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Travel News for the Week of September 22

By September 22, 2024Blog

Hi Everyone,

You may remember that the TSA ran a test this past spring to evaluate online passport applications.  The program was for a limited amount of time and limited participation.  They have now made the decision to continue this method of online application and it is available  for everyone. If you have a U.S. address you can do everything you need to do to renew your passport online: apply, pay the renewal fee and upload a photo.   It will still take 6-8 weeks to receive the new passport.

If you have a frequent flyer account with the major US airlines and sometimes have difficulty navigating the ever changing rules, the government is questioning those rules as well.  The Biden Administration is examining the four largest US airline frequent flyer programs and how they devalue points that customers have already earned or frequently change the number of miles or points needed to book flights. Stay tuned.

One of the things that many people forget about is cleaning their suitcases when they get home.   Bedbugs can be picked up anywhere.  To help insure that they don’t infest your house, leave your suitcase in the garage or on a hard surface.   Unpack and take clothes right to the laundry room, hopefully also on a hard surface.  Use a disinfectant like Lysol to disinfect both the inside and outside of your suitcase(remember handles and wheels.)  Let dry before you take them to your storage.  Your suitcase will be all set for your next adventure.

I didn’t make this up:  I just read a story on a travel website that a Scandinavian Airlines bound for  Malaga, Spain from Oslo, Norway had to make an emergency landing because when a passenger opened a box of food, a mouse jumped out!  The plane landed without incident and the mouse was escorted off the plane.

2025-26  Tours and Sailings

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.  Deposit now.   Uniworld

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

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  Salt Lake City, the Tetons, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion Canyons, and Mt. Rushmore among other places.  Ready for deposit now. Email me for a brochure.  Deposit now. Collette

September26-October 8, 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.   This trip is full. If you would like to get on a wait list, please contact me.

Coming: April , 2026  Tulips and Windmills River Cruise  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. Wander through the picture-perfect villages of Veere, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, and the enchanting outdoor Zuiderzee Museum and much more.  Deposit now.

 May 20, 2026.  Empires of the Mediterranean. 

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

Coming September, 2026.  Sicily and Southern Italy.  Not ready for deposits but call  to be put on the interest list.

 

 

 

 

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