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.
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!
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.
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.)
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.)
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
Photo credits: Google Images / Mike and the lobster from our last visit to Maine!
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
Photo credits: Google Images / Mike and the lobster from our last visit to Maine!