As we are all aware 2020 was not the best year if you love to travel. For several months, we were in various stages of quaranting at home and cancelling our upcoming vacations. Life as we knew it, changed. We are now in the ‘new normal’. What is travel going to look like moving forward? Will we be able to move about as freely as before? When can we start traveling again? Where will we be able to travel to? How will we be most comfortable traveling?
All great questions. I wish I had the magic answers. As the world changes with the introduction of the covid vaccine, are we maybe seeing light at the end of the tunnel? Even a glimpse of light? We must have hope that our travel dreams will once again become reality. With the help of your Travel Advisor I believe they will. Things will be different for a while. We must be flexible and patient. Good things come to those that wait.
I love Virtuoso and am so thrilled to be a part of this amazing network of Travel Advisors and Supplier Partners. I am proud to wear the badge of Virtuoso Travel Advisor. It means the world to me. One of the biggest reasons is that we share ideas, recommendations and experiences. We help each other with support and sharing. We inspire our fellow travel peeps.
Recently, I found an article on LinkedIn that Virtuoso Travel posted telling the tales about 10 of our Travel Advisor’s personal trips they were fortunate enough to take in 2020. I want to share it with you, and hope you share it with your friends and family. Those of us that choose to take the travel steps in 2021 will experience similar situations as these travelers did. And that is great! Why? Because we will get to travel!
Lankanfushi Gili, Maldives
A Few Of Their Trip Styles
Discovery Journeys are the ideal style for first-time travelers, showing you the very best your destination has to offer. Each trip will introduce you to multiple countries in one journey.
Step off the beaten track and discover a different side of your destination. Steering clear of the well-trodden tourist trail, their Country Roads program sends you off to hidden retreats and unexpected adventures with lots of local flavor.
Love full days at leisure while on holiday? Their Easy Pace option allows more time to explore on your own, with a minimum of three nights in each destination and plenty of free time – including more Relaxed Starts – built into the itinerary.
What will be an amazing way to travel with friends and family in 2021 – 2022 will be Personal Travel Bubbles. 10 – 20 of the closest people to you (or more…) that want to travel together without other guests. Perfect for the family reunion that didn’t happen in 2020. Outstanding for the couples only vacation you missed. How fun would this be for the girls only or guys only trip you can’t wait to take?
Personal Travel Bubbles are becoming quite popular. Just you and your most trusted loved ones. Our supplier partners are hearing you loud and clear. For example, I have 2 onsite trip designers in Ireland that can arrange a manor, castle or big house rental for small groups and then add in all the other fun things like, golfing, whisky tasting and historical touring. Or escorted tour companies that realize people want their own space and they have expanded on their Small Group tours and Private Custom tours. Insight Vacations has this option available on all of the North America and Europe tour options through 2021. They have a luxury division – Luxury Gold – that takes it up a notch and gives you First Class all the way. Just for you and your travel pod.
Let’s not forget about Solo Travelers. Insight Vacations in particular has lowered the single supplement to entice single guests to join their small group tours, which max out at 24. Some guests will want to strike out on their own, and we can accommodate you easily. It is all about keeping everyone safe, happy and most of all, healthy. You always have a driver and guide, but new for 2021, there will also be a Well-Being Director onboard to ensure all safety measures and healthy protocols are met. Every day. Everywhere.
Another way to travel with limited amounts of people, is taking a river cruise. River Cruises were almost designed with physically distancing in mind. Less than 200 guests accompany you onboard AmaWaterways ships, for example. Public areas like the Panoramic Lounge and Bar are spacious with ample seating in arranged clusters for an intimate guest experience. A guest lounge and sun deck are featured a top the ship for more space and fresh air. Well appointed and spacious guest suites are quite comfortable for 2 passengers. AmaWaterways also has many cruises with Solo Travelers reduced single supplements available.
We are featuring AmaWaterways because we hope to have a GREAT announcement after the beginning of the year regarding their Wine Celebration Cruises. I know many of you enjoy wine and have told me you would like to tour in a World Class Wine Region. Please check back with us in early 2021. We will break the news as soon as we can!
Please visit our YouTube Channel for 2 great fireside chats we held with Richard, our BDM with AmaWaterways. We have 2 more scheduled in January and February so we can learn more about this amazing supplier partner. Infinity Travelaz YouTube