Do you love the theatre? Here's a unique, relaxing journey.

Queen Mary 2® May 15-22, 2022 M213
Fares from $799*

This unique Transatlantic Crossing, created in partnership with the Society of London Theatre, will showcase Olivier Award-winning talent both on and off the stage. London Theatre at Sea will feature spectacular performances and an illustrious line-up of guests in conversation about their careers, as well as talks on productions, how they are put together, and the theaters themselves. This voyage is a must for any theater lover.

Special guests on board - Joining this voyage is three-time Olivier Award winner Sharon D.Clarke MBE, Olivier Award winner for his performance in Kinky Boots, Matt Henry MBE; legendary conductor Larry Blank; TV presenter Angellica Bell; renowned costume designer Andreane Neofitou; actress and director, Susie McKenna; and Executive Producer of the Olivier Awards, Julian Bird.
Take in the show - You can peek behind the scenes to explore the secrets of world-class shows with immersive workshops from the creatives who make it happen, and step up to the stage with vocal workshops, acting masterclasses and dance classes led by West End choreographers. One special evening will see the stars take to the Royal Court Theatre stage for 'The Oliviers in Concert', a dazzling show that will take you back over the last 45 years of the Olivier Awards in an outstanding one-off production.
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Doesn't this look like fun!

​I am very excited about my upcoming trip next month.  I will be on the incredible AMA Magna with AMA Waterways on a river cruise from Bucharest to Budapest.  We will be visiting 5 countries in 7 days – starting in Romania with stops in Bulgaria, cruising through the Iron Gates, stopping in Serbia, Croatia and Hungary. I am really looking forward to this experience.
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So today, I thought I would give you a few tips about visiting Bucharest – a city of many contrasts.  Once known as Little Paris, this city with more than 500 years of history shows glorious French architecture as well as somber communist era blocks.  A few other travel tips

• Although part of the EU, Romania still prefers their own currency the Romanian Lei, 1 USD = 4 RON
• Bucharest is very affordable and very safe with low violence or petty crime
• Bucharest is quite a hip city and may remind you of Berlin. It has been described as cool, creative, gritty, underground, hip, ugly and progressive with lots of cool cafes, great bars and clubs, thriving music scene and excellent street art
• The food in Romania is delicious with their national dish of Sarmale – ground meat wrapped in cabbage.  A large range of vegetarian options there as well
• Accommodation is very affordable and it’s best to stay in Bucharest’s Old Town as many of the major attractions are located in the downtown area

I’ll let you know my thoughts on this city of contrasts.  Check in to Laing Travel’s facebook page for daily updates from April 9-17th. 
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Happy International Women’s Day!  How are you celebrating today?  My local chamber of commerce is delivering a lunch to me today and we are having a zoom celebration for an hour.  The theme of this year's International Women's Day is Break the Bias and celebrate your achievements.

So, in honor of the day, I thought I would give you a few suggestions for safe solo women trips.

• Finland – home of the midnight sun, one of the safest destinations in the world with excellent affordable public transportation
• Iceland – unique destination to enjoy the northern lights, drive yourself around the Golden Circle route or explore Rejkavik
• Spain – is ranked as the 2nd most visited country in the world.  Barcelona is a very walkable city and easy to get around- you are sure to meet up with other solo travellers
• Austria – breathtaking natural beauty and safety bring many solo travellers to this country – the city of Salzburg will enchant you
• Belguim has a lot of historic monuments and tourist attractions– both Brussels and Bruge are great walking cities
• Japan – skip the major cities and head to Okinawa – the monorail links the airport to the city – be sure to check out the pottery district and the public market

There is also a great company that I have worked with in the past called Just You – they offer safe, small group trips for solo travellers with no single supplement or room sharing.  They have some really fantastic itineraries around the world like Malta, Croatia, South Africa, New Zealand and so much more.

​Contact me any time if you would like some other solo travel ideas!

​www.facebook.com/548056822/videos/1104630720084230/

Now that everyone is just itching to travel, it seems like many clients are booking bucket list experiences and more elaborate trips as they haven’t been anywhere  in the past 2 years.  So, as I have been looking at many international flights lately, I thought I would give you some tips for long haul flights.
A long haul flight refers to any flight longer than 2,200 nautical miles or about 4,100 km.   One of the longest scheduled passenger flights is JFK to Singapore non-stop for 18 hours and 40 minutes – better be prepared for that one!  Being on a plane for that long affects people in different ways – sleep patterns, dehydration, cramping, bloating etc.  So here are a few tips for your next long haul flight

• Dress in casual, loose, comfortable clothes – breathable fabrics, layers and don’t forget your favorite pashmina – it can be a blanket, shawl or pillow
• It is usually best to book your flight as early as possible to get the best connections, your preferred seat and usually best pricing as well
• Invest in a good travel pillow, sleep mask and earplugs and preferably noise cancelling headphones
• Adjust to the new time zone as early as possible– change your watch and phone to your final destination time and sleep as if you were in the new time zone. If you have trouble sleeping on the plane, brush your teeth, wash your face and prepare your body as you normally would – it tricks your brain into thinking it’s bedtime
• Stretch your legs and body every few hours – walk the aisle, roll your ankles and shoulders, tighten and release your muscles
• Take the smallest carryon you can to give yourself some extra legroom under the seat ahead
• Before you board the plane, pick up your own snacks and large bottle of water – avoid salty, sugary foods and alcohol
• Don’t wear makeup on the plane but do moisturize throughout the flight – spritz your face with rosewater, use a marble face roller and Nerium eye patches are the best

I love flying and yes, I can sleep on flights!  How about you?

Yesterday, I did a training session with a company called Uncruise.  What a fascinating business with a focus on passenger experiential activities, sustainability and an appreciation for local culture and the natural world.  I love that they value responsible travel along with their strong company culture and values.

A quick recap of Uncruise – they have been in business since 1996 and have grown their small ship adventure business from there.  They now have a total of 9 ships ranging from 22 – 86 guests per ship.  Their destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest, Mexico, Costa Rica/Panama, Belize/Guatamala and Galapagos.
Their itineraries are stunning – enabling guests to experience adventures that they wouldn’t be able to do any other way. 

Uncruise has the only permit available for Chichagof Island – you can bike and hike this remote island with the highest number of bears per square mile than any other place on earth!  These are all inclusive vacations including fresh, hand crafted cuisine, all beverages, excursions, equipment, comfortable accommodation and transfers.  These uncruises are perfect for adventurers of all activity levels.  Nighttime stargazing, abundant wildlife, kayaking to an evening campfire – the experiences are endless.  Uncruise even offers an Ironman Alaska 2022 package! 
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From fewer faces, more open spaces and “I can’t believe I just did that” moments, an Uncruise small ship adventure is really like no other.

Are you ready to get back to travel?  I can't wait to get back on an airplane heading to a new adventure.

Everyone is so anxious start booking a getaway after this long, long unprecedented year but there are some new things to be aware of.

• Know the cancellation policies for all travel booked and understand that they could change or result in future travel credits - you won't always get your money back
• Be aware flight schedules can change without notice
• Know the current entry requirements for all countries you will be visiting.  Always check travel.gc.ca for updated rules and requirements
• Know the re-entry requirements for coming back into Canada.  Currently Canada only accepts Covid PCR test results.  Antigen tests are not currently accepted by the Canadian government.  Also the government has instituted mandatory quarantine requirements for all passengers entering the country.  There is a very detailed step by step checklist on travel.gc.ca - be prepared and know the cost and requirements.

Above all, be informed and travel smart - surprises aren't always great!  
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When the "new" bridge was opened in 1793!  Puente Nuevo (new bridge) in Ronda, Spain took 34 years to build and was finished in the late 18th century.  Ronda, in the Andalusia region of southern Spain is built on the clifftops above El Tajo canyon.  The city is connected by three bridges, the newest of which is Puente Nuevo or ‘New Bridge.’  Gargantuan columns, looking as if they’ve been carved from the surrounding rock, stretch 118 metres down the chasm to the Guadalevín River.   I visited Ronda in 1999 and toured the historic bullring built in 1785, still in use today - the history there is amazing!