August 2021

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy August,

I hope this month has started off well for you. July brought more travel than my family is used to, and we're all excited to get settled into our routine as the summer begins to wind down.

In the beginning of the month, we went to Michigan to visit with Sandy's family. We survived the six hour car ride, and were happy to be reconnected with family that we hadn't seen in two years.

At the end of July, we spent eleven days in New York, visiting my family. We started downstate, and ended upstate. There was a great family reunion, and Sandy and I were able to get away for a few days to the Adirondack Mountains.

Your support of Blue Sea Vacations has been nothing short of incredible over the past few months. I'm helping more people travel than every before.

In recent weeks, there has been attention given to the rising Delta variant and increase in Covid cases. As we've all learned over the past year and a half, things are constantly changing. From my side of things, please remember to be patient and flexible as we continue to move through everything together.

For August, I'm highlighting the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta. This is an all-ages resort. I stayed here when I visited Puerto Vallarta this past winter. I was blown away by the beauty of both the resort and staff.

A tip for those that get confused between the Hyatt Ziva, and Hyatt Zilara. Ziva is all-ages, you can remember because Ziva and "kids" both have four letters. Zilara is adults only. Zilara and "adults" both have six letters.

The view from my room.

The view from my room.

I spent two nights here, and could have spent another two weeks. The resort was situated in a private cove, surrounded by green cliffs, and beautiful flowers all over the property. There were great pools that I made sure to swim in. The service was top notch. Everyone I encountered was happy to help with anything I needed. My room was large, and felt like it had recently been updated.

The food was excellent. I had the best fried ice cream of my life :)

Lastly, I know I've mentioned this before, but there's something about watching the sun set over the Pacific that is simply incredible.

Similar to last month, please take a minute and check your passport. The processing times are long and if you are even remotely considering traveling internationally in the next year, you should get them renewed now.

As always, if you have questions about anything travel related, I'm here to help.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

July 2021

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy July,

I hope you are doing well. June came and went, and life continues to move forward into July.

June brought lots of activities for my family. We made our first trip back to the Madison Children's Museum since February 2020. Both Sarah and Peter were thrilled. Peter was only just a year old the last time we went, so he was really seeing it with new eyes.

On Father's Day, we went strawberry picking. Last year, Sarah and Peter just ran through the strawberry patches without picking anything, so we weren't sure how this year would go. Luckily, both kids enjoyed picking this year and we came back with quite the haul.

From the travel side of things, the momentum keeps building. I've never been so busy. Other agents I speak with are saying the same thing.

One request I have for you, my fantastic clients, is to please be patient as I work to help you plan your trips. Throughout the entire industry, things are taking longer. I promise you, I am working as fast as I can!

This month, I want to highlight Sunset at the Palms, my favorite resort that I visited in Jamaica when I went in January 2020. This adults only-all inclusive resort is located in Negril, on Bloody Bay Beach; constantly ranked as one of the top beaches in the world. The property is smaller and intimate, with only eighty-five guest rooms, which are "tree-house" style. Don't worry, there are still modern amenities. You aren't "roughing it"! It really is a magnificent site to be seen.

This is what the rooms look like. They have that treehouse/summer camp vibe!

What I immediately noticed while visiting was how relaxed and peaceful Sunset at the Palms was. There was green and lush vegetation, and zen-like calmness all over the property. Some other features were a great pool with a swim up bar and beautiful beach. In addition, when you book a trip to Sunset at the Palms, you get a complimentary Club MoBay access. This is fast track process through immigration and customs at the Montego Bay airport when you arrive and depart.

One last thing to mention this month is to please check your passports. The general rule of thumb is to have six months left on the passport when you travel internationally. If you are within that six month window, it is time to renew. The State Department just extended the processing times for passports. It is now estimated to take eighteen weeks to process for routine service, and twelve for expedited service.

As always, if you have questions about anything travel related, I'm here to help.

Have a great weekend and a wonderful 4th of July,

Brian

June 2021

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy June,

I hope your May was went well and you are enjoying June so far. Summer has arrived with 90 degree temperatures predicted all weekend long in Wisconsin.

May brought lots of activities for my family. We spent time at playgrounds and got to visit our local pool for the first swim this summer.

I was lucky enough to get out and hike at one of my favorite spots with two good friends that I hadn't seen since pre-Covid. Phil and Dan went on the first "Spring Break Cruise" back in 2014. Hopefully we can plan another!

Life continues to move towards a sense of normalcy for many of us. This includes my life as a travel agent. New clients and old have been contacting me each week to plan vacations. Even though cruises aren't necessarily sailing yet, interest is growing and deposits have been made. Mexico and the Caribbean are still a favorite destination for many of you.

An aerial view of the magnificent Sun Palace. Multiple pools, and right on the beach.

In what I hope is a regular feature, I want to highlight some of my favorite resorts, cruise lines, or destinations each month. The most logical place for me to begin is at the amazing Sun Palace. If you have asked for a honeymoon or couples quote in Mexico, there is a great chance I have included this property as an option.

Sandy and I stayed here nine years ago, almost to the day, for our honeymoon. We loved every minute of it. This premium, adults-only resort is located close to the Cancun airport right at the end of the hotel zone. This means that you are close to sights and excitement of Cancun if you want to be, but the resort has a laid back, relaxed vibe. The food, drinks, entertainment, and most importantly, service, were all incredible.

The Sun Palace just completed a top to bottom renovation last summer, and from what I've been told, it is stunning. I can't wait to visit soon.

As always, if you have any questions about travel, or would like help planning your next vacation, don't hesitate to let me know. It's a pleasure being able to assist you in creating so many lifelong memories.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

May 2021

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy May,

I hope this message finds you doing well. April flew by, and here we are already moving through May!

In the beginning of the month, we celebrated Easter. It was another low-keyed holiday for our family. It was a nice day, and the Easter Bunny left eggs outside for Sarah and Peter to find. At the end of April, we went to a local farm and got to see and pet lots of animals.

April also saw a somewhat return to normalcy in our family, as both Sandy and I became fully vaccinated. We were lucky enough to have grandparents visit us for the first time in over six months. I don't know who was more excited, the grandparents, the parents, or Sarah and Peter. My mother in law even commented that she'd never seen me smile so big when I went to give her a hug when they arrived at our house :)

In April, I booked more vacations for you, my wonderful clients, than I had in any month in almost two years. From Hawaiian adventures to honeymoons in the Caribbean, I am excited and can't wait to hear all about places that you are going to be headed to in the coming months. I know we're just heading into Spring 2021, but it isn't too early to think about next winter, or even Spring Break 2022. As I've said in the past, and have seen personally, the desire to travel is real. Resorts and flights are selling out. It is better to have a reservation and be able to cancel, than miss out entirely.

Two families will be visiting Moon Palace Jamaica, one of my favorite resorts in Jamaica!

On a personal note, it was May 2013 that I started Blue Sea Vacations. Who would have thought that eight years later, I'd still be on this great journey? Being able to help you plan vacations has been an incredible experience. Thank you for putting your trust in me.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

April 2021

9/1/2021

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Hello Friends and Happy April,

I hope this message finds you doing well. March was another quick month for us, and I'm excited as it's feeling like spring is right around the corner.

We had to put away our ice skates, but still spent plenty of time outside. One of the things that my family started doing right when Covid hit last year was to pick up trash on our walks. It's always noticeable in late winter/early spring after the snow melts. This year we wised up bought some grippers to help make things easier on our backs. Peter loves holding the garbage bag.

I'm lucky to be affiliated with a group of travel agents that always work to "give back", whenever we are visiting destinations. Last year while in Jamaica, we provided two suitcases full of school supplies to a local school and had the opportunity to meet with the teachers and students.

In Puerto Vallarta last month, we met with employees of a charity called Pasitos de Luz. This is an organization that provides daycare and therapy services for children with special needs from low income households in the Puerto Vallarta area. My group of agents had a genuine connection with them and their mission. We were happy to donate to their charity, and are making plans for our next visit to volunteer for a day at their facility.

If you have a vacation coming up, and want to know more about giving back in a specific destination, please don't hesitate to let me know. I personally am trying to vet each company that I can recommend. If we all do a little, it will add up to a great positive impact.

(from left) Dana from Discovereighng with Dana, your truly, Denise from Travel Concepts KC, and Chris and Arturo from Pasitos de Luz.

In other travel news, a number of you are going on or returning from spring break vacations. After all the cancellations from last year, this gives me hope and reassurance that travel is returning stronger than ever. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or travel needs. I'm here and happy to help.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

March 2021

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy March,

I hope this message finds you doing well. February was a chilly month here in Wisconsin, but we managed to stay entertained and have fun.

At the beginning of the month we had our own little Super Bowl party, where we all enjoyed pulled-pork nachos. I think the kids liked eating in front of the television more than anything else.

Peter has really taken to playing with magna-tiles, and now loves to build towers (and destroy them) on a daily basis. Once we could finally get outside after the bitter cold streak snapped, it was time for more ice skating.

The big news of the month is that I was able to go on a travel agent trip (FAM) to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from February 27 through March 3. The opportunity came about in early February. Sandy and I had a long discussion, as we have taken the Covid pandemic extremely seriously, and weren't sure if the timing was right. After talking it through, we decided that I would sign up to go. I've wanted to visit Puerto Vallarta for about two years, and who knows when an opportunity like this might happen again. In addition, I had been told and seen on numerous social media sites that Mexican resorts are doing a phenomenal job in keeping things clean and safe.

All my expectations were exceeded. Not only by the destination itself, but also by the level of cleanliness and safety measures in place. From the minute I stepped foot into Dane County Regional Airport, everything felt cleaner than I'd ever seen it.

For those that aren't aware, Puerto Vallarta sits on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Not only are the sunsets spectacular, but also the topography of the entire region. There are green cliffs all around. The water is a beautiful shade of emerald.

Puerto Vallarta is known as one of the friendliest cities in the world. The true charm and hospitality was on display at every resort we visited. Over the course of five days, our team toured ten resorts and stayed at two. From the beaches, to the pools, to the dining, and especially the people, there is something special about Puerto Vallarta. I can't wait to return.

As travel picks up into the spring, I'd be happy to help you plan your next vacation. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions at all.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

February 2021

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy February,

I hope 2021 has been treating you well so far. January saw my son, Peter, turn two. Our small celebration was a joyful one.

For the last three winters, we've watched our neighbors use the small pond behind our house for ice skating and hockey. We finally went out and bought skates for Sandy, Sarah, and myself. I hadn't been on skates in in over twenty years, and it has been a blast getting back into it. Sarah is doing a great job learning. I'm blown away by how quickly she's picked it up. And Sandy said, "This muscle memory isn't working too well for me!" But we're all having fun.

Some of you may have heard that in January the CDC began requiring that international travelers must have have a negative Covid-19 test within a three day window prior to entry into the US. As you can imagine, this created a frantic situation as many of you will be going on spring break trips in the next few months. Luckily, most resorts are offering free testing, as well as continency plans if there is a positive result. So far, there has been good communication between resorts, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, and passengers. It's my job to make sure that any changes are relayed to you quickly.

As for what's to come this spring, I'm still hoping to get to Mexico and perhaps another location in the Caribbean by the summer. As much as I love ice skating, there's something about the Blue Sea (get it?) that calls my name. As always, I'm here to help you in any way I can.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

January 2021

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy 2021,

I hope you are doing well and 2021 is off to a great start. December was another busy month in our house. There was a big snowfall in the beginning of the month. Our family ended up going sledding every day for a week. Both kids loved it, and mom and dad had fun too. We discovered some great hills in the area that we are excited to go back to.

In addition, we went and saw four different sets of holiday light shows. They were incredible to see.

Our Christmas looked similar to Thanksgiving. The four of us had a quiet celebration together. We opened gifts, laughed a lot, had a few zoom calls, watched some movies, read books, and made a nice dinner.

The whole family in matching pajamas enjoying Christmas morning together.

This past month saw a flurry of new activity for people interested in taking vacations in 2021. A number of you went ahead and booked. The advice I gave last month still holds true. If you are interested in traveling in 2021 and beyond, it is best to start looking now. Resorts and destinations aren't open at full capacity, and may not be for a bit. It is great to have something planned incase they do end up selling out. In addition, there are less flights scheduled, and those flights will be more full.

For anyone still considering Spring Break, it isn't too late to book. I'm never a fan of saying there are "deals", because in the end, the savings might not be as a great as anticipated. What I can say, after having booked three different spring break vacations for families in the past month is that pricing as a whole is trending lower for Spring Break in 2021 than in recent years.

As always, feel free to reach out and let me know how I can be of any help at all.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

December 2020

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy December,

I hope you are doing well. November went too quick, and suddenly we're in the last month of 2020. One Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago, Sarah and I made slime. It was a fun activity. And not quite as messy as I thought it was going to be!

We had a small Thanksgiving with just the four of us. Most years, I do a Turkey Trot in the morning, then we make a nice meal in the afternoon. This year, I still went for a quick run on my own, then to a playground with the family. For dinner, we have never been that traditional, and made shrimp, steak, mac and cheese, and brussel sprouts. With apple pie and homemade ice cream for dessert. Even with Covid, we have a lot to be thankful for.

Clients have been inquiring and booking vacations in 2021. Here is what I'm telling everyone:

No one knows when the pandemic is going to end. But when it does, it will likely be more akin to turning a dial, as opposed to flipping a switch. Many resorts and vacation destinations are operating in the same way. Some are open, but at limited capacity. They aren't going to be opening up at full capacity right away. It is going to take time.

My recommendation is if you are thinking about traveling, especially in the second half of 2021 or into 2022, put a deposit on a trip down now. That way, you absolutely have a vacation planned. If it ends up you can't go, or the resort isn't open yet, I'll work with you to reschedule or get a refund.

2020 sure didn't go the way many of us planned. Many of you have had to reschedule or cancel vacations that were months or years in the making. I can't thank you enough for putting your trust in me. I am truly grateful.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

P.S. - because the first Friday next month is New Year's Day, I won't be sending out my monthly email until Friday, January 8.

November 2020

9/1/2021

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Greetings and Happy November,

I hope this message finds you well. The Fall is moving along quickly, with Halloween just last week. Sarah was a fairy this year, and Peter a puppy. Even though trick-or-treating looked a little different than in the past, we had a wonderful time.

This past month saw us picking pumpkins as part of our annual pumpkin train ride tradition. Then painting them a few weeks later during the first snowfall of the season.

I've heard of many people picking up new hobbies during this time of Covid-19. Some people have tried rollerblading, canning foods, camping, etc. The one hobby I seem to have taken up is enjoying Formula One racing. Both my step-dad and father-in-law are big fans of racing, but I never had any interest until now.

After watching both seasons of the Netflix show "Drive to Survive" in one weekend, I've really started to enjoy it. I realized I let an opportunity sneak by when I was on one of our Spring Break Cruises and this car was on the ship.

From the travel side, people are reaching out for trips in 2021. While I wish I had a crystal ball to know when Covid-19 would end, I unfortunately do not. What I can say is that much of the Mexico and the Caribbean is still slowly opening. From all the reports I've heard, resorts and destination are taking the guidelines extremely seriously. I hope to get down to Mexico this winter, so I can see firsthand how the resorts and destination are handling everything.

As always, I'm here to help with any question you might have. Or even if you'd like to let me know where you're thinking about traveling in 2021 or beyond, I can keep my eyes out for any info.

Have a great weekend,

Brian