by Linda Lang | Oct 6, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Europe’s spectacular Christmas Markets glistening beneath the snow-covered Alps, snow-banked streets lined with festive shops, ancient city squares filled with Christmas stalls brimming with handmade toys and crafted gifts, aromas of freshly baked gingerbread and carolers’ voices filling the chilled air… it’s a magical holiday season that has illuminated European cities for hundreds of years.
Nothing will immerse you in the holiday spirit like an escorted Insight Vacations Christmas Holiday Guided Tour featuring luxury hotels, latest transportation pluses, skilled tour experts and local staff focused on immersing you in holiday spirit and making sure your itinerary complies with all Covid safety guides. You’ll explore bustling holiday markets in cities such as Nuremberg, Vienna, Strasbourg, and Budapest. From hand-blown glass ornaments and handcrafted toys to nutcrackers and dollhouses, you can browse through unique goods festively displayed in endless rows of elaborately- decorated stalls while savoring hot mulled wine, warm gingerbread and merry strains of carolers.
Insight Vacations’ 9-Day Tour of France, Germany and Austria’s Christmas Markets takes you to the Munich Christmas Market, Salzburg’s beneath snowcapped spires, and famed festivities in Innsbruck. Local experts bring Mozart’s history to life during an indulgent Salzburg tasting highlighted with hand-baked gingerbread. Culinary delights continue with a traditional Innsbruck dining experience against the backdrop of a local Tyrolean folk show. Freiburg’s Christmas Market converts the historic city center into a large Christmas village of more than 100 wooden houses brimming with seasonal gifts and crafts. Fairytale scenes of the oldest Christmas Market in France are highlighted by Strasbourg’s 300+ holiday stalls, colorful streams of twinkling lights, dazzling shows and concerts, and its Great Christmas Tree.
Christmas Markets of Austria & Bavaria is an 8-day guided tour of Europe’s Top Christmas Markets in the snowcapped Austrian
Alps with a memorable visit of Vienna’s Schöenbrunn Palace, Salzburg’s 500-year-old Christmas Market, and Munich’s majestic six-story tall Christmas tree. Enjoy a mug or two of Glühwein at the Innsbruck Christmas Market before indulging in an exclusive horse and carriage ride through the romantic streets of Old Town or tour the sparkling world of Swarovski Crystal. In Neuschwanstein, tour of the fairytale castle that reputedly inspired Walt Disney.
Europe’s Merry 8-Day Tour Across Poland, Germany & The Czech Republic highlights Prague, Krakow, and Berlin. Ascend Wawel Hill to the 10th century Renaissance Castle, final resting place of the kings of Poland. Known as the Venice of Poland, Wrocław’s 150 bridges spanning five rivers and twelve islands are breathtaking to behold as is the Baroque grandeur of the Rynek Christmas markets. In the German capital, you can see the remains of the Berlin Wall, painstakingly-restored Reichstag, and soak up the festive magic of the market stalls of Gendarmenmarkt square.
Click here for details on all Insight Vacations’ 2021 and 2022 European Christmas Market Tours or call 888-942-3301 to speak directly to a travel expert.
by Linda Lang | Aug 9, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Minister Castle, York
Great news for all U.S. and European travelers waiting to get back to the U.K.! As of August 2, fully FDA- or EMA-vaccinated travelers can once again explore the historic treasures of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. However, you still need to travel with care and maintain constant awareness of all things you encounter now and in the foreseeable future.
Cardiff Castle, Wales
Excellent opportunities are offered by Insight Vacations Guided Tours that allow you to relax and focus upon enjoying your trip instead of worrying about everything you touch. Not only do these itineraries feature the best of each destination. Each is accompanied by a Well-Being Director who stays current with the latest regulations from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local authorities. She/he also monitors daily health checks of all guests, the Insight Travel Director and Driver as well as daily sanitizing of the coach. She/he also checks all hotels, restaurants and other venues freeing you to immerse yourself in the wealth of discoveries and pleasures of each day.
Edinburg skyline
If you have not participated in a top quality guided tour, now is the ideal time to consider it. You’ll not only experience the ultimate area dining and highlights. You’ll quickly succumb to the stress-free freedom and level of luxury perks throughout. And Covid is still with us. You don’t want to question everything you do, touch and consume. Secondly, Insight Vacations has 100 years of experience providing some of the most highly-acclaimed luxury sightseeing in the travel industry. Forget those long lines at world-famous museums and attractions. There are also private events not accessible to the public.
Costwold, England
Insight Vacations knows all the best hotels, dining, shopping, and most interesting places to experience. They pace the day to allow you time to relax and explore on your own. And there is nothing more welcome after an afternoon of visiting Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-on-Avon, Edinburgh Castle, or exploring the streets of Dublin than to simply disembark from your luxury coach, find your luggage waiting in your room, and enjoy a leisurely evening of fine wining and dining.
If you are a little concerned about future travel, relax. Currently, if you book an Insight Vacations tour and cancel for any reason within 30 days of deposit, you’ll receive a full refund.
Tower Bridge, London
Check out all the current Insight Vacations UK tours at Best of Britain Guided Tour | Insight Vacations, Country Roads of Scotland Guided Tour | Insight Vacations or Country Roads of Ireland Guided Tour | Insight Vacations or Country Roads of Ireland Guided Tour | Insight Vacations
Photos courtesy of Insight Vacations
by Linda Lang | Jul 22, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Ala Moana Regional Park, Honolulu, Oahu. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority / Akira Kumagai
U.S. travelers fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 can now bypass Hawaii’s 10-day mandatory quarantine with accepted proof of vaccination confirming two shots of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine plus 15 days after the last dose and creating a mandatory Safe Travels account at https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel
Accepted documents include a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card; printed copy of your VAMS (Vaccination Administration Management System); Department of Defense DD Form 2766C; a SMART Health Card with your vaccine record; or proof of vaccination provided by a doctor/medical provider or authorized Covid-19 vaccination administrator.
Trans-Pacific travelers and returning residents WITHOUT proof of vaccination must remain in the Oahu Testing Program and test with a Trusted Testing Partner 72 hours in advance of the last leg of their trip to bypass quarantine.
This information was announced July 7 by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. For further details, visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/ and https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/ or call 1-800-GOHAWAII (1-800-464-2924).
by Linda Lang | Jun 30, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Well before the June 14 removal of Covid-19 restrictions, planes, Air B&Bs, and vacation rentals began selling out for the balance of 2021 and well into next year. Anticipation, desperation – whatever the reasoning – Americans are determined to break free from the Confines of Covid and are planning ahead in massive numbers.
While airline travel is one of the safest ways of getting from one place to another, unfortunately too many short tempers are resulting in onboard passenger violence. Yelling, fist fights, assaults on passengers, crew members and other acts jeopardizing the safety of everyone onboard have become a major problem. In a few cases, pilots have had to make unscheduled landings to remove unmanageable passengers. Since the beginning of the year, airlines have reported a record 3,000 incidents, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. During the entire prior decade, FAA investigations only totaled around 140 cases annually. Understandably, demands are fast rising to get this unprecedented situation under control before it worsens.
That being said, commercial flights are still by far one of the safest modes of travel. As of today, masks are still required from airport entrance to exiting the destination airport. HEPA-filtered air captures 99 percent of airborne microbes, and re-circulated filtered air also increases cabin humidity. These filters have the same standards as those required by hospitals, making airlines the best form of commercial transportation today. And the filthier a HEPA filter becomes, the more effective it gets – especially reassuring for passengers on larger jets.
Tray tables, seatbelt buckles, seatbacks, video screens, armrests, window shades, doors and overhead bin handles are all disinfected prior to boarding. High-contact airport surfaces i.e. ticket counters, seating area, kiosks, etc. are frequently sanitized, but as a rule, we still recommend wearing gloves as well as masks until seated aboard the aircraft. Some carriers also allow you to scan your boarding pass at a kiosk in many U.S. airports to print your baggage tags.
Be aware that food and beverage service is temporarily suspended or quite limited as determined by each carrier, flight departure, duration, and destination. Due to irresponsible passenger behavior, alcohol is currently limited or restricted by many carriers. Check at the time of reservation. Same rules apply if you want to prepare to bring aboard your own snacks and soft drinks.
Despite any inconveniences, plane seats are selling fast. If you are even thinking of booking a flight, check availability now. Also, remember, Covid-19 will be with us for a while. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov requirements and recommendations before finalizing any travel plans. Also check with your destination.
by Linda Lang | May 24, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Look for events i.e. Big Bear’s Wine Walk last held in 2019 to return in the near future. Photo by Greg Zook
As vaccinations rise and Covid restrictions decline, the travel industry is exploding with special offers over the next 18 months in almost every sector. Initially, airline seats unexpectedly sold at greatly-reduced then markedly-increased fares as those who could wait no longer were booking tickets to anywhere vacant seats would take them. Totally unexpected? Yes and no. There are those who think they are invincible and willing to risk anything to desegregate. Any possible consequences are for other folks. All that aside….
Vacation homes, B&Bs and other short-term single property rentals began selling early while most hotels remained nearly or completely shut down. It makes sense seeing that the use of masks and social distancing is just occasional and people are free from the 24-hour confines of all-too-familiar settings. Families and close friends can actually see one another smile again — in person — watching the sunset shimmering on the waters from a beachfront or lakeside setting, exploring mountain villages and forests from a cozy cabin, enjoying golf from their fairway condo, exploring small towns from country houses or city attractions from condos — with many being pet friendly. They can dine together, laugh, and hug. If cooking in rental kitchens becomes tiresome, they can bring back take-out or try a new recommended restaurant patio.
With 65% of Americans currently having at least one shot and new cases markedly decreased, we can expect domestic travel to open up far more quickly than international. To expedite the numbers vaccinated and continuing toward our goal of herd immunity, a potpourri of incentives is being offered to the unvaccinated by various levels of local governments, industries, and businesses. United, American, Delta and Southwest airlines have launched sweepstakes giveaways. MBL teams are aboard with free Yankees and Mets tickets, and the NFL is giving away tickets to Super Bowl LVI. Some states are offering lotteries and drawings with jackpots up to $5 million. Locally, look for free fries, pizza, donuts, beer, and discounts to restaurants, movies and sporting events. Even dry cleaners and clothing shops are participating. Check your local media.
Before planning any international travel, check reliable sources i.e. COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination | CDC. Many countries are still far from safe. Verify their status, arrival restrictions and other conditions before purchasing that airline ticket.
Stay tuned as we continue our post-Covid luxury travel news, updates, and special offers!!!
by Linda Lang | Mar 2, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Outdoor dining in Chinatown
Okay. You’ve decided to venture beyond the mailbox. You’re comfortable with contact-free restaurant pick-up, home delivery, and a favorite trusted drive-thru or two. The news keeps updating us 24/7 on the progress of vaccination availability and statistics. We’re still in the early recovery stages and herd immunity is months away. Still, you’ve got to start getting out of the house, and it’s finally the time to start taking baby steps reasonably and safely.
Before making any desired or impulsive decisions, keep your anti-Covid mindset sharp and do your research before planning anything specific. Be aware of the latest anti-Covid requirements and don’t hesitate to ask questions when contacting each place of interest.
At the time of this writing, we do not any recommend inside dining. Eating outside and socially-distanced from the next table minimizes the risks. In addition to requiring patio, rooftop or other outside settings, be sure they offer the minimal six-foot spacing or plastic dividers separating tables, disinfection of tables and chairs after each seating, and a masked hospitality and wait staff. Before giving an eatery a pass, also ask how often frequently-touched surfaces such as door plates or handles, light switches, railings, waiting area furnishings, and bathrooms are sanitized. This varies with the amount of traffic and should be done at least once for single shifts and minimal guests to more scheduled sanitations for longer hours and larger numbers of customers.
Here’s a basic checklist:
- Does the host or hostess greeting you wear a mask?
- Does he or she take your temperature and require masks before allowing you to enter?
- Do all employees have their temperature tested before every work shift?
- Do all employees wear masks?
- Does the restaurant provide paper menus? If not, are menus thoroughly sanitized after each use?
- Do they sanitize chair backs, arms and seat frames; table sides as well as tops; salt and pepper sets, mustard and ketchup bottles and any other tabletop items after each seating?
- How often are the restrooms, hand rails, door plates/knobs, and any other common area features disinfected? (This can range from daily to hourly, depending upon the size of the establishment, number of customers, etc.)
Many establishments have their anti-Covid policies online for your convenience. Just be sure to ask the restaurant to confirm that they follow everything listed on their site. Don’t hesitate to ask if something is not clear to you.
Always carry a bottle of hand sanitizer to use after reading menus, touching salt shakers, ketchup bottles or any other table items. Do this regardless of what precautions the restaurant has taken. Watch where your hands go and always sanitize them before picking up a roll from the bread basket, touching the silverware, your drinking glass or cup, or anything else headed toward your mouth. And when you return from a restroom break, always sanitize again AFTER you sit down and use your hands to pull your chair up to the table.
Restaurants should always require you to wear a mask to enter/leave the establishment and at your table when the waiter or service staff approach. Regardless, always practice both whenever dining out.
Nothing will immerse you in the holiday spirit like an escorted Insight Vacations Christmas Holiday Guided Tour featuring luxury hotels, latest transportation pluses, skilled tour experts and local staff focused on immersing you in holiday spirit and making sure your itinerary complies with all Covid safety guides. You’ll explore bustling holiday markets in cities such as Nuremberg, Vienna, Strasbourg, and Budapest. From hand-blown glass ornaments and handcrafted toys to nutcrackers and dollhouses, you can browse through unique goods festively displayed in endless rows of elaborately- decorated stalls while savoring hot mulled wine, warm gingerbread and merry strains of carolers.
Insight Vacations’ 9-Day Tour of France, Germany and Austria’s Christmas Markets takes you to the Munich Christmas Market, Salzburg’s beneath snowcapped spires, and famed festivities in Innsbruck. Local experts bring Mozart’s history to life during an indulgent Salzburg tasting highlighted with hand-baked gingerbread. Culinary delights continue with a traditional Innsbruck dining experience against the backdrop of a local Tyrolean folk show. Freiburg’s Christmas Market converts the historic city center into a large Christmas village of more than 100 wooden houses brimming with seasonal gifts and crafts. Fairytale scenes of the oldest Christmas Market in France are highlighted by Strasbourg’s 300+ holiday stalls, colorful streams of twinkling lights, dazzling shows and concerts, and its Great Christmas Tree.
Alps with a memorable visit of Vienna’s Schöenbrunn Palace, Salzburg’s 500-year-old Christmas Market, and Munich’s majestic six-story tall Christmas tree. Enjoy a mug or two of Glühwein at the Innsbruck Christmas Market before indulging in an exclusive horse and carriage ride through the romantic streets of Old Town or tour the sparkling world of Swarovski Crystal. In Neuschwanstein, tour of the fairytale castle that reputedly inspired Walt Disney.
