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Hello, ! Welcome to Lush Life Travel's weekly newsletter. I'm back from my women's river cruise with Uniworld, and have lots to share. In this week's newsletter, we'll focus on: 1. Women's River Cruise 2. River Cruise Corner - Gems of Southeast Europe 3. Adventure Travel
Corner- Galapagos with Lindblad 4. Wellness Travel Corner - A&K Luxury Villas 5. Testimonial of Week- Organized &Knowledgable Cruise Planner! 6. Join Me - Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent 7. Virtuoso Life - Some Recent Issues & Newsletters 8. Preferred Hotel Programs- VIP You
& Hotel Andaz Papagayo 9. Special Offers from Lush Life~ Direct Affiliate & Virtuoso Partner Let me know if you'd like to schedule a complimentary
consultation!
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Setting Sail with Uniworld & Shepherd's Fashions: An Unforgettable Women's River Cruise Adventure! What a fantastic journey it’s been hosting an exclusive women’s river cruise with Uniworld aboard the elegant River Duchess, joined by wonderful clients and friends from Shepherd's Fashions. We jammed so much fun into 10 days - let me give you a sample with part one. Next week, I'll share a little more info, and give you a taste of what cruise I'll be hosting next. Kicking off our adventure in Budapest, we dove right into the city’s vibrant heart, exploring the fashion district, riding the Ferris wheel, walking the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, taking in views from the funicular, and soaking up the historic grandeur of Buda Castle. Then onboard the ship, we chose different tours of Budapest the next day. I believe
most chose the overview of Buda and Pest. Back onboard, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises welcomed us with open arms: from a detailed excursion overview to the captain's warm welcome reception, we had a stellar dinner and even hit the dance floor for a spirited 70s dance party. The next day brought us to beautiful Vienna, where some of our group admired the art of Gustav Klimt at The Belvedere, while I joined a small group on an evocative Jewish heritage tour. Led by our knowledgeable guide, C.A., we traced the waves of Jewish immigration and the difficult history of Vienna's Jewish quarter. Before WWII, over 200,000 Jews lived in Vienna, making up one-fifth of the city. After the war, only 15,000 remain, a stark reminder of the lives lost. Walking through the Jewish Quarter, we saw the only synagogue
spared by Nazis during Kristallnacht, the poignant stumbling stones, and the Holocaust memorial with books turned outward, symbolizing the stories and lives forever lost. One day in Vienna simply isn’t enough to absorb its beauty and its somber history. With an afternoon free, I visited some favorite spots: Cafe Central for traditional Wiener schnitzel and Maria Theresia coffee, Hotel Sacher for their iconic Sacher Torte, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. After another fantastic onboard dinner, we ended the day with a
delightful Mozart and Strauss concert—a perfect Viennese evening! The following day in Spitz, Austria, began with a photography workshop hosted by Rachelle Ferron from Shepherd's Fashions. We explored the fascinating Danube River Shipping Museum, where we learned about the days when teams of 60 horses once hauled ships upstream! The
highlight of the day was a wine and apricot schnapps tasting, complete with a scenic walk through Wachau Valley vineyards. Unsurprisingly, white wine reigns supreme here in the Wachau Valley, and we were all too happy to toast to the experience. This cruise has been a beautiful mix of history, culture, friendship, and new experiences with clients and friends. We had some husbands join us too for a great gathering. Part deux will follow next
week. Here’s to many more adventures on the river! 🌊 Let me know if you'd like to be on the list for the next women's river cruise! 2. River Cruise Corner - Gems of Southeast Europe Here's
a five minute feature on AmaWaterways Gems of Southeast Europe cruise taking you on the lower Danube between Hungary and Romania with land extensions available in Vienna, Transylvania and Istanbul. We look forward to seeing you on board this AMAzing itinerary. Friday's Five Minute Feature highlights their Gems of Southeast Europe. To reserve your spot on this cruise please get in touch with me for available dates and the best promotions. See details of the itinerary here - https://www.amawaterways.ca/destination/europe-river-cruises/2025/gems-of-southeast-europe And, I can extend to you an offer for new bookings only if made this week with me. I
can extend a 5% off the voyage fare (for the cruise, before port fees) to either one couple, or one solo passenger. (Kindly note, you have to call me to get this private sale. You cannot book on my AMA website or through AMA directly.) My normal cruise booking and management fees would still apply. Get in touch with me to get on this cruise and get all of the best prices and promotions. #AskSheila sheila@lushlife.ca 3. Adventure Travel Corner- Galapagos with Lindblad Book by October 31, 2024 and receive airfare included up to a ticket value of $1,200 per person when booking select departures of National Geographic Delfina, National Geographic Gemini, National Geographic Islander II, and National Geographic Endeavour II on select Galápagos expeditions. Air
Included Air Offer must be communicated at time of booking by quoting “AIR INCLUDED”. To qualify for the offer, airfare must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions. In the case that airfare at the time of booking is higher than $1,200 per person, guest will be required to pay any amount in excess of $1,200 per person. Internal flights between
mainland Ecuador and Galápagos are included. Included internal flights do not include additional flights in Peru. Offer is valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, may not be combined with other offers, and is applicable on extensions. Baggage fees may incur additional costs and seat assignments may not be guaranteed. Combinable with the $500 savings per person on select Galápagos Expeditions offer. Let me know if you'd like to go! 4. Wellness Travel Corner - A&K Luxury VillasThe perfect way to relax on vacation and the ultimate self-care - a luxury villa. I'm proud to be in the A&K Top 100 Club, and have access to the best properties, worldwide. Here's an overview. Discover a world of luxury with A&K Villas Our portfolio features properties of every size – from romantic bolt-holes for two to impressive chateaux for multi-generational celebrations. Choose from our remarkable properties and dream retreats, and enjoy being taken care of by our concierge services. From Tuscan manor houses to Spanish fincas and exclusive homes in the
Caribbean, our portfolio has a style to suit every taste. Our properties range from fully serviced villas, which include butlers and in-house chefs, to complete independence and seclusion in a variety of romantic and dramatic settings. For the best of both worlds, choose a resort villa which has all the benefits of a villa holiday coupled with the extensive facilities of the resort itself. Keep the family and friends entertained with cinema rooms, games rooms, and expansive dining areas fit for a celebration. The villas blend into the landscape so you can enjoy privacy within the heart of the destination. From sunset tête-à-têtes, private alfresco dining and indulgent poolside lounging, there’s luxury wherever you choose to land. Our destinations
include: - Caribbean
- Croatia
- France
- Greece
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
- UK & Ireland
So, why not give yourself something wonderful to look forward to? Arrange your villa holiday with our award-winning villa specialist Sheila today and Book with Confidence. We are the proud winners of the World's Leading Villa Collection 2021 at the World Travel Awards. See https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/hotels/16403539/abercrombie-kent-villas#HotelInfoAboutUs Let me know if you'd like to go! I'd be happy to leverage my relationships with A&K to get the best holiday set up for you.
5. Testimonial of the Week - Organized &Knowledgable Cruise Planner!
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It’s so rewarding to receive wonderful #ClientTestimonials , such as this one from my
new client, MJ aka German girl.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Organized &Knowledgable Cruise Planner!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By: German girl "Sheila was referred to us by AMA Waterways. It was a pleasure working with her to plan our river
cruise. She gave great suggestions and was very knowledgeable about AMA. Very responsive to any questions that came along and communicated well. We would definitely use Sheila for future travel. Appreciated the email during our cruise to verify if we were enjoying ourselves. Thank you for making this trip so memorable! "🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠 Thank you, MJ for taking the time to leave some wonderful and kind comments on my @virtuosoltd verified client feedback site. I truly appreciate it.
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6. Join Me - Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent Want to consider joining me and my husband Bill on the Journey to
Antarctica: The White Continent!
 7. Virtuoso Life Issues
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8. Preferred Hotels - VIP You & Hotel Andaz Papagayo
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Travel advisors, like me, often have access to a range of exclusive perks and amenities when booking luxury hotels. Here are some special perks I may be able to provide when you book your hotel stay through me: - Room Upgrades: I often have relationships with hotel management (particularly luxury hotels), allowing me to secure room upgrades at the time of booking, ensuring a better view, larger room, or added amenities.
- Complimentary Breakfast or Credits: I can negotiate special perks like complimentary breakfast, spa credits, dining credits, or
other perks that enhance the overall stay.
- Early Check-In and Late Check-Out: Through my connections, I may be able to negotiate early check-in or late check-out times, providing more flexibility with your schedule.
- Special Amenities: I may be able to arrange for special
amenities in the room upon arrival, such as welcome gifts, champagne, or personalized touches to make the stay more memorable.
- Priority Access and VIP Treatment: I can secure priority access to facilities like spas, restaurants, or events within the hotel, ensuring a more exclusive and VIP-like experience.
- Customized
Experiences: I can arrange unique experiences tailored to your interests, such as private tours, exclusive excursions, or special events within the hotel premises.
- Concierge Services: I can often offer personalized concierge services, ensuring your preferences are noted and catered to throughout your stay, from restaurant
reservations to special requests.
- Flexible Booking and Cancellation Policies: I may be able to negotiate more flexible booking terms or cancellation policies, providing peace of mind in case plans change unexpectedly.
These perks often go beyond what is
available through standard booking channels, adding significant value to the overall luxury hotel experience. I am a Virtuoso luxury advisor, Four Seasons preferred partner, and member of preferred hotel programs like Belmond Bellini, Rosewood Elite, Accor Luxury Step and Fairmont Famous Agent, Leading
Hotels, etc., etc. I rarely book hotel only reservations for clients (I specialize in river and expedition cruises, customized trips to Australia and Africa), I have ways to leverage my relationships to benefit my clients. Hotel only bookings are subject to my normal professional fees. https://lushlife.ca/2022-fee-schedule/
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See some additional detail on these preferred HOTEL PROGRAMS 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: 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.) HOTEL OF THE WEEK! Andaz Papagayo Andaz captures the magic of Costa Rica’s pristine natural beauty with breathtaking views of Culebra Bay and an immersive experience in the tropical forest. The resort
offers four restaurants, three beaches, four pools, spa and wellness programs, extensive on-site activity options, including complimentary Cambi kids program. Guests also enjoy access to the amenities of exclusive Peninsula Papagayo, including golf, tennis, electric assist bike share, The Explorers activities, teen/tween programming and transportation to seven additional restaurants within the community. Virtuoso Amenities For 2024 & 2025:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily Buffet breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant
- $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
9. Special Offers from Lush Life, a Direct affiliate & Virtuoso partner I run my boutique travel agency, Lush Life
Travel, as an affiliate of Direct Travel. As Direct is one of the largest Virtuoso luxury travel network partners, I get access to some terrific offers for my clients. Here are some offers from a few of our favourite travel supplier partners. Let me know if you'd like to book one of these holidays .
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 18 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. So, schedule a consultation - and - don't forget to
complete this Pre-consultation Survey The call can't be confirmed without it.
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Live a Lush Life - Travel!
Lush regards,
Sheila Gallant-Halloran
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