Hello again friends,

Another month has quickly passed and it's TRAVELzine time again!

This month's issue features:

• Travel and Tourism sets global record
• 24 of 26 available cruises "sold out"
• Don't forget to click
• World's happiest country
• "Go Away Gertie" is at it again
• The "Thinker" has another suggestion to think about

Favorites like Travel Trivia, PGA Kitchen's Recipe, and Travel Quote also appear.

Until next month,

Larry

TRAVEL & TOURISM SETS GLOBAL RECORD

 According to the latest Economic Impact Research report issued by the World Travel & Tourism Council travel and tourism's global Gross Domestic Product contribution to the world economy reached a $11.6 trillion in 2025 accounting for 9.8% of the total global economy.

This translates into 366 million jobs (10.9%) worldwide in 2025 - a figure greater than the total population of the United States. Worldwide, it was the best year ever for travel and tourism..

As mind boggling as these figures are what do the mean to you and me locally and in our everyday lives? The next article gives us the answer.

24 OF 26 AVAILABLE CRUISES "SOLD OUT"

The demand for travel worldwide indicated by the first article is likewise alive and well locally. What happened earlier this week illustrates the point.

A good client was in the office wanting to book an American Cruise Line Columbia - Snake River cruise westbound for herself and her husband and another couple. Preferred month was September with August a possibility. Accommodation desired was Balcony.

Challenge! Upon checking availability the following was revealed:

• During August and September a total of 26 cruises are doing the itinerary desired.
• Of those 26 cruises 24 are already "sold out" for what they wanted.
• One of the cruise line's older river cruisers had limited availability on an August sailing date.
• Another of the cruise line's older river cruisers had limited availability on a September sailing date.

Neither are exactly what they desire "plus" there is the challenge of finding necessary workable air flights - all airlines are experiencing similar sold out situations. lt's all still a work in progress.

Obviously local demand for travel is extremely high matching the worldwide realities reported in the preceding article. For best results early planning and reservations are an absolute necessities.

There are absolutely no advantages of waiting to make your travel plans, only negatives that leave you "wanting and waiting."

DON'T FORGET TO CLICK

Detailed brochures for our special series of 2027 FEATURE TRAVEL personally escorted and value added group tours open when you click on their photo and title links appearing in the right hand column of this page.

You should reserve now - each departure has a RESERVATION DEPOSIT REFUND GUARANTEE.

WORLD'S HAPPIEST COUNTRY

Finland was named the world's happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, the latest World Hapopiness Report revealed. Nordic countries - including Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden - also ranked in the top 10.

Analysts attribute Finland's joy factor to its wealth, social safety network, and high life expectancy.

PGA RECIPE OF THE MONTH - Iceland's Fermented Shark

Caveat! We "do not" recommend this recipe!

However, one of the true positives of travel is experiencing things that are different than you experience during your normal daily routines. This "travel taste" is truly different.

Those joining us on our 2027 ICELAND: SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE NORTHERN LIGHTS tour (click link in right-hand column) should be able to add this "taste" to their travel achievements if desired. Others of our travelers have done so in the past. They survived!

Click here to see recipe.

"GO AWAY GERTIE" REPORTING ...

... Hey Gals - sorry if I offend anyone, but it's time to "get your big girl panties on and get with it" - just like this Gal is doing!

Had a gal come to the office recently. She had been reading what I have been saying in my monthly comments and determined it was time for her to become a "Go Away Gal."

Hold this thought, but she thought there were special "Go Away Gals" tours she could join. More about this later.

Anyway, when she was told we currently didn't have any exclusive "Go Away Gals" tour opportunities that were limited only go gals she was in no way dissuaded from following through on the decision she had made to start rewarding herself by going away.

She is married, but her husband will only travel when it involves driving in a car. So, she has decided to leave him home and to reward herself with doing what she wants to do - she has put on her "Big Girl Panties." And, she is willing to share accommodations with another suitable gal when the opportunity presents itself.

Why the epiphany? She has a sister who is also married. However, the husband is physically challenged and requires her full-time attention. Quoting her sister, "I waited too long." This brings to mind "Travel's Five Saddest Words - I Wish I Would Have."

Now, about that thought I asked you to hold!

How many of you would be interested is being part of a "gals only" group experience? Let me know if you have an interest - no obligation. If there's enough interest our team will create some "Go Away Gals - Gals Only" opportunities.

To indicate your no obligation interest click here. An email will open. Put your name along with "Go Away Gals" in the subject line and send. It will come back to my helper who helps me send my comments to you gals each month.

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY

KAREN WALL - Olathe, KS

I’m assuming we can work through you in checking out these possibilities. We so appreciate your expertise and efficiency, so I thought I would contact you rather than American Cruise Lines - I believe you do the planning for no extra cost to us.

THIS MONTH'S TRAVEL QUOTE*

"Travel while you're young and able. Don't worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is far more valuable than money will ever be."

David Avocado Wolfe

THIS MONTH'S TRAVEL TRIVIA

Question:

• How can your office truthfully say you charge nothing extra for your services and/or that you add nothing to the cost of the travels you arrange? How do you keep your doors open?

Answer:

• We do charge a fee when we sell only airline tickets. Airlines do not pay us a commission to sell their products. However, all other reputable and financially stable cruise lines, tour operators, resorts, etc. pay us a commission to sell and service their products. They "do not" increase the price of their products when they do this. You pay exactly the same whether you do all the work yourself or you have us do it for you. And some of the things you "do not" have when you try to do the everything yourself are our unmatched personal service and attention to detail before, during after your travels. Plus when you deal with us you have unlimited comparison capabilities between programs of competing companies. We represent them all and our goal is always to have you end up with exactly what you want to do after having been fully informed so you were able to make the right decision as you alone determine.

RODIN'S "THINKER" SUGGESTS YOU THINK ABOUT THIS

What exactly is a

Please Go Away™ Vacations

FEATURE TRAVEL experience and

how are they different?

Consider:

• They are an intentionally-limited number of personally escorted, value-added, and all-inclusively priced group experiences that cannot be found anywhere else.
• They have a repeat factor of 94+% with some travelers having "gone away" on more than 70 of them, with other travelers close behind.
• Approximately 1,500 travelers have experienced 5 or more and make up our elite "Travel Wall of Fame" group of accomplished travelers realizing special TWOF savings on all of their future FEATURE TRAVEL experiences..

The current departures that have remaining available spaces appear in the upper right-hand column of this magazine. Clicking on either the brochure photo or underlying title will open a detailed brochure for your review.

They are all 2027 departures. All 2026 departures no longer remain available.

Never has the truism "The name does not define what a travel experience is - only what is included truly defines the experience" been more apropos.

FEATURE TRAVEL experiences include more than programs offered by others with similar-sounding names because special "features" are added to provide more complete in-depth and enlightening experiences.

Unlike others, the price shown on the brochure "includes everything" referenced as included in the detailed brochure - things like:

• reservation deposit refund guarantees
• travel protection insurance
• round trip air transportation
• a personal hostess throughout - you are taken rather than being sent
• dining experiences "featuring" the areas being experienced
• behind-the-scenes interactions with the locals
• special performances "featuring" the talents and arts of areas

Always compare "apples to apples" - when you do you will find you always receive more for your money when you "go away" on a FEATURE TRAVEL experience.

Remember, you only pay the price shown. There are no hidden or unexpected necessary expenses as one most-often finds in other similar-sounding experiences. Again, always compare.