If you’re one of the 200 million Americans who lives where winters are dark and cold, you’re probably ready for some warmth.  But then you turn on the TV, and are bombarded with news about covid travel restrictions, and you wonder whether you should just ride it out, for yet another winter.

I feel your pain, and everyone must determine their own comfort level for dealing with the implications of travelling during a pandemic.  By definition, news is reported on exceptional (or “newsworthy”) circumstances, so we are always looking for feedback from our clients who have been travelling for a more accurate report. 

Here are two accounts of travel in the past few days.

The first story is a personal report from me and Bob.  We travelled to Southern California for an industry event and found the implications of domestic travel to be minor.  We had to wear masks in the airports and on the plane, as well as in hotels and restaurants.  Restaurants and other indoor spaces in California (and many other states) require proof of vaccination to go inside.  I’ve become used to this now, and it doesn’t really bother me. 

From California, we carried on to Mexico, which does not have a vaccine requirement for entry.  We were again subject to masks on the plane, and Mexican authorities were screening for people showing signs of fever upon entry.  Remarkably, this did not slow down the customs and immigration process.

Much like the US, pandemic restrictions vary from state to state in Mexico.  We are in Jalisco, and there is a mask mandate in place, and they check for proof of vaccination when entering restaurants and indoor entertainment venues. 

We have been very cautious throughout the pandemic, and I can say that I felt safe in both California and in Puerto Vallarta.  In both places, there were a reasonable number of tourists, although not as busy as sun destinations usually are at this time of year.

What about cruise ships?

The smaller cruise ships have fared better than the larger ones for cancellations and redeployments.  This, undoubtedly, is a “numbers game” as the law of averages kicks in – if you have several thousand people on board a ship, there WILL be covid.  Contrary to some media reports, the numbers found on even the big ships is statistically lower than in the general population – so apparently, the containment measures are working.

Here is our second story, some observations from Don and Catrina – clients of ours that just completed an Oceania cruise out of Florida:

“We arrived at the Miami port and passed our luggage to the porter and we were directed to a tent outside the terminal for Covid testing. We had to register on line prior to arriving and got a QR code which we had to present at the testing. From start to finish it took no more than about 25 minutes and after receiving a negative result we entered the terminal, checked in, got our key cards and embarked after 5 minutes. Our cabin was ready.
 
Only one port on our itinerary was changed. Martinique was dropped and St. Kitts was added.
 
Masks are required unless actively eating or at the pool with social distancing. The compliance has been 100% by everyone.
 
Our 1250 passenger ship has only 470 on board and it feels like a private yacht cruise!  We are able to go to the specialty restaurants as many times as we wish.
 
Service levels onboard have been exceptional by everyone.  The ship is spotless, clean and well maintained”

From those comfortable travelling now, we have heard similar stories of reduced capacities being an added bonus of travelling at this time – and it is nice to see the sun again.

Today’s Travel Opportunities

Viking Ocean Cruises Free Air Promotion – Panama Canal and Central American

• 2 weeks round trip Fort Lauderdale
• Visit Key West, Cozumel, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica.
• Departures October 2022 through March 2023 from $4499 per person for a veranda cabin
• Includes round-trip flights, airport transfers, all taxes and fees, a shore excursion in every port, beer/wine with meals, and wifi on the ship.

Galapagos Islands with Celebrity Cruises
You might not normally associate Celebrity (a big-ship cruise line) with expedition cruising, but they have 3 vessels dedicated to the Galapagos that are quite different from each other… and nothing at all like their big ships (in fact one of the Galapagos ships only carries 16 passengers!).  This is a great way to see this spectacular part of the world.  Here is one example from each Celebrity ship:

• Celebrity Flora – this all-suite ship is brand new and holds 100 guests.  7-night departure in July 2022 starting at $7039 per person.
• Celebrity Xpedition – this ship carries 48-passengers.  7-night departure in June 2022 from $5599 per person.
• Celebrity Xploration – this catamaran holds just 16-passengers.  7-night departure in July 2022 from $5838 per person.

Celebrity runs their Galapagos trips year-round and there are also 10- and 11-night itineraries as well. 

Peru, Amazon & Machu Picchu with Uniworld
Uniworld is offering $5000 off this trip for departures in October, November, and December 2022.  Here’s an example:

• 14-nights departing October 19, 2022 with sale prices starting at $12,499 per person.
• Visit Lima for 2 nights, then board the ship for 7-nights, then fly to Cusco for 4-nights for Machu Picchu, and fly back to Lima
• Includes internal flights, all meals, gratuities, and an open bar on the ship.

Uniworld is really good at fulfilling bucket list trips, and this is a great example of being able to knock both Machu Picchu and the Amazon off your bucket list. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3206370356312123

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Many of you probably know that our agency (SmartFlyer) is based in New York, but you may not know there are about 200 of us who work out of that office.  We’re scattered across just about every state, with a few people in Europe, Canada, and Australia as well.

The life of a travel advisor can be a bit isolating.  Bob and I are lucky to have each other to collaborate with, but industry conferences and events are critical for us to keep up product knowledge, as well as to form and maintain critical relationships.

The SmartFlyer crew gets together once per year in January, and this year we met at the beautiful Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort in Santa Barbara, California.  We’re always very impressed with the quality of our SmartFlyer peers.  Like Bob and I, many of these people gravitated to a career in travel as lifestyle choice, along with a passion for travel.  Amongst those at SmartFlyer that now call travel a career are former lawyers, corporate bankers, MBAs, and other professionals.

For the record, I am a former Laboratory Technologist specializing in Hematology, and Bob worked for many years as a Management Consultant.  We both say we’ve been training our whole lives for this job!

What brings all our SmartFlyer colleagues together is a passion for travel, and helping others make their travel plans.  It’s far different than the image of a strip mall travel agent – which was my impression of the average travel agent before we got into the business.

After a series of 10-minute vendor meetings (this is the industry equivalent of speed-dating), some professional development seminars, a few panel discussions (Bob hosted one about cruising), and some incredible meals, we leave Santa Barbara with pages of hand-written notes, and a deep gratitude for this business.  It’s been a rough couple of years for anyone in the tourism biz… but it’s still the Best Job Ever.

Here’s today’s travel opportunities

Save an Additional 10% with American Queen
American Queen Voyages is celebrating their 10th anniversary with 10% off select voyages in 2022 and 2023.  Yes, this is COMBINABLE with the Winter Sale that ends Feb. 28th!  Availability in 2022 is a bit tight, but 2023 looks reasonable at this point.  Here are a few examples for 2022:

Chattanooga to Nashville.  9-days departing May 28th

• Veranda: $3199 per person
• Inside: $2499 pp

Memphis to Louisville.  9-days departing June 20th

• Inside: $2399 per person
• Open Veranda:  $2599 pp
• Private Veranda:  $3199 pp

Portland, Oregon to Spokane, Washington.  9-days departing October 30th (Wine themed Cruise):

• Window:  $2799 per person
• Open Veranda:  $2899 pp
• Private Veranda:  $3199 p

American Queen Voyages includes one night pre-cruise hotel, unlimited shore excursions, open bar, and Wi-Fi on the ship.

Free Airfare on Viking River Cruises to France
If you’re ready to travel to Europe in the next few months, Viking is sweetening the pot by throwing in Free Flights, and for some cabins, the Silver Spirits Beverage Package.  This is only for selected itineraries and selected dates.  Here are some examples (BOOK BY FEB. 28th):

Lyon & Provence.  8-days.  Available departures April through July 2022:

• Veranda:  $4499
• French Balcony:  $4099
• Standard:  $2899

Paris to Normandy.  8-days.  Available departures April through July 2022:

• Veranda:  $5299
• French Balcony:  $4799
• Standard:  $3299

Cities of Light.  12-days between Paris and Prague.  Available departures June & July 2022:

• Veranda:  $5199
• French Balcony:  $4699
• Standard:  $3999

Paris to Swiss Alps.  12-days between Paris and Zurich.  Available departures April through July 2022:

• Veranda:  $6399
• French Balcony:  $5899
• Standard:  $4499

The pricing above is for JUNE departures… other months may be slightly more or less than indicated above.  Remember that your Viking fare includes all taxes and fees, round-trip air, transfers, a shore excursion in every port, wifi on the ship, and for FB and Balcony cabins, the Silver Spirit Beverage Package. 

Finally… Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee applies to all 2022 voyages as long as you book by Feb. 28th.  You can cancel for any reason as late as 2 weeks prior to departure and receive a future cruise credit for 100% of what you have paid. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3201398246809334

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

I’ve quipped before in the space that I own neither a crystal ball nor a time-machine, so I would hesitate to make any predictions about what is coming next for us.  However, in the process of putting away my Christmas decorations a few weeks ago, I found an old Ouija board, so Bob and I poured a glass of wine and demanded some answers.

Answers we were given, but Ouija has a poor bedside manner, and can be terse in delivery. 

Here are the answers provided by the Ouija board:

Will covid ever end?

Yes.  Nobody knows when – ignore those who claim to know.

I’m travelling to Europe in March; will my trip still happen?

Probably – In South Africa, Omicron went from detection to peak to receding in just 4 weeks – an astonishingly fast time line.  Israel was one of the first countries to shut down due to Omicron, and it’s now back open to fully vaccinated tourists. 

The TV news headlines are pretty grim.  Are they going to get worse?

Yes… but keep in mind that TV news is paid for by advertisers and designed to attract viewers to get ratings.  It’s been proven again and again that the best way to attract viewers is to stoke fear or anger.  So, you should expect the headlines to get worse before they get better.

So how do I eliminate this bias towards bad news?

You can’t… but you can be aware of it.  You can also look at the health agency websites of places you intend to visit to get an idea of what’s actually happening in those countries and make up your own mind. 

I saw one of the cruise ships in the news that had 50 cases of covid on board.

Yes – that represented .8 % (that is POINT EIGHT percent) of the population on board.  If you compare that to the percentage of people in any local community, Ouija says that means the covid containment protocols on board ships are working.  Reporting 50 cases of covid as an “outbreak” is without context, and not honest journalism.

I’m travelling in June; will my trip still happen?

Ask me in May.

Am I going to have to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask forever?

Probably not… but you won’t be travelling far in 2022 without those restrictions. 

I’m flying to Europe in June; will I be able to get an aisle seat?

If you’re flying on a US based carrier, you should feel lucky if you get there at all.  If you’re flying on a European based carrier and you pay the additional fee to be able to pick your seat ahead of time, and then yes – you’ll get an aisle seat.

I’m travelling in September; will my trip still happen?

Consider how long nine months is as it relates to the pandemic.  Actually, let me revise that answer:  Ask me in August.

My niece is unvaccinated but wants to go Europe.  When should she plan to go?

She should not make any plans for Europe (also Australia, New Zealand, Japan, most of South America, or Canada) – it will be years. 

X country is closed.

Look at it a month before you go.  Remember when Italy was the covid centre of universe?  To date their total case count per capita is a little more than half what it is in the United States, and their death rate is lower too.  Given their population is much older, and they live in closer proximity to each other, you would think their outcomes would be way worse than ours.  You have to look at the individual country, and then use your own critical thinking skills.

Will I get a refund?

Maybe.  It depends if you cancel, or the cruise line does.  It also depends on the conditions under which you booked, and/or if you used vouchers to pay for the trip.  This is the time you need to read the 80-page contract that nobody ever reads. 

Just give me the bottom line… tell me when life will return to normal.

NO.

Ouija has spoken… or it might have been the wine.

Here’s today’s travel opportunities

Viking Explorers’ Sale

Viking has revived its Explorers’ Sale on both River and Ocean Sailings.  This means you will pay a deposit of only $500 per stateroom, and those clients who are new to Viking will receive additional onboard credits.  The Explorers’ Sale applies to 2022, 2023 and 2024 departures.  Here are some examples of the most popular Viking itineraries:

1. Rhine River between Amsterdam and Basel Switzerland.  7-nights from $1999 per person.
2. Danube River between Passau (Germany) and Budapest.  7-nights from $1999 per person. 
3. British Isles Explorer between London and Bergen (Norway).  14-nights from $6499 per person
4. Iconic Western Mediterranean between Barcelona and Rome.  7-nights from $2599 per person

As an exclusive benefit of working with our agency, we can also add an additional $100 per person on board credit to any of the above itineraries.

Rocky Mountaineer Free Golf Leaf Upgrade

If you were thinking about this spectacular train trip through the Canadian Rockies, then this is a great opportunity – we haven’t seen them make this offer before.  You pay for Silver Leaf service and get a free upgrade to Gold Leaf.  We always recommend Gold Leaf service to you clients, and this way you don’t have to pay the (significant) extra cost.  Gold Leaf rail cars have a separate dining area (so you won’t eat at your seats like you do on an airplane) and your glass domed rail car means you’re fully immersed in the extraordinary scenery.  There is also an outdoor viewing platform, so your photos don’t have to been taken through a window.

This offer must be booked before the end of January and applies to 2022 departures. You’ll travel between Vancouver on the coast, and either Banff or Jasper on the other side of the Rocky Mountains.  The Rocky Mountaineer website can make it difficult to figure out which trip to take, so be sure to give us a call so we can help.  A couple of examples:

1. 3-nights:  Vancouver – Kamloops – Banff:  $1646 per person.
2. [MOST POPULAR] 6-night Circle route (round-trip Vancouver): Vancouver – Kamloops – Banff – Jasper, and then back to Vancouver:  $3798 per person.

All packages include all food and beverages while on the train, National Parks Passes, luggage handling, and hotel nights as indicated.

This luxury train journey is quickly becoming one of the world’s must-do rail experiences.  You are on the train in the daytime only, so you don’t miss any scenery or wildlife when it’s dark.  You also have the comfort of sleeping in a hotel room. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3192620137687145

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Many of you have been inquiring about Alaska recently, so I thought it was time to comment about this.  There is a lot of demand for Alaska in 2022, partly because it was mostly unavailable to us in 2020 and 2021, and partly because it is logistically easier than travelling overseas, which is especially appealing this year.

All the cruise lines operate in Alaska, and they broadly fall into three categories:

Mass-Market – these are the big-ship lines, and the cheapest way to visit Alaska.  These trips offer a more ‘standard’ experience – but the scenery and wildlife in Alaska are spectacular regardless of how you get there.

Just about all the mass market cruise itineraries visit Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan.

Several of the big-ship lines have excellent packages for Alaska. Princess is one of those lines, and for the next two weeks, they’re offering an extra incentive for those including Denali in their trip (more on that below).

Expedition – If you want to get off beaten path, and get out in zodiac boats, kayaks, or maybe just do some light hiking in Alaska, an expedition ship might be more appropriate.  These itineraries tend to go where the other ships in Alaska DON’T go, and the onboard experience is closer to the luxury offerings.

You can experience an expedition cruise on the Ocean Victory, American Queen Voyages’ new ship.  Other examples of expedition cruise lines in Alaska include UnCruise Adventures and Hurtigruten.

Luxury Small Ship – Many parts of Alaska can only be accessed by ship, and the small-ship luxury lines appeal to those who want to see this incredible part of the world, but don’t see themselves fitting into either of the two categories above and/or may not consider themselves to be ‘cruisers’.  These cruise lines are all-inclusive, and the quality of food, service and amenities exceeds those found at the world’s best hotels.  They are also remarkably casual (especially in Alaska).  It seems that those who are ready, willing, and able to pay for a higher quality product don’t like to play dress-up.

Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent Seven Seas are three examples of Luxury small ships that visit Alaska.

After you’ve chosen which one of those three cruise types is best for you, there are other decisions to made.  Choosing amongst all the options in Alaska is a bit like Lithuanian language lessons, so here’s a Cheat Sheet:

WHEN?   The tourist season runs from late April through to early October, and there is no “best” time to visit, just a series of trade-offs:

• April, May and early June have lots of daylight hours, are usually light on rain, and fewer crowds.  If you are going to Denali, it is also possible you won’t be able to get all the way into the depths of the park until the beginning of June.
• June, July, and August have reliable weather (although the further north you go, the more subject to rain you are starting in July).  There are also more crowds, and you’ll find it to be a bit more expensive in these months.
• September and October things get a bit quieter again, but the later in the season you go, the fewer daylight hours you get, and you are more subject to rain and colder weather.

CRUISE, LAND, or BOTH?  You can do round-trip cruises out of Seattle or Vancouver, but those trips only go halfway up the coast.  This might be fine if you’re just looking for a taste of Alaska, but many people who do these cruises vow to return to see the rest of the state, especially Denali National Park.  If you’re going to go to the time and expense of visiting Alaska, I recommend doing a cruise with a land extension to Denali National Park (and including other points if you have time).

NORTHBOUND or SOUTHBOUND?  If you’re not doing one of the round-trip cruises, the endpoints of your trip will be in Anchorage or Fairbanks in the north, and Seattle or Vancouver in the south.  It’s a matter of personal opinion as to which is preferable but remember that the northern end of the trip involves a much longer flight.  Vancouver is closer to Mexico than it is to Anchorage and flying from Seattle to Fairbanks or Anchorage takes about 4 hours.  You’ll want to consider whether that longer day of air travel should be pre-vacation or on your way home.

LENGTH OF TRIP?  There really aren’t any Alaskan cruises shorter than 7 nights because of the huge distance you are covering.  The land extensions are an additional 3 days to 8 days.  If you’re going to Denali, keep in mind it is about an 8 hours trip by train or motor coach from the port, and the park itself is larger than Massachusetts.  If you choose a 3-day land extension, plan on spending most of that time on a bus just getting to and from the park.  The most common land extension is 5 nights, which makes for a more comfortable pace.

SEATTLE or VANCOUVER?  Both these cities are spectacular in their own way, but logistically, they are very similar.  Vancouver has a larger cruise ship port and airport, but Seattle is better served for domestic flights.  In both cases you will need a passport.  These two cities are only about 100 miles apart, so this should be your last criteria, after you’ve decided on all the ones above.

Here are today’s travel opportunities with an example of each of the three modes of cruise ship travel mentioned above.

Princess Cruises – with Denali Extension
Princess is the largest operator in Alaska, and they own and operate 5 lodges on land in Alaska.  We visited all the Princess and Holland America Alaska Lodges in 2018.  Here’s a link to our YouTube Playlist on those lodges:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA1r3eOMaDVEZh4TwDNnSFedD8FOItXHe
There are about 2 dozen different land-sea combinations on Princess, so here is ONE example that I’ve selected to highlight because I believe it allows you to see the 49th State very well.

12-day Denali Explorer

• Departing Vancouver on May 11th, 2022 with 7-nights aboard the ship, followed by 5-nights at Princess Alaska Lodges.
• Visits Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, Whitter, train to McKinley for 2-nights, Denali for 2-nights, Fairbanks for 1-night.
• Inside cabins from $1809 per person.  Balcony cabins from $2609 per person.

The current Princess promotion makes this even more compelling:

• Inclusions: Open bar on the ship, gratuities, Wi-Fi, stateroom upgrade, and one night of speciality dining.
• Book by Jan. 27th and you also get meals in the lodges during your 5-nights land extension!  Normally, you are on your own for your meals at the Alaska lodges.  This perk is worth several hundred dollars in additional value, and we don’t often see Princess include this in their offer.

This is an extremely cost-effective way to see Alaska, but remember, you must book by January 27th.
 
Ocean Victory
If an expedition cruise to Alaska is more your speed, there’s a new player in Alaska this season: the brand-new Ocean Victory, a ship making its inaugural voyage in May 2022.  This ship is state of art, and holds only 186 guests, so it is more like a river boat that’s designed to operate on the ocean.  The beauty of travelling on such a small ship means you’ll visit smaller, out-of-the-way places the larger ships can’t reach… meaning you’ll get to experience the beauty of Alaska without the crowds.

Don’t let the word ‘expedition’ intimidate you.  You can choose your own adventures – guided walking tours, whale watching, zodiac trips… or simply sightseeing if that’s what you happen to feel like.

All Ocean Victory sailings include one night pre-cruise hotel, unlimited guided tours and expeditions, open bar, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi on the ship.  Here’s an example:

Vancouver to Sitka (or reverse) over 12 or 13 days starting at $4699 per person

• Sail the Inside Passage, visit Kynoch Inlet, Ketchikan, Metlakatla, Misty Fjords National Monument, Wrangell, Waterfall Coast (Gut Bay), Petersburg, Tracy Arm (for tidewater Glacier viewing), Kake and Frederick.  The fact you may not have heard of many of these places is a testament to the uniqueness of this Alaska itinerary.
• 2022 Departures at this price on May 6, May 27, June 17, Sep 9.  Similar pricing in July and August.

SilverSea
If you want to try small-ship luxury in Alaska, then the 388 guest Silver Shadow is great choice.  Here’s an example:

• Depart Anchorage on August 18th, 2022 for 7-nights bound for Vancouver.
• Visit Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan
• All staterooms on the Silver Shadow are suites
• Price includes shore excursions, open bar, gratuities, and Wi-Fi on the ship.

SilverSea has two pricing structures:

• Port to Port fares for this cruise start at $3350 per person
• Door to Door fares (from $5200 per person) also include the ride from your house to your departure airport, your round-trip flights, and your transfer to the ship for $5200 per person.

Regardless of which price you choose, you’ll get an additional $300 per person on board credit by booking through me. 

One final note:  If Alaska is on your list for 2022, it is much more sold out than it normally would be at this point.  There is still reasonable availability, but we’re seeing it get more filled up weekly. 

Have something to say about this?

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3185255838423575

If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley

Do you remember Karl Malden advising us all about American Express Traveller’s Checks? “Don’t leave home without them!!”

We were asked recently what type of travellers’ cheques (that’s how it’s actually spelled!) are best for use in Europe.  I can only assume that this person hadn’t done much international travel in the past couple of decades.  Yes… travellers’ checks do still exist, but there are much more convenient ways to take money abroad. 

Here are a few ideas if you see yourself travelling overseas in the next year or two:

• Internationally, Euros and US Dollars (and to a lesser degree British Pound Sterling) are well recognized.  You should check where you’re going as to which of these currencies is going to serve you the best.  For the purposes of this conversation, we’ll talk about Europe (but most of these suggestions largely apply to Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and most of the Caribbean Islands).
• In Europe, quite obviously, the Euro is preferred over the US dollar.
• You have two choices for paying for things in Europe (travellers’ checks notwithstanding):  credit cards, or cash.

Cash

• Cash is not all that necessary – Credit cards are widely accepted in Europe, and you can use them just about anywhere.  More on that below.
• Too much cash – The biggest mistake most people make is taking too much currency.  I normally buy about 100 Euros of currency before I leave home, and then top up at ATMs if needed when I’m abroad.  Even though public safety in Europe is excellent, it not a good idea to be carrying huge wads of cash anywhere – and it’s not necessary.
• Plan ahead – Here at home, at some smaller banks, you may need to call ahead to get Euros, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
• Get small bills – Most often, I find I use cash for tips, so small bills are preferable.  I use my credit card for everything else.
• Get used to coins – the smallest printed currency note in Europe is 5 Euros (worth about $6 US) so you need to get used to carrying more change.  I take a small zippered coin purse so I don’t lose coins (Bob takes a small plastic container – remember the ones we used to use for camera film)?.  And yes… it feels strange at first to tip a tour guide 3 Euros using coins but remember that is our bias – they don’t care.
• Multiple currencies? — The Euro is in use in 19 countries in Europe, but if you find yourself in Switzerland, Hungary, or the Czech Republic (for example), these countries have their own currencies.  Do you need cash for each of them?  It really depends how long you’re staying.  If you’re just there for a day or two, you can get away without it – they will take Euros, you just won’t get the best exchange rate, and they’ll make change in the local currency.  You can use your credit card quite easily in any of the three countries I mention above.  If I’m finishing a cruise in Switzerland, for example, and am staying on for a couple of days, I don’t usually bother buying Swiss Francs. 
• Excess foreign currency – If you’re flying home tomorrow, and you look in your wallet and find way too much currency, there’s a few things you can do:
  • Pay part of your hotel bill with local cash, and the balance on your credit card.
  • Buy something at the airport (although that can sometimes be a gouge)
  • Sell local currency for US dollars to a local exchange bureau (maybe at the airport).  You won’t get a great rate, but it will still be far better than what you’ll get if you sell Euros back to the bank at home in the US.
  • Save it for your next trip
  • If you just have a handful of lower value coins left, most international airlines will take them from you, and donate to a charity.
• ATMs – Cash machines are everywhere in Europe.  I look for the ones that are affiliated with my bank at home in the hope that it will minimize the fees.  This is example of why you’ll want to talk to your bank before you leave.  I also prefer use an ATM that is in-branch at the larger European banks, and avoid those private kiosk machines that you find at convenience stores.

Credit Cards

• ForEx Fees – Different credit cards have different fees for foreign transactions, so make sure you understand that prior to departure.  You’ll want to skim the 80-page document that accompanied your new credit card.  Or maybe you’ll just want to call them and ask.
• Notify Your Credit Card Provider – Make sure you inform your credit card company in advance of your trip that you’re going to be overseas.  There is nothing worse than getting to a foreign country and having your only credit card declined.
• Leave your Diner’s Club card at home:  In Europe the two most commonly accepted credit cards are Visa and Mastercard.  I take one of each (in case I have trouble with one).  Amex is accepted in many places, but not as many as the other two.
• Know your credit card PIN – In the US, we lag other advanced economies in the adoption of chip card readers with PIN (personal identification number).  Make sure you know your PIN – many vendors overseas no longer have outdated swiping technology at their point of sale.
• Pay in Local Currency — In Europe, you sometimes have a choice when paying by credit card to pay in US dollars or the local currency.  ALWAYS pick the local currency.  If you choose US dollars, you end up paying the exchange differential twice.

Here’s today’s travel opportunities

Hurtigruten Central America

Ever wonder what happens to expedition ships between the Arctic and Antarctic seasons?  In the case of Hurtigruten, they do some interesting itineraries at the lower latitudes. 

Here’s the details:

• SHIP:  Roald Amundsen – This is the world’s first hybrid electric cruise ship.  She holds 525 people when fully loaded.  Here’s a link to our YouTube ship tour video, if you want more details: https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0
• Board in Punta Arenas, Costa Rica, on April 20, 2022
• Visit 2 ports in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and finish in San Diego.
• 13-days with fares from $4006 per person.
• If you want to get out after 9 days in Puerto Vallarta, fares start at $2869 per person.
• There is an expedition team on board, if you want to go out in the zodiac boats, dabble in the science lab, or go sea kayaking.  You could also just sit by the pool.

Who this will Appeal to:

• Those who are unsure about expedition cruising and would like to give it a try without the commitment of going to the polar regions.
• Those looking for a small ship getaway at a great price
• Those wanting to see some smaller, more out-of-the-way places in Pacific Central America

Azamara Caribbean

Azamara is a small-ship cruise line, with a focus on their itineraries.  They tend to go to places not often frequented by cruise ships, and the fare includes all drinks, as well as gratuities.  For example:

• Round-trip Miami for 12-nights
• Visit St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Barbados, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, and British Virgin Islands
• Depart February 2 OR 22
• Verandas from $2699 per person.  Suites from $3899 pp.

Who this will appeal to:

• People who want to try a small ship line (Azamara ships hold 680 guests when fully loaded).
• People who need some sun

Have something to say about this?

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley