Hi ,

I would be keeping you in the dark if I didn't email to you about a few Black Friday sales that I feel like are excellent values. Most of them are available to book with me starting today, a few not until actual Black Friday.

Here's a list of the ones I consider worth a look.

• Azamara has many (not all) of their sailings from now until the end of 2023 on a solid sale with 20% off the fare, up to $1000 of onboard credit (OBC) and an upgraded premium beverage package. I have also wrangled an opportunity for a courtesy dinner in the ship's specialty restaurant for booking today through Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving). You can hit replay and ask, I'll send a complete list of sailings that are available with this offer. Azamara pretty much covers the world, you'll find something you like on their list, I'm betting!
• If you like expedition/adventure travel to places like the Artic, Antartica, Iceland, Alaska, the Galapagos and more we need to talk about Hurtigruten's Black Friday deal as they have about half their 2022 cruises at 35% to 50% off for a few days right now. These are wonderful smaller ship cruises that are heavy on nature and they sail to splendid, wonderful places. These will book fast!
• If you are thinking of river cruises there are are pretty decent extras being offered (some with free air fare) on both Avalon and Amawaterways, both brands I highly recommend for river cruising.
• Globus has a good many of their small group land tours on sale through the weekend, as well. Again, they pretty much cover the world. If you want to spend a week in a major city or tour a specific country these would be good options for you.

There are some other decent deals, if you are interested in a particular brand or trip reach out and I'll see what the best deal is for you over this week.

Pricey and not a good value

• I've been pricing trips to the national parks for a few clients lately. If you can go early 2022 (meaning through about mid-May) there are some decent prices but after that I see prices almost tripling for the summer. That's not worth it, to pay 3 times as much and fight the summer crowds. I don't recommend it.

Private travel

• I have several very good contacts now for pulling together completely custom trips to Ireland, including Northern Ireland. This means you and I create your trip and you have a private car with a driver/guide just for your party. The cost is surprisingly reasonable and needless to say, a delightful way to travel.

We sailed!

Bill and I sailed on the very large and brand new ship the Mardi Gras (19 decks high and almost 4 football fields long). It's a Carnival ship. We got a bit tired of the hiking from forward to aft a few times a day but the ship is beautiful, fun, has a killer thermal spa, and a wonderful "serenity" deck on 18 forward for adults only.

The specialty restaurants were beautiful and quite good, and the shows were good, including a great cover band for 70's rock that had quite a following on the ship.

If you are Florida based, want a very reasonable quickie trip somewhere to Mexico or the Caribbean without messing around with flying I can definitely get you on a Carnival ship. They sail elsewhere, of course, but this is a great option for a little getaway not far for home (for my Florida readers).

NOTE: Carnival is running vaccinated cruises and does require testing and masking, so know you must meet those requirements ahead of time.

Speaking of vaccinated and testing before travel I do not see that going away anytime soon. Plus masking, at least when you are indoors, or on a bus, in an entertainment venue, etc. Many brands are vaxxed only right now and I frankly don't see that ending at least through mid-year.

I am around this weekend and next week, these specials WILL end, so if you're thinking of taking advantage don't wait to contact me. If I look and the availability is bad or the prices have gone up for the remaining spaces I will let you know.

It's time to plan travel!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Sue Painter