Are you humming now? Is there a little John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (and Frankie Valli) running through your brain?
You’re welcome for the ‘ear worm’ – even if I’m talking about Greece, the country, not Grease, the movie! But there’s a taste of the movie in the video below.
But, let’s ‘move on’ to Greece, the country. And Greece is still the word!
Is Greece on your bucket list?
The one good thing CoVid has taught us is that we can’t take travel for granted. And when we start travelling again (whether you’re ready now, next year, or the year after), is that the places on the top of your list should be the one you do first.
And if Greece is the word to you, I invite you to join us for a special Dream Away – a joint presentation with Lush Life Travel and my partners at Direct and Vision Travel, and Azamara Cruises – this coming week on Thursday, Sep 30, 2021 at a special time – 11:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada).
Have you ever wanted to island hop in Greece?
Join us on Thursday, as we explore the captivating beauty of the Greek Islands with Direct and Vision Travel, along with our partner Azamara as we bring you LIVE from Rhodes, Greece, onboard the Amazing Azamara Quest.
Special guests from the ship, Captain Carl Smith, Hotel Director, Ryszard Gussman, Cruise Director Amanda Poulson, and our very own Director of Marketing, Meredith Burbidge; as they share their onboard experiences; of what’s it like to visit Greece NOW!
Journey back in time to ancient civilizations and the treasures they left behind. Discover white-washed villages, breathtaking cliffside retreats and stunning beaches while sailing from an intimate boutique hotel at sea. Plus attend and receive access to Exclusive limited-time special offers. REGISTER TODAY to reserve your spot
==> ==> Register Greece DreamAway Live <== <==
Join us on Thursday for a live presentation.
But if you want to get started on your dreaming before then, let me share some other info with you.
Maybe you want to know the best islands to visit? https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-greek-islands-beaches
Perhaps you’re thinking about the top spots to see in Athens: https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/most-beautiful-places-in-athens
Or maybe the best beach bars in Santorini: https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-beach-bars-santorini
On Thursday, we’ll visit with Azamara – and here is a sample of them getting back on the water, and the health and safety protocols they have now.
Want to see a taste of the islands we’ll we talking about? Rick Steves gives us an overview.
Greece is indeed the word!
join us on Thursday
==> ==> Register Greece DreamAway Live <== <==
My partners at Virtuoso shared recently (https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sheilagallanthalloran/travel/articles/heres-where-travelers-are-heading-this-summer) that:
Travel looks different these days – our carry-ons are filled with face masks and our vaccination cards are precious cargo – but for those who feel comfortable wandering, vacations are officially a go. U.S. national parks are seeing record crowds this year (pro tip: visit these under-the-radar ones), several European countries began reopening their borders in June, and, as of this week, vaccinated U.S. travelers can return to Canada. [ SGH: And now Canadians can visit US, as well as European countries]
In a pair of recent surveys, 78 percent of Virtuoso travelers said they plan to travel this summer [SGH: and while we’re technically now in the fall, the percentages are only climbing] , while more than 44 percent intend to go somewhere over the holidays. And according to booking data from Virtuoso advisors shared this morning at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, hotel reservations are up 133 percent since January. “When you consider where we were a year ago, there is absolutely progress and forward momentum,” says Misty Belles, Virtuoso’s vice president of global public relations.
Virtuoso tapped into its wealth of data on bookings from its 20,000-strong network of travel advisors to identify the top vacation spots for this summer – these domestic and international destinations reveal that travelers are going for a solid mix of city, nature, and sunshine. See the full lists below, along with current travel restrictions for international locales. And don’t forget: Virtuoso advisors have information on the latest restrictions and protocols to help you get where you want to go next.
The Top Vacation Spots for International Travel this Summer
1. Italy
Amalfi Coast sunsets, Roman holidays, Tuscan vineyards – Italy is a perennial favorite with Virtuoso travelers, and we’re not surprised to see it top this list. U.S. travelers can visit Italy with proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test taken within 48 hours of departure.
2. France
U.S. travelers can visit France with proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of departure.
3. Mexico
While non-essential land travel is currently prohibited between the U.S. and Mexico, there are no testing or vaccination requirements for air travelers. As in all other international destinations on this list, all travelers must present proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours when they’re returning to the U.S. Your travel advisor can arrange testing – although almost every Virtuoso-affiliated hotel in Mexico is providing on-site testing.
4. Greece
Greece was one of the first European countries to reopen its borders to U.S. travelers earlier this year, and several cruise lines have since returned to sailing in the Aegean Sea. U.S. [SGH: and Canadian] travelers can visit Greece with proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of departure. [SGH: SO – GREECE IS THE WORD!]
5. United Kingdom
The U.K. officially reopened its borders to fully vaccinated U.S. travelers on August 2. Visitors must still present a negative Covid test on arrival but no longer have to quarantine. These English hotels are currently at the top of our wish list.
join us on Thursday, Sept.30th at 11 am est
==> ==> Register Greece DreamAway Live <== <==
questions? [email protected]