, how are you? Can you believe it's the first week of December already? Hope you are doing well.
This week's newsletter will focus on:
1. Give the Gift of Travel
2. Travel Trends 2022 - Vision/ Direct Travel Offers
3. Canadian Government Announcements
4. American Government Announcements
5. Hotel of Week- Rosewood Hotel Georgia
6. Travel with Sheila to Newfoundland
7. Work with me at Lush Life & Schedule a Consultation
Enjoy! And let me know if I can help you plan a getaway!
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Can you believe we're in the first week of December already?
We've survived the November doldrums (with some floods and catastrophic weather thrown in for my BC and Newfoundland friends). My American friends celebrated their Thanksgiving. We've all gone through the Black Friday crush of sales that both American and Canadian retailers embrace, as well as the cyber sales, and now - the reality of the celebrations of Hannukah and the Christmas season is upon us.
It's going to be our 2nd CoVid Christmas. And, of course, a new CoVid variant is rearing its head just in time - Omicron, the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet, and the 13th variant of CoVid to be formally identified (we skipped the Greek alphabet letters of Nu and Xi). Travel bans and restraints quickly kicked in by governments around the world, even as The WHO has criticized blanket travel bans, saying that
they don't work - https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/global-health-authorities-warn-blanket-travel-bans .
Scientists around the world are trying to get a handle on Omicron and what it means - we still don't know very much about it. And, obviously, we'll await the data.
But while we wait, this 2nd CoVid Christmas means that family gatherings will be even more precious. Mask up. Get vaccinated. Follow health protocols. Get together with family. And live your lives to the fullest.
Being able to travel to see family. or to travel with family is the greatest gift you can give yourself or to them.
We've heard it said before, and it's true - Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.
So - where would you like to go? What can I do to help you turn your bucket list from "TO DO" to "TA DA" in 2022?
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Here are some offers from my partners at Vision/ Direct travel with some of our favourite travel supplier partners.
Let me know if you are interested in taking advantage of any of these special offers.
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Canadian Government Announcements
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The Canadian government rushed in with some guidance about Omicron. Took several days to get some details about it put in place, but now the details and protocols are emerging.
Additional changes to entry, testing and quarantine requirements in response to the Omicron variant
There are temporary changes for all travellers, including Canadian citizens, regardless of their vaccination status.
Additional restrictions and requirements now apply to these countries:
- Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe
There were also announcements that would affect all passengers coming to Canada by air (not just the effected countries) that are coming from non-US locations (which is bizarre to exclude US, but, ok...) . All passengers would be subject to arrival testing, and quarantine while they await results. (The US locations are exempt for now.) As you can imagine, neither Canadian travelers, advisors, or
airports were happy with resources, guidance, or support initially given with this announcement.
Fortunately, more clarity has now emerged about what and how that means.
Travellers coming from non-U.S. foreign destinations need an arrival test
Once a fully vaccinated passenger arrives at a Canadian airport from a non-U.S. foreign destination, they will either be swabbed by a public health nurse or get a take-home test.
That traveller must then self-isolate at home or at their designated quarantine destination (such as a hotel) while they await the results of the test. It may take up to three days to get a result.
If that traveller gets a negative result, they're free to leave self-isolation and move about as they normally would. If the test is positive, they must stay in quarantine for 14 days.
If a passenger has a connecting flight, they get swabbed or collect a take-home test and then continue on to their final destination.
If, for example, an inbound passenger from Hong Kong arrives in Vancouver to catch a connecting flight to Kelowna, B.C., that traveller would get tested or pick up their at-home test in Vancouver before proceeding to the connecting flight. That passenger would then have to self-isolate in Kelowna while they await the results of the test.
The main thing, though, is to keep travelling, and keep planning travel.
Work with me to understand how this may impact any travel you have on the books. (And if you're not travelling in the first two weeks of December, don't worry - everything changes every 5 minutes, as it has for the last 20 months, so let's wait until things unfurl a little more.) Essentially, right now we're in a situation similar to when Delta reared its head. We'll get through again.
More info and implementation details will emerge on this over the next few days. Stay safe. And together, we'll get you through the latest rules and regulations. :-)
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American Government Announcements
The US government has also made some pronouncements about travel.
New COVID testing rules for international air travel start Monday:
Planning to fly into the U.S. soon? Be prepared for more stringent testing requirements.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shortening the testing window all international air travelers have to take a pre-departure coronavirus test from three days to
one. Previously, only unvaccinated travelers had to take a test no more than one day before travel.
Make sure you mark your calendars (and you can even sign up here) for my Lush Life Travel Tuesdays. These are special client presentations I host on zoom on Tuesdays, and regularly invite travel supplier partners to join me to help give you travel inspiration, and even start planning some travel. My Travel Tuesdays take place almost every Tuesday at 5pm .
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Upcoming - mark your calendars:
I'm rejigging a couple of dates. More later, but to know that what's ahead is:
Travel Trivia tbc
Travel Solo, Not Alone tbc
Hotel of the Week - Rosewood Hotel Georgia -and - Virtuoso "Best of the Best" Hotel Catalog
First opened in 1927 in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Hotel Georgia came to be known as the city's most elegant retreat. The legendary boutique hotel, unveiled in July 2011 as Rosewood Hotel Georgia, now features 156 guest accommodations, Sense, A Rosewood Spa® and signature fine dining restaurant by renowned Chef David Hawksworth. Rosewood Hotel Georgia is ideally situated at the heart of one of the world's great cities. Business
travelers appreciate the convenience of the downtown location while leisure guests of the luxury boutique hotel enjoy the proximity to Stanley Park, the seawall and Vancouver's finest restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, museums and theaters—all just moments away.
https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/hotels/9890000/rosewood-hotel-georgia
Virtuoso Amenities
For 2021:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast credit of $30 USD per person, per day for two guests per bedroom (breakfast available via in-room dining)
- $100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
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Do you know about the Virtuoso hotel catalog? Virtuoso hotels are the world’s best places to stay. Intimate retreats, sustainable safari camps, gorgeous beach resorts … and so much more. There’s a world of dream stays to discover within Virtuoso’s curated collection of more than 1,400 hotels, resorts, lodges, villas, camps, and private islands. Ready to go? Your next getaway starts here. And remember
- if you book through me, as your Virtuoso travel advisor, I can negotiate special perks on your behalf!
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Travel with Sheila to Newfoundland
Newfoundland - Two Group Trips
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If you’re looking to travel to Newfoundland, and visit my home province with me, come “Travel with Sheila” from Corner Brook to St. John’s, Newfoundland. I will be escorting two tours to my home province on:
* Sept.7-18, 2022 Newfoundland & Labrador, and
* May29-Jun.10, 2023 NL with Iceberg Festival.
Here are the full details details and flyers . And watch the video of my client presentation - and - let me know if you'd like a remaining spot!
By the way - I have a solo lady looking for a roommate for September 2022 trip. Let me know if you'd like me to email introduce you both.
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When You Work with Lush Life
When you work with Sheila at Lush Life Travel, you get access to our in-depth knowledge, honed over 16 years experience in travel (with another 20 years in financial services). Atop our foundation of financial risk management skills; we have layered the bricks to build a wall of travel knowledge and relationships. We leverage all of our expertise to help you live your lush life through travel.
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Live a Lush Life - Travel!
Lush regards,
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