Restart and Reconnect This Summer
This week Italy moved into the “white zone” with masks no longer required outdoors. Bellissimo!
Image courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como, Italy
Dear Friends and Travellers,
Here we are in our Second Covid Summer - it could not have been imagined. However, vaccines in North America and Europe are rolling out in record numbers and in far flung destinations. In particular, places that rely heavily on tourism have put in a huge effort to get staff vaccinated to keep them safe and to welcome guests safely. Most of us are staying close to home this summer enjoying new found freedoms - it feels exotic just to reconnect with friends and family on patios, at cabins or on the street. In the last several weeks there have been huge shifts in access, Covid protocols and travel restrictions. Many countries are now welcoming fully vaccinated travellers with no restrictions and just as many allow entry with a negative PCR test.
Image courtesy of Traveller Made
Awards & People
In 2021, I had the great honour of being named Traveller Made's “Most Creative Travel Designer” from a group of about 500 global agencies as voted by hotel partners. Traveller Made is a Paris-based, invitation-only travel consortium. Our membership enables us to connect directly to hoteliers, lodges and our peers around the world both online and in person – we all live and breathe unique travel experiences. So get us started on practicing our craft of creativity!
Image courtesy of Askari Travel
Uniting Our Team
We are happy to let you know that we are staffing up and will have our full team back in place both remotely and here in Toronto next month. Like Goldman Sachs, we feel it is vital to be physically connected – mentorship, collective knowledge and sharing of information and experiences is vital to what we do. We cannot wait to see each other again every day and to ponder itineraries and destinations together.
Image courtesy of African Bushcamps, Zimbabwe
Availability for 2022 & 2023
The number ONE thing on our minds, and the minds of the industry as a whole, is availability of accommodation in 2022 and 2023.
We know that many trips that we (and 1000's of other agencies), booked for 2020 and 2021 did not travel and were moved to future dates.
When it became impossible to travel in 2020 and early 2021, two years of bookings were rolled over again to late 2021 and into 2022 and 2023. This means that properties are already holding a large volume of bookings from the two previous years.
So if travel is in your plans please get in touch. Let's get something on the books - cancellation terms are generous and you will have something to look forward to.
What We Miss - Trip Reviews!
KENYA
John and I have been back for over a month now and when people ask us how our trip was we don’t know what to say. As John says how do you tell people that you had a once in a lifetime experience every single day for three weeks … it was beyond description.
L & J, Vancouver, BC
ITALY & CROATIA
Hotel Vilon in Rome was the nicest hotel we have ever seen. We spent our last night there eating in the bar just to enjoy it. We had the time of our lives and want to commend you, Martina and Sabrina for organizing it. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. We loved the people, the weather and the landscapes of both Countries and would love to go back!!
DV & JP - Italy & Croatia – June 2019
GREEK ISLANDS
Loving all of our time!!! Santorini was a great starting place to reset our clock. The hotel was outstanding and the service was excellent. The views were breathtaking. The private sailing day was great fun. Paros - hotel lovely ... more relaxed as was the atmosphere. Athens - Hotel and Restaurant were lovely. Thank you again for putting together a memorable trip!!
SM & Family – June 2019
CAPE TOWN, ZIMBABWE, TANZANIA
Just a quick note to say a thousand thank yous for the amazing trip you have put together for us! We have been overwhelmed by the wondrous things we have seen and experienced. The people we have met have been absolutely wonderful. We are currently at Gibb’s Farm, which is so, so, SO lovely. I can’t say enough wonderful things about African Bush Camps, would love to return if possible at some time. We leave for our last few days in the Serengeti tomorrow and are looking forward to that too.
JK & EK and YM & MM – June 2019
SOUTHERN TANZANIA
Greetings from Lima … Just to let you know it was a fabulous, amazing trip that both my kids and myself have ADORED. Properties, service and guides … it has been one of the most amazing trips we have done. Mahale is otherworldly as you said. Thank you so much!
SR & Family, Barcelona/Lima – June 2019
BHUTAN & THAILAND
Visiting Bhutan was like going back in time and into a world we had never experienced before. The vistas were spectacular, the cultural experiences were stimulating, and the time with family spent in the clear mountain air was invigorating. We feasted on delicious local cuisine and stayed at the most beautiful properties arranged by Askari Travel. They always hit the mark in finding places that offer healthy options, environmental stewardship, relaxed elegance, and exceptional customer service.
JL & BL – December 2018
PERU
Amazing trip of a lifetime. Each destination has been magical in its own way. We are now off to our last adventure- mystical Inca ruins! We are loving this trip -just keeps getting better and better.
TW, Toronto, ON – December 2018
Where Are We Going?
Belinda will be visiting family in Quebec (now considered an exotic destination); the wine country of British Columbia and will join a 50th Birthday celebration in Hawaii. As soon as possible, she will escape to Europe for some research.
Goa is planning a trip home to Canada as soon as the borders open here, hopefully next month.
Madelyn is saving up for a winter diving trip to Honduras to get her open water rescue certificate.
From September onward, you will find me in Greece, Kenya, Cape Town and Morocco.
Wishing everyone a great summer from the Askari team. We look forward to speaking with you about where and how to travel.
Muriel