January 2023

1/6/2023

Greetings Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope the first week of 2023 has been going well for you and your loved ones. After what felt like a long holiday season, the new year has been bringing some much-needed routine to my family.

That being said, December was an action-packed and fun-filled month. At the beginning of the month, we saw a high school production of A Christmas Carol. Peter did pretty well and made it through the whole production without getting too squirmy.

One Saturday morning in December, Sandy and I were lucky enough to take a holiday tour of the Governor's Mansion here in Madison, WI. We've both wanted to do this for a long time. It was one of the most unique experiences we've had in a while. It was a self-guided tour through some of the rooms, which were all nicely decorated. There were docents to provide information and answer questions. A highlight for Sandy was seeing a Christmas tree made of children's books. Being a librarian, Sandy was ecstatic. I liked hearing all the stories and history behind the building. I think we're going to try and do this every year from now on.

In the middle of the month, Sandy I flew to New York to attend a wedding for one of my cousins. It was a great time celebrating with family. My in-laws watched out kids, so it was a rare few days away for just mom and dad. We had a great time.

A big highlight for our family was Sarah and Peter participating in our church's holiday pageant. Sarah was an angel. In her words "the stars of the show". And Peter was a lamb. We loved seeing our kids up there and everyone did an excellent job.

On Christmas Eve we went to a nice family service at church. Christmas Day was low-keyed. The kids had us up around 6:30 to see what Santa brought. We ate pound cake for breakfast (one of my family's traditions). And relaxed the rest of the day. Some of our kid's favorite gifts were Legos, squishy balls, and a sword and shield set inspired from of our trip to Medieval Times last spring.

As many of you know from the previous monthly emails I've sent, my favorite band is Phish. They traditionally ring in the New Year with a four-night run of concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City. I was lucky to go see the concerts on 12/30 and 12/31 with four of my best friends. The shows were incredible, and connecting and spending so much time with people I rarely get to see made it all the more memorable. On New Year's Day, I had a late flight and spent the afternoon with my family on Long Island. A bonus to spend more time with people I care so much about.

I'm sure many of you saw the reports of all the headaches traveling caused over the holidays. Luckily, all my clients had smooth trips. However, all these delays and cancelations of flights are a prime reason why I always recommend travel insurance. This can reimburse you for any costs incurred when these situations arise.

In terms of how 2023 is shaping up to be - I've never seen this strong of a desire to travel from past clients and potential clients contacting me. Many of you want to get away someplace warm this winter, and others are planning summer vacations to Europe. And still, some people want to jump on a cruise and enjoy life on the open water. I'm always here to help guide you on your journey.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Brian

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December 2022

12/2/2022

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Greetings Friends,

I hope the last First Friday email of the year finds you in good health and spirits. The holiday season has arrived, and my family is getting into the swing of things. Our tree is up, the candles are in the windows, and our new elf friend "Jingle-Jangle" has made his appearance.

We had a nice Thanksgiving last week. In the morning, I skipped my usual Turkey Trot. Although we did stay active and went for a family swim at our local athletic club. In the afternoon, friends came over and we had a nice meal. Having four kids under six made for some craziness, but we all had fun.

Another highlight during the month was going to our City's holiday parade. This was the second year we've gone and luckily the weather was warmer than last year's bitter cold temps. The main features are all different fire trucks and vehicles from the past 100 years or so. Both kids love seeing everything. At the end of the parade, Santa lights a tree, and there is time to explore the different vehicles.

Last weekend, we spent a morning in Downtown Madison. This is one of our kid's favorite places to visit. We started at the Madison Children's Museum. Next, we rode a Christmas-themed trolly around Capitol Square and up and down State Street (one of the main and iconic streets in Madison). Went inside the Capitol to see if the tree was done (it wasn't decorated yet). And we finished up with pizza for lunch.

The end of the year is a good time to check your passport and make sure it is still valid. I just realized last week that my daughter's expired this past July, and we are going on a cruise next summer. On our agenda in the next month is going to be taking care of this.

2022 has been another fantastic year for Blue Sea Vacations. I helped more people travel than any previous year - honeymooners, families, couples, friends, and groups. The majority of you came back having experienced a wonderful vacation. I'm thrilled to have played a small part in your journey.

Looking ahead, the demand for travel doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. After spending the better part of two years isolated, many people want to get out, explore, and reconnect with friends and family. I'm always happy to help you plan your next vacation.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and holiday season,

Brian

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See previous monthly emails here.

November 2022

12/1/2022

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Greetings Friends,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying November, the shorter days, and the cooler weather. I think I'm one of the only people that like Standard Time more than Daylight Saving Time. Don't forget to turn your clocks back this Sunday.

October went by quickly, with plenty of activities to keep us busy. At the beginning of the month, our daughter, Sarah, turned six. Time really flies. I think her favorite gift was a number of different Lego kits. Suddenly, we've been doing them non-stop for the past few weeks! We had a birthday party for her that included swimming, food, and playing in an open gym. We had a great time, especially the birthday girl,

Even with cooler weather, we were able to get outside as much as possible in October. Sandy and I had a date night and went to an art installation/light show at our local botanical gardens. We've been plenty of times during the day, but there was something amazing being there at night, looking at art installations that were enhanced by the environment. We'll definitely be going back next year.

At the end of the month, we snuck a trip to one of our favorite places, Devil's Lake. We did a hike, where the kids didn't complain as much as normal! After we came down, we had a picnic lunch, and I decided to take a dip in the cold water. It was refreshing.

As always, the end of October brought Halloween and all the activities that surround the holiday. Peter was a firefighter and Sarah went as a princess (for the second year in a row). We went to a few events leading up to Halloween that were fun. On the night itself, we went out for the full two hours that our City designates for trick-or-treating, and made it almost through our whole neighborhood. We'll conquer it one of these years. The kids received more candy than in past years - and I've been sneaking Snickers bars all week.

In November, I’d like to highlight El Dorado Casitas Royale. You might remember back in February I highlighted El Dorado Royale. The Casitas Royale is an adults-only resort right next door. Out of all the resorts that I visited when I was in the Riviera Maya region last year, this one stood out the most.

The resort is unique in a few ways. For starters, it's based around eight enclaves or sections, each with its own pool and swim-up bar. It has an intimate, low-key feel. The rooms were all very nice. One feature that I loved was the outdoor shower. Similar to the El Dorado Royale, something about this resort felt authentic, like you were more immersed in the culture. We had lunch, and the service was top-notch. I'd love to go back and stay for longer.

I know I say this monthly, but it really isn't too early to think about your 2023 vacation. As always, if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to reach out.

Have a great weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving in a few weeks,

Brian

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October 2022

12/1/2022

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Greetings Friends,

October is here and I hope this monthly email finds you doing well.

September came and went for our family. Over Labor Day weekend, we made a trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo. Sandy and I went once a decade ago. I had forgotten had big it was. We spent the whole day seeing animals and watching shows. On the way home, we went to Kopps, which is in my opinion the best custard in Wisconsin.

The most important event occurred right after Labor Day when Sarah started Kindergarten. When September 6 rolled around, she was ready! Sandy and I were both incredibly proud of our girl!

Toward the end of September, our family went apple picking. This is always a favorite fall activity. We normally don't go so early in the season, and it was nice to get some different apples than we were used to. We've been going for the past five years, and it's been crazy seeing the kids grow up each year.

In October, I’d like to highlight another cruise line, Princess. In June 2016, Sandy and I took a Babymoon on a Princess cruise to Alaska. Princess is an excellent cruise line that tends to be geared more toward adults.

We had a great time seeing the shows, relaxing, and watching the scenery around us. The food was especially high quality. There was an afternoon tea each day that was a highlight for me. The service on the ship was great. After a few days, I was laughing hysterically with the servers.

An exciting part of the cruise was all the different ports we were able to see. We kept it low-key due to Sarah being in Sandy’s belly, but we still had the chance to see some amazing natural wonders. One key aspect that we were able to do was cruising through Glacier Bay. I always recommend having this on the itinerary if you can. You have the chance to sail through a beautiful bay, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Glacier Bay is a national park, and park rangers came on the ship to give insight into what we were seeing.

As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, many of you are beginning to think about a winter or spring getaway. Now is the ideal time to start planning.

If you have any questions or travel needs in the future, don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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September 2022

12/1/2022

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Greetings Friends,

I hope this letter finds you doing well as we begin September.

August was a jam-packed month for us. There was the usual swimming and soccer each week. But we also enjoyed seeing concerts this month.

Our whole family went to a concert in our town with a 90s cover band. To be honest, the kids were more excited to play on the splash pad. Sandy and I enjoyed hearing the anthems from our youth. Sarah has gotten into Kidz Bop, and they were performing at the Wisconsin State Fair outside Milwaukee. Sandy took her, and from the videos and pictures, Sarah looks to have had a fantastic time. A month later she's still raving about it. And my favorite band, Phish, played at the legendary Alpine Valley in Wisconsin, where I saw two concerts in mid-August. I was lucky to have two of my best friends join me, and it was an incredible weekend. To answer your question, yes, I saw Phish twice in New York, and twice in Wisconsin this summer.

Even though it wasn't a concert, Sandy and I saw the touring production of "Hamilton" when it came to Madison in August. We both loved it!

We also snuck in a visit to Picnic Point - one of our favorite Madison nature walks.

By the end of the month, the new school year was upon us. Sandy went back to school this week and Peter started daycare. Sarah enters Kindergarten next Tuesday. I can't believe it.

Over the last few months, there has been a rising interest in cruising. I actually booked a cruise for my family to go on next summer (our first since 2018, when we only had Sarah).

Instead of doing a "resort" this month, I'd like to highlight a cruise line. Specifically, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. This was the first cruise line I sailed with, all the way back to a New Year's Cruise 2013-2014.

I like to say that Royal Caribbean offers something for everyone. We had a group of almost twenty people, and I felt like everyone in our group was able to find something that they could enjoy. There was always great entertainment and music. Sandy and I loved our first experience with a silent disco. And I should note that the food was really terrific. Never did we feel like we were having bland, boring meals.

Another great feature that I always like to mention about Royal Caribbean is their private island in the Bahamas, Coco Cay. This beautiful island has beaches, pools, waterslides, food, drinks, and entertainment. I thought it was great when we visited almost nine years ago, but I know they've made plenty of updates that I've only heard wonderful things about from my clients.

Because we sailed over the New Year's holiday, Royal Caribbean didn't pass up the opportunity to celebrate. There was a special dinner, a big balloon drop, and bands. Everyone I was with had a great time.

Besides cruises, I've still been helping clients find all-inclusive vacations for this upcoming fall, winter, and spring. And there is still demand to go to Europe. Thank you to so many of you that have been extra patient while traveling. I know it isn't easy, but a little patience can go a long way.

As always, if you have any questions or travel needs in the future, don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a great Labor Day weekend,

Brian

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August 2022

8/28/2022

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Greetings Friends,

As we begin August, I hope this letter finds you doing well.

July flew by for us. At the beginning of the month, we enjoyed celebrating the Fourth of July with some trips to the pool and cookouts. Sandy and I went to Summerfest in Milwaukee for the first time since 2014. It was a fun night!

In the middle of July, our family flew to New York. I had my 21st high school reunion. It's crazy to think I graduated so long ago! We also took a trip to Western New York while there. I returned to my alma mater, SUNY Geneseo for the first time in thirteen years. I showed the kids the swimming pool where I spent many hours swimming back and forth, day in, day out. A highlight of our trip was going to Niagra Falls. We took the Maid of the Mist tour, and got soaking wet! Luckily we had on ponchos. We saw friends that we rarely get to visit with - that was the icing on the cake for me.

We finished up on Long Island, where I was able to see more family. And perhaps last, but not least, I saw my favorite band, Phish, play two nights at Jones Beach. Sandy came one night - she's such a good sport. What a whirlwind two weeks.

This month's feature resort is Hard Rock Puerto Vallarta. I visited this all-ages resort in 2021 and thought it was fantastic. And just this past June, I had a multi-generational family of eleven guests stay here. They all came back raving.

The resort sits on a beautiful beach featuring fabulous sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. There are palapas to sit under. Two pools are available if you happen to be more of a pool person.

Hard Rock resorts are known for having a great vibe - to the point where this is a dedicated "vibe manager". There is always music, with DJs and bands playing throughout the day.

Hard Rock Vallarta is a comfortable size, with about 360 rooms. It's not too big where you'll get lost, but big enough with plenty of variety. I know for me, I'm such a music fan, I love to see all the memorabilia around any Hard Rock when I visit. My recent guests said the service was top-notch.

Many of you have been traveling, and I know you have been patient with flights, services, resorts, etc. Thank you very much for the flexibility that you've shown. I'm hopeful that as the travel industry continues to move forward, things will improve.

If you are thinking about about getting away this upcoming winter, into next spring, now is the perfect time to think about booking.

As always, if you have any questions or travel needs in the future, don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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July 2022

8/28/2022

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Greetings Friends,

Summer is in full swing, and I hope you are doing well.

The beginning of June took us to Michigan to visit family. Every year, Grand Rapids has an Arts Festival on the first weekend in June. We've never been able to go. This year, with school ending early, we decided to visit. It was a great event, with lots of activities and crafts. We also make a trip to the zoo there. And while in Michigan, Sandy and I celebrated ten years of marriage. Time flies!

The weather has been pretty erratic, but we're finding time to get outside as much as possible. For Father's Day, we went to Devil's Lake. This is one of our favorite places to go hiking and swimming. What made this year special was that it was the first time that we didn't need to bring the child carrier to put one of the kids in. It was much easier for me than I was used to!

For this month's resort, I wanted to feature a favorite from the island of Jamaica, Couples Tower Isle. This has been a fan-favorite of my clients time and time again. Located in Ocho Rios, Couples Tower Isle is an adults-only resort with plenty to offer. It's a good size - not too big, but also not small. There is a beautiful beach, lots of activities, and great options for food. Even though we were only there for a morning when we visited on my travel agent trip in 2020, I could tell that the service was top-notch.

A feature that I find incredible is that all guests staying at Couples Tower Isle get complimentary admission to Dunn's River Falls. For those unfamiliar, this is a waterfall that you can climb up. It's my favorite excursion in Jamaica.

There is a private island right off the shore with a boat that can bring you back and forth. The island has a pool and food/drinks. However, it is au natural during the day. If that isn't your deal, no worries - the regular beach is beautiful!

Many of you have been traveling this summer, and I couldn't be happier seeing all your pictures and hearing your stories. I will be away from July 14-28. Please be patient as I will try and respond as quickly as possible, but it might take longer than you are used to.

As always, if you have any questions or travel needs in the future, don't hesitate to let me know.

Have a great Independence Day weekend,

Brian

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June 2022

8/28/2022

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Greetings Friends,

June is here, and I hope you are doing well. School ended extra early this year, so Sandy and the kids ended up finishing up the Friday before Labor Day. Last summer was short for them, and this summer will be long!

May was a great month for our family. Sarah finished 4K and had a small moving-up ceremony. Sandy is on the local public library board, and we went to a Great Gatsby Gala that was originally scheduled for March of 2020. It was a fun night out!

The rest of the month was rounded out with hikes, playgrounds, and visits to the zoo. And Sandy ran a 5K for the first time since having Peter. Nice job!

For Memorial Day Weekend, we went to the Medival Times outside Chicago. Our friend was celebrating a big birthday, and we thought this would be a family-friendly activity for all to enjoy. I don't think any of us knew how much we would love it.

Everyone enjoyed the food, scenery, horses, and knights performing. Sarah was lucky to be named the Queen of our section (Red Knight!). We all left with smiles on our faces and it was the perfect birthday for our friend.

I'm taking this month off from featuring a resort. I'll pick it up next month.

In May, I also celebrated nine years as a travel agent and owning Blue Sea Vacations. Whether you booked a vacation with me in 2013, or recently in the last few months, I can't express how appreciative I am.

If you have any questions or travel needs in the future, don't hesitate to let me know. I'm always here to help.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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May 2022

8/28/2022

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Greetings Friends,

Happy May! Spring is finally here (we hope). I'm always surprised each year with how stir-crazy I get towards the end of the winter. We are always grateful to get outside.

April was a busy month for our family. In addition to swim lessons, gymnastics, and soccer, Sandy joined the choir at church. We've all loved seeing her sing each Sunday morning. Unfortunately, the kids were extra squirmy on Easter and I chased them all over the education building and I missed the songs. What can you do?

Last weekend, we became more indoctrinated into Wisconsin life with a visit to the Wisconsin Dells. For those that aren't familiar, this area is known for indoor water parks.

The kids loved the waterpark, storytime, dance parties, and sleeping in the hotel room. Mom and dad enjoyed seeing the kids so happy. Even though we didn't get much sleep, it was worth it.

For the resort of the month, I want to head back to the beautiful island of Jamaica. A resort that I've visited twice, and have had many clients enjoy is Moon Palace Jamaica. Located in Ocho Rios, this all-ages resort has something for everyone.

Both the pool and beach are great. The resort is situated in a cove, so the waves never seem to get too rough. Even though I never tried it, I'm always tempted to attempt the Flo-Rider. Maybe next time.

As with all Palace resorts, the food and service are top-notch. There are plenty of options for different dining experiences here. And even though I don't use the spa too much, the spa at this resort is on the nicest I've seen. I would highly recommend stopping in if you ever visit!

More and more of you plan to travel in 2022 and into 2023. This is great to hear, but similar to what is happening in many housing markets - the travel industry is experiencing unprecedented demands. Prices are going up, and supply is going down. I've seen pricing on flights rise in an afternoon, and resorts sell out for desired dates much sooner than expected.

As always, I'm here to help you navigate. Don't hesitate to reach out anytime.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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April 2022

4/1/2022

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Greetings Friends,

Happy April (Fools)! I hope you are all doing well and perhaps playing some jokes on friends or family today. I still remember when my brother put shaving cream on the toilet seat in my parent's bathroom when we were teenagers. Let's just say my mom was not happy.

March moved quickly for us. We settled into a nice routine after getting back from Florida. The weather did its typical March dance - 60's and sunny to 30's and rainy. Yesterday it snowed all morning. We made the most of it - spending time outside riding bikes, going for runs, and picking up trash on walks. Cold days were for the children's museum and library.

St. Patrick's Day has changed since I was younger. Now, it's normal for "leprechauns" to visit homes on St. Patricks Day. Sandy and I did some last-minute decorating to help make sure the leprechauns didn't skip our house.

Sarah and Peter are doing swim lessons every Saturday morning. What makes this unique is earlier in March, Peter moved up into a new class. For the first time in five years, Sandy and I don't have to get in the water to swim with one of our kids. That first lesson we drank our tea and watched them both from our seats. It's the small things that I never thought would be so significant, but they are!

I've also enjoyed being able to start going to concerts again. Going to see live music has always been one of my favorite things to do. In March I was able to see three concerts (one was a kid's show), and have a lot more planned coming up.

Speaking of music, for April I want to highlight the Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun. I took a tour and had dinner there last September when I was visiting resorts in Riviera Maya. This resort has music built into its soul! Similar to what I expected from the Nickelodeon Riviera Maya - I thought that the theme would be over-the-top kitschy and take away from the experience. Again, I was wrong. The theme and vibes made me enjoy it even more.

Yes, there were plenty of homages to Jimmy Buffet and his extensive catalog of music. It fit perfectly. A small touch that I loved was that throughout the resort there were Spotify codes where you could hold up your phone, scan, and a Jimmy Buffet album would get pulled up.

The rooms all felt refreshing, with whites and turquoise colors abound. There were a number of different bars and restaurants. We had a great meal at Frank and Lolas. And the whole resort had elements of fun baked in. I definitely will be going back in the future for a longer stay.

This past month saw a return to people thinking about Europe. I'm always happy to help book vacations to Europe. However, the planning process typically takes longer than trips to Mexico and the Caribbean that so many of us are used to. Please plan ahead, as there is an abundance of options and details to fine-tune. As always, I'm always available to help out and answer any questions you have. Don't hesitate to get in contact anytime.

Have a great weekend,

Brian

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