​When I opened Solutions Travel in 2005, I never imagined that my love for group travel would be where it is today.  Our first group trip in 2006 to Alaska started as an experiment to see if clients would even be interested in travel with their travel agent.  I never imagined that it would turn into almost a trip every year, visiting amazing locations and building wonderful relationships with clients along the way! 

As we all know, 2020 brought a screeching halt to the travel industry.  For what was my fifteenth year in business, I had planned an amazing journey along the Rhine River with Avalon Waterways.  Planning for a group trip typically starts fifteen to eighteen months in advance and this trip was no exception.  I began advertising in the Spring of 2019 and had twenty two travelers ready to explore Europe in May 2020. 

When COVID began to affect the travel industry in February 2020, I only thought we would be living in quarantine for a few weeks and then we could move on with life again.  Boy, was I wrong!  By late March, it was clear that we would not be traveling in May.  I held a conference call with our group, and everyone agreed to move the trip out a year and travel in May 2021. 

Fast forward to late March 2021, still living in a COVID world and much of the travel industry still not operating, I received the announcement that our 2021 cruise had been cancelled.  And while I would love to say that the third time would be the charm, I felt that it was time to cut ties and move on to the next adventure.  While I am so incredibly sad to have had to cancel the group, especially for my passengers that had been dreaming of this since they deposited in 2019, I knew this was the right decision. 
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​So where to next….

Mike and I have been brainstorming ideas for the last few months as to where to go in 2022.  With current travel restrictions and not knowing what restrictions may look like in the future, we narrowed it down to a few locations we haven’t visited in the US on past group trips.  We are always looking for beautiful locations, amazing scenery, and fun excursions and our 2022 will check all of those boxes. 

So, we are excited to announce that in August 2022, we will be headed out west to explore the Historic Trains of the Old West!  This eight night escorted adventure though Colorado and New Mexico includes three train rides, visits to interesting landmarks, such as Garden of the Gods, city tours in Denver and Santa Fe, and a visit to Mesa Verde National Park. 
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 A complete day by day itinerary and pricing will be available by April 15th, so stay tuned for additional details.  If you want to be one of the first to receive the brochure, please email me at [email protected].

Until next time! 
Courtney 

Hello 2021!  It is the last day of the month and while it did go by quickly, many days felt like Groundhog Day!  In a normal year January is one of my busiest months.  The holidays are over, spring break and summer vacations are on the horizon and clients are ready to plan their next great adventure.  I also spend much of my time in the first quarter of the year preparing and packaging documents for winter vacations and I really have missed doing that this past month.   Boy did that change this year! 

With no travelers this month, it surely has felt different in the office.  February has a few couples traveling in the US, which seems to be the growing trend of the moment. Truth be told, there are still many uncertainties when it comes to traveling, however that is where I can come in handy.  So, how have I spent the month of January….educating myself! 

I have spent time reading every article and news brief I can get my hands on and am thankful for Mike for staying on top of this for me as well.  I have listened in on webinars and worked on certification courses to sharpen my skills and learn about new destinations. 

Here are a few of the latest updates within the travel industry:
Cruises are globally paused and will be until at least May 2021.  While I am hopeful to see cruises return this summer, I am not sure how long it will take ships to become fully operational or the requirements passengers will have to abide by when boarding in the future.  As details are published, I will be sure to share.  I had numerous guests cruising in the first and second quarter and the majority opted to move their cruises to 2022 dates. 

The biggest announcement this month came from the CDC and began on January 26th.  This new law requires all travelers returning to the United States from an international location to be tested 72 hours prior to returning to the United States.  Click here to read the full link from the CDC.  So, what does this mean for travelers?  With European borders and many other countries worldwide off limits, the Caribbean and Mexico are indeed open for business.  Many resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico quickly implemented onsite testing, allowing guests to have little interruption to their vacation to get tested.  Testing at some resorts is free and others offer options for a small fee.  If you were to test positive before returning home resort have made accommodations for quarantine areas at either no cost or reduced cost depending upon the resort.  These processes have been put in place to make clients comfortable to travel and enjoy some fun in the sun!

If you are not ready to venture outside the United States just yet, there are plenty of great places to explore.  The last few weeks have provided me the opportunity to help several families plan vacations in Key West and various National Parks for spring break and summer travel.  If you have some US locations on your bucket list, I would be happy to help check them off later this year or help you start mapping out a plan for 2022!

My crystal ball continues to be hazy, but I am hopeful that with the vaccine rollout we will see a better return to travel later this year. 

Stay safe, wear your masks, and wash your hands!

Until next time!  ~ Courtney 

It is hard to believe that it is the day after Thanksgiving and December is just a few days away.  The months of October and November have flown by and now the countdown to Christmas begins.  The last week of September, Mike and I spent a lovely week visiting friends in Maine.  We opted to drive this year, however felt quite safe in the all the places we stopped along the way, including an overnight stop on the way to Maine.  While I am anxious to get on a plane and go somewhere, I am holding off a bit longer and hopeful to travel somewhere by plane in the first quarter of 2021.  

I wanted to share some industry updates and an exciting new travel opportunity!

Are you looking to travel in the first quarter of 2021 and haven’t bought your plane ticket yet?  Consider traveling on Delta Airlines, as they will continue to block the middle seat on their flights through the end of March. 

Looking to add a cruise to your future travel plans?  Many cruise lines have opened schedules through 2022 and a few into 2023.  Is Alaska on your bucket list?  2022 Alaska schedules have just opened for sale and now is the time to book! 

Want to cruise with confidence?  Royal Caribbean has extended its popular Cruise with Confidence policy to allow cancellations up to 48 hours in exchange for a 100% future cruise credit, when booking on or before January 31, 2021 for sailings through April 30, 2022. 

Are you a fan of Celebrity Cruises?  As of November 17th, they have added unlimited alcoholic beverages and sodas, unlimited WiFi and daily gratuities to all cruise fares.  This will make your cruise experience a bit more inclusive and a less expensive bill post cruise!  

The most exciting news that I have to share is that the Rocky Mountaineer is coming to the United States! If you aren't familiar with the Rocky Mountaineer, they are a luxury train service that has been in the Canadian Rockies for the last 30 years.  Beginning in August 2021, they will be offering an introductory package in the US for ten weeks.  

Here are some highlights:

• The route will begin in Denver and end in Moab with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, CO.  Enjoy breathtaking views as you travel through vast canyons, inspiring deserts and view the enchanting hoo-doos in red rock country.  
• Packages will include a full day of train travel in luxury glass dome coaches from Denver to Glenwood Springs and another half day to Moab the following day.  There are also a variety of accommodation options to choose from in Denver, Glenwood Springs and Moab.  
• Gourmet meals and alcoholic beverages are included during the rail travel.  
• There will be additional itinerary options that will include self-drive options and other nearby National Parks.  
• See the photos below, which highlight the route map, a preview of the train car and interior of the train car.  

If you are ready to start planning your next bucket list adventure, please reach out to discuss.  I am hopeful to see travel return to a little more of a normal state in 2021.  

Until next time!
Courtney 

It's the first day of Fall!  Cooler temperatures are here and soon the leaves will begin to change. I never thought that when the pandemic began in late February we would still be living in a COVID world in September, but here we are.  

Last night I met with clients in person, for the first time since March.  It was strange not to share a hug, but it certainly felt good to sit and chat, even with my mask on. These clients are traveling to Cancun in a few weeks and are excited to get away and enjoy a beautiful all-inclusive resort for a few days.  Mexico has done an amazing job at re-opening safely and implemented a laundry list of protocols to help keep guests safe.  

I wanted to share some industry updates that I thought may be of interest: 

Airline change fees - A game changer!
If you have ever had to change an airline ticket, you probably know that a fee of at least $200 was attached to the change, as well as any difference in fare.  Earlier this month, United Airlines, Delta Airline and American Airlines, all announced that they will no longer charge change fees on domestic airline tickets.  This makes it easier than ever to change plans and not incur such high penalties.  

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New service on Jet Blue Airways from Richmond! 
Jet Blue has announced daily non-stop as follows:
~ To Tampa, Florida beginning on November 19th
~ To Las Vegas, Nevada beginning on December 18th
~ To Los Angeles, California beginning on December 18th 
Jet Blue offers great fares and excellent service! 

Gambling without a smoky haze....
Do you love to gamble but hate the heavy smoke that is often in a casino? The Park MGM Las Vegas may be for you!  When they re-open on September 30th, they will offer the first smoke free casino in Las Vegas.  Read more about their re-opening plans, here.  

Looking for your late 2020 or 2021 getaway, check out this special.....
Delta Sky Miles Members can save up to $300 and Delta Sky Miles Credit Card Members can save up to $600 when booking your next vacation with Delta Vacations before December 14, 2020.  With destinations worldwide, now is a great time to plan your 2021 vacations!  (Savings based on total package cost.) ​
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Do you need to renew or apply for a new passport.....
Good news!  Passport processing times are almost back to their normal three to four week turnaround time.  While expedited services are not yet available, now is still a good time to renew your passport and be ready to travel in 2021.  

​What will 2021 bring....
My crystal ball is not being very cooperative when looking ahead to see what 2021 will bring for the travel industry.  I am so happy that many locations in the Caribbean have been safely re-opened for the last few months.  Several vendors are beginning escorted tours within the US next month.  Returning to Universal Studios and Disney are now options, with many modifications within both sets of parks.  There are still uncertainties as to when the cruise industry and travel to Europe will return, however I am hopeful that we will have better clarification on those areas soon.  If you are curious about a specific destination, don't hesitate to call or email me with questions.  


Out of office.....
I'm excited to end this post by saying that the office will be closed from Wednesday, September 23rd - Thursday, October 1st.  Office hours will resume on Friday, October 2nd at 5:30pm.  Other than a few days at the beach in August, this is the first vacation for Mike and I this year.  We are off to enjoy a week visiting dear friends in Maine.  Ocean views, exploring and lots of lobster are in my future!  I will be sharing photos on our Solutions Travel Facebook page, if you want to tag along! 

Until next time, 
Courtney 

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Photo credits: Google Images  / Mike and the lobster from our last visit to Maine! 
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With travel paused at the moment, I have been looking for ways to get out and enjoy a little bit of "normal".        I love finding new experiences in my own backyard and wanted to share this one.  About two weeks ago I stumbled across a post on Instagram advertising a Sereni Tea tea tasting at Stillwater Tea House in Suffolk. I tagged two of my friends in the post and a plan was made for tea this past weekend .  

Stillwater Tea House is located at the corner of Prentis St. and N. Main Street in downtown Suffolk.  This family run business set in an 1859 Victorian decorated home is the perfect setting for a tea house.  The owner, Amy Ford and her staff were welcoming and attentive during our tea and with current COVID19 restrictions were mindful of social distancing, wore their masks and served food individually instead of on shared stands.  

The house is beautifully decorated with Victorian furnishing and offers three different areas of seating.  When we arrived, Amy encouraged our group to explore the house and pick our own seat.  There are three seating areas: the Green Room, the Dining Room and the Pink Parlor.  We chose the Pink Parlor with a comfortable couch and chair for our group.  ​

Our tea was a tasting, which included six different teas along with savory and sweet treats.  We sampled a variety of teas, which included an earl grey, strawberry guava, blueberry crumble and a coconut flavored tea called snowflake.  All were unique and each of us picked our favorite. 

Food selections included a cucumber with vegetable cream cheese sandwich and an open faced pesto, tomato and cheese sandwich. Both were fresh and delicious!   The sweet treats stole the show, with a rich chocolate cake and bread pudding with apples and caramel bourbon sauce. I'm not a fan of bread pudding however would go back to have this again on a future visit.  It was warm, gooey and had just he right amount of fresh whipped cream to go with it! 

Afternoon tea was perfect way to spend a few hours with friends!  If you are looking for a lovely place to enjoy tea and conversation, check out Stillwater Tea House.  They are currently accepting reservations online where you can pick your seat in the house and tea service of your choice.  We were also told that some themed teas are in the works and can't wait to see what Amy and her team have in mind.  I know my friends and I will be visiting again soon!  

Until next time, 
Courtney 

I took a month off from blogging, as I really didn't know what to say.  The truth is the last few months have been hard, not only for me but for everyone.  This "new normal" isn't a normal I want and something I have at times had a hard time coming to grips with.  Everyone that I know is struggling in some way, shape or form with all that COIVD19 has thrown at us.  And I know that now is not the time to push travel on anyone.  

I miss traveling and haven't been on a plane in nine months, a record for this travel agent!  This is the first summer that I haven't had a proper vacation in years and that feels terribly strange.  There haven't been document packets to put together, group trip booklets to print or my famous goody bags to assemble. In many ways I am just sad, but as they say this to shall pass. 

Yes, you can travel now and much of the Caribbean has re-opened to US travelers.  Mexico has been successful in safely re-opening.  Other islands, such as the Bahamas and St. Maarten have decided not to let passengers from the US enter.  And many islands do require you to have a negative COVID19 test prior to entry.  Several US states are following this trend with COVID19 testing being required prior to entry.  

So what did July look like for me:

• Kept up with news article related to the travel industry. 
• Attended several webinars and continued to work on a certification course with American Express. 
• Double and triple checked my COVID19 spreadsheet.  My master list of all the bookings that were affected and making sure credits are in or or refunds are being processed for my clients. 
• Booked a little travel!  Some clients are ready to booking for 2021 and that couldn't make me happier.
• Looked towards the future, reading about new destinations and dreaming of where to go when the time is right.  

I hope that whomever is reading this is taking this "new normal" in stride and like me, trying to make the best of it.  I know that one day, we will all look back on this and say remember when.  For now, I am looking forward to a little break this week, as we venture our of state and enjoy a few days a beach.  I guarantee that a change in latitude will surely adjust my attitude! 

Continue to wear your masks, wash your hands and stay safe!

Until next time!
Courtney 

Over the last few weeks, I have been gazing into my crystal ball and looking at the future of travel.  What will the next few months bring?  What will 2021 bring?  Will travel ever be the same?  All questions that have been buried in the back of my brain and will continue to think about for weeks and months to come.  

Gazing into my crystal ball, I thought it would be fun to talk about what the remaining months of 2020 look like, potential travel trends for 2021 and how you can plan to return to travel, when the time is right for you! 

For the remainder of 2020, I have four active bookings and two trips of my own planned. A slow fall, but considering all that is going on in the world, I am okay with that.  Three clients are traveling to the Caribbean and one client is traveling to Hawaii, all destinations that are currently open or will be opening in the next few weeks.  For Mike and I, we will make our annual trip to Maine by plane in September and feel safe in boarding our planned flights.  In November, we are booked on a four night cruise with Virgin Voyages.  We were originally going to experience this brand new adult only cruise line in March, however COVID19 had other plans.  We are hopeful that ships will be sailing in the Fall and excited to get on board to experience this new concept in cruising.  

At the top of my list for 2021 will be a surge in travel within the United States.  I can envision the family road trip to National Parks, theme parks and many other family friendly locations throughout the country.  Thinking about a trip to one of the nations National Parks in 2021?  Start planning now!  National Parks open up hotel and lodge reservations one year prior to travel and many sell out in advance, especially during the summer months.  I love working with couples and families to plan National Parks vacations!  

If Alaska is on your bucket list and experiencing the great state by cruise ship is a must, then you need to book now for 2021.  With the entire Alaska 2020 cruise season cancelled due to COVID19, many clients shifted their dates to 2021 cruises.  Peak season in Alaska is June - August, however if your dates are flexible you can often find a better price point at the beginning of the season in mid-May or at the end of the season in early September.  

If a theme park vacation is at the top of your list for 2021, start planning now.  Just this past week, Disney opened reservations for 2021 packages.  Disney will begin re-opening on July 11th and while the experience may be quite different for awhile, I am hopeful that 2021 will bring back character experiences, parades and fireworks. 

Looking for a winter getaway either by land or sea, now is the time to plan!  Just this week, I booked clients to travel to Mexico in February and I thought prices were quite reasonable for that time of year.  Booking six months or more in advance offers the best availability for resorts and cruise ships.  

Returning to Europe, while uncertain at this time, will hopefully happen in early 2021.  The European Union is deciding when travelers from the US will be allowed to travel abroad.  I fully support their cautiousness in allowing tourists to return and the potential of a surge in COVID19 if it is done to soon.  I am optimistic that our group trip that is scheduled for May 2021 will travel as planned and excited to finally enjoy the Rhine River cruise with our travelers.  Shameless plug...there is still space available on this ship and we would love to have you join us!  

A word about travel protection....what I learned from COVID19, is that standard policies don't cover a global pandemic.  Travel protection companies have been great in allowing clients the opportunity to turn their existing policies into future use vouchers. This allowed many of my clients to use their policies for future trips. Moving forward, I will provide clients the opportunity to upgrade to a cancel for any reason policy which will offer a refund of 75% - 100% depending on the policy guidelines, minus the cost of the travel protection.  

So if you are ready to discuss plans for 2021, reach out by phone or email to start the conversation.  Having a plan in place, will give you something to look forward to over the next few months. 

Until next time! 
Courtney 

Photo courtesy of Google images. 

For a traveler at heart, not going anywhere by plane, train or even automobile for the last few months has been hard! This past week while scrolling through Facebook, a page I follow for Spring Valley Orchard announced that cherry season had arrived.  I love fresh cherries and thought it would be a fun day trip to check out the orchard.  A change in latitude was sure to help my attitude! 

So on Saturday morning, my friend Jenn and I left Windsor at 7:30am headed towards Charlottesville.  A short two and half hours later and the last few miles on some crazy winding roads, we arrived at Spring Valley Orchard.  Spring Valley Orchard is owned by the same group that owns Carter Mountain Orchard, famous for the fall apple season and Chiles Peach Orchard, all within about 30 minutes of each other just outside of Charlottesville.  This area is also well known for many wineries and breweries.  

Spring Valley Orchard is nestled into the rolling hills, about 30 minutes from Afton Mountain and offers a variety of cherries for picking during the month of June and into July, depending on the weather.  We stayed here a little over an hour picking cherries and taking photos.  The orchard was easy to navigate and the cherries quite delicious.  

After picking cherries, we traveled to Bold Rock Hard Cider for lunch and a delicious pint.  Their seasonal cider is pineapple and not to be missed if you are visiting this summer.  Bold Rock can also be found in many local grocery stores and Mike has already found the pineapple at our local Kroger.  

Bold Rock is the perfect location to spend a few hours with friends and enjoy the beautiful views! 

After a lovely lunch, our last stop of the day took us to Chiles Peach Orchard. The peach season is just starting and pick your own peaches were on our radar.  Besides peaches, they also offered pick your own strawberries and blueberries.  In the fall, they offer apples and pumpkins.  Our first stop was in the peach orchard to stroll through the trees, take a few photos and pick our peck of peaches.  Say that three times!  

After peach picking, we ventured inside to check out their selection of jams, jellies, salsas, baked goods and other produce.  I dare you not to take home a dozen apple cider donuts!  We rounded out the adventure by grabbing a peach and vanilla twist ice cream before we began the journey home.  

With summer here, I would encourage you to get out of the area code for the day for a change of scenery.  While travel will be a bit limited this summer, it is the perfect time to explore all of these great places that are just a stones throw away.  Believe me when I say that changing your area code for the day is good for the soul! 

Until next time! 
Courtney

Photo credits:
Courtney Roggmann
Jenn @ Orange Tree Square - check out her blog about our day at http://www.orangetreesquare.com/ 

This week my Facebook memories reminded me that five years ago we enjoyed a weekend in Maine with friends.  The journey started off a bit chaotic when I realized I didn't have my photo ID with me and I was an hour and a half away from home.  That led to me calling my dad at 4:30am and having him go to my house to turn my computer on so that I could remotely access a copy of my passport.  I printed the copy at the hotel and prayed the TSA would be kind to me and allow me to board with the paper copy.  I was lucky and had a very nice TSA agent allow me to board the plane and off we went to Boston.  The next day, my ID arrived via FedEx from dad, so I could have a stress free journey home.  Since then I have made sure to triple check where my ID is prior to leaving home and also have electronic copies stored on my phone just in case.  

While having the correct form of identification while traveling is so very important, it made me think about what might be changing with TSA rules due to the current Corona Virus pandemic.  Not long after thinking about that topic, an article popped up in my email detailing some of these changes.  I thought it may be helpful to share what's new in case you may be traveling in the new future.  

1. Travelers will now be able to bring up to 12 ounces of liquid hand sanitizer through TSA checkpoints, which does away with the previous 3.4-ounce limit.  This is for hand sanitizer only and doesn't apply to other toiletry items.  
2. TSA officers will no longer handle a passenger’s boarding pass, instead the passenger will scan their pass themselves and hold it up so the officer can inspect it without touching.
   
3. The TSA will ask that travelers keep an appropriate amount of distance between others passing through the checkpoints.
   
4. All TSA officers will be wearing masks and, while not an absolute requirement for passengers, it will encourage members of the public to do so, as well. Officers may ask some to take a mask off for security confirmation. Keep in mind that many airlines are requiring a mask while onboard.  
   
5. Any carry-on food will now need to be placed into a clear plastic bag and then placed into a bin separately (TSA Precheck members will be able to keep food inside their bag).
   
6. The TSA is also recommending that when travelers empty their pockets prior to going through security, they put their wallets, phones, and other personal items into their carry-ons instead of in a security bin, another move to eliminate touch points at security.
   

I hope these tips will help you be better prepared the next time you travel.  

Have a great week ahead! 

Until next time, 
Courtney 

The last few weeks have really slowed down and while I continue to work through cancelling and re-booking guests, that chapter is quickly coming to a close as well.  I am not here to push a vacation on anyone rather than to tell you how I have been approaching my personal return to travel.  

If you know me, you know I love a cruise ship! With three Norwegian Cruise Line ships in our backyard, Mike and I took a field trip weekend before last to get an up close view and dream a little about the future of cruising.  The Norwegian Encore, Bliss and Spirit are temporarily ported in Portsmouth.  It was nice to see a little bit of what I love right in our backyard.  If you want to know more about these ships unique amenities, let me know and I will be happy to put together a post about that.  

I have been asked numerous times when it will be safe to travel again and truthfully that isn't a question I can answer.  Traveling in the future will be at your comfort level and what works best for you.  While the US and destinations throughout the Caribbean and Mexico will begin opening in just a few weeks, it will be much longer before cruise ships and vacations to Europe return to their normal schedules.  

For Mike and I, we have flights booked to travel to see our dear friends at their home in Maine in September.  What will flying look like?  We will most likely have to wear our masks, use our hand sanitizer more than normal and still be mindful of social distancing.  This morning Delta Airlines announced that flights would fly at 60% capacity, which made me quite happy.  Visions of a full airplane aren't appealing at all at the present moment.  

After our trip to Maine our next adventure will take us to Miami in November to board the Scarlet Lady, a brand new cruise ship from Virgin Voyages.  We were originally scheduled to sail on this ship in March, however the Corona Virus had different plans for us.  I personally feel that by November we should be fine to board a ship and enjoy a cruise as we have in the past.  I am excited for the opportunity to see this new ship, visit some fun ports and spend time with some friends. 

While traveling might not be on your radar, I encourage you to take this time to dream a little and think about what may be at the top of your bucket list.  You will know when the time is right to turn that dream into a reality and I will be here ready to assist.  

Dream big and stay well!  
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Until next time! 
Courtney