1. Need New Travel Ideas?

As you likely know, my main focus for my business is river cruising and expedition cruising. I only do small ship ocean cruising for my clients, and FIT or customized private itineraries to spots like Australia and Africa.

Every now and then, I get a regular client asking me for a new idea. They want to go somewhere different, and experience something new. So, I always keep current with new and different ideas - just to help with that wanderlust.

Of course, most of what I track falls into the Adventure Travel (mostly soft adventure, rather than hard adventure that requires special skills and equipment), or Wellness Travel (being your best self and living healthy with a focus on self-care). Generally, that aligns with river cruising and expedition cruising (or sometimes small ship ocean cruising) or the customized FIT private trips.

But I like to remind people of the very different things you can do in travel that you might not be aware of.

Check out some of these ideas - and - let me know if you'd like to go.

1. Veuve Clicquot Solaire Journeys on Belmond Trains
2. Ted Turner Reserves in New Mexico
3. Regent Seven Seas and Aston Martin
4. Miraval Equine Experiences
5. Around the World with Geoffrey Kent by Private Jet
6. Japan with Lindblad Expeditions
7. Glamping in Costa Rica with Big Five Tours
8. Churchill's Aurora with Nat Hab

1. VEUVE CLICQUOT SOLAIRE JOURNEYS ON BOARD BELMOND TRAINS  see https://www.belmond.com/ideas/articles/solairejourneys 

Eastern & Oriental Express: April 22–25, 2024

Vienna to Reims on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: July 4–6, 2024

Andean Explorer: October 21–26, 2024

See video of the Belmond Andean Explorer above.

2. How about Ted Turner Reserves? Find Yourself in Nature

4. Miraval Equine Experiences.

My wellness travel partners at Miraval note:- Our equine facilities provide a supportive setting and system to help you examine your own belief systems about who you are and what you do, and correct faulty ones. The Miraval Equine Experience provides profound insight into communication within relationships.

5. Around the World with Geoffrey Kent: An Inspiring Expedition by Private Jet (26 days)

https://www.virtuoso.com/tours/16704908/around-the-world-with-geoffrey-kent-an-inspiring-expedition-by-private-jet

6. Japan with Lindblad Expeditions

When it comes to culture and history, “Japan really is a land of contrasts,” says Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Historian Stephen Fisher. Aboard Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture, guests experience the full breadth of Japanese civilization—from storied feudal-era castles set in quiet villages and pristine landscape gardens constructed over centuries, to the war relics of Hiroshima and modern-day technology of Tokyo. In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, Fisher delves more into these cultural juxtapositions, which coexist so perfectly alongside one another.

7, Glamping in Costa Rica with Big Five Tours

Explore Costa Rica’s rich and varied habitats. Take a stroll through the treetops and cross suspension over canyons. Participate in a variety of water sports from snorkeling and diving to canoeing, kayaking and fishing, and river-rafting through Class I and II rapids. More adventure activities include zip-lining, mountain biking, and whitewater tubing. This journey allows you to engage with nature on a variety of levels.  https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/tours/16477907/glamping-in-costa-rica 

8. Churchill's Aurora with Nat Hab

Discover the winter wonders of the aurora borealis with Canadian Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson, who loves guiding nature travelers around the subarctic town of Churchill, Manitoba to witness the awe-inspiring nighttime spectacle of the northern lights.

Let me know if you'd like to schedule a consultation!

2. Women's River Cruise - Wellness on Water

Here's the ad in last Saturday's Ottawa Citizen (which also appears digitally in PostMedia newspapers across the country).

I also appeared on Daytime Ottawa. Here's my interview on "Daytime Ottawa" TV talking with Derek Fage about this terrific cruise.

Just remember, there are three steps to Embrace “Your Grace”:

STEP 1.) STEP ON UP - savour, sip, self-care

STEP 2.) STEP ONBOARD your moving boutique hotel room

STEP 3.) STEP ONSHORE to cities and towns along the Danube River

Let me know if you'd like to secure your spot.   (And yes, there are some husbands coming. At least 3 are booked thus far!)

This will be a 7-night Danube River cruise, that sets sail from Budapest on Oct. 4, 2024, and heads to Nuremberg, before finishing its voyage with 2 nights in Prague on Oct. 13, 2024. See all the details about when and where, and pricing, along with details on the Travel With, and Travel Alone (with options for solo cabins & solo share program): https://tinyulr.com/LushWellCruise

3. River (Cruise Corner - AMA Magna on Danube

4. Adventure Travel Corner - Beyond the Horizon: Extraordinary Escapes Begin Now

5. Wellness Travel Corner - Nature Loving in Oahu

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 if you're wondering, here are some blog posts 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

Note: There is a stop gap measure if you are planning a last minute trip, and you only need a hotel stay. If you do not require my assistance, or VIP'ing, or add ons like transfers, concierge service, etc., you can self-book luxury properties on my Virtuoso website.  You can now browse and book hotels online https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/travel/luxury-hotels  at your convenience.  (If you self-book hotels, I will waive normal booking and management fees. But if you need additional assistance after the booking, VIP'ing, transfers, concierge assistance, etc., and/or the hotel stay is part of a larger holiday, normal professional fees will apply.)  

8.  Special Offers from Lush Life, a Direct affiliate & Virtuoso partner

Croatia’s under-the-radar peninsula 

https://e.virtuosoemail.com/croatias-under-the-radar-peninsula?ecid=ACsprvtoi6KOOaiaNmTmMRXAUfcVXKR8SqjWSYt3tGFBDgOEfgkOPswYTo-PLLQAfUYmKLYnlf3G   

What's new in Nice? 

https://e.virtuosoemail.com/whats-new-in-nice?ecid=ACsprvsV_d2jotKhEolncJdeLGYPHP_j5umCYWAUt8LWkF1e7kpTKijlWZtn37lLOzX_YxUYMWmh