It's Time to Plan for Vacation!

Did you know that the US Travel Association has designated January 28th as National Plan for Vacation Day? Here's why this is important:

• Americans get less vacation time than any industrialized nation
• Despite getting the least amount of paid time off, in 2018 we let 768 million vacation days go unused!
• Planning for vacation increases the likelihood that it will happen - but only 54% of American households actually plan an annual vacation
• Vacation improves every aspect of an individual's life - including their productivity at work!

So, what are you waiting for? And why plan with me? Let me tell you...

Last year my company partnered with Virtuoso - to quote them:

"Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, with more than 20,000 advisors. We partner with over 1,800 of the world’s best companies such as hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and more. Our advisors use their personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke trips for clients, including unique experiences, special values, complimentary perks, VIP treatment and rare access."

And how does this benefit you? Here are five ways:

First, A great travel advisor...takes it from ordinary to extraordinary. A Virtuoso travel advisor can secure special benefits that you can’t get on your own, such as complimentary breakfast, spa credits, and upgrades at hotels. But they also see the nuances in every trip. From big-picture aspects (where to go – and when) to the details that matter (booking the hotel rooms with the best views, where to get the most authentic pizza on the Amalfi Coast), your travel advisor knows how to plan a memorable trip.

Second, a great travel advisor knows the world. Just as you might use a financial planner, an interior designer, or personal shopper, it makes sense to entrust your most valuable asset – your time – to an experienced travel advisor. The best advisors spend a lot of time on the road themselves – scouting out hotels, deepening relationships with tour guides, and finding the best restaurants and things to do. 

Third, a great travel advisor knows your travel style. A Virtuoso travel advisor understands what’s most important to you and your traveling companions. You may want to take a cooking class or a private tour, or you may not want to leave the resort pool! Perhaps you want to use travel to educate your kids, plan an unforgettable anniversary trip, or celebrate a milestone birthday with friends and family. Your Virtuoso travel advisor will have plenty of suggestions on what might work best for you.

Fourth, a great travel advisor expands your horizons. A great travel advisor will help you think creatively about where to go and what to do. Italy, France, and Hawaii will always be popular. But your advisor also knows the best ways, say, to see Chile, Portugal, New Zealand, and many other hot destinations – plus new ways to experience the places you’ve already visited. Together, you can plan your next dream trip or weekend getaway. 

And Finally, a great travel advisor can handle anything. Have you ever been on a trip where everything went exactly as planned? Right – this almost never happens. Issues are bound to pop up, and your Virtuoso travel advisor is your personal help line and “fixer” who knows how to quickly turn things around for the better. When they follow up after your trip, you’ll surely have an answer to this question: “Where do you want to go next?”

Cheers,

Joan

Dreaming of Alaska

What's it Like to Cruise Alaska?

Many Alaska cruises start in Vancouver, BC, Canada. We arrived a few days before boarding and explored Vancouver, including a day trip to Butchart Gardens in Victoria.

Vancouver has a beautiful and efficient cruise terminal. This was our first glimpse of our ship as we prepared to board.

Once onboard, I always like to explore the ship. This is the Sea View Pool at the stern (rear) of the ship.

Soon after boarding, all passengers are required to report to muster stations for a mandatory safety drill.

Sail Away! I like to find a cozy spot to watch while the ship leaves port - the outer decks were crowded but the Crow's Nest Observation Lounge was wide open!

Next up - we headed to the Main Stage where Cruise Director Stephanie provided an overview of our itinerary.

We chose to have our first dinner in one of the specialty dining venues - The Pinnacle Grill - featuring recipes by Chef David Burke. On the right is his Candied Bacon - amazing!

Alaska cruise itineraries typically include a couple of sea days - cruising the scenic Inside Passage and sailing among glaciers. There are plenty of things to do on board - we took a tour of the kitchen!

Ketchikan was our first port of call - it's a beautifully scenic spot.

Alaska offers many unique onshore experiences; in Ketchikan we went out on one of the Crab Fishing Boats featured on The Deadliest Catch.

Our captain stopped for a bit and our boat was surrounded by eagles. Wow!

Alaska is a very popular destination with lots of cruise ships. We were tag-teaming these Princess ships during our week on the water.

Next port of call was Juneau. We headed for a whale watching cruise followed by a visit to the Alaskan Brewing Company...

Here's a quick video of our Whale Adventure!

That same day our daughter and her husband visited with sled dogs!

Next day we docked in Skagway. We took a beautiful drive into the Yukon Territory, then boarded the White Pass Railway back to Skagway - deemed one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world.

We went a bit farther than required - our driver wanted us to see this gorgeous spot! Photos or it didn't happen, Right? On board the White Pass Railway - tracing the route of prospectors during the gold rush

Our next "stop" was actually a spectacular day at sea, cruising Glacier Bay National Park. A couple of honest to goodness Park Rangers boarded the ship early in the morning and were on hand all day for lectures and narration of this magnificent spot.

My favorite photo of the trip, of Margerie Glacier. This view was from our Verandah!

We sailed out of Skagway during the Violet Hour - this was our final port of call. Last day on board was a sea day, headed for Seward and disembarkation.

Holland America is known for its food. We really enjoyed our onboard dining - which featured Alaskan fare nightly. Here is our party of 6, captured by one of the professional photographers onboard.

That last day on the Westerdam, we spent a lot of time on the observation deck - our favorite spot on board.

Many northbound cruises end either at Whittier or Seward, Alaska, and passengers are transported either by coach or rail back to Anchorage. It's a 3-hour drive filled with scenery.

We extended our Alaska stay with a visit to Kodiak Island, where the daughter of our travel companions lives. We stayed at a lovely B&B; this was the sunrise view from our room.

We really enjoyed our time in Kodiak; it was beautiful and restful and fascinating. and we saw lots of wildlife, including the pink salmon running and the beginning of the silver salmon run.

Sea Lions! Puffins!

Eagles! Sea Otters!

Many flights leave Anchorage fairly late in the evening; that left time for one last adventure before heading home - flightseeing to Denali National Park. There's a flight service which will transfer passengers between Anchorage's airport and their float plane docks - and they will store luggage if necessary. Highly recommended!

Our pilot landed our 10-seater on a glacial lake... We were fortunate to glimpse Mt. Denali in the distance - it's frequently shrouded in clouds.

I hope you've enjoyed this photo-journal and I welcome your feedback. Just comment on this blog - I look forward to hearing from you!