October 2024 Newsletter
I'm currently sitting in Nice, France writing this newsletter. My Travel with Anne group cruise to the Mediterranean sailed these last two weeks and is now coming to an end. We sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line's newest and most innovative ship, the Norwegian Viva. It was a beautiful ship with lots to do. Our group spent most of the trip off the ship exploring Europe.
The jam packed itinerary had stops in Greece, Turkey, France, and Italy. I have done a few of these port stops over the years, but for many in the group this was their first time to this area of the world.
The group did some excursions together, but most of the trip was Choose Your Own Adventure style to allow for everyone to get the trip they wanted. This meant that some of us hiked a volcano while others drank wine in Santorini or some of us went to see the David statute in Florence while others visited the medieval village of San Gimignano. It was so much fun meeting up at the end of the day to hear about everyone's different adventures.
My favorite port stops were Athens, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; and Florence, Italy. In Athens I did a walking food tour where we tried meats and cheese, calamari, moussaka, and lukumades. I also make the trek to the top of the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. I did this trek on my last trip here, but still learned a few new facts about the area.
In Kusadasi, I hired a private driver to the ancient Greek city of Ephesus. It was amazing to see how much of the ruins is put together. The Library of Celsus stands so tall and a theatre capable of holding 24,000 spectators is used today for special concerts.
I have been Italy a few times but this was my first visit to San Gimignano. It is my favorite Italian village. I had such a great day walking the old city, buying goods to bring home, eating gelato, drinking Chianti, and eating grandma's lasagna.
Cruising the Mediterranean is a great way to get a taste of the area. I know I want to come back and spend more time on land in Santorini and Tuscany. I am always thinking about the next trip.
The countdown to Universal's Epic Universe has officially begun!
Universal Orlando Resort’s highly anticipated fourth theme park – Universal Epic Universe – will officially open on May 22nd, 2025, unlocking the portals to five astounding worlds that will bring to life extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations.
I am now taking requests for Epic Universe. If you plan to visit this park next year, you will want to make your reservations soon. The demand for this new park is high and resorts will sell out for Summer 2025. Submit your request here and I can start putting together options that will work best for your family's needs.
Here are some of the trip requests I worked on this past month:
South African 40th Birthday Celebration - This client loves to travel and she wanted to do something big for her milestone birthday. She knew she wanted to do Africa and had a list of must sees. We took her list and narrowed it down to a few itineraries that would work the best. She decided on South Africa and Victoria Falls. She will get the city life, penguins, waterfalls, and safaris. This tour is a great taste of what Africa can offer visitors. She is sure to have a great time celebrating her milestone birthday.
Ireland and Scotland - I love when clients are ready to plan their next adventure. My past honeymoon clients contacted me about planning their 2025 trip. They wanted to go back to Ireland but this time spend a bit more time and add on days in Scotland. This one was fun to plan as I was able to make an itinerary that visited some new sites from than their honeymoon plus add on Isle of Man (new to me) and Scotland. We worked together to come up with the prefect itinerary. They are going to love visiting some familiar sites plus lots of new ones.
Rhine River Cruise With Swiss Alps, Lake Como & Lucerne - A new client was referred to me to help plan their first European river cruise. We scheduled a call to discuss some of the things they wanted to see and do to help narrow down the perfect river cruise itinerary. They quickly settled on a Rhine river cruise with some pre cruise days in Lake Como and Lucerne. This is a great way to make the most of your time in Europe. They will cruise through France, Germany, and Holland. They will sail through cities full off Gothic cathedrals, castles, ruins, Germany’s Black Forest, quaint shops, delightful bistros, and peaceful waterfront promenades. This itinerary has it all. I hope they love the relaxed adventure of river cruising.
June/July 2025 - Scotland - Only 3 spots remain. Join me on an adventure to Scotland and learn about the classic folklore and see the stunning landscapes that makes this country unforgettable. Reserve your spot here.
December 2025- Europe Christmas Markets- I have one extra 5% off coupon to share with a couple. 7-night European Christmas Markets River Cruise on the AmaMagna December 14-21, 2025. Reserve your spot on this cruise here.
Potential Trips TBD:
Costa Rica - Winter/Spring 2026
African Safari - Spring/Summer 2026
Alaska - Summer 2026
Egypt and Jordan - Rescheduling
If you are interested in joining me on one or all of these trips, please reply to this email.
