Apologies for missing the last couple of updates, but life at TravelAnne has been hectic lately. Statistically, international travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels and many of you are driving those numbers… even exceeding them! Plus, my husband Les, who also serves as Executive Editor of this media effort, had full knee replacement surgery in March. Needless to say, the last two months have been filled with travel bookings, physical therapy and a lot of ice!
We appreciate your patience. Now to the business at hand. Welcome to the June edition of TravelAnne!
By: Anne Heintz
In this month’s edition of TravelAnne we feature the wonderful island of Bermuda. Famous for its pink-sand beaches, rich culture, and laid-back island vibe, this tropical island is in a class by itself. It’s also one of our favorite islands to visit.
North of the boarder, we explore summer in Toronto. Then we travel south to Mexico’s Rivera Maya to help actress Jessica Alba celebrate her birthday!
And for those of you focused on Europe, we travel Scotland in style on Belmond’s luxury train the Royal Scotsman. We also explore Italy's picturesque southern coastline from Puglia to Sicily and focus on three wonderful resorts from Rocco Forte.
What’s Trending in Travel Right Now?
Honestly, this is the line of questioning I get more than any other. Where are you sending people? What’s hot right now? Where can (or should) I go? The vast majority of my bookings are international, so let’s start there.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Italy remains the most popular destination for TravelAnne Explorers. Traveling to Italy just leaves you wanting more because there is so much to experience in this beautiful and diverse country. In fact, most of my clients have been (or plan to be) there multiple times. Just think about it. Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan are wonderful destinations. The same is true for Tuscany, Lake Como, and Sicily… not to mention Puglia, Amalfi, Sardinia, and Cinque Terre.
Staying in that part of the world, I’m also sending several families on tours of the UK and Europe this summer. Most of these adventures are planned well in advance while a few are more spur of the moment which is always possible if the travelers are more flexible with their schedules and budget.
All Aboard!
A great addition to any European adventure is to include rail transportation between destinations. Not too long ago, we trekked via rail from Amalfi to Florence on Italo. Not only was it comfortable and convenient, but the trip also gave us a unique view of the Italian countryside.
You could even take it up a few notches and consider rail alternatives that have been springing up worldwide which are focused on making five-star (stationary) hotel suites seem passé by one-upping them with ever-more lavish experiences. Leading the expansion in Europe is Belmond, the luxury travel operator owned by LVMH, and Accor, the French hotel group—both of which do the sales and marketing for the Venice Simplon Orient Express, Andean Explorer, British Pullman, Hiram Bingham (Peru) and Eastern and Orient Express. Belmond also operates the luxury Royal Scotsman. The train, which tours the Scottish Highlands, boasts a spa car and an open-air observation area, the only one of its kind in Europe.
Set Sail on the Open Sea
Cruise bookings are also a hot ticket right now. I have quite a few Explorers on sailings in the Mediterranean, the Far East and of course Alaska. Cruises in Alaska are a hot ticket right now. The season is a short one lasting from May to September and bookings are in high demand.
Especially popular right now is the expansion of the “expedition” type cruise, which was originally started by Lindblad. Now Viking, Silver Sea, Seabourn and Ponant, to name a few have joined the ranks and there is no sign that this won’t continue to grow! The thirst for being on the River, Sea or traversing the Ocean is at an all-time high.
I would be happy to talk through options that meet your specific needs! While generally it’s best to book passage several months in advance, we can still find something at the last minute that works.
We Do More Than International Travel
As I mentioned above, most of our leisure work at TravelAnne is in international travel. Honestly, that’s not by design. Most of you contact me exclusively when you’re planning a trip overseas. I will book an occasional family vacation in the US, but that tends to be the exception. Most of my clients book their own domestic travel. Either you don’t want to “bother” me with the little stuff or you just feel more comfortable doing it yourself.
I encourage you to rethink this strategy because for the most part your leaving money on the table by not taking advantage of the value-added benefits that I provide.
A good example of what I’m talking about happened earlier this month. A very good client and dear friend called me the other day with a bit of a crisis. She was on an extended “girls’ weekend” with a two other friends. They had booked an Air BnB in Nashville for 4 nights. It turned out the rental was not what they expected and had to cancel at the last minute. They needed 3 rooms in a nice hotel right away.
It took a bit of scrambling but about 30 minute later I was able to book three rooms at a 5-star hotel in the area they requested. The value-added benefits I secured included daily breakfast, a $100 hotel credit and a complementary room upgrade. Plus, the hotel sent a complementary bottle of wine to my clients’ room.
The point I’m trying to make is to encourage you to utilize me for more than just your “big” vacation of the year. Consider me a resource for all your travel… your next cruise, a weekend get-away or even a stay-cation! My affiliation with major agencies in DC and New York allows me to provide you with additional benefits. My network of contacts in the industry are of benefit as well.
Let’s continue to live life to its fullest! Our next adventure is just a phone call (or email) away.
As always,
Happy trails and keep believing in the journey!
**Anne Heintz is a luxury travel advisor based in Washington, D.C. who creates lifetime memories for her clients located all over the world. She loves the fact that the journeycreates memories and connections for her clients. She is affiliated with Worldwide Travel Associates in DC and Tzell Travel in NYC. She is co-founder and namesake of TravelAnne.com. Anne can be reached at Anne@wwtainc.com.
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