Happy Mother's Day to all. May you celebrate love and happiness, and the blessing that is a mother's love - whether your Mom is still with you at : your table, or across the miles in spirit, or in heaven.

Here's a favourite Irish song of our childhood home. "A Mother's Love is a Blessing."

Here's some news from the world of travel.

Airport Therapy Dogs Ease the Stress of Travel

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/fluent-in-fur/202304/airport-therapy-dogs-ease-the-stress-of-travel

Transatlantic flights return to Ottawa airport with Paris flight

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/transatlantic-flights-return-to-ottawa-airport-with-paris-flight-1.6257086

Kosher meals:

• Crystal cruises: Note from Crystal: we do offer Kosher, although rather limited, and would need to be approved prior to making a payment. The Kosher kitchen is a bit small, and we need to ensure that we haven’t exceeded our numbers on any particular cruise.
• Nayara – Nayara Tented Camp in Costa Rica is now offering a fully kosher menu at Ayla.

Travelling to the Dominican Republic? Electronic Ticket must be  completed and printed prior to departure.

https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/
 

Air Transat Makes Montreal-Marseille Year-Round, Extends Nantes Season

https://ca.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/air-transat-makes-montreal-marseille-year-round-extends-nantes-season.html 

Air Transat unveils 2023-24 winter program for ON, QC & Maritimes

https://news.paxeditions.com/news/airline/air-transat-announces-2023-24-winter-flight-program

US-based Tauck this week grew its presence in Europe, kicking off the 2024 river cruise season with six new itineraries, the most it has ever added in a single year. All the cruises include pre and post trips, including some new cities in Germany and Switzerland.

Tauck CEO Dan Mahar noted that dinners ashore will be at beautiful and unique settings such as the Palais Pallavicini in Vienna, a Dutch castle on its own private island, or an Italian Renaissance-style mansion in a small commune in northern France. Guests will overnight at properties like the Fairmont Montreux Palace, the Riessersee Hotel in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the InterContinental Geneve in Geneva.

Also on the agendas are wine tastings in Frankfurt, Strasbourg, and Chalon-Sur-Saône, France; a craft beer tour in Dusseldorf; a brewery tour in Antwerp; and a tasting of local brandies and apple ciders in Normandy. All dinners and excursions are included in the tour price.

The new cruises are:

Danube Kingdoms: Bavaria, Austria & Hungary: Munich to Budapest, 12 days from $6,990 per person plus airfare.

Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine: Amsterdam to Regensburg (or reverse), 10 days from $5,990 per person plus airfare

Rhine Connoisseur: Montreux to Brussels: Montreux to Brussels (or reverse), 11 days from $6,790 per person plus airfare

Hidden Waterways of Flanders and Holland: Brussels to Amsterdam (or reverse), 8 days from $4,690 per person plus airfare.

River Seine: Châteaux, Impressionism & Normandy: Begins and ends near Paris at Le Pecq, 8 days from $4,990 per person plus airfare

La Belle Vie: The Rhône, Geneva & The Riviera: Cannes to Geneva (or reverse), 14 days from $7,990 plus airfare

It was great to meet my @scenic.luxurycruisestours business development manager Tracy Daniels, and Caroline Paulson, this week at the premiere of “Maritime Masters” documentary for the Discovery Channel.

“Maritime Masters” will follow the Scenic Eclipse from San Diego to Antarctica over a five part series.

Tune in to the Discovery Channel starting May 19th (in Canada - Discovery USA showed the first episode yesterday, I believe) for the beginning of this documentary series. See https://www.discovery.com/shows/maritime-masters/episodes/episode-1 

Having had a glimpse of part one, I call tell you, it’s fascinating to get the behind-the -scenes look at expedition cruising. As both a travel advisor and a traveller, I was intrigued to see everything from the chef preparing the chef’s table meal, to the maintenance of zodiacs, to sailing around a hurricane, to watching the first submarine dive in Mexico.

Give the documentary series a watch!

And let me know if you’d like to sail on the Scenic Eclipse. It’s sure to be a fantastic trip!

I have some select dates and routes in 2023 for an unbelievable 2-for-1 business class air offer, with cruise savings too!

sheila@lushlife.ca

It was great to attend the #Ottawa showing of “Into Nature’s Wild” at the Canadian Museums of History with my partners from Collette CEO Dan Sullivan, and my National Accounts Bdm Ron Lonsdale, with Kateryna Havrylova , Danielle Roberta Martins and partners from Brand USA .

What a great film to be shown on the IMAX screen at the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa.

And the VIP reception and Q&A at the end enabled me to meet film star, Native American astronaut, John Herrington, and ask his views on being an astronaut - as well as space tourism.

As a person of indigenous heritage myself, I so enjoyed the film’s focus on reconnecting to the land and understanding nature to improve one’s health and mental well-being. As John says, “In the wildest places, we can still find that connection we all need.”

I also got to have a great chat with Collette CEO Dan about my home province of #Newfoundland.

It was a fun and engaging evening with travel supplier partners - with nourishment for the soul and the tummy.

#lushlife #collettetravel #brandusa @canmushistory Virtuoso Travel Lush Life Travel Direct Travel Vision Travel Solutions

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 let me know if you’d like to discuss a specific hotel stay. Such as at a Peninsula hotel around the world - see Peninsula Fan Club

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

See some additional detail on these preferred HOTEL PROGRAMS

A&K 100 Club ;  Accor Step & Fairmont ,  Belmond Bellini Club Program ;  

Couture by Langham;  Dorchester Diamond Club;  Four Seasons Preferred, 

Hilton Impresario;  Hyatt Privé Program; IHG Hotel Program ;  

Jumeirah’s Passport to Luxury , Kempinski Club 1897; Luminous Hotel Program ,

Mandarin Oriental Fan Club; Marriott Stars & Luminous , Pearl Partner Oetker;  

Peninsula Fan Club , Preferred Hotel Program ; Rocco Forte Knights Program 

Rosewood Elite ; Small Luxury Hotels 

And - I wanted to let you know about a new way for you to book hotels online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week... You can now browse and book hotels online https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/travel/luxury-hotels  at your convenience – and what’s more, you’ll still receive all the usual benefits you get when I book your travel - including full service, preferred rates, and exclusive amenities.  And once you make a booking, the information comes directly to me so I can follow up with you about additional services or whatever else you may need!

It’s perfect for last minute getaways, weekend breaks, or other short trips! I’m sure once you try it you’ll agree you get the best of both worlds; the ease and convenience of online booking – plus the value and VIP treatment I know you love. As long as you don't need me to provide any additional services or assistance, you can book hotels yourself with my Virtuoso partners, and I will waive normal booking and management fees. (If you need additional assistance after the booking, normal fees will apply.)

One point, though - if you're looking to stay at week at a Four Seasons partner around the world, say, having me book your holiday through my Four Seasons preferred partners directly (rather than you self-booking through the Virtuoso.com booking engine link above) will bestow additional benefits that I can leverage as a preferred Four Seasons partner. So, let me know if you want to book a Four Seasons, but I can get some extra benefits and "love" for you. 

Of course, this Virtuoso.com booking link and the benefits of you booking yourself, if you choose, doesn’t change any of the services I already offer. I’m still available in person to book hotels and take care of your other travel needs. Just know you now have access to this VIP online hotel booking option now, too.

I'm here when you need me.