Blog

Hi everyone,

We’ve spent a great deal of time in the last couple weeks talking about ETIAS which is the passport- like document you’ll need to enter any country in the Schengen region of Europe this year.   It was supposed to start by now but it has been postponed yet again.  It is believed that it will still happen this year but for now, no one knows when this will happen.

The United Kingdom rolled out their EES yesterday which is hoped will give more security to their borders. Travelers planning a trip to the UK can apply for the ETA online, gov.uk/…/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta  You can also apply through a mobile app for a fee of £10 ($12.40). Once approved, the authorization is valid for limitless border entries over a two-year period,While the ETA is not a visa and does not replace existing visa requirements, it will function as a pre-screening measure to ensure more efficient entry into the UK.

Planning a trip to Rome this year?  The iconic Trevi Fountain just reopened after extensive renovations work.  Visitors will now be restricted. visitors will be required to book online and pay 2 euros to enter.  Once inside they will have 30 minutes to enjoy the fountain.  If you are traveling as a group with a tour operator, check with them to see if they will be adding this site to your itinerary and you may not have to do the online booking yourself.

2025-26  Tours and Sailings

May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers   Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to  Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night  journey.  On your journey you will  visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens,  Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines  Call for Availability

 May 20, 2026.  Empires of the Mediterranean. 

Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises.  This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region.  On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia.   Deposit now. 

Coming September, 2026.  Sicily and Southern Italy.  Book soon!

Just a reminder that my Business Development Manager ,Jerard, will be hosting a Zoom meeting about our National Parks tour.  The meeting will be at noon on January 15. For those of you already signed up, this will be a glimpse of what you will see. For those of you thinking of enrolling, this should be very helpful for you. Hope you can join us.

If you have already copied the link for our Zoom meeting these links may also be helpful to you

ZOOM: Meeting URL: https://collette.zoom.us/j/82051542866  – Meeting ID: 820 5154 2866.

if you would like to preregister here is a link.

https://collette.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtcuitqjkiHNIt5ZoIrua0VcRzZg0F-PXO#/registration

Lynn

Hi Everyone, Last week we mentioned that at some point in 2025 you will probably need an ETIAS to travel to most European countries.  ETIAS is not really a visa but close to it.  You’ll get it online before you travel.  The United Kingdom has their own entry requirements.  Travel to or through the United Kingdom will require visitors to have  an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for short stays up to six months.  The ETA is designed to streamline travel while making it more secure. Cost will most likely be £10  or about $13.  If you are traveling anywhere outside the US make sure you do your research to see what requirements, in addition to passports, you will need.

Florence has just opened the Vasari Corridor which was a secret passageway for the elite of Italy.  This corridor is now open. Less a corridor and more of a private trail through the center of Florence the space was designed for the ruling Medici dynasty in 1565 and connects Florence’s three most famous sites: Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Galleries, and Palazzo Pitti. -CNN

As we begin this new year you may want to pull out your passport to verify your expiration date.  Keep in mind that you cannot travel right up to the expiration date of your passport. Most countries require you to have 6 months of validity left on your passport from the time you return home. Some countries only require 3 months of validity but it  is always important to check your destination’s requirements.

2025-26  Tours and Sailings

May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers   Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to  Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night  journey.  On your journey you will  visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens,  Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines  Call for Availability

 May 20, 2026.  Empires of the Mediterranean. 

Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises.  This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region.  On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia.   Deposit now. Viking sells out quickly.

Coming September, 2026.  Sicily and Southern Italy.   It isn’t  time to book, but contact me to get on the interest list.

Just a reminder that my Business Development Manager ,Jerard, will be hosting a Zoom meeting about our National Parks tour.  The meeting will be at noon on January 15. For those of you already signed up, this will be a glimpse of what you will see. For those of you thinking of enrolling, this should be very helpful for you. Hope you can join us.

Our Landing Page: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250839. Top right corner has the log in information too and it’s mobile friendly.

ZOOM: Meeting URL: https://collette.zoom.us/j/82051542866  – Meeting ID: 820 5154 2866.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to a decision by the European Council, Bulgaria and Romania will become part of Europe’s Schengen Area in January.  Land border controls with the two countries will be eliminated when both destinations join the 29 members of the passport-free travel area. Currently, the Schengen area includes most European Union counties with the exception of Cyprus and Ireland.  US travelers should ensure that their passports are valid for at least six months from their last date of travel.-Travel Weekly

If you are lucky enough to live near a national park, keep in mind that there will be no entrance fees on the following dates in 2025:

Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day                                                                                          April 19 for the first day of National Park Week                                                                         June 9 for Juneteenth  Day                                                                                                                        Aug. 4 for the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act,                                               Sept. 27 for National Public Lands Day                                                                                            Nov. 11 for Veterans Day

My Business Development Manager from Collette will have a Zoom meeting to give more information on our National Parks Tour.  the Zoom meeting will be held on January 15 at Noon.  For those of you already signed up, or those of you just thinking about signing up for this tour, I think you will find this short session very interesting. Here is the sign in info. It is helpful, but not necessary to let us know if you will be attending. You are welcome to to all or email me.  My info is on our website.

1. Our Landing Page: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250839. Top right corner has the log in information too and it’s mobile friendly.
2. ZOOM: Meeting URL: https://collette.zoom.us/j/82051542866  – Meeting ID: 820 5154 2866.

Happy New Year!!

Lynn

2025-26  Tours and Sailings

May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers   Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to  Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night  journey.  On your journey you will  visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens,  Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines  Call for Availability

 May 20, 2026.  Empires of the Mediterranean. 

Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises.  This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region.  On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia.   Deposit now. Viking sells out quickly.

Coming September, 2026.  Sicily and Southern Italy.   It isn’t  time to book, but contact me to get on the interest list.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi Everyone.

Starting January 8, 2025, the United Kingdom will require all non-European travelers to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) upon arrival into the country. All visitors, including children, who do not have a visa or other UK immigration status will need to present a completed ETA when entering the region, including airport connections at London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), etc.. Once an ETA is approved, travelers are permitted to visit the UK for up to six months and take multiple trips through the country over the course of two years (or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first).
WHAT DO TRAVELERS NEED TO APPLY FOR AN ETA?
Pay a fee of GP10.  Complete the online form through a downloadable phone app or web browser. Find ‘UK ETA’ through the app store on your phone/tablet, or visit their website. Here, you will be asked to 1. provide contact and passport details, 2. provide a valid photo that complies with the digital requirements, and 3. answer a set of questions.
Travelers can start applying in advance, starting on November 27, 2024. The application process is easy and takes about 3 business days for approval.
This will be needed for any UK trips that occur January 8th or later!-Avanti Destinations

I know this was a large post. Many countries in Europe will soon require similar authorizations so if you are traveling to Europe be alert for new requirements.

My thought and prayers this week are with the people of Germany.  The Christmas Markets are a wonderful experience whether you or a tourist or a local and so many lives were needlessly taken.  Very ,very sad!

Collette Vacations has been my go to company for tours in the past few years.  They do what they say they are going to do, and if there is a mistake, they try to make it right.  Travel agents are given a Business Development Manager to work with and for years, I’ve had the same BDM.  A few months ago the company reorganized territories and I was assigned a new BDM: Jerard Welsh.  Jerard will be hosting a Zoom meeting at noon on January 15.  The purpose of the meeting is to familiarize those of you who have either signed up for our National Parks of America tour for September of 2025 or are thinking about enrolling.   Jerome will go over the itinerary and answer any questions.   I will post the Zoom particulars in the coming weeks.  Hope you can join us. There is no pressure or obligation to sign up for this tour. This is an informational meeting.

Lynn Fuller

Hi Everyone,  Norwegian Cruise Lines has announced that they are canceling several voyages for 2025 and 2026. Cancellations will affect voyages on the Norwegian’s Breakaway, Bliss, and Encore.  Cancelled itineraries on these ships will be replaced with other voyages in The Caribbean or on the West Coast.-Travel and Leisure

If you are  thinking of renting  an Airbnb in Italy, make sure you  check the new rules for renters.  You can no longer go to a key box and check yourself in. The days of arriving late at an Airbnb in Italy and opening up the key box to let yourself in will soon be over after the country issued a ban on self-check-ins under a new law it says is needed to combat potential terrorism.   Law enforcement officers are to be deployed to ensure the removal of key boxes and key pads on self-check-in properties, according to Italy’s Interior Ministry.  All renters, no matter the duration of the rental, must be registered at local police stations. In recent years property managers have been forwarding phot copies or cell phone pics to. a messaging service to comply.  Now they’ll have to make physical checks in person.-Travel and Leisure.

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Hi Everyone,

Carnival just raised their prices for their beverage package.  I happened to be booking some people on a Carnival cruise and in the morning that beverage package was one price and when they decided to purchase the beverage package that afternoon, the price had gone up significantly.  The price is now $82.54 per day per person.  There was no advance notice given.

Mexico’s legislative branch has approved a $42 head tax on cruise passengers.  It will most likely be buried in your cruise fare but that’s a hefty increase for anyone to swallow.

Travel scams are up $900%.   The recent surge in AI technology has also produced a surge in scams. December is one of the busiest travel months of the year and security industry experts are warning that AI scams of all types may be even more widespread.

Here are a few things that can help you avoid these scams:

• Beware of AI chat bots.  They are being used to simulate live customer support interactions.  They can convincingly answer questions about fake travel deals, accommodations, or bookings making people think they are interacting with a legitimate representative.
• Verify the authenticity of travel websites.  Double-check website URLS, ensuring that they are the true website for airlines or travel agencies.  You can do this by looking at the domain name closely to ensure it is actually the site for the travel provider you want. Look for misspellings in the brand name or other small errors. Scammers may use a lower case letter in the brand name or might add an extra letter.  Look for the padlock symbol in association with the website in question.  All web browsers  have a security certificate known as an SSL Certificate.
• Refrain from clicking links in unsolicited emails. They are a way of tricking people into providing personal information. They can also redirect you to an unexpected webpage and may also infect your compute with a virus. This entire post is on Travel Pulse.com.

2025-26  Tours and Sailings

May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers   Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to  Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night  journey.  On your journey you will  visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens,  Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines  Call for Availability

 May 20, 2026.  Empires of the Mediterranean. 

Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises.  This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region.  On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia.   Deposit now. Viking sells out quickly.

Coming September, 2026.  Sicily and Southern Italy.   It isn’t  time to book, but contact me to get on the interest list.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Fuller Travel Service hours:  9am-6pm Monday-Saturday.  Closed on Sunday.

Hi Everyone,

Apple will now allow AirTag users to share location data with airlines in an effort to make lost luggage a thing of the past.   Thanks to a new software update the tech company will allow customers to share the location of an Air Tag or other Find My network accessory with third parties, according to Apple.  More than a dozen airlines have agreed to begin accepting these Find My item locations as part of their customer service process in the coming months. -Travel and Leisure

Delta flyers will soon see an upgrade on the in-flight map at their seats. The map will have multiple viewing options so that flyers can see the duration of the flight left, where the airplane is currently flying, and even a virtual view of what is happening from the flight deck window. Delta says that 45% of flyers interact with the map each month and 20% of those customers are watching the map exclusively throughout the entire flight.

2025-26  Tours and Sailings

May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers   Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to  Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night  journey.  On your journey you will  visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens,  Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines  Call for Availability

 May 20, 2026.  Empires of the Mediterranean. 

Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises.  This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region.  On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia.   Deposit now. Viking sells out quickly.

Coming September, 2026.  Sicily and Southern Italy.   It isn’t  time to book, but contact me to get on the interest list.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Fuller Travel Service hours:  9am-6pm Monday-Saturday.  Closed on Sunday.

Hi Everyone,

We all know that the emergency number in the United States is 911 but that is not the emergency number in most places outside the US. If you have an emergency out of the country, you want to get help asap.  Here are a number emergency numbers for some of Europe: Italy: 112,  Jamaica: 110 or 119, Ireland 112.119, Spain 112, Switzerland 114.  Look up your emergency number for wherever you are traveling at: travel.state.gov.

There are many other things you can do to help yourself if you have a medical emergency. Put your emergency info on your phone. Both iPhones and Android phones have apps that will allow you to display essential health information right on the  Lock Screen.

If you are planning a cruise, please book it early as the cruise lines have really seen a remarkable increase in demand.  They have actually exceeded 2019 levels.  Some of the more popular sailings  are already full for next year and we are booking into 2026.  Although that is not the case for every cruise, it is for the more popular or seasonal destinations.

Hi Everyone,

One of the biggest things that happened in the world of travel this week was the announcement from the US Department of Transportation requiring airlines to be proactive with refunds for delayed and canceled flights.

The new rules state that airlines are required to provide automatic refunds for canceled or “significantly delayed” flights. The refunds are supposed to be automatic so consumers will no longer have to call the airlines and argue their case. “Passengers are entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebook on an alternate flight, or alternative compensation. ” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that airlines are officially required to provide automatic refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant delays.   Significant delays would be more than three hours on domestic flights and six hours on international flights.

The new regulation also applies to refunds of checked bag fees if the bag is not delivered within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15-30 hours for international flights.  There is also a rule that passengers are entitled to any fees paid for an extra service such as WiFi, seat selection, or in-flight entertainment.

In other news, Spirit Airlines is still trying to cut as much as possible. The ultra-low-cost carrier has been forced to furlough about 300 pilots to save even more money.  This is in addition to the 23 planes they were selling  that I reported in a previous blog.

2025-26  Tours and Sailings

May 30-June 7, 2025 Columbia & Snake Rivers   Board your river cruise ship in Portland, Oregon and cruise to  Clarkston, Idaho on a 9 day, 8night  journey.  On your journey you will  visit Ft. Clapstop, Mt St. Helens,  Cross the “Bridge of the Gods” and admire Nulnomah Falls. You’ll end your cruise in Clarkston to fly home from Lewiston Idaho.- American Cruise Lines  

 May 20, 2026.  Empires of the Mediterranean. 

Join us on this spectacular cruise with Viking Cruises.  This 10 day, 9 night cruise will cruise the Adriatic and Aegean taking in all the riches of this fables region.  On an exploration bookended by Venice and Athens, discover the ancient ruins of Olympia, and the Acropolis. Explore the medieval warrens of Zadar, Dubrovnik, and Kotor. Delight in the beauty of Corfu and for the first time, Viking will take us to Koper for an in-depth exploration of picturesque Slovenia.   Deposit now.

Coming September, 2026.  Sicily and Southern Italy.   It isn’t  time to book, but contact me to get on the interest list.

Have a great week!

Lynn

Fuller Travel Service hours:  9am-6pm Monday-Saturday.  Closed on Sunday.