I didn't really fully understand the significance of this cruise until we got to the embarkation port and saw the fanfare and felt the excitement as our cruise was THE FIRST CRUISE TO SAIL SINCE 2019 - PRE-COVID. WOW-let that sink in! A Greek TV station even interviewed us because it was a national event there. The crew and staff were smiling ear to ear and so grateful to be back to work. Every island we visited, they greeted us [...]
(Image cred: Getty Images - Virtuoso) We’re here to set the record straight. 2020 brought it's fair share of travel nightmare stories and most of them were from folks who planned trips on their own. If you worked with a Travel Advisor in 2020, then you know the lengths we went through for our clients - canceling bookings, securing refunds and travel credits, changing itineraries and making sure that everyone got home safe and sound. I think that people really [...]
Well, folks - the World is opening up and our industry is going through an immense surge in bookings and travel inquiries. As predicted, airfares & property rentals/ hotel prices are going up, availability is tight especially for summer travel - there's a huge shortage of rental cars. 2021 1.We're seeing lack of trained staff in all sectors of the travel supply chain (remember the industry completely shut down during the pandemic and instead of waking up slowly - we've [...]
As the World slowly opens up again with lower Covid numbers and mass vaccination, people are desperate to get out and travel again. So many things have changed since Covid and it's necessary to be prepared. There are so many questions and moving protocols and rules - let us do the work for you ! We've been working behind the scenes to educate ourselves, keeping up with all the latest in our industry, and getting ready for the upcoming travel [...]
Pura Vida - Have you heard this term? It means "Pure life" and is most often associated with Costa Rica. It's their greeting and used frequently there - like when you say "Muchas Gracias" the response will be "Pura-Vida"! Love it. We recently got to visit this AAAA-mazing country, and we fell in love here. Where else can you be on a beach IN the rainforest - I mean ....... There's so much to offer with several regions each one [...]
It's been a while since we have updated our blog posts. 2020 was such a crazy year, what with postponing and canceling clients' trips, dealing with travel insurance claims, holding online for hours on end and so much more Covid dealt us. We had to bob and weave and flex our patience muscles to get through it, but we survived and we are still here. Some positives of 2020 besides our personal lives included: Updating all our policies and [...]
You probably saw that the CDC announced new travel protocols effective January 26th. Below outlines the new requirements for re-entry into the US after international travel. The tourism industry is resilient and flexible - in a matter of days, many hotel chains, travel suppliers, and on-site partners have already come up with solutions for this new curveball and that's all it is. Until we get this virus under control, we have to do what is necessary to control the spread. [...]
https://youtu.be/ZXAfr3b02rM Do you have a real "Athlete" or adventure enthusiast in your life? Do you shy away of traveling with them because you're not at the same level but would love to enjoy some amazing vacation experiences with them? Backroads give you the perfect combination of active experiences mixed with sightseeing and cultural experiences so there's something for everyone regardless of activity level. Tours for everyone: singles, couples, families (even kids), and private groups. Have you heard of Backroads [...]
Have you heard of "Un-Cruise"? They are a Virtuoso preferred supplier and we have heard so many great things about them and finally did some of their specialist training this week - VIDEO HERE Un-cruise specialize in small ship adventure cruising with vessels ranging from 22-90 passengers max. Some of the destinations Un-cruise offer include: Alaska, Galapagos, Hawaiian Islands, Latin America, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, Pacific Northwest & the one we are focusing on this week - Columbia & Snake rivers USA. VIDEO HERE [...]
(photos & itinerary cred: Backroads) If you’re the type of traveler who jumps for joy when the temps drop and the snowflakes start flying, you’ll love Backroads’ collection of incredible Snow Adventures. Whether you’re drawn to exhilarating activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing or more easygoing pursuits like wildlife viewing and hot spring soaking—or all of the above—Backroads has an array of [...]
