Dear TA’s,

I have spent years talking about travel to foreign countries and now I’d like to spend some time focusing on domestic travel in the US.

As we know, many people don’t have a current passport. With current demand, it will take at least 12 weeks to get or update one. Another factor in favor of domestic travel is that not all people are vaccinated, nor do they want to go through Covid testing before traveling. So, what is a travel agent supposed to do? Judging their reasons is definitely not the answer – but guiding them to a super vacation within the US is!

In my opinion, Florida is very hot and humid during the summertime, and can have lots of rain and the chance of hurricanes. I prefer the West Coast, and more specifically, the South Coast. (Those who read my blog last week know how I feel about Los Angeles and San Francisco – it’s dirty, with much graffiti, full of homeless people, and not as safe as used to be.)  

For those from out of state who want to fly to the South Coast, I recommend flying into Orange County airport; John Wayne SNA (airport code). For families with young kids I highly recommend the Renaissance ClubSport Aliso Viejo Laguna Beach Hotel. The theme park that the hotel offers is safe and monitored by a lifeguard (for most of the day). There is a kids’ camp for 3-12-year-olds, a restaurant, coffee shop, and a great space by the pool for coffee/booze and snacks for adults. 

The hotel offers:

Top of the line fitness club facility, full service spa, 3 outdoors pools, plus indoor Jacuzzis for men and women in their fitness facility, free water park (so much fun, I felt I was on a cruise), children’s pool, playground on site, babysitting or childcare (with a surcharge), children’s club (with a surcharge). 

Breakfast or dinner can be included in your rate. A nice shopping area with all kind of food and shops is one mile away. Clients can easily walk there or take an Uber or cab from the hotel. 

The experience here is a fun family, kid-friendly resort and I highly recommend it! 

For more details, feel free to reach out to me. I am happy to share more information and contacts. 

Enjoy the US and the beauty of our country!

Cheers!

Follow me at
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear TA’s,

If you are looking for good weather in the low 70s, good hotels for a reasonable price, beautiful beaches, great restaurants and darling towns, I highly recommend coming to Carlsbad, Encinitas and Oceanside California.

It is so different from the Los Angeles area, where graffiti and homeless people dominate the landscape. These adorable south coast cities offer a much more pleasant experience of what California is all about.

For those who enjoy theme parks, Carlsbad offers Lego Land. I stayed at the Westin in Carlsbad next to Lego Land and even though I did not go to the park, I enjoyed the resort at the hotel, and it was practically kid free.

At Oceanside I highly recommend going to Orfila Vineyards Tasting Room and Kitchen. Priced at only $20 per tasting they offered great wines, and delicious food. Since you are indulging, go next door for the most decadent doughnuts: Parlor Doughnuts (those who are gluten free or vegan will not feel neglected!)

Don’t miss the beach in Oceanside, just a couple of blocks from the Tasting Room and doughnut shop.

Breakfast and beach are the right combination for a fun day in Encinitas. There are many choices of restaurants and delis, for all tastes. Just take Highway 101, park somewhere and walk around. Find the place that looks most fun to you. Don’t forget to browse those cute knick-knack shops.

Come visit the South Coast of California, good wine is waiting for you!

Cheers!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear TAs,

You should advise your clients to book their future travel now.  If they (or you!) are planning a vacation, holiday travel, and even a business trip, consider reserving flights right now.

Increased demand for flights is a very positive sign for the travel industry, but there are several reasons why there may soon be a shortage of available flights, resulting in higher prices and seat shortages.

With the increase in vaccinations and the loosening of travel restrictions worldwide, airlines have suddenly been overwhelmed with large numbers of leisure passengers eager to escape it all. They’re headed to beaches, mountains, theme parks, and to visit family and friends they have missed seeing throughout the pandemic.

Even without the normal number of business travelers as in years past, U.S. airlines are finding themselves with load capacity on domestic flights comparable to those of 2019; pre-pandemic. 

Right now, business and international travel are still down around 70% from 2019 levels. This will be changing now that the list of countries welcoming Americans continues to grow. With increased demand, ticket prices are rising from their pandemic lows, but have not yet reached 2019 ticket prices. This too could change quickly.

Many airline employees were let go or took early retirement as a result of the pandemic. Airlines are dealing with a pilot shortage. Larger airlines that operate several types of aircraft and are coping with limited flight simulator time to retrain their pilots on different aircraft. The shortage of pilots who are up to date in their training may affect flight scheduling during the second half of this year. The demand for trained airline personnel such as pilots, mechanics and other technicians is expected to negatively impact ticket prices for several years.

Another factor that will affect ticket prices is rising fuel prices. Mid-June, the per-gallon price for jet fuel was more than four times higher than at its lowest point during the pandemic, late April 2020. Fuel and labor are airlines’ biggest expenses, and when they go up, higher fares often follow.

So, if you want to travel during the holidays, don’t wait a minute more. You and your clients should purchase your airline tickets now, otherwise you’ll be missing a great trip.

See you somewhere, soon!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com

Dear TAs,

The pandemic surely knocked the cruise industry for a loop. In the first days, there were passengers and crew who were stranded. By the summer months, cruise ships were completely docked and no one was sailing anywhere. Cruise lines were suffering financially, and some ships were even sold for scrap to bring in money.

COVID-19 caused the loss of thousands of jobs, and millions of dollars in the cruise industry, but finally, ships are sailing once again. In order to say afloat, it is essential that ships, crew and passengers stay Covid free.

The Celebrity Edge was he first ship to sail from the U.S., but before that, the MSC Grandiosa sailed from Genoa, Italy in August 2020. Cruises from Italy have continued to sail since then, as well as from other European destinations including Spain, Croatia and Malta.

May brought the start of UK “staycation” cruises which were confined to UK waters and ports. Similarly, in Singapore, Royal Caribbean launched “cruises to nowhere.” The Celebrity Millennium is currently sailing the Caribbean.

It is expected that 49% of cruise ships will be sailing by the end of September 2021, and by the end of 2022, all ships will be operating.

For current sailings, cruise ships can sail if 95% of the crew and paying passengers are fully vaccinated, which meets the requirements of the CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO). Passengers are required to fill out a health questionnaire form and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

On the first cruise from the U.S. since the pandemic, the Celebrity Edge set sail with 95% of guests fully vaccinated, and an almost a 100% vaccinated crew. There were only 1,200 passengers on a ship that normally carries just over 3,000 passengers. It was important to Celebrity that guests had an experience as close to a pre-pandemic cruise as possible – a real vacation. The ship’s horn was blown each evening to shop that hope floats, and that it can and will rise again.

Looking forward to seeing you on a cruise in the near future!

Follow me at:
Facebook @travelwithrosana
Instagram @travelwithrosana
Blogs @ http://www.travelwithrosana.com