Hi ,

This coming Tuesday evening my friends at Azamara are hosting a virtual wine tasting and a talk about discovering the world with wines. They've even got two recommendations for you about which wine to bring to the virtual event. Should be super-fun!

There's no charge to attend, but you do have to register at this link (hit the button below).

Wine Tasting!

About passports

Your documentation for travel is ever more important. Please don't wait until you want to travel to decide to get a passport and your enhanced driver's license. Get them both now if you don't already have them. If you plan to travel internationally invest also in your Global Entry. Make it easy for yourself as almost all countries, airlines, cruise lines, and tour operators are requiring more traveler documentation these days.

• Make SURE that your passport expiration date is at least 6 months after the date you return home from an international trip, as most countries require this for entry into the country.
• Make SURE that your bookings for airlines, cruises, and tours use the exact name that matches your travel documents.
• Just because YOUR STATE has delayed requiring that you get your enhanced driver's license doesn't mean your tour operator or cruise line won't require it!

Train trips in the US

I've been getting a few dozen questions about train trips, which can be really fun and no driving for you! Bill and I have been thinking about doing one of them, in fact. You can do planned itineraries through Amtrak Vacations and through Rocky Mountaineer.

Train travel was actually the very first way that Americans got to visit our national parks back in time, as there were not yet roads to drive on. So visiting Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon, or Glacier by train - the rails still exist and you get to see country that is not along the highways. If you are interested in a train trip let me know and we'll figure out the best timing for you. Most of these are one way - meaning you would fly home from your destination. A few longer itineraries are round trip from major cities like New York.

Update about vaccinations

Almost every day I get an email from a tour operator (land or sea) that reminds me that they are requiring proof of vaccination for their guests. I'd say 80% are now requiring proof, so hold tight to your little white vaccination cards. Will this requirement drop over time? Probably it will drop sometime in 2023, but in the meanwhile consider your vaccine proof just as important as your passport and enhanced driver's license. All travel vendors have lost millions of dollars in the past year and they are dead set on making sure covid doesn't shut them down as they resume operations.

You can find me at sue@travelchangeslife.com or 941-720-1842.

Sue Painter

PS Word to the wise about flights. You can book 'em, pay for 'em, and then expect them to change! Flight schedules are completely nuts right now. Try not to fly on a trip where you have to make connections. And keep up with the changes which sometimes occur ON the day of travel.

I do not book freestanding (air only) tickets for domestic or international trips. It's not in your best interests to book freestanding air tickets through me (or anywhere else) because you can make changes faster in the moment if you have to. If you would like my advice about the best routing for your flights I will research routing for a flat $50 charge and provide my best advice regarding airlines, routing, airports, and realistic connection times. I never, ever recommend that you book a nonrefundable flight.