Good Day Fellow Travelers! We hope each of you is staying safe and healthy at home. Tom and I are abiding by the rules and only going out for essentials: me to the lab for blood draws each Monday morning, and him to the grocery.

We have heard from several of you who are concerned about the virus in Europe, in the U.S., the trip itself, the departure date, your funds, and that final payment due April 15. So many questions–and please know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We, too, have questions Quest needs to answer about our tour.

After a strongly worded email asking for some direction right now, we have finally received a small bit of information that might help you decide how to move forward.

1. Quest stresses patience on our part because they are working remotely and do not have access to accounting. Their main concern currently, as is ours, is to stay healthy, and they pray we are all doing just that.
2. They have not issued plane tickets, but they “GUARANTEE space with a deposit.”
3. The land arrangements, agents, and hotels have been deposited. “This is a long process as to when we will receive all these moneys back and if we do.”
4. “Please tell your tour members not to send any more payments.“
5. They report “there are many entities we must work with as your tour is very involved with many puzzle pieces.”
6. They also suggest you review their terms and conditions on the enrollment form.
7. “Please contact your travel insurance company as per our terms and conditions; it is MANDATORY to have purchased an insurance plan upon registering for the tour.”

In addition, they request that we “let us pass through this and send us your prayers as we pray for you.” I think that’s the least we can do for them. Everyone is under stress, fear, and a new way of conducting business for now.

Hope that helps everyone, just a little. It is our hope we might reschedule the tour for 2022, but until Quest is back up and running, that too is unknown. For now, DO NOT SEND ANY MORE MONEY TO QUEST. HOLD THE FINAL PAYMENT. And please be patient on the answers to your other questions. Many thanks and prayers to each of you. Stay safe and healthy.

Talk to you soon,

Suzanne and Tom

Hello Friends and Fellow Travelers! These are certainly unprecedented times–a world-wide virus causing illness and death, quarantines, empty grocery shelves, distance learning, and much more that upsets our lives and the lives of our fellow humans. We have forwarded all of the emails we have received from Quest to you, so you know as much as we do right now.

To be clear, here’s what we know:

1. Oberammergau has postponed the Passion Play until 2022.
2. The reason for our trip IS the Passion Play. All of the other cities and sights are lovely, but secondary.
3. Quest is working with many different pieces and parts of our trip to formulate options that they will present to us to help us decide how to move forward.

What we DON’T know:

1. When the trip will actually depart.
2. How your funds will be handled.
3. If our flights and hotels will remain the same.
4. What options Quest offers us.

We want each of you to take care of yourselves and your families. Stay healthy! We will update you when Quest shares more information. Be safe, wash your hands often, maintain distance IF you have to go out of your home, and stay in quarantine.

Talk to you soon,

Suzanne and Tom

Good news! I have packed so well for our European trip in 132 days from today that I still have room in my suitcase to pack my obligatory bottle of wine and other purchases I want to bring back home to Texas! That’s what I call: packing like a pro!

Above is my empty suitcase with all of my clothing ready to pack. On the left, starting at the bottom of the image: 4 shirts, 3 pants, 1 long-sleeve shirt, 1 lightweight sweater, 1 rain jacket, 1 fleece jacket. On the right, starting at the bottom: slippers, 1 camisole, 2 underwear, 1 scarf, 1 laundry bag, 1 toiletry kit, 1 clear bag for examination of liquids at airport security. At the bottom of the suitcase: 2 European plugs, iPhone plug w/ USB, iPad plug w/USB.

I will pack my rain jacket and scarf in my day backpack because those items stay with me all the time. You never know if or when it’ll rain or you might feel chilly or need to cover up. Because they pack flat anyway, the day backpack will go inside of my large carry-on backpack to avoid having more than two bags to keep track of. When we’re traveling in Europe, I only carry my day backpack with me; the carry-on backpack and my luggage stay on the bus. Here’s what it looks like “packed like a pro:”

Ta-da! Everything in the previous picture is packed, AND I even included some rolled bubble wrap in the front of the suitcase for my bottle of wine I’ll be bringing home! 🙂 I also packed my shower scrubby because European hotels do not provide washcloths–only bath towels and hand towels–so if you like using a washcloth, make sure you bring one of your own, preferably made of microfiber material that will dry quickly. Or a shower scrubby. To the left of my suitcase you see my day backpack with the rain jacket and scarf, still plenty of room in there for a bottle of water, travel literature, and any small trinkets I pick-up along the way. The day backpack gets unloaded back at the hotel every evening–items are either trashed or packed away for the trip home. I used two packing cubes for my clothing, and the electronic plugs are also sitting within the top cube. I still have almost half of the suitcase for dirty clothes and souvenirs, because we all know dirty clothes weigh infinitely more than clean clothes! True statement.

Because I blog the day’s events each evening in the hotel at night, my day backpack will also hold my pencil and my small notebook for jotting down information as we travel. It will also hold a pack of kleenex (really important ladies, for bathrooms), an emory board, gum/mints, a set of picnic ware (we’ve always needed it at least once), my iPad, and some medicines (anti-diarrheal, Tylenol, Tums). The day backpack is small enough to carry without getting heavy and in the way of other people, especially in tight spaces like artisan shops, bakeries, gelato stops, and the big, touristy-packed venues.

There it is–my suitcase, my backpack carry-on, and my day backpack. Remember, my day backpack will go into the larger backpack for the flight over. There’s so little in it at the outset that it’ll fold in half easily. In my large backpack, I will include: my bag of medicines and necessary medical equipment, my Kindle reader, my neck pillow, a few snacks (nuts, Kind bars, veggie chips, jerky), flight tickets/paperwork. Remember: your passport will be ON YOU at all times, and if I were you, I would also keep my credit card and money on my person, too. Tom and I use an armband from Duluth Trading (see previous post about different ways to carry your passport).

One more thing: Tom and I like to order a set amount of Euros from our bank before leaving the States, so we have cash at the ready when we arrive in Europe. Simply go to your banker and tell them you’d like to order X amount of Euros, they will calculate the exchange rate, you pay your U.S. dollars, and the bank calls you when they arrive, so you can pick them up. It typically takes no more than two weeks for your order to arrive. How much? That’s something you will have to decide. How often will you use your credit card? Some restaurants accept ONLY cash, and you will definitely need to have coins at the ready for using the public toilets–many of them are NOT free.

Happy packing! It’s important to pack your bags and carry them around, make sure you will be able to handle what you pack. Also make sure your suitcase doesn’t go over the weight limit. With just a little over 4 months before we depart, it’s nearing crunch time. Make sure you’re getting everything in order a little at a time. As always, if you have any questions or would like to see some information about a topic not addressed yet, please let me know.

Talk to you soon,

Tom and Suzanne

In just a little over 166 days, we will depart on our amazing European tour! To further entice your excitement, I offer herein the hotels where we will be staying so that you might investigate and review photos on the internet to see our beautiful homes away from home.

Rome, Italy: Hotel Pineta Palace, Via S. Lino Papa, 35

Florence, Italy: Nil Hotel, Via Eugenio Barsanti 27/A

Venice, Italy: Hotel Lugano Torretta, Via Giorgio Rizzardi, 11

Murnau, Germany: Angerbrau Hotel, Untermarkt 44 OR Griesbrau Hotel, Obermarkt 37

Innsbruck, Austria: Austria Trend Hotel Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 12a

Friedrichshafen, Germany: Hotel Maier, Poststrasse 1-3

Strasbourg, France: Hotel Mercure Centre, 25 rue Thomann

Frankfurt, Germany: Movenpick Hotel Frankfurt, Den Haager Strasse 5

Tom and I are very pleased with the choices, and some offer unique experiences–a Finnish sauna, a craft beer brew pub, bidets, heated towel racks, or you might take a funicular ride up the mountain to go for an evening walk down an Alpine trail! Of course, a breakfast buffet is provided at each hotel, and don’t forget to try the local beers or wines at each location during lunch and dinner!

Wi-Fi and AC is available at each hotel, with the possible exception of the hotels in Murnau, Germany. The hotels in Murnau are family-owned and more home-y and in the style of more traditional German countryside Gasthofs. They are also located at the base of the Alps, so AC probably won’t be necessary, even in the summer months. BUT, rooms will have windows to open wide and let in some “frische Luft,” or fresh air, which is great for sleeping.

While we’re speaking about hotel rooms, make sure you purchase several European plugs to re-charge your devices at night in your rooms. Only you know what electronics you’ll be bringing, so make sure you have enough plugs–don’t forget things like a C-pap machine, phone, tablet, or eReader. Some plugs even have USB ports on them to double-up on the charging; those are especially convenient for multiple devices on ONE plug.

Your luggage will be taken off the bus at the curb, and you will be responsible for wheeling into the lobby and up to your room. On the day we depart, you will simply place your luggage outside of your room door, and it will be picked up and loaded on the bus for you. Make sure you’ve chosen a bag/luggage that you can tote and lift.

Finally, just a word about data charges in Europe: EXPENSIVE! I would not plan to use my phone’s data plan during the day, instead, hook-up to the Wi-Fi at the hotel in the evening and take care of all of your texting, Facebook posts, and internet browsing while on the hotel’s dime. This is usually the time I take to post our daily activities and pictures to our blog, so you have a record of what we do for your own personal notes and memories. In addition, most phone providers have a flat fee for phone calls in Europe. Our carrier, Verizon, offers phone use for $10/day when you need to use it, so if we have to use the phone, we try to make multiple calls on ONE day to get the most use out of our money; otherwise, we don’t call until we arrive back home in the States; we text or give the blog address to relatives and friends to follow along with us as we travel.

Have fun looking through the hotel websites! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us or Quest. I know a payment is coming due at the end of January, so please make sure to stay on top of trip arrangements.

Talk to you soon,

Tom and Suzanne

Happy November to everyone! Where has the time gone?!? We are only 229 days away from boarding our plane to Europe–and I, for one, cannot wait. We are still thinking about gadgets and gizmos to make our trip easier, breaking in shoes, and setting aside the clothes we want to pack. I wish we were heading to the Christmas markets this Winter, bundling up against the cold winds and snow, but all of our energies are concentrated elsewhere at the moment.

Let me reassure you: OUR PASSION PLAY TOUR IS STILL ON! We eagerly wait to greet you at the airport in San Antonio to begin our amazing adventure, but our good and gracious God decided now was the time to address my ongoing health issues. I was admitted to Methodist Heart Hospital on Oct. 7 and told I was not leaving without a heart transplant. I received my new heart exactly one week later on Oct. 14 and spent the next three weeks in the hospital. I am now recovering at my mom’s house in San Antonio and doing well. My doctors are pleased with my progress, my lab numbers have been excellent, and the biopsies have shown no signs of rejection. I continue to walk daily and regain strength and hope to get back home to Rockport sometime in late January. For now, my appointments are weekly, and it’s easier to be closer to the hospital in these critical, first three months. Tom and I have been given hope that at 8-1/2 months out (June 2020), I can be released by the doctors to travel overseas. Rest assured, the TRIP IS STILL ON! Keep packing, keep reading up on the places we’ll be traveling to, keep thinking about souvenirs you’d like to bring home, and don’t forget to get your phone/camera/iPad in working order for all those pictures you’re going to take! Memories–and in Herb’s case potential PowerPoint presentations–will be important. And as soon as we know the hotels we’ll be staying in, I’ll send out a list, so you can research and look at the beautiful pictures.

I wish each of you a beautiful Fall season with oodles of loving family surrounding you at the Thanksgiving table. I know we have much to be thankful for this year. God bless you all! Talk to you soon,

Tom and Suzanne

I’ve been away at a training for two weeks–TWO WEEKS! And though it wasn’t vacation, it was for about as long as we will be on our European tour in 2020. So what should you pack to wear? How are you going to pack clothes and shoes and toiletries for a 15-day tour and still have space for souvenirs? The short answer: you pack smart.

I am going to offer some recommendations for clothing options that are smart for packing. I will let you in on my “vacation couture” and tell you where I like to shop. Please know these options are just that. If you have had great experiences traveling with specific clothing and choose to stick with it, super!

First up–ladies. I choose travel pants that are just below the knee and have plenty of pockets. If a pair of pants has at least five pockets, it’s near-perfect. The most important feature of my travel pants is they must wick away moisture, that is, they must be wash-and-wear, dry in a few hours, and keep me dry if I run into an afternoon rain shower. I have found great bargains at Duluth Trading online and Eddie Bauer outlet at the San Marcos Outlet Mall. Look for end-of-season bargains starting now as they clear out their summer merchandise. I pack at most three pair.

Tops. My shirts have to be wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking, and dry in minutes. Check-out the active wear department at Academy–be sure to try these on because they tend to run a little small….As of late, I have found some great tops at Duluth Trading online. They’ve got a smart little “jewel” with jade technology that wicks away moisture and keeps you cool! They also come in various lengths and styles from tank tops to tunics. I pack at most five tops. Further tip: choose tops that will match with ALL of your pants, so you can mix-and-match.

Undergarments. Let’s be honest, this is a sensitive subject and very personal, BUT I totally recommend the freedom and space-saving option of the notion that “fewer is better.” I shop for undergarments at two places: Duluth Trading online and Whole Earth Provisions in the Quarry Market in San Antonio. If you find the ExOfficio brand, they work really well. The underwear wicks away moisture (sensing a theme, here?) and dries in a snap–literally. Your hotel sink, or shower, makes an excellent wash basin. For these reasons, I pack only TWO pair of undergarments, period. Wash one, wear the other. Done.

Shoes. My all-time favorite pair of traveling shoes is by Keen. They are waterproof and have an odor-controlling footbed. I wear them without socks just in case it rains because I know my feet might get wet, but they’ll dry in no time with no smell. My Keens also handle the cobblestone streets and back alleys with ease. I have purchased Keens at Whole Earth Provisions, but also at Duluth Trading. Whatever shoes you decide to wear, make sure you break them in before leaving. There’s nothing worse than sore feet…and we will be walking plenty.

Extras. I like to pack a lightweight sweater, a long-sleeve moisture-wicking shirt, a lightweight summer scarf, and a rain jacket that I fold and keep in my daypack.

Gentlemen. Tom buys travel pants that are lightweight and wick away moisture. His finds are from Sam’s Club branded “Guide’s Choice,” but you might also try Duluth Trading, Eddie Bauer, Academy, and Whole Earth Provisions. Some of his pants have zippers at the knee to convert to shorts, if he’d like, which he usually doesn’t. He generally packs three pair.

Shirts. Tom chooses the “fishing style” shirt that is lightweight, provides UV-protection, is cooling, wrinkle-resistant, and quick-to-dry. Magellan, Hook & Tackle, Habit, and many other store brands all seem to stand up well. We also just bought several SwissAlps fishing-style shirts at HEB. Keep your eyes open for deals! He chooses light colors, long or short sleeves. He packs four shirts.

Undergarments. Tom chooses the same lightweight, moisture-wicking brand of underwear that I do. He chooses to pack three pair. Unfortunately, he wears socks that are full cotton, so he usually packs about three or four pair of those.

Shoes. Keen makes a men’s shoe in the same style as the women’s I choose to wear, and it is a great option. Tom chooses to wear a low-cut, lightweight hiking boot. Look for something that will stand-up to walking over concrete, cobblestones, and gravel.

Note: Tom also chooses to wear a travel vest with multiple pockets because he doesn’t carry a daypack. The vest has at least four outer pockets and at least two inner pockets. Additionally, he packs a hat that can be crumpled and folded, he wears an elastic Dockers belt, and keeps a rain poncho folded in my daypack.

We do not pack a pair of extra shoes because the ones we wear are suitably strong and comfortable (we break them in ahead of time). We do pack in packing cubes and large ziploc garment bags that double as laundry bags in case we choose not to wash clothes one evening at the hotel. We do pack a portable clothesline to hang-up laundry in the hotel to dry.

Toiletries. Everything we take is travel-size and less than 3 oz. If it’s liquid, it goes in a clear ziploc bag. European airport screening is v-e-r-y strict with liquids, and they must be 3 oz. or less, in a clear bag, and placed in a tray for inspection. If you run out of something, it’s very easy to pick-up more at a drugstore–and you get an experience and a souvenir! Think about what you’d like to bring home from Europe in your luggage–are you going to want bubble wrap? Will you need a few extra ziploc bags? Think about taking some duct tape and scotch tape wrapped around an empty toilet paper or paper towel cardboard roll. Also, don’t forget to pack European plugs for powering your electronics–you can find these at Walmart.

I’ll post my packing and packed luggage in the next post to give you a better idea of how all of this fits in a 14″ x 20″ bag.

Talk to you soon!

Suzanne and Tom

I have noticed quite a few sales on luggage recently. There are plenty of gigantic bags out there and some cute little ones, too, but what should you be purchasing as you begin to think about packing for our trip to Europe? I will share what Tom and I have found to be the easiest ways to transport our essentials: a carry-on suitcase, a backpack, and a daypack.

Since all transfers are included on the tour, you might want to think about a larger suitcase if you’re planning on purchasing gifts to bring home, including wine or other liquids–you HAVE TO check any liquids over 3 oz. coming home! Our trans-Atlantic flight allows ONE FREE checked bag, one carry-on, and a smaller personal item. Your checked bag cannot weigh over 70 lbs, very manageable. This is the bag, ideally, you want to reserve for things you buy overseas–and dirty clothes to come home! I also like to pack some bubble wrap for glass, liquids, and delicate items; some Ziploc quart bags; and some Scotch tape or duct tape (wrap it around half a toilet paper tube) to help me pack and secure items before returning home. Of course, you can always choose to ship delicate items you may purchase, or gather everything together in a box and ship it home right before we leave Europe–the choice is yours.

Most of the time we travel, Tom and I choose to travel light; it’s a lot easier to handle a light suitcase and a backpack each. Air regulations stipulate your carry-on bag measure no more than 20 x 15 x 9 inches and not weigh over 17 lbs. If the bag measures any more than these figures, it will have to be checked. I recommend you ensure the right dimensions if you’re looking to purchase luggage before the trip, then pack it and weigh it. If it’s too heavy, ditch a few superfluous items until it weighs the limit. This carry-on gets stowed in the upper compartment inside the plane, so we always have access to it during the flight if we need it. Tom and I pack all of our clothing and toiletries in the carry-on. It is our closet overseas.

The second bag we like to carry is a full backpack. This we also carry on the airplane and stow beneath the seat in front of us. I pack medicine, snacks, collapsible water bottle, headphones, inflatable neck pillow, Kindle reader, guidebooks/travel literature, and my rolled up daypack inside this bag. My backpack is Wenger made by SwissGear and includes padded shoulder straps; it is super easy to carry and light despite what I may stuff into it. The website is currently offering a free leather wallet with every purchase–bonus!

The third bag we carry is actually stuffed inside the full backpack: the small daypack. This is the bag we carry each day with essentials we need for a full day of sightseeing: collapsible water bottle, guidebooks, rain jacket/scarf, and camera/tablet/phone. Since we will be staying two nights in most of the cities we visit, it will be easier to carry a small daypack with you than lugging a full backpack (which can get jostled/in the way). Also, some sights we visit may not allow full backpacks, but will allow a smaller, personal bag. My daypack comes from Thirty-One bags and measures a mere 13 x 9 x 5 inches. Unfortunately, I didn’t see an exact match to my bag on the website, but there is a Sling-back bag that comes pretty close to what I’ve got at 15 x 11 x 5 inches.

Ultimately, luggage comes down to what you’d like to tote around. The full allowable baggage is: one checked bag, one carry-on, and one personal item. If you are asking for a First-class upgrade rather than sitting in Economy class, then you are allowed two checked bags. Whatever you decide, remember that YOU are responsible for carrying your own luggage through the airports, including customs, upon our return to the States. If you have additional questions, please contact me through the Island Mission email address with which I have already contacted everyone. Next up: clothing.

Now that you’ve gotten your passport in order for our European holiday, we need to address carrying and securing it. If you take nothing else away from this entry, please understand this: you should NEVER be parted from your passport–that is, it should be on you at all times (showers and sleeping being the only exceptions). Tom was pick-pocketed in Munich once and that set his vigilance at a very high level. Since we are your tour hosts, we require you to carry your passport with you always–on your person. This will not be the last time you hear us say this….

If that opening sounded particularly strong, IT IS! But allow me to share a few ways I have found to carry my passport with ease and without it feeling, or looking, so bulky.

I hope you found the video informative. Some of you are seasoned travelers and have your own way of making sure your passport, credit card(s), and cash are safely secured, but others are brand new to traveling overseas. For those who are voyaging to Europe for the first time, please remember: Tom and I insist that you keep your passport on you all the time. Once you find the best document holder for you, try it out for a day or a week. Make sure you will be happy with your choice, and you are able to wear it with ease and comfort.

With the July 4th holiday already upon us, I have noticed a plethora of sales: on clothing and luggage, in particular. In my next post, I will address baggage so that you might be on the look-out for the perfect luggage to fit your needs. Upcoming posts will also address travel clothing. We are just under a year away from departure now: 363 days to be exact. We are super excited and hope you are too!

Talk to you soon,

Suzanne

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

394 Days until Departure

Can you believe it? We are getting close to our European holiday y’all! I have created this blog to help us plan ahead for travel and to document our journey as it unfolds, so that it can be a record of the places we visit, the funny things that happen to us, and the many other wonderful people, places, and sites we encounter.

For now, I would ask that you get your paperwork in order for our Tour Company–Quest. Please make sure you send them a copy of the picture page of your passport. They need to have a record that your document is valid for at least 6 months after our departure date. Two, secure travel insurance; when traveling overseas, we ALWAYS make sure we are covered because we never know what may happen before or during our trip. Finally, if you haven’t paid any money toward your trip cost, you may want to send a partial payment soon and set-up a plan to ensure full payment by April 15, 2020–that is only 319 days away or 45.5 weeks! Quest requires your second payment by January 31, 2020 with the final payment due on April 15, 2020.

Tom and I are certainly excited you have decided to join us on this trip. Feel free to let your family and friends know the blog address, so they can follow along as you travel. I will begin to post regular articles to help as you make preparations for travel. If you have any questions, please email or message us. In addition, if there’s something you’d like me to address in a post, let me know that, too! Talk to ya soon!