​My family and I just returned from an epic road trip! We went down to the North Carolina/South Carolina border, through Virginia, drove through New York to Niagara Falls in Canada, to Vaughn, Ontario, around to Sandusky, Ohio, before finally heading home. In all, we drove a little over 2,200 miles. Why? Roller coasters!!

Last year was our first year to get Kings Island Gold Passes as a family. As it turns out, our kids love roller coasters (and rides in general) as much as we do! So at the end of the season last year, we upgraded to Platinum. This allows you to visit all/any of the 13 Cedar Fair amusement/water parks as much as you'd like. 

Earlier this year we made two separate trips, one to Cedar Point and one to Dorney Park in Pennsylvania, which we combined with a trip to Harrisburg, Hershey, and Gettysburg to learn more about the Civil War and for chocolate. The kids said it was the most delicious trip we've ever taken...ha!

However, this time we managed to hit 5 Cedar Fair parks in 10 days!

First we went to Kings Island on Thursday. This is only 30 minutes from our house, so we go to Kings Island at least 10 times a year. We had cousins in town and met up with them to ride some rides, including a couple of our favorites, Mystic Timbers and Diamondback. It was a great way to kick off our adventure!
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Our family collects magnets from our travels. It's fun to add to our Cedar Point collection!

Jon (my husband) and I went on a Riviera Cruise on the Rhone River at the beginning of April. What an amazing experience!
First thing to understand…there are several amazing river cruise companies. I would love to talk to you and qualify you for the experience that is best for you.

The Rhone cruise was on board the MS William Shakespeare. All of Riviera’s boats are named after British authors. I thought this was a fun theme. The ship is very nice with dark wood finishes. It is well maintained.

The sun deck is very nice and has lots of space for passengers to enjoy while in dock as well as while cruising. Jon and I enjoyed the giant chess set (even though he won every game we played). However, it was very windy and a bit chilly while we were cruising, which meant that the sun deck did not see a lot of use on our cruise.

​The following morning we took a train back to Paris, where we spent one night. We were able to see the Notre Dame Cathedral just a couple hours prior to it catching fire. We went back down to stand with the Parisians while fire fighters worked tirelessly to put out the flames. It was a moving experience with so many praying and singing. While in Paris, we also were able to tour the Pantheon and stop over at the Eiffel Tower.

As for the experience on board our cruise, here are my thoughts.

What I loved about my Riviera experience:

• Floating hotel right in town! Everywhere we stopped we could explore and then return to our room for the week. We were able to explore 6 different cities without having to move any of our belongings.
• The service. All the servers go out of their way to take great care of you at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With my gluten-free diet, this even meant special desserts and breads. Our regular servers remembered this and were always ready when we were in the dining room.
• All the excursions are planned. This was both something I loved and didn’t love (more on that below). What I loved about it was not having to make any decisions. We were told the time of the excursion and then we had the choice to go or not go…that simple! It is great to be able to let someone else be in charge of what to see.
• The food. All the dinners were absolutely delicious! I tried a few new foods and liked them, too.
• Other passengers. You have the opportunity to meet people from many places and we met some amazing new friends.
• Service for those less mobile. There were several seniors on the cruise, a few of which had mobility issues. The crew went out of their way to accommodate these passengers and seemed happy to do so.

​What I did not love about my experience:

• Ours was the first cruise of the year, which resulted in a less-organized-than-desired team. It seemed that everyone was getting acclimated and there was some definite confusion, especially at the reception area.
• Self-serve coffee machine. The machine was not operational for most of our cruise. However, there was coffee served at all meals and then at tea and coffee hour in the lounge. Plus there is a lot of opportunity to get a coffee in the towns, so it wasn’t too big of a deal.
• Internet service. The internet service was not good. At all. Luckily I spoke with my representative for Riviera before going. He recommended Sky Roam for reliable internet while on our cruise. It was perfect! The only times we had spotty service was in the river locks (no one has service in the locks) and while cruising in more remote areas.
  (For more information about Sky Roam, please click here. Enter code SATRAVEL at checkout for 10% off!)
  
• All excursions are planned. There was not much detail revealed about the excursions prior to time. This meant it was hard to decide to go or not to go. Also, the tours are either walking tours (for those right in town) or by motor coach (for those away from the river). I loved the walking tours. However, I did not enjoy being in the motor coach as much.

Are you ready to take your own European river cruise? Contact me to set sail on the one that is right for you!

​Knowing which documents you need when traveling internationally is essential to having a stress-free vacation. Prepare yourself by learning about the latest travel requirements and important information you need to know before traveling.
What documents are required when traveling internationally?
You are required to have a U.S. Passport Book when traveling by air to any international location.
If you are traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean Region (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos), you are required to have a U.S. Passport Book or Card.
Please note: U.S. citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present a government issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization). Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the foreign countries your cruise ship is visiting. Contact us before your cruise to ensure you have the appropriate documents.
What is a U.S. Passport Card?
The U.S. Passport Card can be used to enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry and is more convenient and less expensive than a passport book. The passport card cannot be used for international travel by air.
How long does it take to get a passport?
Processing times can vary depending on workload and occasional unforeseen circumstances. During busier times, such as the summer travel season, customers are encouraged to expedite their applications if traveling in less than 10 weeks.
How long is a passport valid and when should I renew my passport?

• If you were over age 16 when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 10 years.
• If you were age 15 or younger when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 5 years.

The Issue Date of your passport can be found on the data page of your Passport Book or on the front of your Passport Card. If possible, you should renew your passport approximately nine (9) months before it expires. Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six (6) months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. If you passport has already expired, you may still be able to renew your passport by mail.
How do I purchase or renew my passport?
Detailed information about passports and international travel requirements, along with instructions for applying for a passport can be found at travel.state.gov.
*For more information about passport requirements, please contact the U.S. Department of State.
Visas
Do I need a visa if I am a U.S. citizen?
U.S. citizens don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad they may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit. When planning travel abroad, learn about visa requirements by country by visiting the U.S. Department of State’s Country Specific Travel Information.
*Find out more about both the immigrant and non-immigrant visa process at the State Department’s visa main page. U.S. Passports and International Travel.

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