Hawaii March 2020
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 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!
The new look for Travel…
As we begin to open up the world of travel again, I’m beginning to think about what that might look like for us.
These are some of the things you may experience as a little different!
1. I will eliminate the use of reusable name tags.
2. Face masks will be highly recommended for use on the bus.
3. We will disembark the bus using airplane dismissal style instead of switching sides.
4. While the bus has installed hand sanitizer at the entrance and the rear of the bus, you may want
to bring a small personal container for times you are not on the bus.
5. Buffets will likely become more obsolete and be replaced with travelers being served.
WOW !! IT’S AUGUST !!
Dear Travelers!
We are midway through the summer and everyday things seem to change. Another trip is cancelled and we are trying to reschedule in
order to preserve the deposits and/or get on the schedule for next year. The reasons for the cancellations vary but are primarily due to
keeping everyone healthy and safe.
It is my hope that soon this virus is contained or a vaccine is developed or that people accept a new normal and wear their mask
for the safety of everyone. This month we have seen a number of additional trips get rescheduled to next year. I am trying to get dates
locked in so we have a plan for 2021. I am also busy making plans for some new trips in 2021. If a trip you are looking for isn’t listed in
this update, it may be that we are still working on confirming a date.
We did have a wonderful day trip to Turkeyville in July that folks enjoyed. It was good to be out and headed somewhere fun!
Everyone brought a mask with them, the staff at Turkeyville served us instead of directing us to the buffet, and we were seated in groups
of four instead of at long tables. We have a couple more trips to Turkeyville scheduled for this year and we will plan on going and
enjoying the delicious turkey dinner and show. The two shows that were cancelled earlier this year, “Grandma’s Secret Diary” and “Right
Bed, Wrong Husband” will be on their schedule for 2021 and we were excited to hear that announcement!
I am continuing to work on refunds for cancelled trips. This is a time consuming process and I appreciate your patience. We have
experienced a great response from our travel partners in terms of the cancelled trips. Collette Vacations has refunded all monies for
Iceland and Germany including the insurance. Shoreline Tours is refunding all monies paid for Utah and Washington DC including the
cancellation protection. If you choose to move that money to a different trip or to a rescheduled trip, that is fine! We can do that! We
are keeping very detailed records as usual so we can track your payments.
As of this update, the Mississippi trips are still on track to sail the Mississippi. Just like Collette and Shoreline, if they cancel this trip all
money will be refunded including the insurance. If you cancel and the trip goes, you will be refunded all except the cancellation cost which was the agreement in the beginning. As of this update, the American Duchess is not filled to capacity. In fact, on both trips our group is the majority of the occupancy. The dining room is large and spacious and I’ve been assured that they can accommodate us easily and safely. The American Queen Company has not been sailing the last few months but are planning to set sail again in August. I am going to be speaking with them again in mid-August to see where things stand at that point. You may delay final payment until September 1, 2020.
I am planning the annual Christmas Mystery Trip. Rest assured that if things do not improve with regard to the spread of the virus, I
will cancel as we have obviously been doing throughout the year so far. The Christmas Mystery Trip will be announced in September.
I thank all of you for taking care of yourselves, staying safe and wearing masks when necessary. We hope to resume travel in the
safest way possible for all of us!
Ann
Monday Morning Memories
Since we are still limited in the area of travel and folks seem to be missing the adventure, I thought I could offer
an opportunity to travel back in our historical archives and enjoy the adventures of the past. I will select a poem from
a past trip and read it each Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. beginning on August 3 rd. You can enjoy listening by going
to Ann’s Adventures page on Facebook. I will live stream at 9:00 a.m. If you are not available at that time, you can
always listen to it later.
Travel Club Networking Meeting
The next Travel Club Networking Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 7th at 2:00 p.m. Mark your
calendars! We may do another live stream presentation if things in our world have not settled down.
We did a live stream presentation of the meeting on June 24th on Facebook on the Ann’s Adventures page. You
can view this at your leisure.
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.
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. I hope
to see you there! Breakfast is on your own. No reservations are needed, just come and join us!
Restaurants are currently reevaluating their handling of groups. We look forward to returning when we can!
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. No reservations needed, just come! Wear your plaid shirt and look for the rowdy guys! Restaurants are currently reevaluating their handling of groups. We look forward to returning when we can!
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 form of ID in offering a REAL Michigan Driver’s License. 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 driver’s licenses.
Please Check your driver’s licenses and your passport for their expiration dates.
The Real ID Michigan Driver’s license has a star in the upper right hand corner. The Enhanced Michigan Driver’s
License has an American flag on the license just left of your picture. This 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.
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!
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 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.
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. This is the amount the bank charges me.
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 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, they need to know your birthdate and list of current 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.