Do any of these sound good to you? Do you have your own cool ideas? Let's chat! You can fill out our travel interest form, or just shoot us an email any time. (We'll get back to you with almost alarming speed. :-) )
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Do you need a new or renewed passport? (Remember: your passport must be valid for at least six months AFTER your return from abroad.) Get one now! You can start at the State Department's passport application website. You can also look up the passport office nearest you.
Need your passport in a hurry? You can read through the State Department's list of services available based on need. You can also consider using a private service that specializing in expedited passports, though this could set you back an additional $60-$400 on top of the passport application fees. Services like Fedex "Rush My Passport" and Allstate Passports handle the work for you, to get you your passport sooner. (Though we should note we have not personally used these services and cannot personally vouch for them.) When we got our passports renewed, we went to our local post office and it was a one-stop shop: we got our photos taken, filled out our applications, paid the fee, and paid to have them expedited. We also paid for rush shipping to and from the State Department. And, good news: USPS tracking says they arrive today! Don't leave it to chance or luck, or hoping that the State Department's speed improves--get yours renewed now! On the basis that sometimes it's more useful to see something highly specific and real than it is to see a document designed to cover all scenarios, I thought I'd share my personal packing list from my 2019 three-week trip to Europe. I was leading a group tour through Italy and Switzerland, then going to France and the Netherlands on a family trip.
carry-on (big purse): Small accordion file [note-I use the two accordion files to keep group tour info organized] Big accordion file Macbook Wallet Passport Phone Glasses shawl medicine journal pens European SIM cards checked bag: 9 dresses 1 pair of leggings 1 black oversized cardigan 2 pairs jammie pants 2 jammie shirts shorts for under dresses underwear socks bras makeup moisturizer contact lenses/solution/case toothpaste/toothbrush deodorant small folding hairbrush tampons/pads laptop charger phone charger converter/adapter for outlets Archer 2 [you can see more about Archer 2 here] That's it! That's my list! Let me know if you have any questions about it, or what your personal travel packing lists are.
I (Liz) just finished reading The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard, and it was utterly fascinating. Beard is an English historian who has written numerous books described by the New Yorker as "learned but accessible." The Fires of Vesuvius details what we really know about life in ancient Pompeii in the decades before the 79 C.E. eruption.
Having been to Pompeii, I loved that I was able to picture the places she was describing, though at the same time it made me ache to go back and see it again with fresh eyes. I know I'll be re-reading it before our next trip to Italy.
Interested? I highly recommend it. Dying to see some ancient ruins in person? Come with us to Italy in January, 2022 for our 10-day trip, Pasta and Science! Through the end of April, anyone who registers will receive $200 off the cost of their program! [FYI, if you buy the book using the link above, Leaping Hound Travel makes a small commission.]
2. Comfortable weather Italy's heat can be brutal in the summer. In January, the average high temperature in Florence and Rome is in the mid-50s: comfortable enough that you won't need more than a light jacket, cool enough to make you really relish a steaming cup of Italian coffee each morning. 3. Affordability Traveling in the off-season means some of the priciest parts of travel, like flights and hotels, are significantly less expensive than they are during the high season. 4. Availability Want to schedule a visit to St. Peter's Basilica or the Colosseum? With fewer visitors, places that require advance booking will have more times available for you to choose, and require less advance notice. 5. Shopping January is THE month to visit Italy if you're a shopaholic. The big semi-annual sales begin early in the month. You'll be able to score unbeatable deals on everything from shoes to clothes to luggage--even furniture, if you don't mind shipping it home. Convinced? Come with us to Florence and Rome in January 2022. Questions? Send an email our way--we'll get right back to you!
There are lots of great travel blogs out there. How do you choose what to read? We'd like to recommend some excellent Black travel bloggers, focusing on different themes each time. Today, check out three of our faves and their features on the Netherlands.
Black Lives Matter.
We recognize the reality, and centrality, of institutionalized racism and white supremacy in the United States (and other parts of the world). We support those protesting to demand that political leaders, and indeed every member of our society: acknowledge the systemic racism and injustice faced every day by people of color; and, take action to dismantle the levers of institutionalized white supremacy. Among others, we recommend statements on the nature of systemic racism such as this one from Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and the philosophy and goals of Black Lives Matter. As a travel business, we also recognize the historical connections between tourism and institutionalized racism. Likewise, we acknowledge the ways in which tourism, particularly among those who come from nations with a history of imperialism (imperialist endeavors themselves both reflecting, and further contributing to, institutionalized racism and white supremacy) has perpetuated the objectification and othering of people of color. We are committed to fighting against the discourse and practices of what has been termed colonial tourism. In addition, Leaping Hound Travel is committed to taking additional steps in support of Black lives, including:
-Liz & Adam, Leaping Hound Travel Co-founders Wow. When we last wrote about the pandemic, it was March 1, and while COVID-19 seemed scary, many of us had yet to acknowledge the extent to which it would soon come to affect our lives. Events developed with stunning rapidity thereafter. Just a couple of weeks later, with the virus spreading in the United States, our jobs as professors shifted to online teaching for the rest of the semester, and our state enacted social distancing guidelines in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
Now, as researchers learn more about the virus, and as multiple entities work diligently on treatment and vaccine possibilities, questions are emerging about when a return to something resembling normalcy might be possible. But with so much uncertainty surrounding continued or renewed outbreaks and the potential timelines for medical breakthroughs, there are as yet no definitive answers to that question. Where does that leave Leaping Hound Travel? As of now, registration for our January 2021 trip to Italy remains open. However, given the current unknowns, in the coming weeks and months we will rely on guidance from organizations such as the CDC and WHO, as well as governmental travel and activity restrictions, in order to determine whether that trip can proceed as planned. We are hopeful that it will. Of course, we believe it would be an outstanding trip, but more vitally, once it is again safe to travel, we want to be able to support the places on our itinerary that rely heavily on tourism, and who will be looking to bounce back economically from the impact of the virus. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the above information or anything else. We get back to you super fast! -Liz & Adam, Leaping Hound Travel Co-founders
How about a little whimsy and fun? One of our favorite parts of travel, of course, is the food! In particular, we love sampling desserts in the countries where they were first created. Dutch apple pie in the Netherlands, for example, is very different than the Dutch apple pies you can buy in American grocery stores. Plus, from the elaborate cakes of Hungary to the waffles of Belgium, our favorite desserts have a wide range of styles and characters. What better topic for a fun quiz?
So take a break, have a little fun, and find out which classic European dessert you are!  To travel is to leave your comfort zone -- to go to a new place, with new customs, new sights, perhaps new languages. Expanding your world is one of the great parts of travel, but it can bring with it new concerns and fears, whether real or perceived.
How do we deal with such concerns when traveling? Every situation is different, of course, but it is vital to be ready to respond to unexpected, or even tragic, events. A few years ago, we were leading a group in Amsterdam, a day or two from heading to Munich, when a mass shooting occurred in Munich, outside the Olympia Shopping Mall, in which nine people were killed. Members of our group hastily contacted their loved ones back home to let them know they were safe, and that in fact we had not yet left Amsterdam. We re-reviewed our emergency plans and procedures with our group, monitored the ongoing situation closely, and kept our group updated. With no indication of further violence being likely, and with no additional government-instituted travel restrictions, we decided to proceed to Munich as scheduled when our stay in Amsterdam was over, and our group enjoyed several days there, without incident. Right now talk of the coronavirus is everywhere. Some of our dearest friends are currently vacationing in Italy, where there have been outbreaks. Though reports suggest that risk is significantly reduced just by washing your hands thoroughly and not touching your face, and that the mortality risk is low if you aren’t already in poor health, it can still be scary to consider. This seemed like a good time, then, to share with you how we at Leaping Hound Travel try to manage the risks of travel--how we find balance, enjoying the world and our lives, without being ignorant or reckless of potential dangers.
As the co-founders of Leaping Hound Travel, this means that we keep ourselves informed, make educated decisions for our groups, and always communicate regarding concerns and contingency plans. We know that you put your trust in us as tour leaders, and we take that responsibility seriously. If you ever want to talk more about dangers or fears one may encounter as part of travel, just email us and we’ll get right back to you. |
Leaping Hound Travel, LLC | 608-509-7520 | travel@leapinghound.com | PO Box 46577, Madison, WI, 53744