May 2025

5/16/2025

Greetings Friends,

I hope this message finds you happy and healthy. April came and went in a flash for our family. When I sit down to write these monthly emails, I like to look back at our family calendar. I don't think I've seen one as packed as April in a long time!

The spring soccer season began, and I'm coaching Peter's team. Even though Blue Sea Vacations sponsors the team, I always like the players to agree on a team name. This season, we are known as the "Pickle Dogs". The team has a ton of energy, and most importantly, we're having fun.

The big news from Sarah is that she had braces put on her teeth at the beginning of April. So far, Sarah's had wires pop out and brackets fall off, but she's put on a good face (no pun intended) and taken it all in stride.

Our family spent a Sunday afternoon in April seeing the "Elephant and Piggie" musical. We've spent the past 8 years reading these books to the kids, so it was a unique experience seeing the characters come to life on the stage. Sandy and I also got away (on a school night!) to see an organ concert by the Madison Symphony's organist. The show featured the organist, a brass quintet, and a drummer. Sandy and I agreed that it was amazing and we had a wonderful time.

Easter was a nice holiday. We had an early morning Easter egg hunt outside. Followed by church and a wonderful brunch with friends. My mom visited for the weekend. We all enjoyed having company.

From the travel side, I'm noticing many people are planning last-minute trips for this summer. Please be aware that the longer you wait, the less is available and prices go up. If you are interested in going away next fall or winter, this is the perfect time to begin planning. For next spring break, we're still a little too early, but it doesn't hurt to begin the conversation.

I haven't mentioned it in a while, but a friendly reminder that I always recommend purchasing travel insurance for your vacations. This covers you for situations like cancelled flights or lost luggage. But it can also provide medical coverage if you are out of the country.

Lastly, I tend to get a little sentimental in May, as it was this month 12 years ago that I started Blue Sea Vacations. I'm nothing but grateful for the experience of being able to help you plan your trips. Thank you for supporting Blue Sea Vacations.

Have a Great Weekend,

Brian

PS - in case you missed it last month, I'm planning a 2026 Spring Break Cruise. Let me know if you are interested!

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April 2025

5/16/2025

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Greetings Friends,

April arrived, and spring is here in Wisconsin. I hope you've been able to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. As I'm sure you can guess by now, March was another busy month for my family.

Peter had his parent-kid hockey game to officially wrap up the season. I played and had a wonderful time skating with the other parents and kids. I scored a goal and only fell once, so I’d say it was successful!

Sarah was busy selling her Girl Scout cookies. She went door to door in our neighborhood and volunteered at three different booths with her troop. For anyone still interested, this is the last weekend to order. If you are in the Madison/Dane County area, we'll happily deliver them to you. You can order here.

We took a quick one-night trip to the Wisconsin Dells, where the kids rode their hearts out at an indoor water park. It was much easier to manage them than three years ago when they were 5 and 3.

March was rounded out by Spring Break, which fell on the last week of the month. To be honest, with all the traveling we did last year, I didn’t think about wanting to travel for Spring Break this year. I made a mistake, and by mid-March, we were all ready to get away. It was too late, and luckily we survived the week and made the most of staying local. We had grandparents visiting in the beginning, a few museum visits, four trips to Culver’s, and we finished last Sunday with our first time going to Cave of the Mounds.

At the end of last week's break, I looked at Sandy and said that as fun as the staycation was this year, we would be doing something during Spring Break 2026. This past Monday, I set up the 2026 Spring Break Cruise group to sail on the Carnival Mardi Gras from March 21 to 28, 2026, departing and returning to Port Canveral, Florida (Orlando Airport).

The itinerary is great. The Mardi Gras stops at four ports, including Carnival’s private island. Additionally, there are some great rates. Interior cabins begin at $2,042/couple, and Balcony cabins start at $2,752/couple. These prices include gratuities. If you want a cabin of 3 or 4, let me know and I can provide you that specific pricing. Each cabin will get $75 on-board credit for being part of the group.

Even if you have a passing interest in the 2026 Spring Break Cruise, I’d be happy to discuss it further. And to answer a question you might have, you can get this deal and do your own thing. There are no “group activities” or “group dinners.”

If you have any questions about the 2026 Spring Break Cruise or anything else, don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a Great Weekend,

Brian

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March 2025

4/2/2025

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Greetings Friends,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying March so far. February flew by, and my family didn't slow down.

Many of you have followed along, and know we wait each winter for the pond behind our house to freeze. It did in February, and one Saturday afternoon we had a wonderful time skating around as a family. Both kids have been showing this winter how much they love spending time outside, which Sandy and I also love.

Peter's hockey season finished with games in February, and I noticed the last month or two that he improved significantly. His skating in particular is much better than it was four months ago.

The rest of the month was highlighted by multiple trips to museums, a bingo night at school, and playing in the snow (before it melted!).

Sarah is selling Girl Scout cookies again this spring. They are $6, and if you are in the Madison/Dane County area, we'll happily deliver them to you. You can order here.

From the travel side, I've never had more people traveling for Spring Break than this year. The post office attendant said I was becoming a regular with all the travel docs I was mailing.

Some of you are off to Europe, others to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and a big group heading out on a Caribbean cruise. My family is staying put this year, but I've already started researching a Spring Break Cruise for next March. For newcomers - we've planned three Spring Break Cruises in the past, and they've been a ton of fun. More info to come.

If you have any questions about future vacations, don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a Great Weekend,

Brian

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February 2025

4/2/2025

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Greetings Friends and Happy 2025,

I hope that you are doing well. Things have been moving steadily for us as we wound down 2024 and started up 2025.

December was full of activities. Peter continued to make a ton of progress playing hockey, and Sarah’s times keep improving at swimming. Most importantly, they are having fun.

Both kids were in our church’s Christmas pageant. This year, Sarah was an angel and Peter was a shepherd.

Our family spent nine nights in New York visiting my family at the end of December and early January. It was nice to see family for a holiday we usually spend alone. There were two special events we were able to go to while visiting. The first was a surprise 80th birthday party for my stepdad, Mike. It was tractor and flannel-themed, and a perfect event for a great person.

The second was a wedding in New York City on New Year's Eve for my cousin. Our kids were able to stay with my family upstate, and Sandy and I enjoyed two nights away. We arrived on the 30th, and I snuck in a Phish concert with three of my best friends. I’m extremely grateful to have a wonderful wife who allows me to go to so many concerts. On the 31st, we had a nice brunch and then spent about 3 hours walking all over lower Manhattan. The wedding was a wonderful evening celebrating my cousin and his new wife.

At the beginning of January, we celebrated Peter's sixth birthday. Our family comedian had a small pajama party with four of his best friends from school one Saturday afternoon. They all matched his high energy intensity. I don't think Sandy and I have been more tired in a while!

The other highlights included hockey games, swim meets, rock climbing, and last but certainly not least, our first trip to the E.R. for the year. Peter shot a nerf gun at Sarah and hit her directly in the eye. She complained of blurriness. Sandy brought her in, and sure enough, she had a small scratch. Luckily, it healed up quickly.

I wanted to share a luggage tip I learned on our flights to and from New York. On our first flight departing Madison we were at the ticket counter checking a piece of big luggage and our kids' car seats. Each of us had a carry-on bag and backpack as well. The agent at the counter asked if we wanted to gate-check all of our carry-on luggage to the final destination. We all said sure! On the way home, we asked the baggage counter representative if we could gate-check our carry-on bags, and they said yes. This made our travel days much easier and something we'll do in the future.

Europe has been my number-one destination sold so far in 2025. I know I sound like a broken record, but if you are interested in going to Europe at any time in 2025, now is the time to start looking. Set up an appointment with me by clicking the "Contact Today" button below. If you can't find a time that works, let me know and we'll find a time that does. All the forecasting that I've seen is that Europe keeps getting more popular, so time is of the essence to book! And as always, if you want to go to the Caribbean or a cruise, I'm happy to help.

Have a Great Weekend,

Brian

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December 2024

2/5/2025

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Greetings Friends,

I hope you are doing well, and that December is off to a great start. The temperature dropped last week, and it looks like our stormwater pond has frozen earlier than in recent years. I think we should be able to get out and skate in the next week or so.

November featured more kids' activities. Sarah continued swimming and had her first meet of the winter season. She's made incredible progress since the summer. Peter's hockey season is in full swing. He's got incredible hustle and falls a lot, but gets up quickly!

Our family saw multiple performances this past month. As I've mentioned before, we spend many Saturday mornings at Kids in the Rotunda. We also saw one of our local high schools (we have two in our school district) performance of Sussical: The Musical. It was a unique blending of multiple Dr. Suess books. Everyone enjoyed it.

Thanksgiving was a low-key holiday. We went swimming in the morning. Sandy's parents arrived in the afternoon, and we had a German-themed Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of the long weekend involved swimming, hockey, visiting friends in Milwaukee, and slowing down a little.

The last resort I wanted to highlight from my trip to Mexico in September was Atelier. This resort was adults-only, located north of Cancun, in the Playa Mujeres region. This was a beautiful property that blended a modern look with authentic touches.

Even though I was only at Atelier for a tour, there was a strong emphasis placed on the dining experience. I'm not sure I remember seeing so many high-end restaurants in a resort. The highlight is Maria Delores - a Michelin Guide restaurant. I even noticed the mini-bars in the rooms were stocked with a wider variety than normal.

A few other highlights included unique and colorful art around the property. In addition, there is a golf course right next door. And like many other resorts in this area, a nice beach.

I'm not one to typically reflect on the past, but 2024 was another terrific year for helping you plan your travel. Thank you for your confidence and support of Blue Sea Vacations.

Looking ahead, it isn't too late to book a spring break trip, but you are starting to cut it close. For summer 2025 and beyond, now is a great time to get started.

I hope you have an enjoyable holiday season doing whatever it is that makes you the happiest. I'll be visiting family in early January, so we'll skip the newsletter next month. See you in February.

Take Care,

Brian

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November 2024

2/5/2025

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Greetings Friends,

November is here, and with it, one of my favorite times of year - changing our clocks back. Don't forget tomorrow night!

October was a busy and fun month for our family. It started with a trip to Long Island to celebrate my grandmother's 99th birthday. My whole maternal family was there. Spending time with everyone was wonderful, but seeing Mema happy was the best part.

In the middle of the month, Sarah turned eight. She wanted a birthday party at our house and invited twelve girls. Even with an agenda that included plenty of activities, Sandy and I were scrambling to figure out what to do after the first hour. Everyone ended up having a fun time, but it sure was exhausting.

Peter and I wrapped up the fall soccer season. Sarah continued to enjoy swimming on her team a few days per week. We went to a high school swim meet where Sandy exclaimed, "That was a lot more exciting than I thought it would be!". Last, but certainly not least, Peter started hockey. I'm not sure what he was more excited about - getting to wear all the gear or getting to play.

We spent plenty of time outdoors with the weather that cooperated (until Halloween night!). We went to our City's firefighters' open house, and the kids got to ride a firetruck. They also had their annual fun run, where Blue Sea Vacations was one of the main sponsors :) Sandy and I took in an amazing art/light installation at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. The Girl Scouts had an afternoon at a pumpkin patch, with fun activities for all ages. We finished the month with a hike on some local trails.

The end of October can only mean one thing - Halloween. Sarah went as Rapunzel, and Peter repeated as a dragon this year. It was a cold and windy night. And it was our first time making it through our entire neighborhood!

In last month's email, I promised to describe more of the resorts I saw in Mexico. One that I was lucky to tour was Haven Riviera Cancun. I've had clients stay here, but I have never had the chance to see it myself. The property is adults-only, with 435 suites, 25% of which are swim-out.

Haven was a good size - big enough to have plenty of pools and restaurants. However, it was easy to get around. A feature that Haven has is that some rooms can accommodate up to four guests. Most adults-only all-inclusive resorts only allow up to three people per room. Finally, it's not too far from the airport, and I know it always tends to price reasonably well. I have it on my list of places to stay when I get a chance.

A topic that I haven't mentioned in a while, but is worth repeating is applying for Global Entry. This is a service that gets you through US customs quickly. Since I've had it for the past year and a half, I've waited at most ten minutes when arriving back to the USA from a different country. Global Entry also comes with TSA Pre-Check. I highly recommend applying for Global Entry if you plan to travel internationally somewhat frequently (once a year is enough in my mind).

As always, let me know how I can help you with your next vacation.

Have a great weekend and wonderful Thanksgiving later this month,

Brian

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October 2024

10/4/2024

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Greetings Friends,

Happy October, and happy autumn. Our ash tree in front of our house is beginning to turn yellow, and my prediction is that it will be fully changed in two weeks or so.

September started with back-to-school for Sandy and the kids. Sarah is in second grade, Peter started Kindergarten, and Sandy began her 14th year teaching. Everyone had a great first day. And what do you know - the school sickness started sooner than normal. Sarah contracted pertussis (whooping cough) and spent the entire second week of school home with me. Her case was mild, but she was instructed to quarantine for five days.

A highlight for Sandy and Sarah was visiting the American Girl store in Chicago in the middle of September. Most of you don't know this, but American Girls were a huge part of my life even though it was only my brother and me (two boys) growing up. My mom had American Girl tea parties with girls on our street and eventually started a successful American Girl-based summer camp. Sandy and Sarah had a fun time having afternoon tea with her doll.

The weather has been warmer than usual. One weekend, we decided to check out one of the beaches on a local lake. When we arrived, there were kayaks for rent. I rented a tandem kayak and took each kid out separately. We had a wonderful time, and both kids impressed me with their skills. I used to lead kayak trips at Camp Fowler (where Sandy and met). To now be paddling with my kids was a special moment.

At the end of September, I spent a week in Mexico. The first night, I stayed at Secrets Maroma Beach. I'd heard great things about this resort, and am happy to report that it lived up the hype. It is on one of the most beautiful beaches I've seen. But what I found to be more impressive was the amazing staff. The service I received, for just a one-night stay, was top-notch. It was truly a well-oiled machine.

After I checked out of Secrets Maroma Beach, I toured four different resorts. I'll review them in future monthly emails. I was mainly in Mexico for a conference held at Secrets Playa Blanca. This resort is in an area north of Cancun, which I'd never visited. It was a beautiful location with great beaches.

Secrets Playa Blanca was stunning. It's brand new, and like many other Secrets resorts, has a variety of restaurants, bars, and activities for people to participate in.

While the conference was getting started, Hurricane Helene was making landfall in our area. For the first half of the conference, it rained and stormed stronger than I've experienced. We were essentially confined to our rooms for a portion of the first day. The staff worked around the clock to help clean up the property and take care of the guests. By the late afternoon on the second day, things started to clear up and we did a marathon learning session for about seven hours without a break.

On the last day, we had time to explore and relax at the resort. It was a nice pool day, and I enjoyed spending time with agents and colleagues I see infrequently. There was a mock wedding/vow renewal that was exciting to experience.

In one session at the conference, an important industry executive spoke about travel trends. Flight capacity, especially to Mexico and the Caribbean is lower going into 2025 than in recent years. This being said, Europe is the hottest market right now for travel, which I've been seeing with my clients as many of you are in the process of planning your 2025 getaways across the pond. This all leads me to reiterate what I say monthly, please don't wait to book your trips!

As always, let me know how I can help you with your next vacation.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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September 2024

9/6/2024

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Greetings Friends,

I hope you are enjoying September so far. There are likely many new readers here, as I've had more new travelers booking vacations over the past few months than in recent history. If you're new - welcome! This is an almost monthly newsletter I send out that gives updates about what is happening in my life, along with some travel updates.

Our family had a busy summer, but we made sure to take the time to stop and relax and enjoy the nice weather.

A big highlight included spending time watching Sarah swim. She made new friends, enjoyed practices and meets, and overall can't wait to continue swimming this fall.

Peter didn't slow down at all for the summer. He continued his journey with swim lessons where we saw some major improvements. And he tried t-ball. True to form, he had the whole team cracking up by the second practice.

We spent a week in Michigan and Upstate New York visiting family. In Michigan, we went to the beaches on Lake Michigan, which were beautiful. We also visited Meijer Gardens and the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.

The kids enjoyed the lounge life in Baltimore on the way to Albany. LIfe's tough when dad's a travel agent.

The kids loved meeting their new cousin in New York. Peter has become interested in the Revolutionary War (totally normal for a 5-year-old, right?!), and we visited the Saratoga Battlefield. The weather was beautiful, and one day went to Grafton Lakes State Park. The kids also turned an old potting shed into an ice cream stand with the help of their grandparents. I volunteered to be the ice cream scooper.

Sarah's Girl Scout Troop planned an overnight at the local Girl Scout summer camp. Sandy attended with her. Both mom and daughter had a fun time. Sandy built the fire for s'mores, utilizing her old camp counselor skills. She described it as "like riding a bike". At the end of the summer, Sarah moved up from Daisey's to Brownie's at a nice ceremony.

And last, but certainly not least, I saw six concerts throughout the summer. This included my favorite band, Phish, four times. Sandy and I saw Vampire Weekend on a night with torrential rain in Milwaukee. We had a great time.

From the travel side of things, as the summer progressed, more and more of you booked trips. And you are taking my advice and trying to book early. Thank you! This being said - I've already had situations where flights next spring break have sold out. And my European specialist said that Europe next spring/summer is already filling up. Long story short - don't wait until the last minute.

There are many of you heading out this autumn, with the majority going on cruises. I like to say that cruising tends to move in waves (no pun intended). Sometimes it's more popular than other times. Right now is a time when there seems to be more demand.

I'm happy to help you explore options for your next cruise or vacation. Feel free to reach out any time.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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July 2024

9/6/2024

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Hello Friends,

I hope you had a nice June, and July has started well. June began with both kids finishing up their school year. Sarah wrapped up first grade, and Peter completed 4K. In the fall he'll be starting Kindergarten, and I can't help but think with both kids in elementary school that one phase of parenthood is over. Sandy also finished up her thirteenth year as a school librarian. I'm incredibly proud of all of them!

From the sports side, Peter's soccer team finished their spring season, and I can say the kids and parents all had a great time. I saw so much progress over the 10 weeks, I never imagined it could be so rewarding. Peter also started T-Ball this month. So far he's loving it.

Sarah started her swim meets in June. She's improving her times, and most importantly, having fun. I've been volunteering at the home meets, and cheering her on.

We stayed close to home and went to a Madison Mallards baseball game. The kids had a blast, with games, dancing with mascots, and of course - ice cream in the plastic helmet.

At the end of the month, we visited friends in Chicago for the weekend. While the moms had a spa day, the dads took the kids to an indoor rock climbing park. Sarah had no fear and immediately took to climbing up the walls with an intensity I was not expecting. Peter was more hesitant to climb. He made it about a quarter of the way up, then wanted to come down. Both kids loved doing the bumper cars and playing laser tag.

It's time for one of my semi-annual reminders to check your passport. I haven't been taking my own advice, and sure enough, Peter's just expired in June. We don't have any international trips planned in the coming months, but we still plan to get it renewed.

Even though more people are traveling to Europe in the spring and fall, summer is still the main season to travel to Europe. I have clients visiting England, Wales (go Wrexham!), Italy, and Greece in the next month alone. If you think you'd like to visit Europe in the summer of 2025, it's not too early to begin planning.

In terms of what is on the horizon for me - we have some summer travel plans to visit family. I'll be back in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area in September.

Similar to last summer, I'm going to take off sending out an update in August. I'll pick back up in September.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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June 2024

6/7/2024

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Hello Friends,

I hope this message finds you doing well and enjoying June. May went quickly for our family. Warm weather has made it feel like summer arrived earlier this year. We've already had picnics, lots of grilling, soccer games, and even multiple trips to the outdoor pool.

One of the highlights in May was watching the Madison Symphony perform a children's program on a Saturday afternoon. Before the show, there was an opportunity to see some of the instruments and performers up close. Both kids loved the chance to hold and play the instruments. The performance was great - they did four pieces, with the centerpiece being "Peter and the Wolf". The whole family enjoyed the event, and are eager to return.

Sarah started her swim team in May. So far, she's loving the practices, camaraderie, and learning the cheers. She finished her first year of Girl Scouts and found out she sold 339 boxes of cookies. A job very well done! She received two more squish mallows as a reward - not what our family needs! But she's excited, so we're happy.

Peter's soccer team had a great month. I love coaching them and enjoy seeing them progress each week. Our dude also graduated from 4K. How is he already a kindergartner?!

Many of you are now departing on your summer trips. Whether celebrating a honeymoon, an anniversary or being done with school for the year, I'm happy you are celebrating with a vacation.

One topic I'd like to note is taxes/fees that are only payable to your hotel/resort when traveling. I'm not talking about any additional excursions, spa treatments, etc. These are specific taxes/fees that can not be paid in advance. Typically, these charges are not significant (we're talking $5-$7/night). But, it's just good to know that you may encounter them when traveling to the Caribbean or Europe. I try to make it a point to highlight them on travel documents.

Lastly, in May I celebrated eleven years as a travel agent. I couldn't do it without your support through the years. Many thanks.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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