonetheless) revealed that 25% had taken a trip abroad by age 8 and those who traveled when young were 14% more likely to want to interact with non-English speakers.  That same cohort was also more receptive to novel experiences, and more apt to explore a new place.

2020/2021

January 26-February 5  Princess Cruise, Eastern/Southern Voyager   This cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale and will visit Antiqua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk before returning to Ft. Lauderdale.  Group pricing is available.

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Although we will not be traveling with this group, we are preparing it for Fr. Anthony Strouse.  Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip!

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

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly and currently has an early payment discount so deposit asap.  

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,    

As you get ready for your next trip to the Caribbean be sure to check on your sunscreen products.   Last month, the US Virgin Islands became the latest island to pass a law that bans sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.    First time violators will be fined $1000.  These compounds are in many commercially available sunscreens and lotions but they are harmful to the coral reef ecosystems.   Similar regulations have been enacted in other tropical getaways including Key West, Hawaii, Bonaire, and Palau.  

Japan is the latest country to launch a campaign to get foreign tourists to purchase travel insurance.    I wrote about this problem a few weeks ago but many countries are clamping down on tourists who visit without any medical insurance, become ill or injured, and then exit the country without paying their bills.   In some cases, travelers without adequate medical coverage have been turned away from treatment facilities.   I would really encourage you to check with your health care provider to see what type of coverage you will have overseas, and if you are not fully covered, investigate the best avenue  for coverage to insure that you will be taken care of if something happens while you are away from home.  

The highly anticipated Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open at Disney World on December 5, the date coinciding with Walt Disney’s birthday.  Disney is promising that this will be one of the most immersive and advanced experiences every imagined and engineered at a Disney park.  

Little trivia today:  A&W turns 100 this year!  

More trivia: Bathtubs are draining away into history in US hotels, with shower-only rooms comprising nearly 25% of the total, three times that of a few years ago. Both guest demand and the appeal of more revenue-generating space drive the trend. 

2020/2021

January 26-February 5  Princess Cruise, Eastern/Southern Voyager   This cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale and will visit Antiqua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk before returning to Ft. Lauderdale.  Group pricing is available.

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Although we will not be traveling with this group, we are preparing it for Fr. Anthony Strouse.  Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip!

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

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly and currently has an early payment discount so deposit asap.  

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Delta is adding some amenities to those flying economy internationally.   Beginning in November, passengers will be met with warm hot towels, and after take off, will be treated to Bellini cocktails.    The menu is also being refreshed and will be served with upgraded flatware and silverware. The meal will also include coffee, tea, wine, or water.     Another hot towel service will be provided after the meal and chocolates will be offered as the plane begins its descent.   Passengers in economy will also receive a flight kit consisting of a sleep mask, dental kit, ear plugs, and cleansing towelettes.  

Airlines have been doing a much better job of getting bags to their rightful place these days.  On average, 2 bags for every 1000 passengers are temporarily “misplaced”.  Your bag does not become lost for 21 days once it is misplaced.   The airlines that do the best job of getting your luggage to you on time are: Delta, Frontier, and Spirit.   If you happen to be one of the 2 out of a 1,000 whose bag did not get off the plane with you, the most important thing to remember is that you should not leave the airport without filing a claim.   Some airlines specify that you must report a “misplaced” bag within four hours and it is much better to do it at the airport. If your bag is delayed on a connecting itinerary involving more than one airline, deal with the airline that flew you to your destination.   Give them your baggage receipt but if they want to keep it, write down the numbers before turning over.   Complete the forms given to you and get tracking numbers, and airline phone numbers.  Get the name of the agent you deal with and note the estimated time of your bag arrival.  Make sure the airline knows how to find you to get the bag to you. 

Disney has been celebrating 90 years of Mickey and Minnie across all of their destinations.   At Disney World, Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration features new entertainment, merchandise, and specialty food and beverages at Magic Kingdom.   You can dance with your favorite Disney characters during the street party in front of Cinderella’s Castle.    At Disneyland,  there are still a few weeks to enjoy Mickey’s Soundsational Parade and the Disneyland Forever fireworks spectacular.   Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Party at Sea kicked off on the Disney Fantasy and continues on select Caribbean and Bahamian sailings through the end of August. 

2020/2021

January 26-February 5  Princess Cruise, Eastern/Southern Voyager   This cruise will depart from Ft. Lauderdale and will visit Antiqua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk before returning to Ft. Lauderdale.  Group pricing is available. 

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Although we will not be traveling with this group, we are preparing it for Fr. Anthony Strouse.  Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip!

September 12-23, 2020     Discovering Poland     Ready for deposit!  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly and currently has an early payment discount so deposit asap.    

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,    

I am sure that you have heard the stories out of the Dominican Republic regarding the recent mysterious deaths in that very popular tourist area.   It is a very sad story all around.   It is devastating to the families who have lost loved ones, most importantly.   Understandably, tourists are fleeing the island.   You cannot get through to a tour operator right now without a 4 hour wait as travelers change their vacations plans to other locales.   You cannot blame them, but it is important to note that 2.7 million Americans visit the Dominican Republic every year.   Another major casualty of this happens to be the thousands of people who live on the island and depend on tourism for their livelihood.  Hopefully, they will find the cause of this mystery very soon!

At the risk of  appearing to engage inself-promotion, here is an interesting excerpt from an article I read this week:

Approximately one in five Americans have been scammed or almost scammed when booking a vacation online, according to a new survey by virus software giant McAfee.   In their survey of 1000 people, 18% said that they had or almost had fallen prey to vacation travel scams and some 30% of victims reported that they had lost between $1000 and $3000.   31% of the victims had clicked on “a deal that was too good to be true. ”   13% shared that they had their identity stolen after they had shared passport details during the booking process.  A common event is that those representing themselves as agents purchase domain names that are similar to popular sites.  Another good reason to use a reputable travel agent.-TravelMarketReport

Just a couple more pics from our recent trip:

Gdansk, Poland:

2020

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip! September 12-23, 2020  

Discovering Poland     Ready for deposit!  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly so deposit asap.    

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 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone, I just returned from a great cruise that visited Sweden, Finland, St. Petersburg, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Norway.    I normally do a little synopsis of my tours on this blog but a 15 day tour is a bit much so I am included a few pictures for you:

Russia    Soviet era apartments,  a canal next to the Hermitage, The Hermitage Winter Palace, and Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

.  

Tallin, Estonia    Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Olaf’s, and good friends taking a little break.

Our regular blog will return next week.

2020

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip! September 12-23, 2020  

Discovering Poland     Ready for deposit!  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly so deposit asap.

January 24, 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.

April 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

If you think it takes your community a long time to issue building permits, consider this: Barcelona City Hall just issued a work permit for La Sagrada Familia Basilica which has been under construction since 1882.   There are no records showing a building permit requested in 1885 was ever granted or rejected.  The license is valid through 2026 when the builders believe they’ll be able to finish raising the building’s central towers.

I know that I have mentioned this in previous blogs, but please,  if you are going to travel outside the US, check the expiration date of your passport!   Generally, passports must be valid at least 6 months after the return date of your travel.     Don’t be that person who pulls out the passport just before a trip only to find out that it has either expired or is about to expire.    It happens more frequently than you might think.

Many of us who are frequent travelers have been following the saga of the Boeing 737 Max and wondering how the airlines will convince travelers the plane is safe to fly once it returns.   Apparently, American Airlines has come up with a strategy .   American Airlines Group Inc. managers will fly on the aircraft before paying passengers are asked to climb aboard in a move meant to build confidence in the plane’s safety.  Would that be enough to convince you to fly?  

2020

May 17-28, 2020   Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau  We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle.   Check out the itinerary:   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 We have had a couple of cancellations for Oberammergau so if you are interested, don’t delay.   This is a much sought after, once in every 10 year, event.

May 30-June 7, 2020    Paris and Normandy River Cruise  A few rooms are still available.

June 13-21 2020   Colorado Rockies  We’ll fly in and out of the Mile High City of Denver and then travel to Grand Junction.   We’ll visit the Colorado National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Mesa Verda National Park. We’ll then travel to Durango and ride the Silverton RailRoad before ending our trip in Colorado Springs.  Ready for deposit.

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.    Ready for deposit.  10% early booking discount on this trip!

September 12-23, 2020  Discovering Poland     Ready for deposit!  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378

October  6-14, 2020  Autumn Colors   We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”.  We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility.   We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast.  We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.   This is a very popular trip that will fill quickly so deposit asap.

Tentative date: October 16, 2020   Panama Canal Cruise   This is a full transit 15 day cruise from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.  We will visit Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Fuerte Amador, Panama (for Panama City); Panama Canal full transit; and Cartagena, Columbia before disembarking in  Ft. Lauderdale.

April 2021    Lynn and Lidia’s Sicily and Southern Italy tour with sant’ippolito!   Stay tuned for more information. Have a great week! Lynn

May 2021   Budapest to Bucharest River Cruise   Will be ready for deposit late Fall.

Have a great week!

Lynn