Airfares...

So I've been working on a lot of airfares to Europe...which isn't surprising since Europe is my passion and my favorite destination.

As I've been looking at air schedules and airfares, I've really been surprised that they are so high even when booked well in advance and there's plenty of availability.  It's not been unusual in the last few months for me to find fares over $1500 a ticket in coach for this fall and summer fares even higher than that!

It's really shocked some of my travelers although I haven't had anyone change their mind just based on the airfares.

I am excited to tell you that over the last 5 days or so, I've noticed that the fares on both domestic and international trips has dropped just a bit.

It may not last, so if you have a trip coming up now might be the time to get that airfare!

Thinking about my visit to the Normandy Landing Beaches

Today I'm thinking about the thousands of white crosses that I saw on Easter Sunday this year when I visited the American Cemetery in Normandy France.  Our service men and women are to be admired and thanked for the service that they are willing to give to our country.

On my visit I found that standing on the cliff at Pointe-Du-Hoc really left me humbled and proud.  The very deep scares left from the bombs really helped me see how big the explosions must have been and made me think about how frightened these young men must have been.  Yet, they had a job to do and had the courage and bravery to push ahead in order to liberate first France, and then the rest of Europe. 

My father spent 30 years in the Navy and my Grandfather also served.  I thank them both today for their service and sacrifice.

Thank you to all military personnel and their families all they do for me and my family!

Floriade 2012...only 316 days to go!

Once every ten years an event takes place in Europe….Ok, ok…so Germany’s Oberammergau Passion Play was in 2010 and is over-not to return until 2020.   Hmmm what to do in the mean time?

What’s that?  There is another event that runs every 10 years in Europe? I’ve never heard of it…what’s it called?  Floriade  and from today…May 24, 2011 there are only 316 days until the gates open!

Hmmm…Floriade?  So why haven’t I heard of it before?

Well, for one thing it’s only every 10 years and has only been around since 1960.  That means that in 2012 it will be the sixth Floriade.

Here’s a link so you can brush up on your Floriade history.

 http://www.floriade.com/floriade-2012/history

This is a flower show in The Netherlands and runs from April 5^th to October 7^th 2012…well; really it’s so much more than just a flower show!  I’ve pulled this quote from the Floriade website.

“The Floriade Park covers 66 hectares and encompasses 5 unique themed worlds separated by wooded areas. Each world has its own decor, programme and activities. Worlds in which you'll see, feel and experience nature in a totally different way each time.”

There will be an opening show on April 4, 2012 which will be repeated from April 5-9, 2012.  The website states that there will be around 2500 volunteers participating in the show!  The show will include music, dance and theater with beautiful gardens as a fitting backdrop.

Tickets are on sale now…you can buy your season ticket and enjoy six months of unlimited access for a very reasonable cost of 119 euro. Now for most of us a six month stay in The Netherlands is something that isn’t going to happen, but another vey noteworthy bit of news is that the beginning of the Floriade coincides with Tulip Time!

If you are a flower lover, or maybe a lover of “once a decade” evens, maybe 2012 will be the year to enjoy a Tulip Time River Cruise with an excursion to Floriade….Could be the best of both worlds!

Diet Vacation Plan...Cruise a River in Europe!

This afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking with one of my client who just returned from a River Cruise on the Romantic Rhine with Avalon Waterways...she loved it!

She talked about the wonderful cabins, how great the staff on the ship was, how well organized the tours were and about the food!  What really surprised her was the ship served 5 or 6 small courses of wonderful mouth-watering choices, but didn't leave her weighed down.  She said that the walking and touring burned up all the calories that she ate at dinner.  She said she had gained 1 pound while on the trip!

What??? Only 1 Pound? 

The average ocean cruiser gains 8+ on a seven night sailing.  Some sources say 2 lbs per day….that 14 lbs in a week! 

So for those of you who have turned your nose up a cruising because of feeling herded and overfed these options is for you!  Imagine an active, enjoyable trip with just a bit of education, (history, art, culture and architecture) in a relaxed fun atmosphere without all the long lines.  Think about sailing with less than 150 passengers! 

So here's my new "Diet Vacation Plan"

...Take a European River Cruise!

Stroll over cobblestone streets, tread in the footsteps of Royalty in an ancient castle, window shop in a medieval town or even ride a bike!  Then go back to the ship, enjoy an evening of great tasting food with a regional specialty, a glass of wine, (maybe more) or tea and then have dessert! (Hey...It is your vacation and you were active all day!)

Enjoy yourself without over doing it and come home with 1 pound of memories!  It sure beats 8+

Oceania Cruises...tempting pricing for great itineraries!

Wow...what do you think about these itinerary names that Oceania Cruises has give to some of their sailings? 

Asian Wonders...15 days from Singapore to Hong Kong. Ultimate Panama Canal...21 days from San Francisco to New York.  Roman Revelations...14 days from Istanbul to Barcelona or my favorite, Legacies of Antiquity...12 days from Rome to Istanbul

Now, it doesn't take much for me to want to pack up and go, but with names like that my travel juices are really flowing!  The Asian Wonders itinerary really does appeal to me, but if you know me at all, you know why the Legacies of Antiquity is my favorite. 

It's Europe.  But not only is it Europe, it starts in Rome which gives me a wonderful chance to add a pre-cruise package for a few days so that I can really make my vacation something special.  If I really wanted to get crazy, I might even fly into Milan or Venice and make my way down to Rome, visiting the Tuscany and Umbria areas on my way.  I might do a wine tasting, olive oil or cheese tasting or maybe even set myself up with a cooking class.  I'd most likely contact one of my friends at either IC Bellagio or at IDI, (Italian Dream Itineraries) to help customize that part of my trip.

After the hardship, (wink, wink) of spending a few days in Italy prior to my cruise, I'd suffer in silence as I sailed for 12 days on Oceania's Marina...I'd try to tolerate the stops in Florence/Pisa, Corsica France, Sorrento/Capri, Sicily and Malta.  Then I'd steal myself for visits to Athens and Volos in Greece just waiting for my stop in Ephesus before spending the night on the ship and getting off in Istanbul Turkey.  I guess since I was ending in Turkey, I'd have to have a special shopping trip and maybe pick up a new rug for my living room.  Sigh...what's a girl to do?



Now since I'm a Virtuoso Agent, I'd make sure that I had the same amenities that I'd provide for my clients!  I'd have my free round trip airfare, pre-paid gratuities, my $100 stateroom shore excursion credit, $100 shipboard credit, $100 Canyon Ranch Spa Club credit, Welcome bottle of champagne along with my insider connections and knowledge of the best staterooms to help me get by without too much more suffering. 

So what do you think?  All of this starting for only $4999 per person  for an Oceanview stateroom...October 21st would be a great day to board the ship...

Corporate Social Responsibility – Helping Alabama

Good morning Everyone! 

So many people in the Southeast have been affected by the tornadoes that torn through our area last week!  I'm noticing that there is a lot of compassion for our neighbors and everyday we hear another amazing story...both happy and sad. 

There is always a need if we look, but right now we certainly don't have to look very hard or long to see it!  I have a lot of respect and admiration for those people who are taking vacation time to help out and also to companies who are allowing their employee to volunteer without docking time! 

Thank you ___(your name here )________ for stepping up and helping out!  My hat is off to you!

I wanted to copy in an article that our Debbie Szafran wrote on Social Responsibility..I thought it was very timely.  Without further ado...Here's Debbie!

If companies throughout the nation are looking for ways to appeal to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mission, Alabama’s recent devastation, due to tornado damage, is a place to begin.

Companies can give back to these communities through donations of money, supplies, time and talent. Many companies now include CSR as part of their meetings, conventions and incentive programs. Participants often express how rewarding it is to not only attend, but to bring hope to communities in need.

According to Convention South and a recent Edelman Global Consumer Survey, “67 percent of Americans believe it is no longer enough for corporations to simply give money away to a good cause, but they also need to integrate good causes into their day-to-day business. And, 61 percent of Americans have a better opinion of corporations that integrate good causes into their business, regardless of the reasons they do so.”

Alabama companies can reach out by requesting their company host the next national or regional meeting in the Tuscaloosa or Birmingham area. This not only brings additional revenue to the area, but there is also opportunity to bring attendees who are willing to provide service. Corporations have been known to rebuild homes, raise money for schools, restore parks by planting new trees, donate food to shelters, and the list goes on.

CSR can have a tremendous impact on the health of our planet and the well-being of people. Information on local causes that best fit your group activity can be determined through meeting and incentive companies and the local Convention Visitor’s Bureau.  Reach out today, and let’s help our area begin to recover through CSR opportunities.

Sutton & Associates, a division of Alabama World Travel, is a full service incentive travel and meeting planning company offering creation and design, site selection, contract negotiations, management, production, and on-site supervision. For more information, go to www.suttonplanning.com.

I love a challenge!

Let me just say, "Hooray!"

Many of you know that I tend to be pretty competitive when playing a game...I love a bit of friendly competition and enjoy working on and finishing puzzles.  Well tonight I've been looking for a solution to a horrible airline schedule for HOURS and wouldn't accept what I was finding at face value. And guess what? 

!! Success !!

I found a way to save a client not only money, but a least THREE (3) connections on an international flight for his family of four which will save them many hours in travel time!  Sometimes it pays to be stubborn!

Bottom line...saved the family $634.40, three connections and 10 (yes TEN) hours of travel time!

So, would you like to be my client?  Give me a call!

I'm going to bed now...with a smile on my face and a satisfied spirit of accomplishment.
Sweet Dreams!

~Trish

Well what to write about today...pondering the possibilities

Well, what to write about today...there are a load of possibilities out there!  What it I pull something from the news?  The biggest story seems to be Osama Bin Laden's capture and death and what that means for us.  Hmmm....

I could also write about the terrible storms that swept through the southeast last week which produced over 362 tornadoes in a 24 hour period which devastated Tuscaloosa and caused flooding in Missouri. There are people who need help.  I could tell you to check with our local media websites, the Red Cross or contact a local church in order to donate to the relief efforts.

I could write about the cost of gasoline and the effect that will have on our summer travel plans, or even spin it and talk about the really great discounts on European Cruises in the Mediterranean...if you can afford the airline ticket to get there since fuel has increased the ticket price.

I could talk about the great training seminar that Alleigh and Nancy from Avalon Waterways provided on our Seminar at See sailing from Paris, and how they really care about helping Travel Advisors succeed.

I could write about my personal goal of getting up every day at 5am to have a time of personal development since I can't seem to carve time out for myself if I do it later in the day.

I could tell you all about my wonderful friends, my crazy pet, my beloved family or even share my personal sorrows...I just can't decide.

I could tell you about all of these things, or none of them at all...I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I want to go again!

Good morning!  It's not been a bad start for a Monday morning.

I was reflecting on my trip to France and thinking about how much I enjoyed it and what, if anything, I'd do differently the next time.

It was a wonderful trip, but just like everything in live, it didn't go just exactly as I had planned.

First of all, I had borrowed and new technology with me.  Hmmm  I like to imagine myself a bit of a "tech geek".  My kids would laugh at me for even thinking that, but hey, for my generation I am a bit cutting edge!  LOL 

The netbook I had was from my office and I really did enjoy the light weight convenience and it was really easy to use.  That would definitely get packed for my next trip.

The new "basic" international phone that I purchased for my international trips was adequate, but I did miss having all the bells and whistles of my Android phone. I have an UK phone number and a US phone number linked to the international phone, and my family and office can reach me in an emergency or just to chat.  Texting from the phone is hard because of not having a keypad, but hey...it makes the cut for the next trip.

The next item that I had was a digital camera.  You ask yourself, "What? She borrowed a digital camera? I thought she just said she was a tech geek!  She should have one of her own!"  Please allow me to defend my self with one word....KIDS!  I had one, but it was dropped by one of my offspring who I love dearly.  I haven't replaced it because I mostly use my phone to snap shots, but this time I felt a camera was in order to do France justice.

I borrowed one from the office at the last minute and had never used it before.  The pictures that it took were WONDERFUL!  It was like I couldn't hardly take a bad picture it I tried, but alas...I couldn't get the silly thing to charge and after the 2nd day it was dead.  Sad Day to again quote Becky!

I will surely take a digital camera on the next trip.  I'm thinking that I'll purchase my own and learn to work it before the trip so that I won't be disappointed and miss capturing a memory!

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you today!

~Trish