I am still Lush Life Travel - and always will be. That is the boutique agency that I founded, and I fully incorporated last year (so, there's an Inc. now - Lush Life Travel, Inc.). My partner, Vision Travel, has rebranded to Direct Travel. 

This will be largely transparent to you as a client of Lush Life Travel, but you will begin to see some logo differences on invoices you will receive from me for booked travel (as per our regulators), as you'll see my affiliation with Vision Travel, a Direct Travel Company get rebranded to Direct Travel. 

Lush Life Travel has been around since 2010, and has operated as a boutique agency under the banner of my affiliate partner of Vision Travel. Back in 2017, Vision merged with Direct Travel to become a North American travel company.  In 2019, the business travel side of Vision Travel changed their name to Direct Travel (and les services Direct Travel in Quebec). Now, their retail side is following through with the initial plan for 2020 (but then we all know what happened). 

So, with 2023, the rest of Vision Travel will be rebranded to Direct Travel Personalized Experiences.

Of course, I'm still Lush Life Travel (Inc.). You still get access to me and my team, and through my affiliation, access to the broader Vision/ Direct Travel team across North America.

As my client, you don't visit the bricks and mortar retail shops of Vision/ Direct Travel largely in the Greater Toronto Area. As my client, you and I largely communicate face-to-face, over email, over the phone, or over zoom or Microsoft teams. But with the retail side of my Vision partners rebranding to Direct, when I share broader team offers (because my being affiliated with a larger team means increased buying power and clout with suppliers, and that means as a client of Lush Life, you also get access to exclusive and private travel offers) this means you might see new Direct logos coming through the shared links I put in my Sunday travel newsletter - such as the travel offer section below. And any invoices I send you for booked travel will still respect TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario) rules, and display the logos of my partners - but you'll notice the red and blue Vision logo is being replaced by the blue Direct logo. 

What will not change is my commitment to a more personalized approach to travel. That will never change.  Thank you for being a valued client and I wish you health and happiness in 2023.

Did you know you can take a river cruise that includes Venice?

Uniworld does a river cruise on the Po River, and offers a combination of cruise & rail that will take you to Milan, Venice, and the Swiss Alps.

Experience the varied wonders of Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Slovenia from every angle with a one-of-a-kind adventure by land, cruise and train.

Begin your journey in stunning Milan and disembark in romantic Venice. These two legendary cities will bookend unforgettable experiences throughout the Veneto region.

This ultimate Venetian vacation is perfected by one unique quality: your stay onboard our floating boutique hotel. Not only will you benefit from an enviable location in Venice, you’ll also find that your hotel transports you to hidden gem towns nearby.

Cap off your voyage with a 4-day train trip to Zurich. You’ll sleep on the luxury Golden Eagle Danube Express with ever-changing views at your window – the perfect follow-up to a river cruise. Along the way, visit the glittering lakes of Zurich and Bled, explore medieval towns and capital cities, enjoy a private concert in the caves of Postojna and more. 

Let me know if you'd like to learn more. 

Expedition Cruising Is One Of This Year’s Biggest Travel Trends. Here’s What You Need To Know.

Forbes Travel is pointing out something my clients have known for a while - expedition cruising is hot!

Read the article:

Expedition cruising may also one of this year's hottest travel trends. After the staycation (2020), the great outdoors vacation (2021) and the domestic vacation (2022), Americans are looking for something more exotic for their 2023 getaways, according to multiple surveys. Expedition cruising checks all of those boxes.

"Adventure travel is proving to be the break-out travel trend of the decade," says Noah Brodsky, chief commercial officer for Lindblad Expeditions. "We're seeing tremendous excitement from guests across geographies and generations to get that bucket-list trip on the books today."

The small ships ply waters that no other vessel can, including the Amazon, Galapagos and coastal Indonesia. They offer white-glove, personalized service that's rare on a conventional cruise — spacious suites, gourmet meals and included shore excursions. But they are pricey, with many cruises costing more than five figures per passenger.

"Expedition cruising provides an immersive adventure through nature and history that is literally in the footsteps of the world's most renowned explorers," says Pam Young, an executive vice president at Internova Travel Group and a cruise specialist. "These vessels turn your vacation into a true adventure."

So what's the appeal of an expedition cruise? How is an expedition cruise different from a small-ship cruise, riverboat cruise, or ocean cruise? And what do you need to know about this travel trend as you plan your 2023 vacations?

What’s an expedition cruise?

An expedition cruise is a world away from a traditional ocean cruise, with its all-you-can-eat buffets, cabaret shows and popular ports of call.

"An expedition cruise is different from other cruise vacation offerings as it often takes place in a remote, seldom visited region of the world," says Ken Muskat, managing director of Scenic Group USA, a tour operator. "This provides an opportunity for learning, taking in views and sights not seen by many, and gaining a better understanding of how the world truly works from a 'we are just visitors here' viewpoint."

They’re more intimate

"Expedition ships, by definition, are small," explains Stephanie Goldberg-Glazer, owner of Live Well, Travel Often, a boutique travel agency. "They carry between 16 and 250 passengers. A smaller, more intimate ship is very appealing to a lot of people."

They go to destinations no other cruise ship does

"A smaller vessel provides the opportunity to explore many areas not reachable by larger ships," says Catherine Heald, CEO of Remote Lands, a tour operator. Remote destinations such as Raja Ampat, Borneo and Papua New Guinea don't have the traditional luxury hotel infrastructure. But an expedition cruise ship allows passengers to access those places without the need for a traditional hotel.

They’re focused on education and exploration

As the name implies, there's a learning element to most expedition cruises. "An expedition cruise satisfies your cultural and intellectual curiosity," says Edward Granville, chief operating officer of Red Savannah, a tour operator. "There is usually a focus on nature, wildlife and off-the-beaten-track experiences in remote areas, and a degree of physical activity is usually to be expected.

Did you know that AmaWaterways has a wellness host on almost all their 

river cruises? 

AmaWaterways strives to ensure every guest is able to enhance their best self on board. 

They offer a variety of guided hikes, biking excursions, engaging fitness classes 

led by professionally trained Wellness Hosts* as well as heated sun-deck pools, 

whirlpools, fitness rooms and massage services. 

Overseen fleetwide by their Corporate Wellness Host and Ironman event participant

, Selina Wank, our wellness activities are an enriching way to nourish your mind, 

body and spirit during your river cruise.

*Wellness Hosts available on all ships except 

AmaVida, AmaDouro, AmaDahlia and Zambezi Queen.

I’m headed to Greece with my family next July, and I'm inviting my clients to come along. My husband and I will act as the Azamara Virtuoso Voyages host for the July 8, 2023 sailing onboard the Azamara Quest, roundtrip Piraeus for a Greece Intensive Voyage, for 7 days. I've already booked several clients to come along. 

One of the things we love most about what we do is matching our clients tastes' with the greatest hotels in the world.  And with our preferred status with these industry leading hotel brands it means our clients are instant VIP's with upgrades and special perks that you only get working with an elite partner.  So, not only do we have the best rates, but more importantly you get an exceptional experience over and above what you would booking direct or with a credit card.

See the special programs I'm affiliated with below, and lLet me know if you’d like to discuss a specific hotel stay.

For specific articles about why you should book with an advisor, rather than book by yourself, see here:

Why Wouldn't You Do It Yourself

Booking a Cruise Yourself vs With Advisor

Booking Hawaii Yourself vs Through Advisor

Booking Rocky Mountaineer Yourself vs With Advisor

Hotel Programs

Peninsula Fan Club , 

Rocco Forte Knights Program , 

The Belmond Bellini Club Program, 

Hotel Programs - Four Seasons Preferred, 

Dorchester Diamond Club , 

The Mandarin Oriental Fan Club ,

Marriott Stars & Luminous ,

The Couture by Langham , 

Pearl Partner Oetker, 

Rosewood Elite , 

Accor Step & Fairmont , 

Preferred Hotel Program, 

IHG Hotel Program , 

Hyatt Privé Program , 

Small Luxury Hotels ,

Luminous Hotel Program , 

A&K 100 Club , 

Hilton Impresario  ,

Jumeirah’s Passport to Luxury , 

The Kempinski Club 1897

https://www.visiontravel.ca/sheilagh/en/active/13884/European-Adventures-with-Intrepid-Travel

Experience Authentic Costa Rica with Star Clippers

https://www.visiontravel.ca/sheilagh/en/cruise/14438/Experience-Authentic-Costa-Rica-with-Star-Clippers

Idyllic villas in Italy, France, and beyond https://vmp.dmplocal.com/main/index.php?action=viewsenthtml&id=6584409&ids=1298de65b2c78d00a746165cc066b035b6c73189

Castles, lochs, and bagpipe-playing guides https://vmp.dmplocal.com/main/index.php?action=viewsenthtml&id=6617038&ids=d7da3075d9a009f29c4bd8c704e4b79e9fede675