Ann’s Adventures has been doing group travel across Michigan, the United States, and the world for years. We specialize in making you feel like part of our family, you will feel right at home with us.
We are a family owned MICHIGAN based company. We have always been and remain committed to the economic success of our local economies. Ann’s Adventures focuses on group travel as a way to provide folks an opportunity to travel a planned itinerary with others who enjoy the same destinations.
With our experience, knowledge, and contacts, we have the expertise to create unique interesting and budget-friendly group tours. Each will be planned around cultural, historical, sports or musical themes that you can identify with.
Thank you all for your suggestions and ideas. I am a firm believer that traveling provides social, educational, physical, mental, spiritual and nutritional needs that all of us should experience to enhance our lives. I know you have all enriched my life. Thank-you!
The Pride of America cruise ship in Hawaii March 2020
We do business DIFFERENTLY. You will work directly with the owner throughout the entire process. Ann will listen to your needs to help you book the right group trip for you and your family and friends.
Ann’s Adventures is committed to creating safe, high-quality, affordable tours- and memories to last a lifetime.
Ann’s Thoughts and Comments…
Please check out the information in the Trip Tips page regarding your ID for traveling both in the country and internationally. As things continue to change, we need to keep aware and be prepared! Let me know if you have questions!
Thanks go to all those who come and help with the monthly newsletter. It takes a lot of people to get these newsletters folded, taped and labeled. I sure could not do it without your help!
Thanks to all of you who continue to spread the word about Ann’s Adventures. Your support has helped to build this company each year. We continue to grow. We now have about 4,000 people in our data base. I am delighted that so many people are enjoying traveling to so many different places. This is an amazing adventure for me as I continue to meet new people and go new places!
IT’S MAY !!!
My friends,
I hope you are all well and staying healthy. Here is another letter that consists mostly of updates. Many trips I have been
able to reschedule for later in the year. Some will be rescheduled next year. I am also working on other new trips for 2021. As I
continue to receive updates from theatres, museums, restaurants and hotels, we are trying to get the news out to you. We have made
many phone calls in order to keep you updated. In case there is a trip you have signed up for and you have not received a call from
us, it could be we don’t have a valid phone number for you!
Thanks for your patience as we attempt to get refunds issued. Please remember that I may have to wait for refunds to be returned
to me from the theatres, museums, etc in order to send you the refund. Most are telling me 30 to 60 days as they have many
groups as well as individuals to send refunds to and it is a time consuming thing to track all the payments and prepare the refunds.
We are keeping detailed records of your payments, what is being transferred and what is being refunded.
You have options for the many trips that were cancelled or rescheduled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. You can receive a
refund, move your money to another trip or leave it on account for a yet unknown trip.
I totally understand your concerns about travel right now. It is the same for everyone for any trip. The trips scheduled for later this
year are still unknown as to the status. So many things could change by then. I’m hoping all will be well for the entire country. We
could be in turmoil as people continue to spread the virus. They could have a vaccine by then. We are in uncharted territory at this time.
As the past few weeks have shown me, most venues (locations) are being very cautious and are cancelling the shows, the art
exhibits, the flights, the hotels in order to keep us all safe. This week there have been several cancellations for May and June. So, I
am dealing with those trips right now. We are hopeful the trips will take place this fall. Rest assured I have local contacts in all the
states we will be visiting and am keeping track of the situation in each state. I would not take a group into an unsafe situation. I am
taking it month by month. The closure of the border to Canada has now been extended to the end of May.
I will continue to do trip updates. We call everyone on the status of each cancelled trip.
Ann
Breakfast Club……. ON HOLD !!
The Breakfast Club meets the first Friday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the Bob Evans in Birch Run. It is a great opportunity to get together with friends, ask questions of Ann, or make suggestions for future trips. Some people use this opportunity to meet potential roommates or meet up with others that they have met on previous trips. Upcoming dates are March 6th, April 3rd, and May 1st, 2020. I hope to see you there! Breakfast is on your own. No reservations are needed, just come and join us! Restaurants are currently closed !!
Romeos – Rowdy Old Men Eating Out……. ON HOLD !!
Join us for lunch and lively discussion at noon. Lunch is ‘on your own’. The Romeo’s meet each month as follows: March 12, 2020 at Roxie’s in Montrose; March 26, 2020 at Culver’s in Birch Run and April 16, 2020 at Joe’s Garage in Clio. No reservations needed, just come! Wear your plaid shirt and look for the rowdy guys! Restaurants are currently closed !!
Travel Club Networking Meeting
The next Travel Club Networking Meeting will be held on June 24th, 2020. The meeting will be held at our office at 172 W Vienna Street in downtown Clio at 2:00 p.m. Parking is available behind the building as well as across the street. All are welcome to attend and contribute to the conversation. I am always anxious to listen to your thoughts about trip destinations and continue to add new day trips each month. I will be able to answer questions, talk about upcoming trips and listen to your suggestions for future destinations.
Travel Club Networking Meetings are held three times a year to allow people to provide ideas for future trips, meet with other travelers and get first-hand information about upcoming trips. They are generally held in February, June and October.
This is assuming the “stay at home order” has been lifted.
Become a STAR!
I offer a special program for frequent travelers. You can become a “STAR” which stands for Special Travel Adventure Rate! For only 36.00 per year you can become a STAR! As a result, every trip you sign up for will be 6.00 less in cost. Therefore, if you travel at least 6 times in a year, you will have made your money back and for every trip after that you come out ahead!
Acceptable Forms of ID
Michigan is enacting a federally acceptable for of ID in offering a REAL Michigan Drivers License. This will be in effect by October 1st 2020. The REAL ID will be required for flying within the United States, entry into certain federal properties, entering nuclear facilities and military basses.
If you have a enhanced Michigan Drivers Licenses, it is already compliant and allows entry into the US by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean without a passport.
To fly into US from anywhere-including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, And the Caribbean, You must have a passport.
A passport is acceptable ID for any type of air flight to go anywhere. It is also acceptable for entry into certain federal facilities and entering nuclear facilities and military bases. It cannot be used as a drivers licenses
Please Check your driver’s licenses and your passport for their expiration dates.
The Right ID Michigan Driver’s licenses has a star in the upper right hand corner. The Enhanced Michigan Driver’s License has a American flag in the upper right hand corner. This is a good way to tell the difference in what you have.
Regarding passports…
Passports are available at the Clio post office by appointment. Call 810-686-0810 to schedule your appointment. You need your birth certificate with a raised seal to apply for one. They are good for ten years. The post office can take your picture or you can get a passport photo taken at another location such as Walgreen’s or Rite Aid. If you live in another city, check your local post office for their passport hours, They may vary from post office to post office.
Snowbirds… Or those who head north for summer… Please take note!
The post office does not forward bulk mail. If you want to receive the newsletter and are heading south for any length of time, please let me know. You have a couple of options. You can receive the newsletter via email- then you can get it wherever you are. You can call and give me a winter address and let me know how long you will be gone. Or you can have the newsletter stopped. You can call and resume it in the spring. Newsletters are returned to me as undelivered if you have your mail forwarded. This is costly. Thanks for your help!
W…ings for Travel
Preparations for a trip of any duration takes time. I am encouraging everyone to think about preparing yourselves as well as your clothes, What to pack, and what should be in your carryon! Time to spread your wings!
1. Waking: Every trip requires an early start. Begin setting your alarm a little earlier each day a couple weeks before the trip. Then it won’t be such a shock to your system to suddenly be getting up so early every day
2. Walking: If you not a person who walks regularly begin! Don’t try and start with a mile or two right away. Try walking ten minutes a day then 20, then 30. It is amazing how much easier the trip will be for you if walking is not a shock to your system. You will definitely have more fun!
3. Watering: Drink more water! This is good for you even when not traveling. However, when we travel it is crucial that you not become dehydrated. Keeping your body hydrated will help you to be heathier and your system to work more efficiently
Get your own W…ings ready for travel! You’ll be glad you did!
Travel Certificates Make Great Gifts
Certificates are available in any amount! They can be used for any Ann’s Adventures Trips! There is no expiration date! Tell your kids you want the gift of travel! These make great gifts for retirement, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!
Driver tips
For all day trips, the driver this is included in the cost of the trip. On overnight trips, we do pass an envelope for the driver
Money Matters
Payments can be made in cash, Checks or money orders. I can take credit cards however, there will be a 3% charge added onto the payment if you decide to use a credit card. Checks should be made out to Ann’s Adventures. When sending checks, please write on the memo line what trip the check is for or use the form on the back page of this newsletter. It helps me get your payment posted to the right trip more quickly. If you would like a receipt, you should include a self addressed stamped envelope. There will be a 15.00 charge for any checks returned for insufficient funds. This is the amount the bank charges me.
Do I need to send a deposit?
A deposit assures your seat on the trip. When you call to put your name on the trip list, that lets me know how many people are interested. Your deposit (or full payment) assures you of a seat. Sometimes there are more names on the interest listen there are actual seats available. When the maximum number of seats the money deposited are full, the rest become the wait list. The bottom line is… If you really want to go, you should put down a deposit. For day trips, a $20.00 deposit will hold your seat. For extended trips, the deposit amount is listed at the top of the article. The remaining balance for the trips is due 1 month prior to the trips unless specifically noted.
Can I get a refund?
Refunds will be given only if there is a wait list and I am able to fill your place prior to departure. Partial refunds may be given if I am able to recover the cost of the prepaid tickets, meals, etc, Cancellations and no shows on the day of the trip will not be entitled to a refund. Refund checks are issued after the trip is completed
Medical forms
is your medical form updated? A medical for ensures that I can give medical professionals correct information about your health in the event of a medical emergency. If something happens, The need to know your birthdate and list of currant medications. If you need to update your form, I always carry extra or can email one to you.
Dietary Restrictions
If you have a special dietary need, I need to know this in advance of the trip. When meals are catered for a
group of 50, caterers plan for the number of meals ordered and often do not have additional options ready on the spot. If you vary from the original menu, there may be an additional charge.
Shirts for sale!
The grey t-shirts say “Not all who wander is lost” and is on a section of a Michigan map surrounding Clio. The cost of the grey t-shirt is 12.00 for S, M, L & XL. The cost for 2XL is 13.00
There are also polo shirts (with a collar) in red or royal blue. They are monogrammed with “Ann’s Adventures” and the cost is 15.00 for the M, L & XL. The 2XL is 16.00 Check them out next time you are in the office!
What Is cancellation protection?
Cancellation Protection is a specified amount of money due with your deposit and protects all monies (except the cost of the cancellation protection) in the event of cancelation for any reason, anytime prior to departure. It is not insurance but does provide protection for the cost of your trip.
Insurance is available and is included when we go overseas. Colette Trips include insurance and that would cover much more while we are in another country.
Travel insurance is available through many companies and I am always looking through many companies that provide for a good coverage at a reasonable and fair rate.