Singing Mermaid Travels

02/22/2024

On my way to Europe for a few weeks. Check back for pics and updates!

10/22/2023

Still doing the travel gig, but really outstretching my Mermaid tail!!!
Check out my ETSY site: MermaidsByJoJoTel.etsy.com

04/28/2023

Attention travelers! If you're someone who travels two or more times a year, it's time to consider a multi-trip annual plan from TravelInsured.com. Not only will it save you time and money, but it offers comprehensive coverage for all of your trips.
With a multi-trip annual plan, you'll receive coverage for unexpected cancellations, weather-related travel disruptions, baggage loss, medical emergencies and more - all in one policy. Plus, you'll save money compared to purchasing a separate policy for each trip.
This means you can spend less time worrying about unexpected travel incidents and more time enjoying your travels. Don't let unforeseen events ruin your travel plans, protect yourself and your wallet with a multi-trip annual plan.
Call me today to learn more, and start enjoying peace of mind on all your future travels. 🌍✈️

02/05/2023

Just spent the day touring the Celebrity Beyond in Miami. What a ship. Call or email me to get on this ship! Brand new in October, 2022. Just incredible. From suites to interior rooms, this ship offers something for everyone and every budget... so beautiful!!

06/28/2022

Following my extraordinary trip to Seattle, the hubby and I went on a 7-day cruise through the inside passage of Alaska.

The scenery is indescribable. It's the Adirondacks on steroids! The mountains, the water, the flora and fauna! Nothing compares to the great outdoors! I didn't see any orcas - no one did! Lots of humback whales, and a few minke whales, but no Orcas. Gotta go back, I guess!!!

On the cruise, we visited Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. Such history of the Gold Rush, settlements, and culture. I was overwhelmed every step of the way with the history. I even bought a few books on the history of Alaska and some of its more infamous settlers (interesting history on Jefferson "Soapy" Smith!).

Lots of specials now on cruises...I signed up for TWO MORE!!! It's a terrific way to see a lot in a short period of time, without having to pack and unpack! I'm lucky that my husband enjoys cruising, too!

06/28/2022

Just spent some time in the Pacific Northwest! What a place. A few days in Seattle - playing tourist in all senses of the word! Space Needle, Aquarium, Zoo, Pike's Market, and even ventured out to Bremerton Island to go to the Navy Museum (married to a Navy Guy!). What a great experience!

Someone asked me my favorite part of the trip...there were too many to mention. Definitely worth the time and the travel aggravation these days to get out there to see what's available in our beautiful country. No need to go international to see such beauty (although, international travel is truly awesome, too!).

If you have any questions or need any info on cruising to Alaska, I'm your girl. AND, right now, there are tons of specials to entice you!

Save and happy travels!

05/11/2022

Spent a few hours at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL. Well worth the time!!!

03/16/2022

It's been a long time coming, but I finally got back on a cruise ship and I wanted to let you all know about how things are going on the great seas of our world.

First, the embarkation and disembarkation process are INCREDIBLE...why they didn't think of this before, I don't know. To board, you have to register for a time - no more standing in cattle lines waiting to board the ship! They required all the details - vaccination cards, IDs, etc., but we put all that info online BEFORE we sailed, so it was a quick, two-minute process. Getting to our cabins was easy and safe, and off to enjoy the beautiful ship we went.

I sailed by myself, but with my nephew and his partner, friends, and family.

We sailed on the Celebrity Reflection. What a beautiful and comfortable ship! It didn't take me all week to figure out where things were. Just the perfect size. The ship normally holds about 3400 passengers, and about 1500 crew. Our sailing (7 nights out of FLL through the Caribbean - Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Nassau) had only about 1400 passengers aboard, so there was never a problem finding a chair at the pool, and no long lines anywhere. And, that gave everyone a better chance at the raffles, too! (Nope, I didn't win anything!)

A lot of people asked me about how the buffets work onboard a ship now. Easy - they serve you from the buffet. For example, I'm a big salad eater, and I asked for a little of this, a little of that, and a little dressing. The server was very accommodating and did as I asked (except her idea of "a little" and mine were very different!).

The entertainment was great! Something different every night, fun and exciting, well produced and very entertaining!

The casino was "rockin'" and I'm happy to say, I didn't lose any money...breaking even is better than the alternative. Although I was sitting at the slots and the ladies beside me won BIG...one won $2,000+ and another won $1,000+. Me, I was happy to not LOSE.

The protocol onboard was no mask required if you were vaccinated. If you went to a show, you had to have the mask on, but it was not difficult to have the six-feet "personal space" on such a large ship with so few people. On port days, the mask protocol was up to the individual country/island. There were some that were very strict, and others that were very open to anything. I think people were so glad to have tourists back, they were willing to bypass the mask mandate to get customers in their shops.

Additionally, when you entered any of the eateries (main dining room, buffets, specialty restaurants), you were given a sq**rt of hand sanitizer, and there are hand sanitizer stations all over the ship.

The food aboard was incredible...as always, and the drinks were plentiful and not too strong, which is how I like them. The Celebrity line now includes basic drink packages, tips, and basic wi-fi in their fares. That was great for me!

As far as the wi-fi goes, it was very sporadic and not always as good as I would have hoped, but hey, I was on vacation so it didn't matter! As long as I knew what time it was so I didn't miss an event, I was happy.

The service on the Reflection was above and beyond. The folks are really happy to have their jobs back. I booked two more cruises before I got off the ship!

Cruising isn't for everyone, I know. I love the thought of unpacking once, seeing a lot of things, and enjoying food and wine without having to cook or pour! For me, it's a great vacation. You can do it all, or do nothing, and no one will say a word to you other than "can I get you another drink?".

A few of the people in our group asked me to plan another cruise for the "group", which I have, and they said "Sure, Jo, open it up to ANYONE...the more the merrier". So, that's what I'm doing. It's a great trip, and worth every penny. If you are interested, let me know. Details below:

NOVEMBER 7-17, 2002
CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE
10-NIGHT EASTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Come and join in on the fun that is only Celebrity
Round-Trip Miami
In addition to THREE Sea-Days, enjoy the following islands:
Dominican Republic (Puerto Plata)
Puerto Rico (San Juan)
St. Croix
St. Johns
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Maarten (Dutch Side)
Cabins start at $1,826 per person, double occupancy.*
If you've never cruised before, here's what this incredible price includes:
• ALL meals, drinks (alcoholic AND non-alcoholic), tips while on the ship
• Unlimited food, where you want it, when you want it, how you want it
• All entertainment (clubs, shows, trivia games, etc)
• Fitness Center
• Housekeeping (2 times a day!)
• And a host of other amenities
For more information, please contact me.

12/19/2021

As you may (or may not) know, I've relocated to southwest Florida. Still willing and able to help with any and all travel plans. Just email or call.
Merry Christmas 🌲
And a happy, safe, and healthy new year.

05/11/2020

Just saw this article and thought it was worth passing along. For anyone traveling, and purchasing travel insurance, BE SURE you have a rider for the virus, or many times, you will be out of luck. Each seller is different, and each benefit package will have fine print...but do you homework! This article is worth a look.

Happy and Safe Travels!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2020/04/29/dont-make-these-expensive-travel-insurance-errors/

When it comes to buying travel insurance, there are important new rules after the pandemic — and troubling new ways to lose money. But they are expensive travel insurance errors that you can easily avoid.

03/13/2020

Coronavirus and Travel in the United States
Should I travel within the US?
CDC does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States. However, cases of COVID-19 have been reported in many states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. Crowded travel settings, like airports, may increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19, if there are other travelers with COVID-19. There are several things you should consider when deciding whether it is safe for you to travel.

Things to consider before travel:

Is COVID-19 spreading where you’re going?
If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be at higher risk of exposure if you travel there.
Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation, if there are people in the crowd who are sick. This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (like movie theatres and shopping malls), and public transportation (like buses, metro, trains).
Are you or your travel companion(s) at higher risk of severe illness if you do get COVID-19?
People at higher risk for severe disease are older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes). CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessential air travel.
Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you get exposed to, or are sick with, COVID-19?
If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.
Do you live with someone who is older or has a severe chronic health condition?
If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or have severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Is COVID-19 spreading where you live?
Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don’t have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.
Depending on your unique circumstances, you may choose to delay or cancel your plans. If you do decide to travel, be sure to practice precautions to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases during travel. For the most up-to-date COVID-19 travel information, visit CDC COVID-19 Travel page.

02/22/2020

What's an international trip without a visit to Harley Davidson?

02/22/2020

A typical Greek meal in Athens...

02/22/2020

The island of Aegina... pistachios everywhere!!!

02/22/2020

The island of Poros is now among my very favorite places...picking lemons, olive groves, monastery, history. A must-visit while in Athens!

02/19/2020

Greece is incredible...

01/08/2020

Come down to the Foothills Wedding Expo on Sunday, 1/12, and say HI! Hope to see you there!

11/05/2019

Nothing like celebrating the Day of the Dead in Mexico! Here's to my friends who went to Oaxaca, and to my group who traveled to Merida. Feliz Dia de los Mu***os.

04/28/2019

Virginia Beach...close and beautiful.

04/28/2019

Vacations don't have to be exotic or expensive to be memorable.

03/01/2019

02/24/2019

I just got back from a wonderful stay in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I highly recommend this place as an easy get-away! Flights through Atlanta are easy, and the hotels on the island of the DR offer something for every budget...
I stayed at the Catalonia Bavaro Beach Golf Club and Spa...Beautiful beach, great resort (all inclusive, free golf, casino, best food of any resort I've ever been to).
Ready to go? Let me know!!!

01/30/2019

Today is NATIONAL PLAN A VACATION DAY!!! Lots of specials now, especially with cruises. What's your pleasure? Let Me Help!

01/21/2019

GO ALL IN: Book MSC Seaside and get Unlimited Free Drinks and Free Wifi included.

Set sail to the most exotic locations in the Caribbean on the most beautiful ships in the world. Plus free unlimited drinks and Wifi.

This is an incredible deal with the free gifts...prices start at $549 per person. Cruise the Caribbean on this City on the Water! Call or email for more info.

Happy and Safe Travels!

Travel with MSC Cruise lines to the best destinations.

01/13/2019

At the Foothills Wedding Expo. Come and say hi!

04/24/2018

iT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING. HERE'S A GREAT GROUP RATE TRIP TO CABO SAN LUCAS FOR FEBRUARY, 2019. THIS ONE IS WITH AIR FROM ALBANY, BUT ALL HOME AIRPORTS ARE AVAILABLE. JUST LET ME KNOW AND I'LL PRICE IT OUT FOR YOU. THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!

THE TRAVELING TEAM IS AT IT AGAIN, AND YOU'RE INVITED! For February Break in 2019, we are going to the RIU SANTA FE, an all inclusive...

04/20/2018

ALL ARE WELCOME. INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!!!!!

THE TRAVELING TEAM IS AT IT AGAIN, AND YOU'RE INVITED! For February Break in 2019, we are going to the RIU SANTA FE, an all inclusive...

03/30/2018

Las Vegas has so much more than gambling...today I toured the Neon Boneyard...all the old neon signs from yesteryear.

02/24/2018

Just returned from a great trip to Honduras (Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatán.). My first trip there, but definitely not my last!!!