Travel With Suzanne

04/12/2024

2024 has been a great year! I will re-cap it in the coming weeks. All that said, effective today, my book for starting new trips is closed until the new year. I need to focus my attention on the trips I have in the works and get ready for what promises to be an amazing 2025. You are free to submit a planning form at any time and in January I will work on those trips in the order they have come to me.

You will find that planning form here: https://www.travelwithsuzanne.com/start-planning

24/11/2024

This week I had the pleasure I had the pleasure of staying at the which is really fantastic. It’s comfortable. The food and cocktails are wonderful. Be sure to take a heritage tour of the hotel when you visit. David was my host, his grandfather helped build the Titanic. Having someone whose family history is entwined in the history of the company give a tour made it extra special. The history is fascinating. The downside to the hotel, if there is one, is that it’s not in the thick of things. But it’s only a quick taxi ride to Victoria Street or the Cathedral Quarter.

Visiting the Titanic Museum was a highlight. Of course, holidays and cruise travel pay my bills. So learning more about the history of the boat building industry and the early days of luxury travel was interesting. But sobering it is to think of the lives lost and the many, many mistakes that were made and the lessons learned from the tragedy of the Titanic. Many of the regulations in the cruise industry today have direct links back to that horrible night.

Put this on your list! Both the hotel and the museum are must sees.

17/11/2024

In the CLE we may have great basketball (I’m looking at you, ) but we don’t have great airlift. So it was great news when started a nonstop to last year. Not only is it easy to get to one of my favorite places but it’s also a fantastic gateway to the rest of the EU.

Fast forward a year and is in town and I win a great trip to the Emerald Isle. So here it is. Day one of Cleveland to Dublin to to to Dublin, with a birthday in the mix!

Started out with an overnight to Dublin and a private transfer with Hit the ground running with the super fun and in the thick of the action . Breakfast at . Then cocktails at my favorite little speakeasy, the , small bites and another cocktail at and wrapping up with a night on the town (no photographic evidence.)

Today it’s the train to Kilkenny.

29/10/2024

"Airlines in the United States are now required to provide cash refunds to passengers if their flight is significantly delayed or canceled."

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the new rule in April and announced on X Monday that it is now in full effect.

28/10/2024

Are you feeling FOMO? Did you miss my trip to Ireland on and the Rhine? Never fear: Scotland and the Danube call! Join me in 2025 for two additional amazing group tours!

Details on Scotland are here (Danube in comments!):

scotland2025 - Travel with Suzanne

01/10/2024

Next stop: Ireland! Including this gem of a natural beauty: Giant's Causeway. I will be traveling with clients from October 10-17, 2024.

21/09/2024

Last minute Travel with Suzanne opportunity alert:

I have a cancellation and the boat is sold out. If you would like to join me next month on the Rhine river, Amsterdam to Basel - October 19-26 - you can take over my client's booking.

Details are here: https://www.travelwithsuzanne.com/rhineoctober2024

The rate is $6744 for the room. One or two people. If you are a solo female traveler and have interest in a roommate match, let me know. There is a possibility here.

rhineoctober2024 - Travel with Suzanne

19/07/2024

My phone started beeping at about 3 a.m. Thankfully I do not have any clients flying today (tomorrow and the next day and the next day . . . another story).

Flights are delayed. Flights are cancelled. Check your flight status before you head to the airport. If you do find yourself at the airport, please be patient. All of this is frustrating enough for everyone without people being unkind and impatient.

This is being billed as the largest IT outage in history. And, of course, in my work I'm hyperfocused on the impact on travel but the affect on our safety infrastructure is far more devastating.

A major IT outage has grounded planes and sent broadcasters off air.

03/07/2024

This is one of the best, most comprehensive articles I’ve seen about how cruises maneuver a hurricane, how cruise lines compensate their guests, why travel insurance and planning travel buffers are important, and what cruising on the fringes of a storm can feel like. Among many other things.

Of course, there are different considerations if your holiday plans take you directly to the islands or in the Yucatan during the season.

We are just starting to see pictures of the devastation in Grenada, the Grenadines, and Barbados. And in a few hours this beast is going to pass along the south coast of Jamaica.

The hardest part of these storms is not the storm itself. It’s the aftermath when infrastructure, communication, access to the islands, medical care, etc are all challenges.

My heart literally hurts for these islands right now. Yet, I keep flashing back to a visit to Jamaica a few years ago where an employee at a property I was staying at said to me, “Miss Suzanne, is there anything you are celebrating on this trip? No? Nothing? That’s okay, in Jamaica every day is a celebration!” And it’s true. And I know that spirit will prevail no matter what today brings for the island.

Fall is a great time to snag a deal on a Caribbean cruise. But the deals come with a caveat: There’s a chance your sailing could be disrupted by a hurricane or tropical storm.

02/07/2024

Just a little friendly reminder what your favorite travel agent does during hurricane season:

1. She monitors the weather like a crazy women. Analyzing hurricane paths, wind patterns, etc.

2. She looks at all of her cruisers and Caribbean travelers and guesses what might happen to their trips.

3. She hopes you listened to her advice and purchased the travel insurance. And she looks at all of your bookings to double check.

4. She happily answers all of your calls and emails and text messages to calm your fears and encourage you to wait as long as possible to make decisions.

5. She spends countless hours on the phone with airlines, resorts, tour operators, etc. Fixing it as best as she can, keeping you safe and salvaging your holiday.

6. She remembers fondly the newlyweds two years ago whose honeymoon was affected by not one but TWO different hurricanes: like bookends in the first chapter of the story of life with a whole lot of fun in between.

Oh, Beryl! You are one for the record books. My heart breaks for the small, beautiful islands of the Caribbean that I love so much. These direct hits are so hard. And because so many families depend on tourism, back to work immediately they go, with a smile on their face, ready to make your vacation an amazing experience, even though their own home might be without a roof, or even completely destroyed.

Beryl has had quite a ride, so far. Here's the latest forecast on what still lies ahead. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com

16/06/2024

I’ve been psyching myself up to go to Antarctica. It’s my last continent. It was surely a sign to walk into the gift shop on the Disney Dream and see this beautiful Mickey Mouse Helly Hansen jacket. I’m ready to go now? Who’s going with me? Travel with Suzanne - The Group

29/05/2024

Who remembers sock guy? Imagine my surprise a few hours ago when I got a friend request from someone that at first it seemed like I had no connection to. It only took about 7 seconds on his FB to realize that he does a podcast and had recently interviewed sock guy. Yes. He's got a name, it's Paul. And for those in the know you will remember that I have a 100 Mile Ultra Trail Race that goes right by my house. A few years ago the park behind the house had a bridge issue and the race was rerouted for the first couple of miles to surface streets including mine. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. I do not run. Ever. Unless a bear is chasing me. And while not impossible, it's unlikely here. I may not run but I am a really good cheerleader and cheering on these absolutely amazing athletes as they run by my house in the morning and then then 20-30 hours later as they hit their last mile of the race, often delirious and sometimes wanting to quit when they are soooooo close, is one of my favorite things each year!

Sadly, this year I will be in Quebec during the race. Hopefully the 'hood will hold down the fort and hand out the beer and free hugs. Although I'm generally the only one willing to give out a hug to a sweaty runner . . . so maybe don't count on hugs this year!

Give a listen to the interview! Thanks, John Voso Jr for finding me and sharing it!

Paul is a real estate attorney by day, working the behind-the-scenes tile work for Ryan Homes and their affiliate. Ultras are anything beyond regular marathon and Paul and his group they do hundred milers. In 2023 he finished the Midwest Super Slam. Five 100 mile races from Wisconsin to Ohio, starti...

28/05/2024

16 year old me had to make a double connection to fly to Copenhagen to study for a year. It's still often a double connection from many US gateways OR a connection in Schengen which adds a lot of time to the trip. Starting next week though, AA has a direct flight out of Philly.

I haven't exactly had much opportunity to keep up with Danish but I do remember how to say I love you (Jeg elsker dig) and a few swear words. That should be just fine for a visit!

And I still think King Frederik is just as cute today as I did when he was a Prince and I was an exchange student. ♥

Probably time to go back . . .

Philadelphia will soon have direct access to Copenhagen with a new flight from American Airlines. Service to Copenhagen's CPH airport launches June 6 on Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

28/05/2024

How about an even smaller boat? I have one room left on my yacht charter. Sail with me from Split to Dubrovnik next summer!

https://www.travelwithsuzanne.com/croatia2025

25/05/2024

That’s. A. Wrap. Looking forward to sailing with these folks again on the Rhine in October!

Thank you, Kathy, Anna, Scott, Phyllis, and Mary for a fun ten nights at sea.

08/05/2024

I agree. I think it's going to be a real deadline in 2025. If you fly domestically, or plan to fly domestically, you are going to need a REAL ID drivers license. May as well get the ball rolling, collect what you need and get in line at the BMV.

A few notes.

A REAL ID is NOT the same as an enhanced DL. Enhanced DLs are only available in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington and may be used to drive over the border to Canada.

You will NOT be allowed to drive over the border to Canada with a REAL ID. Only with the enhanced DL from those states.

For TSA details on REAL ID: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs

Applying for a REAL ID requires some additional documentation. See your state's BMV for exact details.

You might have heard about the Real ID deadline before but this time, DHS says it's legit: You'll need a Real ID license by May 7, 2025.

26/04/2024

Many of my Detroit clients use Air Canada. Take note. If you want to sit with your travel companions, you need to pay for your seats in advance.