Sunday, February 13, 2022
Hiya, ! This week's newsletter will focus on:
1. Fear of the Quarantine
2. Last One Laughing - Canada
3. Travel During CoVid
4. Travel Tuesdays - Seabourn Cruises - Feb.22nd
5. Some Special Offers from Lush/ Vision/ Direct & Virtuoso
6. Travel Alone, Together
7. Travel with Sheila to Newfoundland
8. Work with me at Lush Life & Schedule a Consultation
Let me know if I can help you plan a getaway!
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Many of my clients are booking holidays. Most are a little nervous to travel now.
Often, the possibility of testing positive for CoVid at destination causes hesitation, and the worry about being quarantined before they can return home.
One of the things I do for my clients is to advise them about insurance, and the possible coverages that would protect them in that eventuality.
So - does the possibility of being quarantined on vacation impact your decision to travel now?
I put a poll up on linked in - Does the possibility of being quarantined on vacation impact your decision to travel now? You can see the it here poll - are you worried about quarantine if you'd like to vote.
Or - you can let me know how you feel about it.
Are you worried and stalled, worried but still go with insurance, not worried as you weigh the risk, or not worried at all?
Regardless of where you fall in the concern area, did you know that there are insurance policies that can cover you getting CoVid while you're travelling?
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Last One Laughing - Canada
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If you want to take a break from the news this Sunday, I recommend you find "Last One Laughing - Canada".
Jay Baruchel hosts the Canadian version of the international hit comedy series LOL: Last One Laughing. The six-part competition series pits 10 of the best comedic talents against each other in a showdown, where anything can happen. Starring Caroline Rhea (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Debra DiGiovanni (Humour Resources), Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall), Jon Lajoie (The League), Tom Green (Road Trip, The Tom Green Show), Mae Martin (Feel Good), Colin Mochrie
(Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Brandon Ash- Mohammed (TallBoyz), Andrew Phung (Kim's Convenience), and K. Trevor Wilson (Letterkenny).
At first, it seems very bizarre to put 10 Canadian comics in a room for 6 hours, and get them to do silly things, but requiring them not to laugh.
But then, hilarity ensues. You start to watch Tom Green et al try to crack each other up, and see the lengths the comics go to so as to stifle a laugh.
Apparently, there is an Australian, Mexican, Italian, German, etc and other editions too. I presume there is an American one, but I haven't found it yet.
I've already watched the two that were "dropped" for Canada. Very silly. Can't wait for the next drop - so I've started watching the Australian one as well, and while I don't know the comics as well there, it's incredibly funny still.
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I was answering a prospective client's question about why she should use a travel advisor to book her river cruise.
I shared this info with her, and thought I should pass along to you.
Travel during CoVid is complicated:
- The amount of work required by a travel advisor is at least 3 times what it was in pre-pandemic times
- Government advisories are constantly changing.
- There are often changing entry and exit requirements that regions (e.g., by province or state or county) as well as countries (Canada and elsewhere) can announce at any time.
- Health forms and questionnaires are common.
- There are often changing testing requirements to get on different forms of transport.
- As a general rule of thumb, everyone should be double-vaccinated at least to fly, take cruises and often most tours, etc.
- Rules and regulations can change at a moment’s notice, and it’s not unusual for me to receive updates on countries or cruises lines now requiring booster shots as well.
- There are different rules for those who cannot be vaccinated (e.g., children under 5).
- Insurance is always strongly recommended, with constantly changing implications of morphing government advisories, and how that interplays with insurance inclusions/ exclusions, as well as quarantine, etc.
- With insurance, pre-existing health matters also now have to consider whether someone has had CoVid, and stability periods, etc.
- Some countries/ cruise lines accept a letter of positive test. Others do not.
Here is just a sample of CoVid complications from interruption/ cancelation issues, giving some examples with river cruising that happened long after the initial waves of cancelation in 2020.
Kindly note too: river cruising was perhaps the most accessible form of travel throughout the pandemic, given with their small and intimate ships, elevated safety rules to meet each country’s rules, and the fact some companies successful continued to sail throughout 2020-2022 in European markets.
Here are some examples:
- have seen Netherlands closing almost overnight with river cruise companies having to bus clients to next port and/or get special 24 hour waiver
- Austria closed to folks travelling essentially, with Christmas markets shut down across Europe very quickly in 2021
- Germany required new testing and closed most Christmas markets – 2 years in a row
- France continually changed rules for entry and testing
- Canadians were not being able to go to Hungary at different points
- Throughout all, I worked with my clients to protect their financial investments, and get them home/ rebooked/ travelling
- These issues were also experienced across land trips, hotel stays, tours, ocean and expedition cruises, etc.
Use a Travel Advisor.
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Only Love for my Adopted Home of Ottawa
Travel Tuesdays & Other Virtual Events
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We're back with Travel Tuesdays & Other Virtual Events. Join me.
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DATE CHANGE:
Tues., Feb.22nd 5 pm est - Seabourn Cruises
Join Sheila of Lush Life Travel with Lori Patterson, Business Development Manager of Seabourn Cruises to talk all about Seabourn Cruises.
At Seabourn, we are passionate about travel. We believe that traveling for pleasure has a redemptive power that enriches people’s lives. And we believe that people should travel well.
Cruising on a Seabourn ship is unlike any other form of travel. The experience is luxurious, yet relaxed — elegant, yet casual — sumptuous, yet understated. Our intimate ships visit the most desirable destinations worldwide, sailing to the heart of landmark cities, as well as to hidden gems where larger vessels cannot follow.
We'll also be highlighting a group cruise Sheila is organizing for Sept.22 that visits Canadian ports (+ St. Pierre & Miquelon).
Join us!
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Save the Date:
Other virtual travel events coming up later this month. More details will be shared in next week's travel newsletter:
Feb.23rd: Celebrity Cruises
Some Special Travel Offers
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As you know, I run my boutique travel agency, Lush Life Travel, as an affiliate of Vision Travel. Vision Travel is a Direct Travel company, and one of the largest Virtuoso luxury travel network partners.
Here are some offers from partners of Lush/ Vision/ Direct travel as well as the Virtuoso luxury travel network. Here are some offers from a few 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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This week, I hosted some solo travelers to share how to travel alone, together.
Here is the video.
Let me know if you'd like to learn more, or would like the follow up material shared with attendees.
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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
* May 29- Jun.10, 2023 NL with Iceberg Festival.
I only have 2 rooms left!
Let me know if you'd like to join me!
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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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