Blog

Hi Everyone,

Happy Fourth of July!

Hawaii is dropping all COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated domestic and U.S. mainland visitors as of July 8. The islands are also relaxing capacity restrictions for restaurants and social gatherings.

I very much hope that the requirement for vaccinated US citizens returning to the US after travel will soon be dropped.  In the meantime,  Delta Airlines is offering an at-home COVID test kit through its website that travelers can pack into their luggage and conveniently meet the testing requirements for re-entry into the US  Delta’s website and FlyReady app help passengers identify travel requirements for their destinations and will add the capability to upload proof of vaccination this summer.

You have most likely heard a lot about vaccine passports.   What, exactly, is a vaccine passport?    Basically, they are mobile apps that allow international travelers to upload their proof of vaccination as well as necessary coronavirus test results or other health waivers.  The goal is to digitize  individual countries’ paper vaccination certificates into internationally recognized passes for travel.  A few options for vaccine passports exist for Americans so far, and other countries and regions have also developed, or are developing, their own.  There are several available already and more are in development.

Many hotels cut all types of services during the pandemic due to lack of demand and to minimize contact between people.  Over the past several months it has become increasing clear that many of these service cuts are permanent.  for example, a spokesman for Hilton has stated that it will no longer proactively offer daily housekeeping.  On the fifth day of your stay, they will automatically clean the room.   They will also clean the rooms upon request.  –View from the Wing, 7/2/21

Current Trips 2021-2023*

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

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, and Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.  Uniworld River Cruise

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

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

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

2022

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.   Price guarantee ends in July.  Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430      Sign up deadline is July 15.   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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

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

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

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

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability.    Princess Cruises

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

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

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

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

2023

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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,

Cruise ships have started to depart from U.S. cities and the debate over whether to only allow vaccinated passengers continues.   Some cruise lines are mandating vaccinations and others are not.   However, it is not as simple as that.  If  a person decides to sail without being vaccinated, they will most likely be subject to pre-cruise testing as well as testing mid-cruise.   They will most likely have to remain masked and may be denied entrance to certain venues on the ship..    More importantly, if one wants to disembark at any stop, passengers must follow the rules of the country being visited which may or may not allow an unvaccinated person to disembark at their port.   When you are ready to travel, make sure you speak to someone who understands what you will need.

In the midst of the pandemic when cancellations were the only thing happening, many people received travel vouchers or Future Travel or Cruise credits instead of cash back.   Please know that those credits do not automatically get extended in to the next year.  Check your credits to see when they expire!

I don’t know about your home town, but everywhere I go in mine I see help wanted signs.   Businesses are having difficulty filling essential spots.   It does impact travel as well.  We had to change two hotels on our recent trip as the places we were booked did not have enough staff to open.      Even the airlines are having problems.   American just announced that they are cutting hundreds of flights as they deal with labor shortages. If you are planning a trip, book your car first.  While that used to be an afterthought, there are very few rental cars available.  At this time, it is best to check and then double  check any and all reservations.

We are home from our amazing National Parks tour and are enjoying reliving the places we saw on our trip.  Here are a few more pics:

1. Bryce Canyon 2. Grand Tetons from a small chapel 3. Pool at Yellowstone   4. Old Faithful   5. Lake by the side of the road   6. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

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

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, and Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.  Uniworld River Cruise

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     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.  Call for Availability.    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

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.   Price guarantee ends in July.  Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430      Sign up deadline is July 15.   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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

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

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

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

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability.    Princess Cruises

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

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

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

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

2023

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have very few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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,

US Customs and Border Protection has launched a remote interview pilot for renewing Trusted Traveler Program members.  That means, that when you renew your Global Entry card and are required to come in for an interview, you may be able to do that interview over Zoom.  Other programs like Nexus will be integrated into the program in months to come. Not everyone will be eligible  but it is worth checking to see if you are if you are required to have another interview before renewing.

The European Union has voted to add the US to its safe travel list which would make it easier for Americans to take a vacation in one of the 27 member states.   Individual countries will have the authority to decide for themselves how they want to enforce inbound restrictions, including testing and vaccination requirements.  This should eliminate the quarantine requirements though.

We are  currently on our first tour since 2019.  We are in the US and are touring some of the National Parks of the West.   Despite some extremely hot weather in the Southwest (103-113) we are having a great time.  Were have followed COVID protocols and are doing well.  We did find that we needed to make some adjustments as the areas we are touring have really had difficulty finding seasonal employees.  Many places still have very limited menus and hours.  We have worked around all of it so far.  What hasn’t changed is the beauty of some of our wonderful parks.  Here are a few pics.  I’ll upload a few more next week.

The first two are Sedona, AZ,  the third is the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell.   The west is in the middle of a major drought.  Lake Powell, is at historic lows.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

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

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, and Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.  Uniworld River Cruise

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     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.  Call for Availability.    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

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.   Price guarantee ends in July.  Check it out at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1049430      Sign up deadline is July 15.   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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

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

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

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

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability.    Princess Cruises

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

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

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

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

2023

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I havevery few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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,

Good news if you are planning a trip to Hawaii:

Governor David Ige has laid out a step-by-step plans to lift COVID-19 related travel protocols. There are different protocols for residents and non residents.  When Hawaii reaches 60% vaccination rate, the state will lift pre-arrival testing and quarantine requirements for domestic U.S. travelers who were vaccinated in the U.S. Travelers will have to show proof of their vaccination through the state’s Safe Travels program.  When Hawaii hits a 70% vaccination rate, the state will lift all travel restrictions and officially end its Safe Travels program      Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times vis Getty Image

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it has eased travel recommendations for more than 110 countries and territories.  According to Reuters.com the CDC’s updated international travel ratings lowered 61 nations from the highest Level 4 to Level 3 which recommends full vaccinated tourists will be allowed to visit while being cautious.

Some of the countries now listed at Level 3 include France, Ecuador, Philippines, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Honduras, Hungary, and Italy.   Another 50 countries received a new Level 1 or 2 including Singapore, Israel, South Koream Iceland, Belize, and Albania.

While this is very good news,  it is also important to remember that some of these countries may themselves have regulations regarding visitors.  Flight regulations and impediments to obtaining COVID test results temper this news but we are heading in the right direction!-

Current Trips 2021-2023*

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

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, and Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.  Uniworld River Cruise

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     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.  Call for Availability.    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 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.   Price guarantee ends in July.  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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

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

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

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

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability.    Princess Cruises

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

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

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

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

2023

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I havevery few cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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,

If you are thinking of traveling out of the country, you’ll be pleased to know that more countries are opening this summer. Last week I mentioned that France, Italy, Croatia, and Iceland were  open or soon will be.   This week Ireland announced that they will begin to welcome vaccinated Americans  in just a few weeks.   The European Union is expected to give its own green light to American tourists very soon, and then it will be up to the 27 member states whether to add restrictions.  One of the things that must be considered if planning a European adventure is what countries you are connecting through to get to your destination.   Even if you are not leaving the connecting airport, some countries have very specific rules in order to transit through their airports.  Make sure you know  those rules.

Remember the Concorde? CBS News announced this week that United Airlines has purchased 14 supersonic jets that can transport you from New York to London in less that four hours. They hope to be flying in 2029.

In the fall of 2022 we will repeat a short tour here in the US called Southern Charm.  We’ll visit Charleston, Savannah, St. Simon’s Island, Jekyll Island, and more.   Enjoy this brief video:

Southern Charm | Collette

Now that we can finally look forward to travel, it is a great time to pull out that passport you haven’t looked at for a while to check expiration dates.     Here are a few interesting things about renewing ,along with some info about your passport in general from Christine at Smarter Travel:

• When you are ready to renew, you must send your old passport along with your renewal application.   You should send it in a trackable envelope, preferably one of the sturdier Tyvek envelopes.
• If your passport was issued after August of 2007 you have an e-passport that has a small chip in the back cover and a biometric identifier based on your photo.  To prevent  identity theft, there are metallic elements in the cover of the passport making it impossible for the passport to be digitally “read” until its physically opened.
• If your appearance has changed significantly you’ll need to apply for a new passport.  The would include significant weight gain or loss, facial surgery or trauma, or if you’ve added or removed facial tattoos or piercings.
• Water damage, significant tearing, unofficial marking on the data page, and torn out visa pages are month the types of damage that means replacement is in order.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

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

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, and Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.  Uniworld River Cruise

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     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.  Call for Availability.    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 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.   Price guarantee ends in July.  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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

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

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

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

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Sounds like the lodges may be full on this one.     Call for availability.    Princess Cruises

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

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

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

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

2023

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have 4 cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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,

The world is opening and people are ready to get moving after being cooped up for a very long time.    Some people are reuniting with family they haven’t seen in a long while and others are boarding planes, trains, and buses to explore places they’ve been unable to visit.    It is really important that before travel, we know what it means when countries say they are open. What protocols must you adhere to in terms of testing or vaccination? Does it mean just that you can land and find a hotel? Are restaurants open or is it still just take away?    Is a quarantine in effect or are you free to roam?   Are venues such as museums, tourist attractions,  and restaurants/stores open and will they require advance reservations?    Before just assuming, it is important to research.    This is a time to partner with someone who looks at these things every single day because the protocol yesterday may not be the same today.   Obviously, find a good travel agent.   I know a good one 🙂   but the most important thing is that you find someone you are comfortable with who can help make good decisions with you.

The cruise lines are planning their comeback but it is important to note that they are all going to start slowly with just a few of their ships at  a time.   We won’t see entire fleets of any brand for quite some time.  Interestingly enough, Royal Caribbean is embarking on their “practice cruises” mandated by the CDC.  They had 250,000 people volunteer for those!   A complication has arisen in Florida.  Celebrity Cruises is set to return to Florida ports but is insisting that 100% of their crew and 95% of their passengers be fully vaccinated.   The Governor of Florida insists that violates Florida law.  Where this will go is anyone’s guess.   Cruise lines that have been unable to sail due to Canada’s border closure may get to sail for the last couple of months of the season.    They will not be able to dock in Vancouver or any other Canadian port, but they may be able to sail from Seattle and sail to Alaska without the normal mandated stop in a Canadian port.

Airlines are bringing back some food service now, but some airlines are delaying the return of alcohol service stating that passengers are too unruly to allow that to happen.

I hope you have a wonderful, safe holiday.   This holiday is always a good time for me to stop and remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice  for us and our way of life.

Current Trips 2021-2023*

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

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, and Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.  Uniworld River Cruise

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     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.  Call for Availability.    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 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.   Price guarantee ends in July.  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.  Call for availability.  Trafalgar 

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

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

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

July 19-30 Alaska Cruisetour   Take an 11 day southbound cruise tour aboard Princess Cruises. Fly into Fairbanks, visit Denali Wilderness Lodge, Denali McKinley Lodge and then take the train to our cruise ship for a 7 night southbound cruise.   Experience the Hubbard Glacier, cruise through Glacier Bay National Park, and visit Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan before disembarking in Vancouver. This is an amazing cruise tour.  Although there are spaces on the ship, the lodges fill quickly Do not delay!  Princess Cruises

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

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

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

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

2023

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have 5 cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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,

We continue to see positive news on the travel front.   Uniworld, one of my favorite cruise lines, has announced their return to the rivers of Europe beginning with France and Italy next month.  We fully expect that additional cruises  and rivers will be added soon.

Alaska cruises have been greenlit by the government to sail this summer to and from US ports.  The final hurdle is for the cruise lines and the CDC to agree on what cruise lines must do to begin to sail from U.S ports.    Timing is critical in this space since the Alaska cruise season is short, ending in September.  Several cruise lines have announced that they intend to sail to Alaska beginning in July.

We are particularly excited as our first tour is scheduled to take place June 12.   We will be touring the National Parks of America.  Tour operators have several tours operating here in the US and in select countries around the world.

It does appear that the world is opening.   Although things appear to be moving very quickly, it is still early days and things change very quickly.  One thing that has become apparent, particularly in Europe, is that as countries open they are  opening to vaccinated travelers for the most part, at least at this point.

One of the tours I am looking forward to in January, 2022 is Costa Rica.   Check out this short video of this beautiful country.

Current Trips for 2021 and 2022*

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

June 12-June 23,  2021 National Parks of America    This trip is waitlisted. If you are interested in being on a wait list, give me a call asap.  http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588           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.       Trafalgar

 September 11-19, 2021 Uniworld River Cruise,    Paris and Normandy  This cruise begins and ends in Paris.
We have had word from Uniworld that they will begin to sail in France this summer so we are looking forward to this cruise. Some of the highlights of this river cruise are a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet,  the Normandy beaches, the American cemetery, and Honfleur.  See the spot where St. Joan of Arc was martyred in Rouen, take an excursion to Versailles, and finish with a panoramic tour of Paris.  Uniworld River Cruise

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     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.  Call for Availability.    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 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. This tour is almost full.    Uniworld River Cruises

May 11-20, 2022   Shades of Ireland   This is one of my favorite trips: Enjoy Dublin,Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Ring of Kerry,  the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Galway. Ride a jaunting car, kiss the Blarney Stone,  and visit a family farm. Our last night’s stay is in a castle.  I have a few spaces left if you are interested.    Collette Vacations    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/101529 

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

New!   September 7-15,  2022   Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!  Note:  We are very aware of the unrest in this area of the world.  A good reason to book with Collette is that they offer a cancel for any reason policy.   We assume that the situation there will not continue into next year but you are covered if the trip is deemed unsafe. Collette Vacations

September 18-30, 2022 Rhine, Moselle, and Blissful Baden-Baden    Spend 2 nights in the beautiful spa town of Baden-Baden and then board your ship for a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  We will visit Strasbourg, Speyer, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Boppard, Cochem Bernkastel and Trier before returning home from  Frankfurt. Uniworld Cruises

October 23-29, 2022   Southern Charm    Join us on this short 6 night tour as  we visit the beautiful cities of Charleston, Savannah. Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End our tour in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home.   Very nice tour in our country to some beautiful cities.    We are beginning an interest list for this trip as it is not officially ready for sale.

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have 5 cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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.  Visit St. Simon’s Island and spend a night on Jekyll Island.  End this short trip in Jacksonville, Florida before heading home,

Have a great week!

Lynn

Hi everyone,

You may recall that during the pandemic, most of the major airlines dropped their change fees for all categories, including basic economy.   Now that travel appears to be making a comeback, several major airlines have announced that they will end the “no change fee” for customers who book basic economy.   I have never been a fan of basic economy and this is one more reason not to book it.  The good news is that several of the major airlines have all made their “no change fee” policy permanent for people booking standard economy  and above.

We continue to have pretty good news on the travel front.   More countries are opening, although at this time it is important to note that most of those opening are only welcoming  vaccinated travelers.  The exceptions to this are mostly in Mexico and the Caribbean.

The cruise lines continue to ready themselves for sailings with American passengers.  Currently, some cruises are operating out of Europe but there are still some hurdles to overcome here in the US.   This week a bill was introduced in Congress to allow cruise ships to cruise to Alaska without a stop in a Canadian port.  If this bill moves along it is conceivable that we could see cruise ships sailing to Alaska yet this year.  Several cruise lines have made arrangements to begin sailing out of Caribbean ports such as Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, and St. Maarten this summer.

The news from the CDC this week is yet another step forward.   At least in the travel industry, it feels like we can see the light at the end of a very long tunnel.  While we are extremely happy about this, we cannot forget that people are still getting sick and some of them are still succumbing to this awful disease.

Viking Ocean Cruises has announced some special ocean sailings this summer:  Malta and Adriatic Jewels, the Greek Isles and Malta, Bermuda, and Iceland.  Last week they announced some Iceland dates and they sold out in 48 hours.  Give me a call if you are interested.

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           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.       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.    Please call  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     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.  Call for Availability   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 is 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

New!   September 7-15,  2022  Tentative Date.  Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.  Optional extension to Petra.    Ready for booking!  Note:  We are very aware of the unrest in this area of the world.  A good reason to book with Collette is that they offer a cancel for any reason policy.   We assume that the situation there will not continue into next year but you are covered if the trip is deemed unsafe. Collette Vacations

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. Uniworld Cruises

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 was only able to get 10 cabins as Viking usually does not do groups on this cruise as it is too popular.   I have 5 cabins remaining.  Believe it or not, I could not get cabins for 2022.   We will begin our journey in Memphis,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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,

Apple Leisure Group which includes familiar tour operator names like Apple Vacations and Funjet Vacations among others is working in the Dominican Republic to vaccinate hotel staff in their branded properties,  On April 28 they hosted the first of several vaccination days for for company executives and staff across 11 properties in the country.  Ninety percent of the staff received the COVID-19 vaccine thanks to the initiative launched by the company.  All staff vaccinations are scheduled to be completed by the end of May and they are working on the entire tourism sector workforce.    “Apple Leisure Group and its portfolio companies are committed to rebuilding better travel, with this vaccination campaign being the latest of many priority efforts executed thus far across our lines of business” said Alejandro Reynal, president and CEO of ALG.  “Protecting resort employees is crucial as they are at the front lines of what we do, and their safety extends to the millions of guests welcomed at all AM Resorts branded properties and ALG Vacations brands.”

Iberostar also announced that they have begun vaccinating their 3000 employees in the Dominican Republic as well!

Some very encouraging news from The Washington Post on Thursday:

Europe’s coronavirus vaccine campaign is at last sprinting ahead.  Supply concerns have eased.  The E.U. is now administering roughly the same number of daily per capita doses as the United States, trending up while America trends down.   They owe much of their turnaround to Pfizer-BionTech which has ramped up vaccine production as other options have faltered or come too slowly.   Mostly using Pfizer, France’s pace of daily doses has increased 60 percent over the past month, Italy has accelerated by 90 percent and Germany by 145 percent.

Hi Everyone,

The United States Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that they were extending the REAL ID full enforcement to May 3, 3023 because of the COVID-19 impact on the enforcement.  After that, every air traveler 18 and older will need a REAL-ID compliant driver’s license, a state-issue enhanced driver’s license or a passport to get through TSA security checkpoints for domestic travel.  According to the DHS, the pandemic “significantly impacted states’ ability to issue REAL-ID compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards with many driver’s licensing agencies still operating at limited capacity.   While this is probably a good decision and for the right reasons, the deadline for the REAL- ID has been extended so many times, who knows when it will really become effective.

There is good news on the cruise front.   The CDC has announced that cruises can begin sailing by mid-July if  the cruise lines follow the updated CDC guidelines and if 98% of the crew and 95% of the passengers have been vaccinated.

Also, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the European Union will begin welcoming vaccinated American tourists this summer. “All 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines approved by European officials”, she said.   I am very happy to see this as it is a great step forward but we will still want to take a look at the destination country to see how they are doing with their vaccine distribution and COVID count.  We also need to confirm the travel status that our government gives the destination, as right now there a great many destinations on the Do Not Travel list.  Hopefully, that will resolve itself in the coming weeks.  Still a breath of really good news.

A few weeks ago, I thought it might be a good idea to get my vaccination card laminated to protect it.  I just read an AARP article that has changed my mind.   The article stated that in addition to the information about your vaccinations there are also blank spaces to record future shots in the even booster shots need to be given.  Keep your vaccination card in a safe spot, make copies, but do not laminate.

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.   Call for availability.    http://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1036588           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.       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  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     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.  Call for Availability   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 is 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

New!   September 7,  2022  Tentative Date.  Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land    Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey.   We will begin our journey in Tel Aviv  and then travel to the port city of Jaffa on our way to Caesarea. We next visit Nazareth, Cana, and our day in Tiberias for 2 nights.  We will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll make a stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum.  We will visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and much more.   If you would like to be put on the list, let me know as this will be firmed up in approx. 2 weeks.

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,  and sail to Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Darrow, Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. The cabins that I have are balcony cabins. Right now air is being offered for $399 per person out of Detroit.   Let me know if you are interested.

*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