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 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!

 

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

                                   MERRY CHRISTMAS 

                                                     

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
What a wonderful, busy fall it has been!  The colors in Vermont and New Hampshire were awesome! The National Parks in Utah were each different and unique! Mackinac Island blessed us with color and a relaxing few days at the Grand Hotel. The American Queen provided an excellent time of traveling down the Mississippi River to experience the south in a unique way. These trips were amazing and the participants really seemed to enjoy getting out and about!
We have a few trips coming up in December and January that will give us an opportunity to see some shows, tour a mansion and visit our nation’s capital.
I will be attending a national travel conference in January and will no doubt return with lots of new exciting destinations for us to explore. I will be gone the first couple weeks of January and am looking forward to learning about new destinations and spending some time with my husband, Dan.
We are providing as much information as possible regarding the upcoming trips in terms of what is expected on each trip. Since the pandemic still seems to be working its way through the country, we find that things can change very quickly and we need to be flexible and ready to deal with changes.
The Canadian Border still presents some unique challenges for groups and while the border is technically open to US Citizens, there are several requirements to enter that make planning a trip to Canada on the difficult side. I have high hopes that 2022 will bring more positive changes for the world of travel.
Be sure to come to the February Travel Networking Meeting. I will be sharing some new destinations, talking about the status of travel in general and answering your questions. It is also a great place to meet potential room mates interested in the same trip that you might be interested in taking. See details below.
Thanks to everyone who helps with the newsletter each month.
We have had several new volunteers join the crew! It is a big job and many hands make less work for all. Thanks to those who have switched to email. This also saves time and printing costs.
Thanks to everyone for believing in Ann’s Adventures!
Your support has been very important to me over the past several years but especially through this pandemic. I have extended my lease on the office space and plan on continuing to offer some great trips!
Our biggest issue during the past year has been getting refunds out to those who have cancelled trips. This certainly has been difficult as we try to be accurate and money has been moved from trip to trip
and from year to year in many cases. I continue to try to catch up on the refunds as best as I can when I am in the office and not on the road. In some cases, I need to wait for the money to be refunded to me from the suppliers. Some companies say to allow 60 to 90 days for refunds to be processed. They are bigger companies and it takes
them longer due to the large number of people who have cancelled trips in the past 20 months. I have been working with wonderful companies who have been very understanding and have refunded
the majority of our deposits and ticket costs or moved them to future dates. Thank you for trusting me even though this refund process does involve a lot more than just “writing the check!”
Happy New Year everyone! Looking forward to more travels in our wonderful country and beyond!

                                                                          Ann

 

 

Please Note: Due to the constant state of change in our world today, please always come prepared with a mask. It is better to have it and not need it, than to find someplace has changed their policy overnight and it is now needed and you don’t have your’s with you!

Vaccination Card Holders Available
We have holders available for your vaccination cards that won’t fit in your wallets. Ask for one when you are in
the office or on a trip!  There is no charge… advertising for me and card protection for you!

Lanyards:  We have ordered a new supply of lanyards that we have been giving to everyone
on their first overnight trip and asking that they continue to bring them on future trips. It
seems that everyone is happy to use these as it allows them to travel hands free! If yours
has broken, become lost or you would like one for day trip use, the cost is $3.00. They easily
carry your passport, vaccine card, credit card and some cash.

 

Travel Club Networking Meeting

 

Breakfast Club 

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. I hope to see you there! Breakfast is on your own. No reservations are needed, just come and join us! Upcoming dates are January 7, February 4, and March 4, 2022.

 

Romeos 

This group of men gather monthly to enjoy lunch, laughter and good conversation. It started many years ago
as the guys’ 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. 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.
The luncheons will be on Thursdays, January 20th, at Big Boys in Clio; February 17, at Liberty Diner in Flushing;
and March 17, at Bray Rd Diner on the corner of Mt Morris Rd and Bray Rd. Mark your calendars and plan to join us!

 

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 –
Deadline Extended Once Again!
Michigan is enacting a federally acceptable form of ID.
This will be in effect by May 3, 2023. 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…

New 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 at each post office.

To renew a passport, you do not need an appointment. You can pick up a form and instructions and mail the
completed form.

In an effort to help facilitate the process, the Post Office has given me the applications for new passports and the
forms for renewing a passport along with instructions. You can get them at my office as well as the post office.

Please Note: Due to Covid-19, it is taking longer to process passports. If you are needing to renew your
passport it may be helpful to do it in advance and not wait until just before a trip to do it!

 

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 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 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. This saves not only postage, but paper and printing costs.
We just ask that you let us know. 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 healthier 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

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 or other special events.

 

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. For overnight trips, it is recommended $2.00 to $3.00 per person per day. The driver is handling your
luggage each time we change hotels.

 

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.  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.

 

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.  Collette Trips include insurance and that would cover much more while we are in another country.

 

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. 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.  (1 left)  Check them out the next time you are in the office !!  A limited number of sizes are available.