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!

 

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

 

 

JUNE 2021

 

Dear Friends!

What a crazy, wonderful, month May turned out to be!  We had two great trips and everyone had a great time! We have been
planning some additional trips that allow us to get away for a few days for those who are ready to travel. Restaurants are able to take larger groups, vaccinated individuals can go without masks to many places, outdoor gatherings do not have limits, folks are ready to go and I’m ready to take you there!

We have 16 new trips in this newsletter! Check them out for destinations like Wisconsin and Door County, Thousand Islands and Cooperstown, Young Americans, Shows at Meadow Brook, Baseball Games, the annual Labor Day Bridge Walk and more!

Guidelines may change, but as of now we are able to travel without masks on the Charter Busses. You may still need masks at
various destinations, train and bus stations, airports and I suggest you still keep them with you when we travel. Be prepared for the situations we may encounter.

I am looking forward to having our regular activities resume such as the annual picnic, the Romeos and the Breakfast Club. Check out the updates on this page and the Travel page.

I am truly grateful to all who have endured the many changes throughout this past year. In a way it has seemed never-ending.
Things seem to still be changing! Mississippi River Cruise # 1 is back on the schedule! New York will be on the 2022 schedule. We will get there!

Thanks to those volunteers who came and helped get the newsletter out each month to keep everyone aware of the changes!
Those who are fully vaccinated can now come and help without wearing their masks!

The deadline for having the Real ID has once again been extended. The article below talks about the guidelines for wearing
masks while traveling. I am encouraging everyone to keep aware of continuing changes and will attempt to keep you posted of changes I am made aware of as well!
                                                                                    Ann

 

 

Last week, the CDC stated fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except
where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. We have received a number of queries about the CDC announcement, particularly the guidance that states vaccinated
people no longer need to wear masks when indoors.

So what does this mean for your tours and your passengers?
The loosened guidelines do not apply to airports, airplanes, trains and fixed route and scheduled service buses, where federal rules still require all travelers to wear masks. This directive comes from the TSA mandate, which also states that travelers are required to wear masks in bus and rail stations as well as airports. This rule is in place until Sept. 14, 2021, unless or until the federal government modifies it.

Note, the mask wearing mandate for charter and tour buses came from the CDC, whose authority to the enforce the mandate was less clear. The DOT and TSA have stated previously they will not be enforcing the CDC’s mandate on charter buses.

 

Safety Protocol on Trips

If you have a lanyard for your name tag, I am encouraging everyone to bring it with them on a trip. If you
need one, we will give you one and ask that you keep it to bring on future trips.

Another change will be dismissing from the bus airplane style.

For the driver tip on overnight trips, we will not pass an envelope around. Instead, we will have a cup / jar for driver
tip at the front of the bus. You can drop your tip into the cup after the last stop of the trip.

We are trying our best to keep trips safe while having fun!

 

Phone System Changes Affect our Area!

Dialing a phone number without including the area code won’t work for many Michiganders starting later this year.
Anybody with a 616, 810, 906 or 989 area code will need to start using the full 10-digit number when making local
calls. Starting Oct. 24, seven-digit numbers without the area code won’t work.

The change is coming because of a new three-digit dialing code coming for the National Suicide Prevention
Hotline starting in July 2022. People across the nation will be able to dial “988′′ starting next summer to reach the 24/7
hotline. For now, people must dial 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) to reach the free, confidential hotline.

Those four Michigan area codes are in the Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw and Port Huron areas, northeast
lower Michigan and the entire Upper Peninsula. Callers in other area codes can continue dialing seven digits for local
calls, because those area codes don’t have any active phone numbers that start with “988.”

A “permissive dialing period” starts April 24, meaning people in the affected area codes are encouraged to start
making the change. But seven-digit calls will still go through until Oct. 24. “A smooth transition will help ensure
customers stay connected while getting ready for the ultimate enactment of 988 as an easy number for people
struggling or contemplating suicide to connect to resources and help in a crisis,” said Ryan McAnany, acting director
of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Telecommunications Division in a news release.

The change doesn’t impact the price of calls. A local call still counts as a local call, regardless of how many digits
are dialed, per the MPSC.

Residents in the select area codes should check medical alert devices, security systems, fax machines,
speed dialers and contact lists to make sure the area code is included, or they may stop working. Websites, stationery
and advertising should also be updated to include area codes, the MPSC recommends. … from MLive

 

New 2021 Genesee County Resource Directories
Now Available In The Office!
Each year the Genesee County Commission On Aging prints a Senior Resource Directory for distribution to all
who would like one at Senior Power Day. Since the 2021 Senior Power Day was cancelled due to Covid, there are
many directories available. I have picked up a case and they are here at the office. Stop in and pick one up. They
are a great resource to have!

 

Travel Club Networking Meeting

 

Breakfast Club Is Back!

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
June 4, July 2, August 6, and September 3, 2021.

 

Romeos Return!

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 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.

A return date for this group is June 17th! They will meet at Leo’s in Clio on Linden Rd. (Across the street from
Walmart). Join us at noon!

 

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.  Last year it cost over $80.00 to pay for all
the returned newsletters. Fifty-five cents for each one does add up. 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.  Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming soon.
Tell your kids you’d like the gift of travel!

 

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.
Please note: Due to Covid-19, we are not passing an envelope through the bus. We will have a cup / jar for driver
tip at the front of the bus. You can drop your tip into the cup after the last stop of the trip. We are trying our best to
keep everyone safe as we continue to provide travel opportunities. For overnight trips, it is recommended $2.00
to $3.00 per person per day.

 

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 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 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.