​Wayfarer Travel Takes the Stress Out of Travel Planning
 
In this new year, you and your family and friends may be thinking about possibilities for your next vacation. It is almost too easy to search the Internet. How will you know that all the information you need is accessible, and how do you know the information you find is reliable and reputable? Even more important, is this the right destination or experience for you? The world is changing rapidly, and so are your travel options. A good travel counselor is your personal, knowledgeable guide to the best experiences and values.
Your Time Is Valuable
You should be excited about your next trip, not stressed trying to plan it! Reading and compiling options for flights, schedules, tours, and hotels can be time consuming. You can check reviews, but do you know if they are accurate? What if that great hotel you find is fully booked for your travel dates? Travel agents are part of a network of travel companies, hotels and cruise lines. They’ve done the research and background checks so you can relax. Travel agents have powerful research tools and booking engines to combine with professional expertise. Let your agent do the hard work for you!
Gain The Insider’s Edge
Asking Google a question is easy, but how do you make the right choice for you with all those websites clamoring for your attention? You shouldn’t have to wonder! Our well-traveled agents have the first hand experience to craft the perfect itinerary: flights, lodging, touring, and even knowing the best restaurants in the area. Experience building is our profession. We open a world of possibilities you might never know were available. Our agents start by getting to know you, your interests and preferences. We know reliable and credible companies around the world that help us plan unique experiences and get VIP treatment. That allows us to find the best match every time.
Coordinating Friends’ Travel Arrangements Becomes a Breeze
Traveling with friends, arranging travel for a group, or planning a destination wedding can be complicated. Travel agents are experts in coordinating every detail, from air and hotel reservations to activities and events.
Exclusive Offers Save You Money
Travel agents know about promotions offered exclusively by our travel partners that maximize the value you receive from your vacation budget. Your agent will pinpoint the right deal for you from offers not available anywhere else.
Expecting the Unexpected
Our world can be busy and hectic, and things don’t always go as planned. Weather delays, flight cancellations or health emergencies can threaten to derail even the most carefully planned trip. When
things go wrong, a travel agent can provide assistance, easing the burden in a stressful situation. In an emergency, local contacts can often be provided. It’s great to know you aren’t alone.
Personal Service from Planning To Homecoming
When it is time to plan your next vacation, trust your travel professional to recommend destinations and special experiences you might not find on your own. Your agent will handle all the details, provide support while you are traveling, and follow up when you return. You can rely on us for peace of mind, and to help you create an extraordinary vacation with memories that will last a lifetime.

One of the most gratifying feelings for us is hearing that the trips we have planned for multi-generational families have been satisfying. We often receive compliments, not just directly after a trip, but often years later.

Proper planning is the key ingredient for memorable trips. The destination and type of travel should speak to all generations. Here are a few of the ingredients we consider when assisting with planning. In broad terms, consideration is given to deciding on a tour, cruise or villa/resort stay for the family. The ages and interests of the group must be a starting point.

 Tours can be planned with a variety of itineraries. We’ll help choose the right destination and travel provider for the group. Several of our preferred suppliers offer tours designed for the whole family in mind. Choices are wide and varied, from experiencing historical sites and natural wonders to delving into foreign cultures or enjoying a cowboy adventure in the American West. There are many options to consider. Whatever the choice, there will be time each day for shared conversation, and stories each evening, while everyone is unplugged from their hectic lives.

 If you prefer a more intimate vacation in one location, a villa stay may be just the right venue. Private villas and condos can be arranged for families of all sizes. These accommodations often give families more flexibility to do their own thing, on their own schedule. Our connections have provided great family stays in Tuscany, for example. A recent trip we planned allowed one family to tour during the day with a pre-arranged English-speaking guide. Then, in the evenings, a chef cooked meals of their choosing at their villa.

Resort stays are another option for fun-filled, one-location vacationing. There are many all-inclusive family resorts to choose from. These resorts offer all activities and meals; usually in a lush, warm climate location. Guest rooms can be booked near or adjoining one another, with some properties offering villa-type rentals. Not every resort is ideal for certain age groups, so the experience of a knowledgeable travel agent is important.

Cruises remain ever popular for multi-generational vacationing. Some of our clients have remarked that the right family cruise has allowed them to avoid the feeling that they need another vacation to recover when they returned home. In short, they are easy. Many ships today have activities and features for every member of the family. With areas tailored for children of varying ages, from nursery to teen clubs, children can be on their own while parents enjoy their own activities. Adults’ only areas are provided on some ships. Shore excursions while in port are often unusual or experiential (like swimming with dolphins) and provide good stories to take home.

The options for family travel seem almost endless. Our clients often tell us that their trips have provided fond, lasting memories of great times spent together as a family. At Wayfarer Travel we feel great gratitude for having arranged trips for family time together. 

This time of the year for many people signals the start to search what’s new and available in the travel market as they begin to plan vacations. Many of our clients have been meeting with us already and are deep into or finished with the planning stage.

We know what is trending for the current year and beyond. Our travel advisors see new travel venues and cherished favorites that continue to please. One of these, river cruising, fits both.

While river cruising has been popular for years, it has now remarkably expanded in a couple of ways. As the strongest growth segment of the cruise market, new boats are being launched every year.
 
We like river cruises for travelers that are looking to immerse themselves more fully into destinations and prefer an all-inclusive, one-fare vacation that includes all shore excursions. Vacationers are pleasantly surprised to find fresh local food specialties, cabins and suites redesigned with more living space, larger bathrooms, panoramic cabin windows, and French balconies on some. Public areas now include upgraded lounges with panoramic views, exercise facilities, Wi-Fi coffee bars, and more.

River vessels won’t replace ocean cruising, but they have added variety to the whole cruise experience in several ways. For those looking for a change from larger ocean vessels (most river boats are less than 150 passengers), and who enjoy touring multiple ports and the no-hassle unpack once sailing experience, this is ideal. I love the small ship experience. My personal favorite activity is just wandering off the boat to tour, shop or dine leisurely in a quaint European city on my own schedule. Boats are usually docked just a few steps from the port city center. 

A new program has been developed by Celebrity Cruises that combines European river cruising with an ocean cruise. As part of the package, a pre-cruise hotel stay is often included. These packages offer 16- to 24-night itineraries. Wayfarer Travel sees this as an attractive combination and a strong alternative to planning an a la carte itinerary. There are a great number of picturesque and interesting ports along the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, and Seine rivers. Travelers may not have the opportunity to visit these inland ports on an ocean cruise. River cruising itineraries have also expanded to Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, China, Russia, and Africa.

For a cruise vacation that’s closer to home, and along the same theme, we are excited to share that there are now quality overnight sailings on the Great Lakes. On a new five star, 210-passenger ship this convenient itinerary sails from Chicago to ports in all five Great Lakes and disembarks in Montreal. It is a remarkable all-inclusive value with fine dining, sightseeing and drinks included, and, excuse the expression, “a boatload of amenities.”

    Whether well-traveled or just beginning to travel, you may be ready for                     something beyond the ordinary. Here are a few ideas that may inspire your      planning.
     Sicily is growing in popularity as a destination. As a cruise port of call it is a        favorite, but for a longer stay the island of Sicily has much to offer with             its Italian and Greek influences.   Palermo and Taormina are the most noted   ports of call, but a longer visit is an enjoyable variation to see more     recommend sampling other regions of the island with day trips and time for a relaxing beach holiday. 

Villa stays are an especially enjoyable way to experience Sicily, traveling with friends and family, with accommodations for just a couple or up to 24 people. Hillside villas offer views that movies are made from. Being close to small village towns brings a chance to sample the Sicilian character, with its sights, culture, scenery, and of course its exceptional food traditions. Private tours with English speaking guides can be pre-arranged. Help with restaurant reservations in Sicilian restaurants with delicious dishes are available as are hotel stays with comfortable rooms overlooking sweeping coastlines or views of famous Mount Etna.

 In recent years, tourism in Iceland has greatly increased. A trip to this Land of the Midnight Sun has much to add to a Northern European itinerary. Our specialty office in Iceland is great at helping with unique experiences. Northern cruise routes are including Reykjavik, the capital, as a port of call in combination with fjord cruising itineraries. By land or sea, Iceland may not be what you expect. The climate is temperate year round, with four distinct seasons. The Northern Lights, Mother Nature's light show bringing brilliant colorful skies, begins in the fall, along with art and music festivals. Nature provides its own attractions for all. Outdoor activities are numerous: hiking, fishing, river rafting, horse trekking, whale-watching, skiing, and snowmobiling. Iceland is noted for its rugged scenery, unique lava field formations, glaciers, waterfalls, flowers, and hot springs. Be sure to bring a camera! Geothermal springs host visitors for warm water swimming year round, highlighted by the famous Blue Lagoon swim on New Year’s and year round.

Reykjavik offers a variety of hotels, from luxury class to more moderate categories. Our Ensemble affiliation offers travelers top-rated hotels with special amenities in Reykjavik and other cities. Warm welcomes are numerous, as Iceland is noted for its friendly people, vibrant nightlife, and culinary adventures from fine dining to cafes and bistros. 

Combining a cruise with something out of the ordinary appeals to frequent cruisers who are looking for something different. Perhaps you haven't taken a river cruise – the fastest growing segment in cruising. These all-inclusive vacations can be designed to add a pre or post-departure stay in any number of interesting and relaxing locations. Say, for example, you are joining a river cruise in France. You may choose to add an extension to your cruise with a stay in a preferred hotel in Paris.

Arrangements can be pre-planned for private tours with your interests in mind, for touring that is out of the ordinary: cultural, religious, fashion, or even cooking classes. Private and unique experiences can also be designed for extended city stays worldwide. In Rome, for example, I like the private tour of the Sistine Chapel after hours.


There are numerous ways to make your trip extra special or simply just relaxing.

Happy Traveling,

Laura




 


 






 

 




 



 

As your travel professionals, our best feelings come from helping you discover places you have only dreamed about. We  look forward to helping you find  travel experiences that allow  you to explore other cultures and  people, tasting new and different  cuisines, and having exciting  and challenging adventures that make you feel  alive. Whether well traveled or just beginning to  travel, you may be ready for something beyond  the ordinary. Here are a few ideas that may inspire  your planning.  

Sicily is growing in popularity as a destination. As  a cruise port of call it is a favorite, but for a longer  stay the island of Sicily has much to offer with its  Italian and Greek influences.  Palermo and Taormina are the  most noted ports of call, but  a longer visit is an enjoyable  variation. We recommend  sampling other regions of  the island with day trips and  time for a relaxing beach  holiday. Villa stays are an  especially enjoyable way to  experience Sicily, traveling  with friends and family, with  accommodations for just a  couple or up to 24 people.  Hillside villas offer views that  movies are made from. Being  close to small village towns brings a chance to sample  the Sicilian character,  with its sights, culture,  scenery, and of course  its exceptional food  traditions.   Private tours with  English speaking guides  can be pre-arranged.  We help with restaurant  reservations in Sicilian  restaurants with delicious  dishes, hotel stays with  comfortable rooms  overlooking sweeping  coastlines or views of  famous Mount Etna.
   
In recent years, tourism in Iceland has greatly  increased. A trip to this Land of the Midnight Sun  has much to add to a Northern European itinerary.  Our specialty office in Iceland is great at helping  with unique experiences. Northern cruise routes are  including Reykjavik, the capital, as a port of call in  combination with fjord cruising itineraries. By land or  sea, Iceland may not be what you expect. The climate  is temperate year round, with four distinct seasons.   The Northern Lights, Mother Nature's light show  bringing brilliant colorful skies, begins in the fall,  along with art and music festivals. Nature provides  its own attractions for all. Outdoor activities are  numerous: hiking, fishing, river rafting, horse  trekking, whale-watching, skiing, and snowmobiling.  Iceland is noted for its rugged scenery, unique lava  field formations, glaciers, waterfalls, flowers, and  hot springs. Be sure to bring a camera! Geothermal  Owner’s Column springs host visitors for warm water swimming year  round, highlighted by the famous Blue Lagoon swim  on New Year’s and year round.   
Reykjavik offers a variety of hotels, from luxury  class to more moderate categories. Our Ensemble  affiliation offers travelers top-rated hotels with  special amenities in Reykjavik and other cities.  Warm welcomes are numerous, as Iceland is noted  for its friendly people, vibrant nightlife, and culinary  adventures from fine dining to cafes and bistros.   Combining a cruise with something out of the  ordinary appeals to frequent cruisers who are looking  for something different. Perhaps you haven't taken a  river cruise – the fastest growing segment in cruising.  These all-inclusive vacations can be designed to  add a pre- or post-departure stay in any number of  interesting and relaxing locations. Say, for example,  you are joining a river cruise in France. You may  choose to add an extension to your cruise with a stay  in a preferred hotel in Paris. We'll arrange private  tours with your interests in mind, for touring that is  out of the ordinary: cultural, religious, fashion, or  even cooking classes. Private and unique experiences  can also be designed for extended city stays  worldwide. In Rome, for example, we can arrange a  private tour of the Sistine Chapel after hours.   There are numerous ways to make your trip extra  special or simply relaxing. Our specialty offices  throughout the world offer expert help in working  with Wayfarer to plan the trip you've dreamed of, or  even one you never thought possible. Give us a call  when you're ready and we will make it happen.   Happy Traveling,