Blog

Happy Easter!

The big news this week is the CDC’s announcement regarding travel and those who are fully vaccinated:

Federal health officials gave the green light Friday for fully vaccinated people to resume travel as an estimated 100 million Americas have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and evidence mounts of the shots’ effectiveness.

For domestic travel, people who are 2 weeks past their final shot do not need to get a coronavirus test before or after trips and do not need to self-quarantine after travel.  They must still follow recommended public health measures, such as wearing masks on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation.

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have two spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, 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

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested. Uniworld River Cruise

September 25- October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours    I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

December 6-10   Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette  Vacations   Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

December 18-25    Hawaiian Cruise  I have a few cabins available for this great cruise.  Fly in and out of Honolulu and visit Maui, Hilo, Kona,  Kauai  before cruising the Napali Coast on your way back to Honolulu.   Norwegian Cruise Line

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. 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   The link to this tour is still showing 2021 but the itinerary will be the same for 2022. 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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

2023

New!! Viking  Cruise down the Mississippi

June 17, 2023   Join us as we cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on a cruise called Heart of the Delta.  I only have 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis, 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.

*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 vaccines become more available, more countries are beginning to open.  Thailand has just announced that they will lift their quarantine requirements for foreigners.  Last week I mentioned that Iceland is opening and Delta just announced new flights to Iceland.  The Seychelles are opening for vaccinated visitors as well.

It looks as though the CDC is holding to a November date for cruising from the US. Unless something changes, it looks like that will be the soonest we see large cruise ships departing the US.   Smaller river cruise ships have already begun sailing in US waters.   Some cruise lines are departing from ports in the Caribbean so that they can begin sailing.  Cruises that depart from Europe are also beginning to sail.

One of the trips that I love is the National Parks of America.  It is on our schedule this year.   Here is a little clip  of some of the things we’ll see on this  trip:

national-parks—derek-moscarelli.html

Just a reminder:  If you are holding travel vouchers for trips or flights that were cancelled, please double check your expiration dates.   Some of these vouchers were only good until the end of this year, although some companies have voluntarily extended their expiration dates.  People are booking for 2022.  I’ve already had to place people on waitlists for trips they want, so I would encourage you to make certain you don’t lose anything by waiting.

We have a Tulips and Windmills river cruise scheduled for April of 2022.  When I spoke to Uniworld this week, there were only three rooms left on our cruise so don’t delay if this is on your radar for next year.

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have two spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

Rescheduled!! September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, 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

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested. Uniworld River Cruise

September 25- October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours    I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

December 6-10   Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette  Vacations   Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

December 18-25    Hawaiian Cruise  I have a few cabins available for this great cruise.  Fly in and out of Honolulu and visit Maui, Hilo, Kona,  Kauai  before cruising the Napali Coast on your way back to Honolulu.   Norwegian Cruise Line

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   T This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations   The link to this tour is still showing 2021 but the itinerary will be the same for 2022. http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

*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,

Each week we see a little more positive news on the travel front.  Bookings are beginning to come in for our company, some countries are opening, and people are beginning to think about travel.  It has been our position since the start of this mess that everyone has a different degree of comfort, and people will travel when they feel comfortable doing so.   Many of the Caribbean Islands are already open, with restrictions and testing.  Mexico is open.  The latest country to announce the they are going to open to Americans is Iceland.  Greece is opening next month.  Both countries will require people to be vaccinated.

There has been an interesting development on cruises.  As you know, the CDC has not given permission for cruising to begin from the U.S.   Royal Caribbean  and Crystal Cruises just announced that they will begin Caribbean cruising this summer from the Bahamas.  Royal will begin with Adventure of the Seas in June and Crystal will resume sailing in July.  Celebrity announced that they will begin sailing  from St. Maarten in June on the Celebrity Millennium.

Key information:

• Bookings open March 24th for Adventure and the 25th for Millenium
• Both ships offer back-to-back 7 night itineraries in the Bahamas
• Vaccinations are required for adult guests. Guests under 18 must present proof of a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure. Royal Caribbean president and CEO Michael Bayley expects “this requirement and other measures to evolve over time.”
• Sailings on the Millenium start at $1,999/person for a veranda stateroom, including airfare and taxes
• Ships will sail 50-60% full to start

One of the trips I most enjoy is our Shades of Ireland trip.   Although it is supposed to take place this May, it will be moved to May of 2022.   If you have a desire to see this wonderful country, join us.   Here is a Collette video that gives you a little hint of what we will see.  (Don’t worry-very short.)

https://fb.watch/4gV1o04atl/

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have a few spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

Rescheduled!! September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, 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

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested. Uniworld River Cruise

September 25- October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours    I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

December 6-10   Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette  Vacations   Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

December 18-25    Hawaiian Cruise  I have a few cabins available for this great cruise.  Fly in and out of Honolulu and visit Maui, Hilo, Kona,  Kauai  before cruising the Napali Coast on your way back to Honolulu.   Norwegian Cruise Line

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   T This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations   The link to this tour is still showing 2021 but the itinerary will be the same for 2022. http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

*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,

According to the Disney Parks blog, a new MagicMobile service will expand on the MagicBand wristband technology guests already wear by allowing them to use mobile devices to access most features in the park by holding their phone or another device up to an access point.  To create the Disney MagicMobile pass on a smart device, guests must download the My Disney Experience app and add it to their digital wallet.  Guests could use either their own mobile device or their Magic Band.   The program will launch later this year, first with the iPhone and Apple Watch and then Android equipment.

If you are thinking of traveling to Mexico in the near future, you will soon have to pay a new tourism tax in the State of Quintana Roo  which includes places like Cancun, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen.   The tax is scheduled to begin April 1.  The $11 per person tax was implemented to help fund more tourism industry development throughout the state.   The program is expected to generate an estimated $29.1 million in additional revenue.   Travelers will be expected to pay the tax electronically when they book although there will be an opportunity to pay upon arrival. The tax will be required for any anyone age 15  or old.

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have a few spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

Rescheduled!! September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, 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

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested. Uniworld River Cruise

September 25- October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours    I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

December 6-10   Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette  Vacations   Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

December 18-25    Hawaiian Cruise  I have a few cabins available for this great cruise.  Fly in and out of Honolulu and visit Maui, Hilo, Kona,  Kauai  before cruising the Napali Coast on your way back to Honolulu.   Norwegian Cruise Line

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   T This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations   The link to this tour is still showing 2021 but the itinerary will be the same for 2022. http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

*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,

Hi Everyone,

It has probably been a while since we’ve taken a look at our passports but with some travel beginning to open, COVID cases decreasing, and vaccines being administered, many people are feeling a bit more positive. Now is a  good time to take a look at your passport.

Right now the State Department states that it is taking up to 12 weeks to get a passport.  If you expedite your passport  ($60) it could still take four to six weeks.

Also, keep in mind that October 1, 2021 is the date you will need your REAL ID.  Most of us probably got it when we renewed our driver’s licenses but if you still don’t have it, you will need it to board a flight, even in the U.S., come October.

This week, Holland America and Princess announced that most of their Alaskan itineraries will be cancelled again this year.   Although a bipartisan Congressional group asked Canada to try to work out a compromise to allow the ships to sail in Canadian waters, the cruise lines finally had to make a very difficult decision.   They are still trying to work out the Seattle round trip sailings, but it doesn’t look as though there will be an Alaska sailing season this year.   This is devastating, not just for the cruise lines, but all the small towns that rely on tourism will have a second year eliminated.   If you are looking for an alternative, Collette has a tour called Alaska, America’s Last Frontier which looks really good.      Alaska America’s Last FrontierAlaska America’s Last Frontier

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

 May 8-17, 2021  Shades of Ireland  One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.   Note: Most likely moving to 2022, date to be determined.  Collette   Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have a few spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

Rescheduled!! September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, 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

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested. Uniworld River Cruise

September 25- October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours    I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

December 6-10   Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette  Vacations   Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

Date to be determined-  Shades of Ireland   This trip will most likely be moved to 2022 but Collette’s 2022 scheduled is not yet available.  This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

*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’s hard to believe but Disney World will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year. They will kick off their celebration on October 1and continue celebrating for 18 months!  Cinderella’s Castle has just come off a major renovation but will be dressed up for its 50th.  At EPCOT new lights will shine across Spaceship Earth’s reflective panel and will resemble stars in the sky.  Over at Hollywood Studios the Hollywood Tower Hotel will take on a new look.  The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom will emit warm light complemented by magical fireflies.  Mickey and Minnie will have special EARidescent costumes.    Let the celebration begin!

If you have a Hawaiian vacation in your future, government officials are working on a plan to allow travelers who have been fully vaccinated to enter the state with no quarantine requirements.  It is tentatively scheduled to begin May 1.

As we look forward to the time when we’ll be able to travel safely again, it is always good to remember how to get through security with a minimum of fuss.

• Remember not to bring “prohibited items to the airport like swiss army knives, lighters, etc.
• Use carry-on luggage for valuables such as cash, electronics, jewelry, cameras and undeveloped film, as well as  medication.
• Tape your personal contact info or business card to the bottom are of your laptop.
• Avoid wearing metal/foil clothing, accessories, and items like coins, ,money clips, cell phone, keys, medicine, gum wrappers, batteries, lottery tickets, cigarettes, etc.).
• Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles if you are one of the fortunate who don’t have to remove your shoes.
• Arrive at least 90 minutes before your scheduled departure since you will be searched no matter if your plane leaves in 5 minutes or 5 hours.-WeeklyGetaways.net

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

 May 8-17, 2021  Shades of Ireland  One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.   Note: Most likely moving to 2022, date to be determined.  Collette   Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have a few spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

Rescheduled!! September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.   Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, 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

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested. Uniworld River Cruise

September 25- October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours    I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

December 6-10   Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette  Vacations   Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

*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.

Date to be determined-  Shades of Ireland   This trip will most likely be moved to 2022 but Collette’s 2022 scheduled is not yet available.  This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

*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 Valentine’s Day!  I hope all of you have a wonderful day.

This week I noticed that more companies are beginning to introduce vaccine mandates.  Last week, I told you that some of the smaller cruise lines are mandating vaccines for guests and crew.   This week, Globus, a huge tour operator with several companies under their umbrella announced that vaccines, or negative COVID test, or recovery from COVID will be required for their guests.   The larger cruise lines have not yet decided what to do for their guests,  but Royal Caribbean has said that all of their crew will be vaccinated.  I really think this is the tip of the iceberg and we will soon see vaccine mandates from countries, tour operators, and cruise lines.   I’ll  keep you posted as things develop.

Also, last week I mentioned that the government might be considering mandating Covid testing before boarding a domestic flight.  This week the CDC announced that they will not recommend that.

I know that people are wondering when we might see cruises depart from the U.S.  Four months ago, a part of the CDC  plan to allow cruises to resume sailing was the mandate to for the lines to take “test cruises”.   Technical instructions and guidance on test voyages, along with a host of other in-limbo protocols, has simply not been provided by the CDC to the cruise lines.  No one seems to know when that might happen.  So, basically, it looks like the ball is in the CDC’s court.

It looks as though, with the exception of some very small cruise ships (100 passengers or less), that we may have another summer without Alaskan cruising.   If you want another alternative, Collette has a tour called Alaska, America’s Last Frontier which looks really good.      Alaska America’s Last FrontierAlaska America’s Last Frontier

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

 May 8-17, 2021  Shades of Ireland  One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.   Note: Most likely moving to 2022, date to be determined.   Collette   Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have a few spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested.

September 25 October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours   This rescheduled  tour is technically not a group tour but I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

Coming Soon!  Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette    Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

*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.

Date to be determined-  Shades of Ireland   This trip will most likely be moved to 2022 but Collette’s 2022 scheduled is not yet available.  This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

*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,

Two US cruise lines have recently announced that they will make vaccinations mandatory for passengers to sail aboard.  American Queen Steamboard Company and its sister company, Victory Cruise Lines are the first North American cruise operator to officially require proof of COVID-19 vaccination from all crew members, passengers, and non-shipboard employees.  So far, the large cruise lines have taken a wait and see approach.

The big news in cruising this week is that Canada has extended its ban on cruise ships entering its waters through February of 2022.  There is some hope that this could be amended but  if it is not amended, it will mean the end of Alaskan cruising for this entire season.  I have been to Alaska many times, and  although I understand the reasoning, the sad part of this is all the small business that have not had a season since 2019.  I hope some of them will be able to  weather this latest blow.

If you are thinking of flying, everyone knows you must wear a mask.  You may also elect to wear a face shield or you may double mask.  What you cannot do is wear a Narwall Mask that is a full face shield that filters air in and out using a design inspired by scuba diving gear, or a hazmat suit. You will be denied boarding.

There is some good news on the tour front.  Tauck just completed a great tour call Wonderland in Yellowstone.  This is a small group tour where everyone was pre tested, and protocols were put in place to keep people safe on tour.  It sounds as if all went very well.  They have 2 winter tours left this month.

We continue to adjust our tour schedule as things unfold.  I do believe that  at some point we will need to be vaccinated in order to travel, particularly overseas.   Not only do we have to try to get ourselves vaccinated, we have to watch our destinations to see how their vaccination distribution is progressing.

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

 May 8-17, 2021  Shades of Ireland  One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.   Note: Most likely moving to 2022, date to be determined.   Collette   Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have a few spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested.

September 25 October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours   This rescheduled  tour is technically not a group tour but I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

Coming Soon!  Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette    Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

*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.

Date to be determined-  Shades of Ireland   This trip will most likely be moved to 2022 but Collette’s 2022 scheduled is not yet available.  This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations   http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

*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,

Last week, I talked about the new policy that requires incoming travelers, including US citizens, to obtain a negative COVID test within 3 days of their return flight to the US.     In just a week, a huge amount of work has been done in the Caribbean and Mexico to insure that people staying at resorts can obtain that test.   Most, but not all,  of the resorts are offering the test for free for at least 2 people in a room, and some are even offering free or reduced extended stays if your tests come back positive.   We also mentioned that there was an idea being floated about that would require returning travelers to quarantine.   To the best of my knowledge, at this point that is a recommendation rather than a requirement, as it will be a very tough policy to enforce.  If you are looking for a place without these regulations, you may want to take a look at Puerto Rico. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, it is excluded from the CDC requirements, although the CDC still recommends testing before returning home and staying home 7 days post travel.

In other news regarding testing and travel, aviation and travel industry groups are entreating the World Health Organization (WHO), a United Nations agency, to back the notion that it’s safe for those who’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 to fly without quarantining.   On January 27, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that WHO’s support of this principle is vital to the development and acceptance of its digital Travel Pass smartphone app, the purpose of which is to help people resume travel as soon as epidemiological conditions allow.

Nick Careen, Senior Vice President of IATA, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recognized that those who are fully vaccinated should be able to travel freely; and that those who have already recovered from COVID-19 should be exempt from quarantine and testing requirements, going on the premise that it rendered them both immune to reinfection and incapable of transmitting the virus.-Travel Pulse

Since the pandemic’s early days, the travel industry and airlines have been pleading with global governments and institutions to work together to develop common standards that would make cross-border travel easier. Throughout the crisis, nations have made many abrupt changes in their travel policy, which, paired with the inconsistency of protocols from one country to the next has deterred most people from traveling, leaving many companies with dismal outlooks.  Hoping for a much better second half of 2021.

If you are ready to travel, the best thing you can do is get vaccinated!   We have received our first shot and should get the second in a couple weeks.     I know  some people are leery of the vaccine but if you want to travel, I think, eventually, you will need to get that vaccine.

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

 May 8, 2021  Shades of Ireland One of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have just a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacationshttp://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    Join us as we fly into Scottsdale Arizona.  We will then make our way up to Lake Powell, stopping on our way in beautiful Sedona, AZ.  We’ll enjoy a scenic breakfast cruise on Lake Powell and then be on our way to the Grand Canyon where we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Next up are Bryce and Zion National Parks.   Next, we’ll take time to enjoy the Temple Square and visit the Salt Lake Temple, home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. We are then off to Jackson Hole Wyoming and the spectacular Grand Tetons.   Enjoy a traditional chuck wagon barbecue.  Our next stop-Yellowstone National Park.  Enjoy the spectacular scenery and marvel at Old Faithful!   From Yellowstone, we’ll cross the Big Horn Mountains and journey through the territory of the Old Sioux Nation.  Our last stop will be in Rapid City to see the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore. I have done this trip before and it is an awesome look at our nation’s most popular parks.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588       I have a few spots left.     Collette Vacations

July 17-July 28, 2021   Alaska Cruisetour:   Join us as we take an 11 day southbound cruise tour.   We will fly into Fairbanks,  visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge, and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.  Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise throughGlacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver.  This is an amazing cruise tour.   Although there are spaces on the ship, the lodges are getting full as they serve more than one ship at a time.   Princess Cruise Line

July 28-August 5, 2021  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.    I have very few seats available so let me know asap.       Trafalgar

September 12-24, 2021 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt.  I have two rooms remaining.  Please call asap if interested.

September 25 October 6, 2021     Discovering Poland     We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow.   Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378      Collette Vacations

October 6-14, 2021 Autumn Colours   This rescheduled  tour is technically not a group tour but I do have a few seats left if interested.  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. Trafalgar

October 30,-November 8, 2021   Sunny Portugal  This trip includes a special off season price just like the French Riviera below:  $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!   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:  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.  Off season rates $2999 per person double occupancy including air from Detroit!  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1011478           Collette Vacations

Coming Soon!  Spotlight on New York City Holiday    We will travel to NYC in early December for a spectacular tour of New York City.   Spend 4 nights in the heart of Midtown close to Central Park’s skating rink and Times Square all dressed up for the holidays.  Watch the curtain rise on a Broadway play and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.  Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  Enjoy plenty of free time to shop and see the elaborate 5th Avenue window displays and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. Pricing carries a $150 discount right now. Collette    Dates, itinerary  and pricing:  https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049075

2022

January 12-  Tropical Costa Rica  Explore lush forests, stunning waterfalls, and exotic wildlife.  Our tour will begin in the capital city of San Jose.  From San Jose we will travel to the Central Valley to learn the importance of coffee production to the Costa Rican economy.  We will enjoy breathtaking Guanacaste and its beautiful beaches.   From Guanacaste we travel to the secluded Monteverde Cloud Forest Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive quetzal. Enjoy one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens and a gallery of over 100 hummingbirds.  Walk the Hanging Bridges or zip line on one of the longest zip line tours in Costa Rica. Cross beautiful mountainous landscapes to Arenal for the beautiful views of the Arenal Volcano.  Take a guided riverboat trip in a covered canoe called a panga. You can search for caimans, river otters, sloths, monkeys, river turtles, and exotic birds. Journey to Zarcero before returning to San Jose for our final night.   Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430       Collette Vacations

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.  Taking deposits!  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. Uniworld River Cruises

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.     Check out the itinerary at   https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395     Collette Vacations

*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