Hi Everyone,
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is always great to be able to take a day to reflect upon the blessings we’ve been given. Of course, the after Thanksgiving mania has begun. Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday, one doesn’t quite know when to shop any more.
A few weeks ago, I told you that Delta was piloting new amenities on their long haul flights. They have now begun to implement these changes which are really nice. It begins with a complementary Bellini and hot towel just after take off. Economy passengers will now receive a complimentary bottle of water after boarding. When it comes to meal-time, fliers can choose from a menu that includes wine, and the tray tables are now covered for you. The food comes on a smaller oval tray so you can keep your phone or book beside you. Delta has partnered with Ben and Jerry’s to provide ice cream for dessert. Before landing, warm pastries are offered with coffee or tea and a farewell piece of chocolate. In addition, there is a snack bar in the rear galley if you have a craving mid-flight. Right now these amenities are being offered only on long haul flights so don’t expect this on your domestic flights.-Smarter Travel
This week, Fodor’s listed a few suggestions for improving your airport experience and air travel:
- Get a refillable water bottle. Many airports are now offering filling stations once you get through security.
- Pack your own snacks but be careful of fresh fruit or vegetables as they could get confiscated or you could get fined at your destination.
- Organize with reusable bags. You must be careful of plastic though as some places are banning plastic. Check out Stasher Bags.
- Bring a portable battery charger. These are really handy and if you’ve read some of my back posts regarding the hacking of airport chargers, you’ll be happy to have your own.
- Come prepared with your own sanitizer or bacterial wipes.
- Take a photo of the outside and inside of your suitcase in the event it loses it’s way.
2020-2021
May 17-28, 2020 Alpine Explorer and Oberammergau We will explore a bit of Switzerland and Austria before arriving at Oberammergau for the Passion Play.Some of the highlights of this trip include Lago Maggiore, Island Dinner, Zermatt, Glacier Express Train, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, St. Peter’s Restaurant, Mozart Dinner Concert, Munich, Oberammergau Passion Play, Linderhof Palace, Füssen, Neuschwanstein Castle. Check out the itinerary: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/817395 Taking waitlist requests.
May 30-June 7, 2020 Paris and Normandy River Cruise Call for availability.
June 16-26 Shrines of Italy This pilgrimage will visit The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, San Giovanni Rotundo, Tomb of Padre Pio, Abbey of Santissima Trinita, Madonna del Rosario Sanctuary, Vatican City with Papal Audience, Christian Rome City Tour, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Deposit now. Early booking discount is in effect.
August 15-23 Canadian Rockies We’ll fly into Vancouver and after enjoying the sights of Vancouver and Victoria, we’ll head up to Kamloops and then to Jasper National Park. We’ll see the Athabascan Glacier from our snow machine. We’ll visit the spectacular Lake Louise and then on to Banff. Ready for deposit.
September 12-23, 2020 Discovering Poland We’ll visit Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Wroclaw, and Krakow. Ready for deposit! Check out the itinerary at https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/902378
October 6-14, 2020 Autumn Colors We’ll fly into historic Boston and then head to Lexington and Concord where the “shot heard round the world was fired”. We’ll head through the Berkshires, stopping at a historic mill and glass blowing facility. We’ll visit the historic town of Woodstock.Sample some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at their factory before venturing into New Hampshire and and stunning of views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast. We’ll visit Acadia National Park and the beautiful town of Bar Harbor. On our way south we’ll journey past lighthouses, fisheries, and seaside dwellings before arriving at Portsmouth, one of the oldest cities in the United States.
2021
January 24- February 8, 2021 Panama Canal Cruise This is a full transit 15 day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco. We will visit Cartagena, Columbia; Panama Canal Full Transit; Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puntarenas, Costa Rica; San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragu; and Cabo San Lucas before disembarking in San Francisco. Taking deposits.
April,6-17, 2021 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 the panoramic view of the bay. The next day, explore Taormina at leisure or maybe take an option 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 the your family villages located outside Cosenza. After a stay in Calabria we head to Alberabello, San Giovanni Rotundo to see the shrine of Padre Pio, and then make our way to Rome for our departure. We will be ready for deposit Friday.
September 10, 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. We are taking names now with room requests and will will be ready for deposit late Fall.
Have a great week!
Lynn