Blog

Hi Everyone,

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the large cruise lines will no longer be allowed to depart from Venice.  The cruise lines have been working to find alternate docking facilities in the area.  Venice is continuing to try to find a solution to the overcrowding in their city.   They are instituting a tourist and reservation system along with cameras to try to manage the crowds that continue to arrive in this fragile area.  Just as the cruise lines have been adjusting, tour operators are doing the same thing.  If you are planning a visit to Venice without the benefit of a tour or cruise operator you will need to plan ahead.

The airlines are still requiring masks be worn on all flights.  Many airlines are no longer allowing fabric masks, instead requiring medical or surgical masks.  Most domestic airlines are still allowing fabric masks but when flying, check the airlines’ website for current information.

If you are planning a trip to Europe in the near future, you can take some comfort in the fact that, after a shaky start, countries in the European Union have really increased their vaccine distribution. Many, if not most, of those countries are on par with the US vaccination rate or in many cases,  exceed the US rate.   Countries have put measures in place for visitors so that they can protect their citizens and their infrastructure.    Those measures continue to change but travel is not only possible, it can happen safely.  It is just very important to keep abreast of the changing rules and respectful of the countries’ policies while there.  We currently have a small group traveling in France right now.   I will share their perspectives with you when they return.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.   One thing that is important to remember is that when booking groups, I must have a minimum number of people for that group.    I cannot keep seats indefinitely.   Usually, I must turn in unused seats 5-6 months in advance, depending on the tour operator or cruise line.  That has led to some people being really disappointed if they did not book early as my inventory is limited to a specific time frame.   Please book early if you intend to travel with one of our groups.

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July Alaska Cruisetour (dates vary)  Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1059364

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations    https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1063914

2023

January 17-February 1   Panama Canal      This is a full transit of the Panama Canal through the new locks from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.  Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur Nicaragua, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Locks transit, and Cartagena, Colombia before disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Happy Labor Day!

You may be able to get through airport security in the near future with just your iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple has announced it is working with the TSA and several states to enable adding driver’s licenses or state IDs to the Apple Wallet on the iPhone or Apple Watch.   Michigan is not included at this time  but if it works well in the eight states that are piloting, you may be able to take advantage of this soon.   I would always recommend a back up, just in case.

If you are planning to fly in the near future,  you may want to check to see what type of mask is allowed. Several European governments and companies are banning cloth masks and mandating medical-grade makes.   Many airlines have started requiring masks  such as N95, surgical masks, and respirators that do not have exhaust valves.   Their reasoning is that there is no standards regarding cloth masks.  This is mostly an international issue, but it bears watching.

In one of my recent blogs I mentioned that you should pay attention to expiration dates of any travel vouchers or credits you may have received during the last 18 months.    There is some good news if you are holding United or Delta credits.  It looks like both companies have extended their expiration dates until 2022.   I’d check with the airline to make sure yours qualify before the initial expiration date.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.   One thing that is important to remember is that when booking groups, I must have a minimum number of people for that group.    I cannot keep seats indefinitely.   Usually, I must turn in unused seats 5-6 months in advance, depending on the tour operator or cruise line.  That has led to some people being really disappointed if they did not book early as my inventory is limited to a specific time frame.   Please book early if you intend to travel with one of our groups.

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July Alaska Cruisetour (dates vary)  Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1059364

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations    https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1063914

2023

January 17-February 1   Panama Canal      This is a full transit of the Panama Canal through the new locks from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale.  Ports of call include Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, San Juan del Sur Nicaragua, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Locks transit, Cartagena, Colombia before disembarking in Ft. Lauderdale.

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Many of you are holding travel credits from cruises or tours/trips that were cancelled in  2020 and 2021.   Please look at any vouchers or credits that you may be holding to make sure that they are not about to expire.  Many of these credits will expire at the end of this year and once expired, they are worthless.  Even if you are not thinking about travel for the remainder of this year, don’t wait to see if you can extend those credits.  You don’t want to lose them.    I have been doing my best to try and  extend credits for my people but it is important that you keep track of yours as well.  I am trying to keep track of over 700 hundred cancelled reservations and I don’t want any to slip through the cracks.  If you booked through our agency and are unsure whether you have credits or not, just call and I will let you know.  

When you stay at hotels, do you actually check out?    According to The Points Guy  it is important to check out for the following reasons: 

• Check your bill for incorrect charges.  this is particularly important if you have your meals charged to your room or if you use something from the minibar.  As you probably know, the many minibars these days have sensors so if you pick something up, you could get charged for it even if you put it back. 
• If you don’t check out, housekeeping won’t know your room is clear to prepare for the next guest.  It’s really a matter of courtesy.   Given the new deep cleaning procedures, it’s considerate to properly check out so staff can get started on disinfecting surfaces, laundry, and other tasks.  

Checking out is pretty simple.  You can stop by the front desk and get a copy of your bill.   Some hotels have a mobile app that makes it easy.  Some hotels have your account on your room tv so you can check it and check out.  You can also just call the front desk and ask them to email you your bill.

The bottom line is that you don’t have to check out but it is courteous to do so.   –The Points Guy, 8/2021

Airlines are still trying to cope with bad behavior on the part of some passengers.   American Airlines has listed some of the consequences for bad behavior include:

• Passenger bans.  Passengers are not banned permanently for a mask infraction but will be banned until the mask mandate goes away.  However, if someone puts a hand on a flight attendant or gate attendant, they can’t fly the airline again, and they are working to get the passenger prosecuted. 
• The FAA has put out informational videos and sought fines.
• A new inflight announcement that is stronger and “crystal clear’ that includes letting passengers know they can’t have their own alcohol, and flight attendants have been told that if they see someone with their own alcohol they are to take it away.
• Some airlines are not allowing alcohol to be served in coach.  That will most likely stay in place until the mask mandate is lifted. –, 8/2021

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.   One thing that is important to remember is that when booking groups, I must have a minimum number of people for that group.    I cannot keep seats indefinitely.   Usually, I must turn in unused seats 5-6 months in advance, depending on the tour operator or cruise line.  That has led to some people being really disappointed if they did not book early as my inventory is limited to a specific time frame.   Please book early if you intend to travel with one of our groups.

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July Alaska Cruisetour (dates vary)  Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

One of the biggest non COVID  news in the travel world this week was Hyatt’s acquisition of ALG Vacations.   ALG includes Apple Vacations, Funjet Vacations, Blue Sky Tours Hawaii, Travel Impressions, Cheap Caribbean, and Beach Bound as well as Mexico and  the Caribbean’s management company, Amstar.  It’s too early to really know how this will affect the resort business but this will definitely shake up the all-inclusive market and make it more difficult to price shop from different companies as there are not many left.   Competitors include Pleasant Holidays and Delta Vacations.   There are also companies that sell their own product such as Sandals and Beaches, Couples, and Palace Resorts.

When the pandemic hit, Disney put the Fast Pass on hold.   It now appears that it will not be returning.   Instead, Disney is introducing Genie+.  While Fast Pass was complimentary, Genie+ will be available for $15 per day per ticket at DisneyWorld and $20 per day per ticket for Disneyland.  The service grants guests the ability to choose a time to arrive at a  variety of of attractions and experiences and access a “Lightning Lane” entrance. Guests will be permitted to make one Genie+ at a time.   Some of the more high demand attractions are not included with Genie+.

A few weeks ago, I noted that Venice would begin to prohibit large cruise ships from entering their lagoon so the cruise lines have stared to find alternate ports.  Right now they are docking in places like Marghera,  Ravenna,  and Trieste.  This doesn’t mean cruisers will not be able to get to Venice.  It will just mean a bus or train ride into Venice.   If you are scheduled to go on a cruise that includes Venice, your cruise lines will notify you when they have the new ports arranged.   Venice is still the gateway for the airlines in that region so the cruise lines have some work to do.  None of this affects river cruises.   Those ships are still able to dock in the heart of Venice.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.   One thing that is important to remember is that when booking groups, I must have a minimum number of people for that group.    I cannot keep seats indefinitely.   Usually, I must turn in unused seats 5-6 months in advance, depending on the tour operator or cruise line.  That has led to some people being really disappointed if they did not book early as my inventory is limited to a specific time frame.   Please book early if you intend to travel with one of our groups.

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

As the world begins to open, we continue to see ever changing rules and regulations for every country.     Many countries, particularly in Europe, are insisting that people show proof of vaccination,  and/or a negative COVID test before visiting.  Countries are developing  health passes that visitors must download showing proof of vaccine.  We are seeing a growing number of countries mandating this as many venues such as stores, bars. restaurants, and museums will deny entry unless you can show this proof.   These passes are not difficult to get online and are actually better than having to keep track of your vaccination card and having to constantly pull it out.  It would be nice if every country used the same pass but so far, that is not happening.    If you are traveling in the near future, please make sure you are constantly checking the requirements for your destination.

Due to the constantly changing environment, many tour operators are now requiring that all participants are vaccinated.   Here is the latest from the tour operators I use the most:

Collette:   All participants must be able to show proof that they are fully vaccinated whether traveling domestically or internationally.   These regulations are in effect until April 30 and will be evaluated again at that time.

Trafalgar:  All guests traveling with any of Trafalgar’s tours between now and December 31 must show proof of vaccination.   The end date will be evaluated in December.

Globus:    All guests traveling internationally must be fully vaccinated.  I did not see an ending date.

Uniworld River Cruise:  Uniworld belongs to the same corporation as Trafalgar and all passengers must be fully vaccinated.

Viking Cruise:   All passengers on summer cruises must be vaccinated and fall cruise decision will be made soon.

American Cruise Line:   All passengers must be vaccinated.

Princess Cruises:   All passengers must be vaccinated.    No ending date info.

Norwegian Cruises:  All passengers must be vaccinated.  No ending date info.

If you are wondering about a particular country, a good resource is https://apply.joinsherpa.com       I have found this site easy to use, but I would also check the individual country’s website .  You can also go to travel.state.gov   but I have found that this site is not quite up to date.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.   One thing that is important to remember is that when booking groups, I must have a minimum number of people for that group.    I cannot keep seats indefinitely.   Usually, I must turn in unused seats 5-6 months in advance, depending on the tour operator or cruise line.  That has led to some people being really disappointed if they did not book early and inventory is gone.   Please book early if you intend to travel with one of our groups.

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. 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, and 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.  Uniworld River Cruise

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours     You will fly in and out of Boston so a nice, short flight.  Weave your way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  You’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee, and Woodstock on the way to the White Mountains where you’ll stop in Conway and then up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. On the way back to Boston you’ll work you way down the coast stopping in historic Portsmouth before returning to Boston for the flight home.  Waitlist. Call for Availability.    Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

As airlines struggle with increasing demand, we have watched a couple of airlines really struggle this week.     If you have tried to contact an airline in the last few weeks, you know that it is a challenge.   While you probably saw the situation played out on TV this week, know that it has been a challenge as airlines try to ramp up and meet demand.  We are seeing an increase in schedule changes as well.  If you are traveling in the next couple of months I would encourage you to keep a close eye on your schedule as it will most likely change more than once.

If you are a fan of Sandals Resorts, you will be happy to know that Sandals will open a new property on the island of Curacao in April, 2022 and the property is now open for booking.  Sandals has an introductory offer of up to $1000 off a stay at this new resort.   Sandals Royal Curacao is set in an exclusive 3000 accrue protected reserve, spread out along 44 acres. Guests can explore everything the island has to offer from its jungles, beaches and limestone caves to its UNESCO World Heritage Site of Willemstad, the island’s capital.

If you are traveling internationally right now, it is imperative that you continuously check entry and exit requirements for your destination because requirements are continually changing.   It’s important to know if testing will be required before you depart, and what type of test is needed.  Many countries require documents to be uploaded to their sites and then send you confirmations.  Without that, you will not be admitted to their country.  You will also need to make sure you know where to get your test to return to the US or take a test kit with you. It can be overwhelming to find the information you need but make use of government websites, or your travel providers.    The last thing you need is to be turned away when you get to your destination. ,

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. 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, and 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.  Uniworld River Cruise

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours     You will fly in and out of Boston so a nice, short flight.  Weave your way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  You’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee, and Woodstock on the way to the White Mountains where you’ll stop in Conway and then up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. On the way back to Boston you’ll work you way down the coast stopping in historic Portsmouth before returning to Boston for the flight home.  Waitlist. Call for Availability.    Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Rules for entering countries are changing faster than you can keep up with it.   Many of the tour operators  and cruise lines are requiring guests who want to travel internationally to be fully vaccinated. The reason for this is that  many onshore venues such as museums, restaurants and historic sites are now requiring proof of full vaccination or negative PCR testing results for non-vaccinated visitors. If clients are not vaccinated, they would be required to take multiple PCR tests to participate in many of the tour or cruise stops.  Although cruise lines and tour operators have made this decision, if you travel alone, you will run into the same issue.   Certainly this will change at some point, but no one knows when that might happen.

Disney Cruise Line will begin sailing later this summer.   These ships are really amazing and there are plenty of adult activities.  Disney has always had some separate spaces on their ships for adults only but they have  upped the adult experiences with their new ship, the Disney Wish.  There are several fine dining experiences, an outdoor spa retreat, a salon and barbershop, and a collection of bars and lounges.  Disney offers a wonderful upscale experience so it’s worth looking at their product even if you are not traveling with little ones.

Delta Airlines announced this week that for the second year in a row, Delta will allow those who have attained elite status with them in 2019, 2020, or 2021, to retain their status through January 31. 2023.    That’s good news for those of us who had frequent flyer status with Delta but haven’t flown much in the last year and a half.   Delta also announced that passengers who purchase basic economy seats will be able to make changes through the end of this year.  Delta typically does not allow any changes in Basic Economy.  They are, however,  temporarily waiving that policy in an effort to address call wait times until they can hire additional call center personnel.   They are hoping to have 1300 more call center people hired and trained by September.  If you have tried to contact Delta in recent months, you understand the pain of very long wait times.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. 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, and 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.  Uniworld River Cruise

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours     You will fly in and out of Boston so a nice, short flight.  Weave your way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  You’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee, and Woodstock on the way to the White Mountains where you’ll stop in Conway and then up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. On the way back to Boston you’ll work you way down the coast stopping in historic Portsmouth before returning to Boston for the flight home.  Waitlist. Call for Availability.    Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

While travel is definitely opening up, the constant changes in rules and regulations are enough to make you dizzy.   Companies are adding requirements for people to be vaccinated if they are going overseas, a few cruise lines are allowing non vaccinated people onboard but have numerous restrictions for those not vaccinated.   It seems that there is the regulation of the week right now so make sure you check to see what the requirements are for any place you intend to visit.  I think that if you are ready to travel, just stay optimistic and flexible. The good news is that if you travel now, you will encounter fewer crowds.  There are going to be bumps in the road, but we are making progress in the travel world and as we take baby steps, we are getting closer to normalcy.

I know that not everyone is quite ready to travel yet but this is a very nice little video from Collette.  It’s worth a minute or two of your time.

        01:45   

One of the things that makes people anxious when flying is when they try to check in 24 hours ahead and get a message that tells them that they must check in at the airport.   There are a number of reasons this could happen.    Many times when flying with a group that message will appear.  Whenever I take a group, I will get several phone calls the night before departure from people telling me that they couldn’t check in.  Right now, people who fly internationally to places that require a COVID test before boarding their plan get that message because they must show proof of their COVID test when checking in.  If you get your flight close to departure time, you may need to check in at the airport as airlines are worried about fraud.     By the way, it is always good to carry the card with you that you purchased your flight with if you still have it.   Fraudulent air tickets are big business so if you happen to fall into a category where that’s possible, the airlines can ask to see your credit card.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. 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, and 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.  Uniworld River Cruise

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours     You will fly in and out of Boston so a nice, short flight.  Weave your way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  You’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee, and Woodstock on the way to the White Mountains where you’ll stop in Conway and then up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. On the way back to Boston you’ll work you way down the coast stopping in historic Portsmouth before returning to Boston for the flight home.  Waitlist. Call for Availability.    Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Italy has been talking about banning large cruise ships from cruising the Grand Canal and docking in Venice for years but Italy finally passed a law to ban large  cruise ships from cruising or docking in the San Marco Basin and the Giudecca Canal.  They have declared the Venetian Lagoon a nation monument, effective August 1.  That doesn’t mean cruise passengers will not be able to visit Venice.  Cruise lines are looking for alternate options to dock and transport passengers to Venice.  Venetians have long worried about the effect that large vessels have on their seawalls and delicate infrastructure.   This ban does not include small ships like river cruise ships.

More countries are opening their borders and the US will be making an announcement soon about welcoming international travelers to the US.   The US-Canadian border may soon be open, and Canada has announced that they will lift its cruise ship ban on November 1 paving the way for cruise lines to plan for the 2022 Alaskan cruise season.

One of the travel blogs I follow is The Points Guy.   He has interesting stories and good advice.  One of the things he talked about this week was that one of his readers was charged a credit card surcharge for things  she purchased (With a Hilton Honors Card) while she was a guest.   I’m hoping that this is an aberration rather than a preview of things to come.

On Monday, July 12, President Emmanuel Macron introduced new COVID-19 regulations as the delta variant continues to spread, including limiting cafes, bars, and shopping centers to those who are vaccinated or have recently tested negative for COVID-19.   –Caroline Tanner, TPG.   This is the second European country in two weeks that I have heard that is implementing these types of measures.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. 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, and 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.  Uniworld River Cruise

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours     You will fly in and out of Boston so a nice, short flight.  Weave your way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  You’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee, and Woodstock on the way to the White Mountains where you’ll stop in Conway and then up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. On the way back to Boston you’ll work you way down the coast stopping in historic Portsmouth before returning to Boston for the flight home.  Waitlist. Call for Availability.    Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

It looks like the border between the US and Canada is going to remain closed for a while longer.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday, “We need to continue to insure the safety of Canadians.  He said it is important that the past year of quarantine and restrictions “are not for nothing”.   Canada has eased some restrictions for their citizens but there is no plan to reopen their border to nonessential travel anytime soon.

For those looking to book on airlines with a track record of well-maintained aircraft and trustworthy crew in 2021, aviation safety site AirlineRatings.com has released its annual list of the top 20 safest airlines in the world. The site’s staff monitors serious safety incidents on 385 airlines to determine which carriers are among the 20 safest.    Additionally, all major U.S. carriers made AirlineRatings’ list for 2021, with Alaska Airlines the only one to break into the top 10. American Airlines, United, and Delta scored spots on this year’s list after not making the cut in 2020.

The full list of AirlineRatings’ top 20 safest airlines in the world are:  1. Qantas,  2. Qatar Airways,   3.Air New Zealand,   4.Singapore Airlines,   5.Emirates,  6. EVA Air,    7. Etihad Airways,    8. Alaska Airlines,   9.  Cathay Pacific,  10. British Airways,   11. Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic,   12 Hawaiian Airlines,    13. Southwest Airlines.    14. Delta Airlines.    15. American Airlines,             16. Scandinavian Airlines,   17. Finnair,    18. Lufthansa,  19. KLM,   20. United Airlines.   It is worth noting that all of these airlines have excellent ratings and there is not a great deal of difference between any of them.       The safest low cost airlines were also mentioned, though not ranked.  They are Air Arabia, Allegiant, EasyJet, Frontier, JetStar Group, JetBlue Ryanair, Vietjet, Westjet, and Wizz.

I just finished a very interesting article about passport renewal times and thought you might like to see the current recommended times for passport applications and renewals. –Courtesy of The Points Guy:

The State Department is currently advising both passport applicants and renewals to submit their applications at least six months prior to planned travel, citing “mail delays (that) are impacting when we receive passport applications for processing.” For reference, the typical processing time is four to six weeks. Routine service can take up to four-and-half months from the day you submit your application to the day you get it back. As a reminder, expedited service can take up to 12 weeks and costs an additional $60.

A limited number of appointments are available for both emergency and non-emergency travel within 72 hours.   If your U.S. passport expires this year or in early 2022, do not wait. And remember, some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of your trip.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

We continue to shuffle tours around as the world situation changes.   If you have questions about any of the following trips, don’t hesitate to contact me.

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. 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, and 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.  Uniworld River Cruise

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours     You will fly in and out of Boston so a nice, short flight.  Weave your way through the Freedom Trail with stops in Lexington and Concord.  You’ll travel through the towns of Pittsfield, Quechee, and Woodstock on the way to the White Mountains where you’ll stop in Conway and then up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. On the way back to Boston you’ll work you way down the coast stopping in historic Portsmouth before returning to Boston for the flight home.  Waitlist. Call for Availability.    Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price.  Highlights of this trip include:  the Portuguese Riviera, Lisbon, Belem, Obidos, Intra, the Cork Factory (amazing), Winergy visit, Alentejo, Monaraz, Lagos, Algarve, Faro, Tavira, 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Azeitao.    Check out the entire itinerary at http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011623     Collette Vacations

November 6-17  Spotlight on the French Riviera:  Special  off season rate.  Unpack and stay in one place!   Highlights of this tour include Nice, St. Paul de Vence, St. Trope, Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting, Monaco, Monte Carlo Casino, Nice Flower Market, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, and Cannes.   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

2022

April 4-15, 2022    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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

April 20-29, 2022 Tulips and Windmills during Tulip Time See everything from tulips to windmills on this journey during the season of rebirth.   From the canals of Amsterdam to the belfry of Bruges, you’ll discover the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Stroll through colorful acres of tulips at Keukenhof Gardens to get a sense of the Netherlands’ extraordinary connection to these blooms. Then visit the 19 UNESCO-designated windmills of Kinderdijk to better understand how these mighty structures have been used to protect the Low Country from ever-rising water levels for hundreds of years. This ship is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, 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.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

May 15-26, 2022  Alpine Lakes and the Glacier Express with Oberammergau Passion Play    This tour is being rescheduled from 2020.   I can only hold the few tickets I have for 30 days.   Your journey will begin at the beautiful Lake Maggiore.  You will then head to Zermatt, Switzerland.    The Glacier Express will take you into the Alps.  You’ll visit the beautiful towns of St. Moritz, Innsbrook and Salzburg. Enjoy a special Mozart Concert and its the Neuschwanstein Castle before heading to the famed Oberammergau Passion Play.   You will return home from Munich.    The passion play will not be repeated until 2030.  Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

June 18-26, 2022  Spectacular Canadian Rockies   We will begin this awesome tour in Vancouver, and travel to Victoria Island, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise, and Banff National park.  Trafalgar

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. 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 through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability for other dates.    Princess Cruises

August 7-15   7 day round trip Venice, Croatia, andGreek Isles with Santorini, and  Mykonos. Call for pricing and availability. Norwegian Cruise Line

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!     Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 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. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.  Collette Vacations

2023

April 29- May 10, 2023     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

June 17-23, 2023New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.  1 cabin remaining.

*Please note that Skip and I usually escort all our tours.  Because of the number of rescheduled tours in 2021-22 it will be impossible for us to be on every tour.  We will escort as many as we can,  but whether we are on the tour or not, we will make sure that you have everything you need for your tour and will work hard to insure you are well taken care of by your tour operator or cruise line.

Have a great week!

Lynn