I had the privilege of taking my parents – at the time both in their early 80’s – for their last vacation together aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. And I’ll never forget my father standing overlooking Banff and commenting, “I believe this is the most beautiful place on earth.” My Dad was a world traveler as an Air Force officer and he and my mother had enjoyed several fantastic journeys together to Europe, Hawaii and Alaska. He was also a quiet man, so this was high praise coming from him!
At Bay World Travel, our highest priority is the safety and well being of our travelers. As we continue to see COVID-19 (Coronavirus) all over the news, we’ve been working to compile the most reliable information from local, state and national governments, as well as from travel industry sources. We understand that every traveler has a unique set of circumstances and your own individual risk tolerance when it comes to making a travel decision. We hope to provide as much information as possible so we can help you make the best decision that you’re most comfortable with regarding your trip. Please keep in mind that much of this information is changing daily and we’ll continue monitoring any announcements and provide general updates on this page as frequently as we can. Here is list of travel specific resources and guidelines that we’ve been using to stay up to date:
Mary & Bill Cross the Atlantic on the Royal Clipper
Working in the travel business I meet people with 2 divergent opinions of cruising –
Opinion 1: I want to enjoy the port experience. Cruising is a convenient way to get from port to port. Yes, the cruise ship and its amenities are important but the immersive port experience is what drives the choice of cruises.
Opinion 2: I want to enjoy the ship. In fact, I don’t care if I ever get off the ship. I love the casinos, the onboard entertainment, lectures, and the food and drink. I love hanging out in the lounges, restaurants, library, and coffee shop – hanging out with new friends I meet onboard.
I recently had the privilege of traveling to Thailand and Laos with Kay Tran, founder of V’Explore Tours and expert in Southeast Asia destinations, on a small group tour. Our group was also hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. With an emphasis on visiting emerging destinations, this was a very special opportunity to see things few Americans do through the eyes of locals.
What an experience! This tour immersed our group in food, culture and customs, and even hands on crafting. Our 11-day exotic adventure took us from Bangkok to the northeast Thailand cities of Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom – from whence we traveled into small villages; then over the Friendship Bridge 2 to Savannakhet, Laos and on to its capital city of Vientiane and finally to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang.
Just a Few Days to Add Pre or Post? Pick a Great City and Go for It!
I joined two friends on a Norway-bound Celebrity ship out of Southampton this spring. It was a gorgeous cruise but only 7 days so why not take advantage of the long flight and enjoy a few extra days? This go-round, we selected one of my favorite cities in the world – London!
It does not matter how many times you visit this iconic city, there is always something new. And in London, the old never gets old. Here, a few highlights from our 4 days:
Day 1. The best advice after a long flight from the US is to stay awake till the sun sets! We settled in to our accommodations in Fitzrovia and walked to the corner pub for a light lunch and to explore the neighborhood. I highly recommend boutique hotels or apartments in one of London’s many neighborhoods. Shopping, restaurants, pubs, and museums abound whether you’re in Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Knightsbridge – or many other fabulous areas of this colorful city. And when you have just a few days, make sure to have a “must-do” list. For us, a must-do was fish & chips which we enjoyed at the Golden Hind – a mile walk down the road followed by a quick trip to the neighborhood Tesco to get a bottle of wine and some snacks for our apartment.
Working in the travel business I meet people with 2 divergent opinions of cruising –
