September 2025

9/5/2025

Greetings Friends,

I hope you are doing well as we settle into September. School started this week, and the Pittelli family is back on our routine.

That being said, August was filled with fun activities and trips for our family. We spent five days in upstate New York visiting my family. It’s always nice to visit, and especially for Sarah and Peter to see their cousins.

A highlight of the trip was taking a day to visit Camp Fowler. This is the summer camp where Sandy and I worked and met in 2005. We all agreed it was one of the best days we had all summer.

The rest of August was rounded out by hikes, street hockey, museums, and enjoying every last bit of summer.

When I stepped on the plane to New York, I realized that it had been my longest break from flying since the height of the pandemic in 2020-2021. Luckily, I’ll be making up for lost time in the second half of the year.

I know I've mentioned this in the past (basically every month!), but book your spring break trips now. School has started, and people are making plans. These are my busiest weeks of the year, with more clients traveling in the 3-4 weeks between March and April than at any other time. Check out my 2026 Spring Break Cruise if you are in the market for an affordable, fun option for the family.

Another option for you to consider is a family trip to Europe for 2026. Over the past two years, I've planned amazing summer trips to Europe for families - specifically to celebrate graduating seniors. Reflecting on it, I went to Europe with my family in the spring of 2001 as a high school senior, and it was a life-changing experience.

I'll be traveling at the beginning of October, so we'll pick back up in November. Please reach out with any questions, travel needs, or referrals. I'm always happy to help.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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See previous monthly emails here.

August 2025

8/1/2025

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Greetings Friends,

August has arrived, and summer is still going 100 miles per hour in the Pittelli House. I hope you are getting outside and having a great summer.

We began July by spending Independence Day weekend with family in Michigan. It was great spending time on the other side of Lake Michigan, where we went swimming, saw friends and family, and ate a lot of soft-serve ice cream.

Peter’s swimming is improving rapidly this summer. He's taking lessons twice a week, and has a super instructor who is pushing him. We bought a summer membership to Urban Air (an indoor trampoline/activity park), and Peter’s taken to the laser tag area. We visited twice in July, and he spent the whole time playing laser tag with kids twice his age. He has no fear.

After weekly meets throughout July, Sarah's summer swim season concluded last weekend. Sarah made the conference championship team and had a wonderful experience at the final meet. She had a great season, with improved times, deepened friendships, and most importantly, a lot of fun.

Sandy and Sarah spent a weekend at Girl Scout camp, where they enjoyed the outdoors (while camping inside). Sandy even led a session on how to make a campfire. She put her camp counselor skills to good use!

Last, but certainly not least, I snuck down to Chicago for three nights to Phish with good friends. I also ended up trying my hand at announcing during Sarah's last home meet. I enjoyed it more than I expected, but I'm not sure if people liked my dad jokes!

There has been a decent number of you reaching out to plan your winter and spring trips. Thank you! My constant reminders must be working!

It’s not even too early to begin planning trips for next summer. I’ve received a few inquiries, and to be honest, I’ve seen favorable pricing for some higher-end luxury resorts. I normally don’t like to use the word “deal”, but these prices are surprisingly good.

Lastly, I might not mention it enough, but the highest compliment you can give is a referral. I’m never too busy to help out your friends and family.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

PS - I'm planning a 2026 Spring Break Cruise. Let me know if you are interested!

Contact Today

See previous monthly emails here.

July 2025

8/1/2025

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Greetings Friends,

I hope you are doing well. You are receiving this update one day early due to the holiday tomorrow. This is the first time in five years of sending this monthly email that I've sent it out a day early!

Summer is here in Wisconsin. June was spent mostly outdoors for our family. Sarah’s swim season is in full swing. Her times are improving, and she’s having fun.

We are keeping Peter as busy as we can with swim lessons, soccer, and his most recent way to burn energy - running laps around our house. Both kids finished school the second week of June, but they haven’t slowed down their reading. There is a great summer reading program through our local library that the kids participate in.

Sandy and I went to the American Players Theatre with friends one Saturday night to see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Although I’m not typically one to pick Shakespeare, it was a hilarious show, and I’m glad we went. The environment is breathtaking. The theatre is in the middle of the woods.

We also celebrated our 13th anniversary and had a wonderful dinner at the Madison Club, where we became members earlier this year.

On the travel front, many of you have been taking your summer trips all over the world. Several families crossed the pond to Europe. Others flew to the West Coast and sailed on Alaskan cruises. And of course, down to the Caribbean to enjoy some R&R.

It might be summer, but now is the best time to begin planning your winter and spring trips for 2026. In my experience, once school begins in the fall, rates start going up, and flights and resorts begin to fill up. You might get sick of me saying it, but I'm planning our fifth Spring Break Cruise for next March. Feel free to reach out if you are interested.

Lastly, just a friendly reminder to check your passports. Sometimes the expiration dates can sneak up on you.

Have a Great Independence Day Weekend!

Brian

PS - I'm planning a 2026 Spring Break Cruise. Let me know if you are interested!

Contact Today

See previous monthly emails here.

June 2025

8/1/2025

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Greetings Friends,

I hope you are doing well. May had plenty of activities for my family, but we also found time to slow down.

Peter's soccer season came to a close. Overall, another successful season. Peter had fun, and he's excited to move up to the next age bracket in the fall.

Sarah started her summer swim team, the Piranhas. This team is more geared toward fun, and she loves it. Beginning this week, they've been swimming outside. The coaches do a great job of keeping the kids moving in the cold water.

I had the opportunity to volunteer as a Watch D.O.G. (Dads of Great Students) at the kids' school in the middle of the month. I've done it the past two years with Sarah, and this year I was able to do it with both kids. It's truly one of my favorite days of the year. Each child was thrilled to have me around and help out in their class.

We took a Saturday and went up to Devil's Lake for a hike and picnic. I brought my suit and jumped into the cold water when we finished the hike. It felt refreshing and fantastic. We rounded out the month with a Mother's Day trip to a farm, a Brewers game, and another time at the Madison Symphony.

From the travel side, I always like to say that cruising moves in waves (pun intended). Right now, interest is high. What you might not know is that you can also book cruises far in advance. For all-inclusive resorts and Europe, I tend not to recommend booking too far out. Think 10-11 months. For cruises, it's not uncommon to book 1-2 years out. For example, I'm working with a private group that is looking to travel in November 2026.

As always, if you have any travel questions, don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a Great Weekend,

Brian

PS - I'm planning a 2026 Spring Break Cruise. Let me know if you are interested!

Contact Today

See previous monthly emails here.

May 2025

5/16/2025

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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!

Contact Today

See previous monthly emails here.

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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See previous monthly emails here.

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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See previous monthly emails here.

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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See previous monthly emails here.

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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