Tag Archive for: Portage Travel Agents

Travel Trends for 2021

After a year like 2020, it’s hard to predict what the future of travel will look like. While travel this year will probably not look like what we saw pre-Covid, Americans are still traveling. With a pent-up demand for travel and the vaccine rolling out, it appears that the confidence to travel is increasing daily. So far this year I’m seeing a few travel trends worth noting…

Domestic Travel is on the Rise

Booking.com’s Future of Travel report for 2021 says “local travel remains easier, safer and – happily – often more sustainable.” Their ”Familiarists not Tourists” prediction shows 47% of travelers are planning domestic trips over the next 7-12 months. My most requested destinations this year have been – Florida, Arizona, National Parks, and Hawaii.

Disney is a still a top choice! Disney World is has been open since the summer and even though the parks have limited capacity, abbreviated hours and have put a hold on parades and fireworks, It is considered relatively safe to visit. Add to that it is easy to reach by either car or quick, direct flights, you can see why it is a pick for so many families.

Beach Vacations are also a popular choice because it is an easy way to maintain social distancing and find peace of mind when visiting these destinations surrounded by nothing but the sea.

Short term planning

Normally at this time I would be booking Summer and Fall vacations, but the requests currently coming across my desk are for April – June. With so much uncertainty, travelers are feeling more comfortable booking vacations a few weeks out instead of months.

In addition, with so many still working from home, and kids still doing remote learning, there seems to much less concern about working around school breaks. As long as there is a good internet connection, and enough time in the day to get the job done, it doesn’t seem to matter right now when families travel.

Bucket List Trips


For those who are planning a little farther out, there seems to be little holding back on the types of trips they are taking. Having realized that access to travel cannot be taking for granted, many are looking to book bigger trips as soon as possible. 

Travelers are looking for more unique experiences and upgraded amenities in order to stay in a ‘bubble’. I’m seeing more and more requests first class seats on flights, private transfers and suites with more room and bigger balconies to spend more time in their room.

Flexible Cancellation Policies

Before the pandemic, you would need to buy a fully flexible airfare to have the ability to change your dates, which would have been far more expensive than a standard ticket. Furthermore, cancelling your vacation last minute would be out of the question without losing a good chunk of your money.

Now many suppliers have realized that the only way to provide travelers with the confidence to book is by giving them the flexibility to change their hotel or flight booking at no extra cost. Airlines such as United, American Airlines and Delta have scrapped change fees for man flights. Hotels and suppliers are also allowing travelers to change destinations or dates without fees.  

Working with a Travel Advisor is a MUST!

Anyone who didn’t have one in 2020 probably regretted it. If you have had to change a trip on your own, you probably understand why it’s helpful to have a travel agent in your corner.

Travelers today need help navigating the new normal in order for their trips to be a success. With a considerable amount of uncertainty and quarantine, testing and entry requirements changing daily, travel agents have become an invaluable and irreplaceable source of information.

Even those who have booked their own travel for years, are turning to Travel Advisors for their experience and expertise.  

What are you most looking forward to in the world of travel in 2021? Tell us in the comments below.

To book your next vacation, contact us today to start planning!

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Bucket List Travel: Antarctica

A couple of years ago I watched the movie Where’d you go Bernadette? and immediately became obsessed with the idea of going to Antarctica. I later found out that the scenes that are supposed to be in Antarctica were actually filmed in Greenland, but that hasn’t waivered my need to visit Antarctica!

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I am the least outdoorsy person you will ever meet, so I know me wanting to go on thiss trip is going to be a surprise to many.

But look at this…

Iceberg, Lindblad Cove, Antarctica aboard National Geographic Explorer. January 2011

I want to go there and see this…

An explosion of gentoo penguins alongside makes this kayaking experience doubly extraordinary.

Antarctica is one of the world’s last great wildernesses. It is said that a voyage to Antarctica is one of the most exhilarating adventures the planet offers, and one of the most life-enhancing travel decisions any traveler can make.

There are a number of cruise lines that venture down to Antarctica. One that I have my eye on is with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions.

Lars-Eric Lindblad, considered by many to be the “father of ecotourism,” founded Lindblad Travel in 1958. In 1966, he brought the first group of “citizen explorers” to Antarctica. Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic have joined forces to further inspire the world through expedition travel.

Together they are good stewards to the earth and encourage greater awareness and understanding of issues impacting the regions where they travel.

National Geographic Orion, Lemaire Channel, Antarctica

The 148-guest National Geographic Explorer and 126-guest National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution are purpose-built Antarctic expedition ships designed to safely explore Antarctica—the most remote, wild place on the planet. They are fully stabilized, ice-class vessels with ice-strengthened hulls strong enough to push through the Antarctic ice. Their construction and the caliber of their Icemaster Captains and veteran expedition teams are your assurances of safety.

It’s in the early season (Oct.-Nov.) when the Captain can adroitly “park” National Geographic Explorer, allowing guests to disembark directly on the ice.

Every expedition sails with a veteran expedition leader and a team of eight naturalists, many of them polar veterans, of a variety of specialties: zoology, biology, ornithology, geology, polar history, and more. Other members of the 15-person team include an undersea specialist, a National Geographic photographer, plus a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor, a video chronicler and a wellness specialist. Together, they provide you with a greater understanding and appreciation for this exceptional place.  

Hikers, Neko Harbor, Antarctica

Who’s ready for this amazing adventure?

My Bucket List

Amawaterways Christmas Market River Cruises

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Walt Disney World Ticket Offer

Play, stay and enjoy more magic with this special offer at Walt Disney World Resort—where magical moments are waiting for you.

Receive 2 extra days added to your ticket when you buy a 4-night/3-day room-and-ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels, valid for arrivals most nights from now through September 25, 2021.

Want to stay longer? Check about packages for other lengths of stay—and get 2 extra days added to your ticket.

Enjoy added peace of mind when booking! You can modify or cancel your reservation with extra flexibility through April 30, 2021. See Important Details.

The number of rooms are limited. 5-day theme park tickets included in this package are valid for admission beginning on date of check-in and must be used within 8 days. Visit disneydestinationstickets.com/usage for more details.

Ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation? Let’s chat!

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2022 Walt Disney World packages are now available to book

Get a head start on planning your future vacations by booking your 2022 Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages now!

Please note, the check-in date of your vacation cannot be more than 500 days in the future. There are some resort hotels that are not open at this time and not available to book. Disney Dining packages remain unavailable at this time, but can always be added to your Disney World package later.

A $200 fully-refundable deposit is all that’s needed to book your 2022 Walt Disney World Vacation. Packages can be modified or canceled up until 30 days prior to arrival.

Let’s start planning your 2022 Disney Word Vacation today!!!

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Delta SkyMiles now available to use on Delta Vacations Package

Delta Vacations is once again allowing Delta Skymiles members to redeem their miles for Delta Gift Cards that can then be applied Delta Vacations package that includes airfare.

What’s the benefit of redeeming your SkyMiles for gift cards and using them to book a Delta Vacations package? When you use this feature and book with Wishes and Waves Travel, you will accrue flown miles and bonuses, that you will not receive by booking using your miles alone.

To purchase a Delta Gift Card with miles:

  • Log into your SkyMiles Member account
  • Visit the mileage redemption for Delta Gift Cards page where you can select the desired gift card amount and quantity
  • Only one SkyMiles Member account can be used for payment per gift card. If you wish to use miles from separate accounts, each account
  • There is a limit of five gift cards that can be used per booking. See full terms and conditions.
  • Call or email me with your Delta Gift Card number and I can apply it to your booking.

Contact me today to start planning your next getaway!

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Royal Caribbean to homeport in Bridgetown, Barbados

Get ready for sun-soaked adventures to captivating southern Caribbean isles onboard Grandeur of the Seas®, sailing from the newest Royal Caribbean® home port — beautiful Bridgetown, Barbados.

With its idyllic pink-sand beaches, warm clear seas and gentle tropical breezes, and emerald hills and valleys, Barbados is an unforgettable destination in its own right. But there’s so much more to this tropical Caribbean paradise. From botanical gardens to caves, a visit to Barbados will be unforgettable. As the birthplace of rum, a stop at one of their distilleries for a tasting is a must. Historical Bridgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage site, where your clients can enjoy the charm of the city as well as the famous Bajan cuisine.

There are three different itineraries, including two separate 7-night sailings and a 14-night sailing with stops in St. Lucia, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent, Grenada, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and more. The 14-night itinerary visits the ABCs with an overnight in Aruba and includes destinations like Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia and Colon, Panama. By departing from Barbados, Royal Caribbean can reach more of the less explored ports and offer more back-to-back port days versus days at sea.

The adventure begins in Barbados, Winter 2021. As your personal travel advisor, I’m here to ensure your journey is hassle-free and expertly planned!

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Disney’s Blizzard Beach is Reopening!

Disney’s Blizzard Beach will be reopening on March 7, 2021 and you will soon be able to once again leisurely float across Cross Country Creek and speed down Summit Plummet! First opened to the public on April 1, 1995, this spring will kick off Blizzard Beach’s 25th season.

When Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens, it will operate in alignment with the health and safety protocols implemented throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, including reduced capacity, temperature screenings, physical distancing markings and face coverings. You can find the most updated information on the dedicated Know Before You Go section of the microsite.

Fun facts about Disney’s Blizzard Beach:

  • Summit Plummet is a 120-foot-tall waterslide with a near-vertical drop is one of the fastest waterslides in the world! Guests accelerate up to 65 mph on the slide, making it one of the fastest attractions at Walt Disney World. 
  • At 3,000 feet, Cross Country Creek ranks among the longest lazy rivers in the country. It takes between 20 and 30 minutes to complete one journey around the waterway – depending, of course, on how lazy you want to be!
  • One of the world’s longest family whitewater raft ride is none other than Teamboat Springs at Blizzard Beach. Along the winding rapids of Teamboat Springs, you will encounter remnants of the fabled snowstorm in the form of snowshoes, snow shovels, melting icicles and a snow mobile!

Tickets to Blizzard Beach are now available. Contact me today to plan your next trip!

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Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Announced

This week Disney announced Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth, taking place November 27 through December 30, 2020. This magical event will feature delicious food, fun activities for the whole family, and the chance to see some Disney characters in their holiday finest.

At this year’s festival, enjoy a global celebration of seasonal cuisine at the Holiday Kitchens, located throughout EPCOT’s World Showcase, including three kitchens inside the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion. Indulge in festival favorites like the slow-roasted turkey from the American Holiday Table, pork schnitzel at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen or the beef bourguignon from the Yukon Holiday Kitchen. 

As you sip, savor and sample your way through the Holiday Kitchens, you may spot some of your favorite characters – dressed in their holiday best – traveling through World Showcase to spread holiday cheer. Keep an eye out for Queen Anna and Elsa in the “Frozen Holiday Promenade,” and Mickey Mouse and his pals making merry on the “Mickey and Friends Holiday World Tour.” And we can’t forget about Santa Claus! When Santa visits EPCOT during this festive time of year, he’ll take a grand horse-drawn tour around World Showcase, calling out happy holiday wishes to all.

Be sure to visit America Gardens Theatre to enjoy the sounds of the season from Voices of Liberty, who will share favorite carols through their incredible harmonies. Mariachi Cobre will bring to life Las Posadas, a celebration of Mexican holiday customs through music and dance. Over at the Canada pavilion, JAMMitors will grace the Mill Stage with their playful percussion. And, enjoy the shopping, sights AND sounds inside World ShowPlace as fan-favorite JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season will bring you on an uplifting journey through R&B, gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. 

The Holiday Cookie Stroll returns this year, with a complimentary cookie as a reward for completing the confectionery collection. The delicious array of sweet treats to choose from will include cookies from five different locations throughout the park. You can also pick up an adorable cookie jar to collect all of your cookies, available for purchase at the Holiday Markets throughout World Showcase, while supplies last.

To share holiday traditions from around the world, everyone’s favorite snowman from Frozen invites kids of all ages on the new “Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition,” a festive adventure around World Showcase to round up holiday traditions Olaf misplaces. You can purchase the expedition map at Mouse Gear, Disney Traders, or World Traveler at International Gateway, then look for hidden Olafs throughout the World Showcase pavilions. Once they find them all, they’ll receive a gift worth melting for (while supplies last).

The holiday season across the rest of Walt Disney World begins November 6, 2020, with seasonal celebrations at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs, and Disney Resort hotels.

To get started planning your next Disney World vacation, contact me here.

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Disney Announces ‘Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts’ to begin Jan. 8, 2021

Disney announced today that the global celebration of the visual, culinary, and performing arts will return to the Walt Disney World Resort early next year, as the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is set for Jan. 8 – Feb. 22, 2021.

The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts offers fun for the whole family. Here is Disney has shared with us of what to expect when the event debuts in January:

  • Indulge in over 15 Food Studios serving culinary art all around World Showcase
  • Explore and purchase the brilliant and diverse work of Disney and other invited artists on display in marketplaces encircling World Showcase Lagoon
  • Step into the scene at special photo locations scattered around the park
  • Participate in a paint-by-number mural that serves as a collaborative art project for all
  • Watch as visiting artists create magic right before your eyes
  • Catch performances by favorite EPCOT musical artists Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors.
  • Join an artful scavenger hunt and search for Figment around World Showcase
  • Shop for festival-exclusive merchandise

We’ll have more details on the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts as Disney announces them.

To get started planning your next Disney World vacation, contact us here.

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Resort Spotlight: Couples Tower Isle

Back in July, I had the pleasure of staying at Couples Tower Isle. This beautiful all-inclusive, adults-only, couples hotel is located in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This property was built in 1949 and was the first resort built on Jamaica’s undeveloped north coast. In 1978, the founder, Abraham Issa introduced the “all-inclusive, couples-only” concept to Jamaica, and the Tower Isle was renamed, Couples Ocho Rios. The property was again renamed years later as Couples Tower Isle.

While this resort has been renovated, the art deco architecture remains.

The Pool Grill – Open for lunch and dinner as well as late night food service.

I found many things to love about this resort, but the food was definitely a highlight! There were many restaurants to choose from, however with COVID-19, not every restaurant was open every day, so we had to plan our meals out to make sure we hit as many restaurants as we could. Reservations are required for dinner at most restaurants and it was super easy to make them the app for our entire stay.

We ate most of our meals at The Patio which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They offer both a buffet (currently modified with a server plating the items you select) and an á la carte menu. Our favorite meal was at 8 Rivers. This restaurant has a glamorous 1950s era feel, serving classic food while incorporating local Jamaican and Caribbean ingredients. Reservations are required and a dress code is enforced. Dinner at The Verandah was also a treat! The website describes it as, “For those nights when you crave continental cuisine at its finest.” While it was continental cuisine, the chefs elevated it in both the fusion of flavors and presentation.

One restaurant that we did not get to try was Bayside. I heard incredible things about the casual and candle-lit Asian restaurant situated on the sea.

This resort is very romantic and great for couples celebrating their honeymoon or anniversary. They do offer nightly entertainment with live music and dance shows including resident band and cabaret performances, but the resort gets pretty quiet at night.

While there are garden view rooms, most guest rooms face the Caribbean Sea, many with views of Tower Isle. Tower Isle is a small private island for au naturel sunbathing. The beach here is small but private so you will not encounter vendors trying to sell you anything. During our stay, the water and beach were full of seaweed and there were red flag warnings, so we didn’t spend much time there. Luckily there are two pools, one with a swim-up bar that we enjoyed.

Every room features air conditioning plus a ceiling fan, private balcony or patio furnished with wide cushion seating and an outdoor table, large bathroom with a shower or tub, IPOD/MP3 player, satellite flat-screen TV, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, in-room safe, complimentary minibar that is refreshed daily, and nightly turndown service (the turndown service is currently on hold due to COVID-19). The furniture in the rooms felt a bit dated, but the rooms were clean and comfortable. The bed was so comfortable, we slept like babies.

Being a travel agent, I do have the opportunity to stay at a variety of resorts. Couples Tower Isle is now one of my favorites. The hotel itself felt special with its art deco architecture. The views were incredible and the staff was lovely! This resort felt like home to me. I think it is a great choice for a couple looking for a quiet, relaxing getaway.

To see more of this resort and the other Couples Resorts I visited on this trip, visit my YouTube channel and if you are ready to plan your next vacation, contact me here.

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