Page 29 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – November 2020

By Samantha Brown, host of “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love”
Heart set on a specialty tour? Book now.
You might think with cruising down so much for 2020, availability will not be a problem in the coming year. Not necessarily. Case
in point? River cruising. With significantly smaller boats (think 100-150 passengers versus 3,000-6,000 passengers on an ocean liner), river cruising is looking
better than ever. Everything from dining to excursions is much more intimate. This is especially true with European river cruises, like AmaWaterways, which have been gaining a lot of popularity. I took my first river cruise with them down the Rhine a
few years ago, and it captured my heart. You only have to unpack once! And getting from A to B is an absolute delight. Imagine drinking a glass of wine on your own private balcony while soaking up the vistas of the Rhine River Valley. It’s an awesome way to travel, but space is limited. If you want to secure your spot for 2021, book it soon.
Another trip that’s worth mentioning? Alaska. The 2020 Alaskan cruise season (it’s short— typically May to September) was essentially cancelled. Many of this year’s trips have now been rebooked for 2021—which means Alaskan cruises for next year are almost sold out. If you’ve been thinking of an Alaskan cruise for 2021 (or even 2022!), get on it! You may still score excellent pricing, but they can only sell what they have—so move fast and avoid the heartbreak.
It’s worth mentioning that rail trips are booking quickly as well. I had to reschedule my journey through the Canadian Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer this summer. I was so looking forward to it, and cancelling broke my heart! I am feeling grateful that the team at AAA mentioned the low availability to me now, while there’s still space.
Book with confidence.
There are a lot of people sitting on credit from a cancelled cruise or vacation, and the nightly news is full of disheartening information. Waiting on the sidelines while you figure out when, where and how you will rebook a cancelled vacation seems like the prudent thing to do. However, if you really do hope to rebook something within the next year, I suggest doing it now.
I know a lot of people worry if they book too far in advance, they may have second thoughts or regrets as their travel date approaches. Well, I’ve got great news for you: Most cruise lines and tour operators have created a “book with confidence” guarantee, greatly adjusting their cancellation policies. In fact, many lines are offering cancellations as late as 48 hours prior to departure. The details depend on the company, but guests who cancel may get credit toward another trip to be used within 1-2 years, or they may even receive a full refund.
By rebooking that dream trip now, what do you have to lose? You can cancel up until the last minute with minimal impact.
Use an agent.
You can book everything yourself online. But right now, wouldn’t it be nice to have an expert to fall back on? My head is swirling when it comes to keeping track of travel restrictions, local restrictions, cancellations and more. AAA Travel does sponsor my show, “Places to Love,” but regardless of that, I am so impressed at their customer service during COVID-19. When most online travel companies required customers to rebook trips and learn about cancellation policies and more themselves, AAA made it a point to have a travel advisor reach out personally—whether by phone or email—to each and every person who booked with them. They handled all the details, from rebooking vacations to figuring out refunds, and saved customers so much money,
Surprising news
Samantha Brown is hosting two amazing journeys in 2021.
TASTE OF BORDEAUX
8Days•July29,2021• AmaDolce
(and exciting!) from the TRAVEL INDUSTRY
Join Samantha Brown for the ultimate French experience in the Bordeaux region of France.
FIRST PASSAGE TO THE WEST 8Days•May29,2021• Vancouver to Calgary
Embark on an awe-inspiring rail experience on an exclusive Rocky Mountaineer departure with Samantha Brown.
frustration and time (3-hour wait times on a customer service line? No thank you!).
In this ever-changing world, it’s nice to know someone has your back. These folks are
up to date on the latest health and safety restrictions, have access to the absolute best deals and will support you both before and DURING your trip. And did you know that working with a AAA Travel Agent is free for AAA members? That’s right: That little card that gives you roadside assistance also means planning your next trip is easier than ever.
Start Your Next Vacation with AAA
AAA Travel provides peace of mind when you travel—before, during and after your vacation! Members enjoy the advantages of membership including exclusive benefits, savings, map routing and travel planning, plus additional travel needs such as AAA Travel Guides, TourBook® guides, passport photos, International Driving Permits and travel insurance. Your next vacation starts with AAA—your complete travel solution. Visit AAA.com/Travel.
“Samantha Brown's Places to Love” on PBS takes viewers on a discovery of the emotional heart of travel by highlighting the people who are changing, challenging and strengthening a destination to deliver a decidedly refreshing and enriching travel experience.
Learn about travel packages based on Samantha Brown’s Season 3 of “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love”