Yet another city, Barcelona, is proposing a plan that will eliminate short term rentals in their city. The short term rental market has increased by nearly 70% in the last 10 years and the cost of buying a home has risen 40%, pricing out many Barcelona residents. I hope a workaround can be found because Barcelona is a treasure.-Travel Pulse
Last week I mentioned that there are opportunities to renew your passports online. If you live in the Lansing/Delta Township area, they have posted dates for their upcoming passport drives. The drives help those of you who cannot get to the Township office during regular working hours. You will be able to get assistance applying for your passport but must call in advance for an appointment. Upcoming dates are.
Wednesday, July 10th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 15th– 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, September 9th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 8th– 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 20th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, December 19th – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
I am often asked how early I think people should arrive at the airport. The rule of thumb is two and a half hours for domestic and three hours for international. Those numbers can be affected by how much baggage you have, or if you have TSAPrecheck or Clear. It can also be affected by the time of year. When you are trying to travel during the holidays, all bets are off. Better to be safe than sorry.
According to AAA, over 1.7 million Michigan residents are expected to take a trip of 50 miles or more between June 30 and July 4, surpassing last year’s holiday travel record by 76,000. Stay safe out there.
Upcoming Tours and Cruises
January 19-31,2025 Grand Hawaiian Adventure Get out of the cold and join us for this magnificent tour of Oahu, Kona (Big Island), Maui, and Kauai. This trip is a leisurely tour of four of Hawaii’s magnificent islands. We understand that you don’t want to spend all day on tour buses when you go to Hawaii so this tour has an easy pace with free time built in for a some beach time or individual exploration.My deadline for booking will close in just a few weeks.https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1250841 Collette
May 3-11, 2025 Paris and Normandy River Cruise. This cruise will begin and end in Paris. Cruise from Paris through Normandy’s countryside, uncovering its many charms: Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, the medieval capital of Rouen, Monet’s beloved home in Giverny and the famed Normandy beaches. Experience a different side of Northern France’s history with a tour of the majestic palace of Versailles, once home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Uniworld River Cruise. Ready to deposit. A few spots remain.
September 5-16, 2025 America’s National Parks. This is a repeat of one we’ve done before but it is one of my favorites. We will tour the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places. Ready for deposit now.
September 2025.Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. Postcard-perfect vistas and storybook villages. Rolling hills and the crisp scent of fresh mountain air. There is nothing in this world quite like the Alps. You’re on your way to explore Europe’s iconic peaks and valleys on an invigorating journey through France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. , 2025. We d0 not have a definite date yet but have asked for the second or third week of September. This trip will be limited to 24 participants. We should have more info in the next couple of weeks.
The following trips are not quite ready for deposit but if you are interested in either of these, just shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the interest list. No obligation but I’ll be able to let you know asap when it is time for deposits.
Coming: April , 2026 Tulips and Windmills River Cruise Not quite ready for deposits
Coming September, 2026. Sicily and Southern Italy. Not ready for deposits
Fuller Travel Service hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6pm, Closed on Sunday.