John and Julie Chapman were stepping out of their comfort zone just a bit. In previous years, they would load up their three sons and one daughter and fly from their Bunker Hill, Ill., home for a Christmas-break vacation in the Florida Keys. But this year, they wanted to try something different. They wanted to go further southern to enjoy warmer weather and a... View Article
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The plans were all set — a group had scheduled a girls trip to Mexico last May to celebrate a 40th birthday. But then the pandemic hit and the best-made plans went awry. For Crista Miller, the next seven months were a journey in themselves. Thank goodness she had Kansas City-based Acendas Travel advisor JoAnne Weeks along to help. “Poor JoAnne,” Miller said. “She is an... View Article
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The National Basketball Association this past summer successfully demonstrated that necessity is indeed the mother of invention. With its season halfway complete when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, league officials salvaged the sport as best it could by creating a Covid-free bubble where the players, coaches and other officials were tested frequently and quarantined from the general public. But could this concept be duplicated... View Article
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Lee and Maggie Valenta had their hearts set on the perfect 40th anniversary trip to St. Lucia. Then the pandemic hit and new travel rules were put in place. They could still go, but the prospect of dedicating extra days to quarantine wasn’t going to work for them. Do they cancel and wait until next year? Or, was there an alternative that would allow them... View Article
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By Jeff Bollig: Call it a little research mixed in with some R&R. Acendas Travel President Brent Blake has been travelling periodically since the onset of the pandemic to get a better perspective of the issues people will face when on the road. He took a business trip to Minneaoplis in June, a quick vacation to Las Vegas in August and two weeks ago, he... View Article
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Acendas Vacations service plans are based on trip requirements and/or trip length. Our comprehensive service plan structure ranges from $25-$100 per traveler* and will include an Initial Complimentary Private Consultation to discuss your travel desires. Once you are ready to get started, your service plan will include (but not be limited to) the following: Advice and Collaboration Research of cruises, vacation packages and/or resorts based... View Article
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By Jeff Bollig — You can now get two (or more) tickets to paradise as government officials have opened the islands for tourists with some restrictions and qualifications. Acendas Travel advisor Justine Sjurseth, based in our Minneapolis office offers the following details for those interested in visiting the Aloha State. Travelers can travel to Hawaii if they have a negative Covid19 test that was taken... View Article
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By Jeff Bollig – Kristen Hosek-Walker loves her job. As a travel agent in the Sioux Falls office for Acendas Travel, she specializes in putting smiles on faces. And when she can take a break, she gets to explore the world so she can put a smile on her own face. Therefore, when she had a chance to get away in late September, Kristen jumped... View Article
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Ellie Noyes: Vice President, Vacation Division, Acendas Travel: When I have the opportunity to speak with Acendas Travel clients, I tell them that I am no different from them -I share the love for travel and embrace the memories that traveling has given me. And just like them, I’ve been disappointed that I have not been able to go out and explore the world. I... View Article
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By Jeff Bollig — It should come as no surprise that “pent up travel demand” as measured by an Association of Travel Advisors survey is at an all-time high. After all, most if not all of us have been restricted in our movements at home, work and play for months. Acendas Travel advisor JoAnne Weeks does not need a survey to know that people are... View Article
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