Ann’s Adventures has been doing group travel across Michigan, the United States, and the world for eleven plus 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 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!

 

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 farther down on this 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!

 

   

 

                       “In life, it’s not where you go, but who you travel with.”     ~Charles Schultz

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

     AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2024

 

Greetings to all!
The past couple of months have passed by so quickly… it is hard to believe that we are busy planning for next year and
beyond. I have been on the road with groups much of the past couple of months. I am grateful to my staff that are doing a
wonderful job of keeping things running smoothly in the office. Gayle and Izzy have been busy responding to your calls and keeping the trip lists up to date. Rebecca is still recovering from her surgery and doing well. She has returned to the office a couple days a week for a few hours each time and is still building up her endurance. Katrina has been escorting several of the day trips so I can stay in the office to do some planning and trip preparation. A special thanks to all of you for your patience and understanding as we continue to catch up the paperwork that seems to fall behind so quickly.

There are many new trips listed in this update as the theatre seasons for the upcoming year are being announced. I
try to select shows that you have requested and trips that are of interest. Please check out the new opportunities we are offering.

We’ve had some great trips this summer and hope to continue to offer the trips you like best. We had two trips to
Lancaster to see the story of Daniel at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster. Next year they will be bringing back the
story of Noah! Already we have had a lot of calls about this trip. I am offering the trip on three different dates. Please be sure to indicate which trip you are interested in taking so we can keep our records organized. Check out this update for details!

There have been several trips that took place with excessive heat this summer. Please always remember to bring a refillable
water bottle. Drinking water is essential to a good trip experience. Dehydration can occur quickly and can affect your
clear thinking, mobility and just plain cause you to not feel good!

Mystery Trips continue to increase in popularity. We have three busses filled with people ready to experience a fall
adventure. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone! While it is not always possible to take so many people to one destination, this time it works! I’m excited!

Thanks for all your suggestions, ideas and requests for places to go! The list seems endless. There are so many great
places in our country to visit. We open our eyes to new adventures and experience great moments which become
wonderful memories. We had a trip this summer that had participants from age 11 to 98. Our grandparent – grandkid trip this summer also had the youngest participant at age 5 months.  Traveling is good for everyone!
Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your travel experience!
Thanks for touching my life!

– Ann

My apologies for the delay in getting this updated. 

 

 

Lost and Found Items…
We have an assortment of items in our lost and found from a variety of trips. There are neck pillows. umbrellas,
sunglasses, a jacket, and a few other items. If you are missing something, it never hurts to check the box!

 

Travel Club Networking Meeting

 

Breakfast Club !!!  (changes)

The Breakfast Club has met the first Friday of every month since December of 2009. That’s been 164 breakfast
gatherings. (I didn’t count the months we missed because of Covid closing restaurants) We’ve had as few as 4 people
and as many as 36 in attendance over the years. It has served its purpose as individuals have come to meet me in
a casual setting, sign up for a trip, meet potential roommates, reconnect with friends they’ve met on previous trips and generally have good conversations with others who enjoy travel.
As Ann’s Adventures has continued to grow and add more trips to the schedule, I have been able to attend the
breakfasts less often. In fact, the next few months I am out of state on the first Friday of the month.
I have been thinking about this and it seems that perhaps it is time to find another way to gather socially. Perhaps not
as often but in another format. It is difficult for me to want to be two places at the same time yet know that it is not
possible. So, for now the Breakfast Club will cease to meet on a regular monthly basis. Watch for future postings about
social gatherings to be held other times and places.

 

Romeos!  Calling all men!  Come and join us!

This group of men gather monthly to enjoy lunch, laughter and good conversation. Romeo’s stands for Rowdy Old Men Eating Out! No dues, no committees, just eat out every month with other guys to provide input on whatever is of interest to anyone. All men are welcome!

The luncheons will be on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. The locations change each month…August 15 at Billy’s Pine Run
Inn at Vienna and Saginaw Streets in Clio; September 19 at Leo’s Coney Island on Linden Rd in Clio; and October 17, at
Bray Rd Diner on the corner of Bray Rd and Mt Morris Rd.

This group was started as a response to the women’s Red Hat Society. The women have a poem, “When I am an Old
Woman, I Shall Wear Purple!” There is also a poem called “When I am an Old Man, I Shall Wear Plaid!” So, an active group of guys attended the first meeting and the Romeo’s were officially started. 

 

What is cancellation protection?

Cancellation Protection is a specified amount of money for overnight trips that is due with your deposit and protects all monies (except the cost of the cancellation protection) in the event of cancellation for any reason, anytime prior to departure. It is not insurance but does provide protection for the cost of your trip if you need to cancel. If your trip is interrupted, the cancellation protection would cover the unused portion of your trip.
Insurance is available and is included when we go overseas. Collette Trips include insurance and that would cover much more while we are in another country.

 

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!

 

TSA – Transportation Security Administration
Acceptable Forms of ID

1 – REAL Michigan Driver’s License –
Michigan is enacting a federally acceptable form of ID.
This will be in effect by May 7, 2025. The REAL ID will be required for flying within the United States, entry into certain federal properties, entering nuclear facilities and military bases. The Real ID Michigan Driver’s license has a star in the upper right hand corner.

2 – Enhanced Michigan Driver’s License is already compliant and allows entry into the US by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean without a passport. The Enhanced Michigan Driver’s License has an American flag on the license just right of your picture. The newer ones also have a star in the upper right hand corner.

3 – 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 driver’s license. To fly into the US from anywhere – including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, you must have a passport.
Please check your driver’s license and your passport for their expiration dates.

 

Regarding Passports...

Passports are available at the Clio Post Office by appointment. You must go online to schedule your
appointment. They are no longer scheduling appointments by phone. The other option is to go in on Thursday mornings between 9:00 a.m. and noon.
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.
Renewals do not need an appointment! Fill out the forms and take it to the post office. They will take your
picture if needed and mail it for you! If you live in another city, check your local post office for their passport hours.
They may vary from post office to post office.
We also have passport application forms and renewal forms available in our office.

 

Going south?…  Going North?…  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 can receive the newsletter via email – then you can get it wherever you are, give me a winter address and let me know how long you will be gone or have the newsletter stopped. You can call and resume it in the spring. Newsletters are returned to me as undeliverable if you have your mail forwarded. This is costly. When a newsletter is returned, we remove the person from the mailing list until we hear from them.

 

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 healthier and your system to work more efficiently.

Get your own W…ings ready for travel!  

 

Travel Certificates Make Great Gifts

Looking for the perfect gift?   Travel Certificates are available in any amount! They can be used for any Ann’s Adventures Trip! There is no expiration date! Tell your kids you want the gift of Travel! These make great gifts for retirement, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or other special events such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!

 

Driver Tips

For all day trips, the driver tip is included in the cost of the trip. On overnight trips, we do pass an envelope for the driver. 

 

Making A Payment

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.  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.

 

Do I need to send a deposit?

A deposit assures your seat on a 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 list than there are actual seats available.  When the maximum number of seats with money deposited are full,  the rest becomes 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 all trips is due 1 month prior to the trip 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 costs of 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 and can take a few months to process.
We often have to wait for refunds to come to us from the hotels, activities, etc. Thank you for understanding.
Refund checks are issued to the person who paid for the trip. If your friend paid for your trip and you cancel, the refund is sent to the person who signed you up to go. In order for my books to match, the money refunded must match the person who paid it.

 

Medical forms

Is your medical form up to date?  A medical form ensures that I can give medical professionals correct information about your health in the event of a medical emergency. If something happens, they need to know your birthdate and list of current medications. If you need to update your form, I always carry extra on the trips. You can ask me for a form or call and I can email one to you. You can always pick one up when you are in the office.

 

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.

 

Stay Hydrated
Always carry a refillable water bottle with you on every trip. Staying hydrated is important for your health! We make
restroom stops every two hours so you can use facilities and stretch your legs!