Annie's Escapes Custom Travel Planning

01/11/2021

Are you following our new Shared Adventures Travel page?? We're posting all about Annie's UK road trip adventure in our stories! Give Shared Adventures Travel a follow to join in the adventure!

Road trip!!

Pack some snacks, curate a playlist, plot out a route, and buckle up. Who doesn't love a road trip?

My husband and I have done some amazing drives -- from the Road to Hana, to snowy mountain passes in Colorado, narrow winding lanes in the Azores, and wide open vistas in Iceland -- but this week marks the first time we've attempted to drive on the left!

Will our marriage survive this road trip through England and Wales? Only time will tell....

Watch our stories for updates :)

22/06/2021

If you're not yet following us over on the new Shared Adventures Travel page, what are you waiting for?

We're highlighting cool hotels, sharing our best travel tips and advice, and getting ready to take you along for our 2021 adventures to Bermuda, Mexico, the UK and more.

Please like/follow/share the new page and join the fun!

21/06/2021

Just cant believe its been 458 days since we could travel to Europe!

We're posting articles, travel information and travel inspiration on our NEW page! Stay up-to-date by liking and following Shared Adventures Travel !

The European Union has added the United States to its list of countries approved for entry.

19/06/2021

This week's hotel spotlight: Belmond Hotel Caruso in Ravello, Italy!

With our new brand we have a new page - Like & Follow Shared Adventures Travel for more hotel spotlights, travel information, and travel inspiration!

This week's Hotel Spotlight

This gorgeous 50-room boutique hotel is set on a cliffside in Ravello, Italy overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Our clients receive special VIP perks that include lunch for two at the poolside restaurant, fresh fruit and flowers in the room, and more.

16/06/2021

That's right! We've rebranded and are launching Shared Adventures Travel!

When COVID-19 shut the world down last year, and we all found ourselves at home with a lot of extra time on our hands, some people dove deep into new hobbies like gardening, baking, or yoga. But I decided to use the unexpected downtime to re-invent the business instead!

The new name is based on two of my key beliefs:

Everything -- from a sunset, or a great meal, to a story, a laugh, or an adventure -- is better when it’s shared.

The purpose of travel is not just to escape from our everyday routine. It’s to enrich our lives by getting out to explore, experience, taste, try, and learn new things. We should come home with stories to tell, and memories to cherish.

As we move forward, we will be leaning into the partnerships we have in the industry to make sure our clients benefit from things like special perks/amenities at hotels, special rates on tours/cruises, and VIP hand-holding from in-destination partners.

We are highlighting the individual specialties of each member of the Shared Adventures team, whether that's honeymoons, family travel, destination weddings or exotic bucket list trips.

And we are making sure that we’re focusing our time/energy on the clients who value us most, and the kinds of trips where our first-hand knowledge and global connections can make the most dramatic impact on the total experience.

I hope that you’ll check out the new website (www.SharedAdventuresTravel.com), like/follow the new Facebook and Instagram pages, and let us know what you think!

15/06/2021

Good news! Exploring Hawaii just got a little bit easier.

While visitors from the mainland still need to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival in Hawaii, the state has dropped the interisland testing requirements that were making it difficult to island-hop.

We're eagerly awaiting one more change in the coming weeks -- Governor Ige has said he'll drop the pre-travel testing requirement for fully-vaccinated travelers once the state reaches a 70% vaccination rate.

Be sure to follow us for updates.

14/06/2021

The “silver lining” of this COVID pandemic, and the unexpected downtime that came with it, was that we finally had the opportunity to slow down, take a deep breath, and think through who we are as a business and where we want to be in the next five or ten years.⁠
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Some very exciting things have come out of that introspection!⁠
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We're re-branding the agency, complete with a new name and a new website, but we think you'll find that we kept all the best things about Annie's Escapes. ⁠
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We’re still the same team of smart, friendly, well-traveled professionals who love helping our clients plan amazing vacations. But we have a renewed focus on what exactly that means, and how we can help you travel better. ⁠And we're tapping into some new resources that we're really excited about.⁠
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We'll give you the full story when we launch on June 16th!

14/06/2021

"Aloha" to honeymooners Melissa and Joe, who are waking up on their first morning in Maui :) I know it's WELL worth the pre-travel testing logistics, and I can't wait to hear all about it!

08/06/2021

If you're wondering whether people are traveling outside the country right now, check out the most recent review from honeymooners Danielle and Kyle. We put together an amazing bucket-list trip to South Africa with about 3-4 weeks lead time!

07/06/2021

Happy Honeymooning to Connor and Andrea, who arrive in sunny Kauai today! This was one of the many 2020 weddings/ honeymoons that were postponed to this year due to COVID-19, and I am so happy to see my couples finally heading off on their romantic "escapes" :)

01/06/2021

This week's blog post: How to get the best of both worlds with a European getaway that combines city AND beach.

https://anniesescapes.com/the-best-of-both-city-beach/

30/05/2021

Sunday morning zen.
Positano in November.

29/05/2021

This week's hotel spotlight is the beautiful Canaves Oia, in Santorini.

Perched on one of the highest points on the island, with stunning sunset views, this luxurious 17-room boutigue hotel is perfect for honeymooners. Guests enjoy a blend of traditional architecture and modern amenities, and Annie's Escapes clients receive VIP perks that include an arrival transfer, a bottle of wine, upgrades, and late check out if available.

28/05/2021

A thought --

If you're eager to get out and travel this year, but hesitant to navigate the COVID rules (and potential hordes of other travelers) on your own, this just might be the year to try a small-group guided tour.

I was just speaking with one of my fabulous supplier partners that has tours running this summer to Alaska, Iceland, Egypt, Greece and more.

Small groups, expert guides, no hassles, unique experiences, and everything is handled for you.

Let's chat about whether this might be the best way to get out and re-enter the world in 2021.

27/05/2021

It's so fun to be working on European trips again!

This week's projects have included a re-scheduled honeymoon to Paris, Provence, and the Cote d'Azur; a train trip from Paris to Brussels and Bruges; an Italian honeymoon; and a 50th anniversary cruise to Scotland and Iceland.

What European destination is calling your name?

26/05/2021

Some tips/advice on whether you should wait for "deals" later this year, or start planning now.

25/05/2021

25/05/2021

In honor of , I was going to try and count how many wineries I've visited around the world, but then I thought better of that.

What's your favorite destination for sampling local wine?

24/05/2021

Weddings are happening again.
Europe is opening back up to American travelers.
It's time to plan a European honeymoon!

23/05/2021

Sunday morning zen.

21/05/2021

Today is a really big day!

I have clients arriving in Europe for the first time in over a year! They're going to enjoy Santorini and Athens, soak up the sunshine, soak in the culture, and feel {almost} normal again.

My hotelier partners are rolling out the red carpet. The tour guides and taxi drivers can't wait to show them around. And the waiters and waitresses will be smiling (behind their masks) to finally have American tourists back at their tables.

If this positive trend continues, I promise to never again take for granted the ability to get out and explore the world!

18/05/2021

For all the honeymoons that got cancelled/postponed in 2020, here's a ray of sunshine: Danielle and Kyle leave tonight for an amazing bucket-list honeymoon to South Africa, complete with winetasting in Stellenbosch, penguins at Boulders Beach, a shark dive, hiking up Table Mountain, a tented safari camp, and a private cooking lesson in Johannesburg. Can't wait to see their photos!!

17/05/2021

Good news! Travel to Italy WILL be possible this summer, with COVID testing (regardless of your vaccination status). Here are the details as they stand right now. https://www.afar.com/magazine/italy-is-now-open-to-all-us-leisure-travelers-on-covid-tested-flights

Delta's quarantine-free flights to Rome and Milan are open to all customers with negative COVID test results, starting May 16.

16/05/2021

Sunday morning zen.
Fifty shades of green.

, Azores

15/05/2021

This week's hotel spotlight: La Perouse

An intimate 56-room luxury hotel overlooking the Baies des Anges in Nice, France. La Perouse offers breathtaking views, easy access to the Old City, and impeccable service.

Annie's Escapes clients receive special VIP perks that include daily breakfast, a welcome glass of champagne, a Salade Nicoise for two in the Mediterranean Garden restaurant, and more.

14/05/2021

Driving on the left -- no big deal, or much too stressful?

My husband and I are in the middle of planning a road trip in the UK for this fall, and we've never driven on the "wrong" side of the road.

I think it's worth it, in order to get out into the scenic countryside we want to explore. But I'm worried we'll end up killing one another. Or some unsuspecting British family.

Any tips and tricks for us? Or success stories to put my mind at ease?

13/05/2021

I have to interrupt all these posts about Europe to share some amazing discounts on travel to French Polynesia in the second half of 2021 and winter of 2022.

This sale includes prices starting at $2600 per person for a week in Moorea including the flights! If you have ever thought about running away to Tahiti or Bora Bora, please reach out sooner rather than later, as these won't last.

https://www.airtahitinui.com/us-en/its-tahiti-time?utm_source=ATN&utm_medium=eblast-5-12&utm_campaign=It%27s-Tahiti-Time

Celebrate Tahiti's Reopening with Incredible Vacation Packages from $2,598 ! Choice of Islands: Moorea - Bora Bora - Taha'a - Rangiroa - Tikehau

13/05/2021

Honestly, we've all been living off of past travels for long enough. Time to get out there and make some new memories!

12/05/2021

Just finished up a virtual meeting with an amazing new resort that I feel compelled to share with you (before it gets so busy that you can't even get a reservation to stay there).

Check out the first One & Only resort in Europe. On the "New Riviera", where the Adriatic meets the mountains. In a country that is already open to vaccinated Americans. https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/portonovi

12/05/2021

Today is ! I'll spare you my attempt at a limerick, and will instead share this interesting article about all the reasons to visit Limerick, Ireland :)

I can personally vouch for the Flying Boat Museum which was a fascinating place to learn about early transatlantic travel, while sipping an Irish coffee (which was invented here!)

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/ireland/articles/13-reasons-why-you-should-visit-limerick-ireland/

Explore the absolute cream of Limerick tourism in castles, museums, mountain biking, rugby and hip-hop.