Are you itching to travel in 2021? I am too! We’ve rolled out all twenty of our tours visiting 13 countries in Europe, hoping this pandemic will be in the rearview mirror by Spring 2021. I’ve participated in more than my fair share of tourism-focused zoom calls and webinars in the past months. Early on, the news was dismal. No tourists anywhere! But, after almost eight months of a travel lockdown, surveys indicate Americans are ready to get out there and get back to traveling. But, they want to do it safely and sensibly!
Like many, I want to get out there and go, but I want to be safe at it. That probably means holding off until a vaccine is developed and widely available. However, we’ve prepared all or departures, booked hotels, and have transportation standing by, in hopes that we all can get back to traveling early next year. With that hope, why not take a look at the tours we are offering for 2021 and provisionally sign-up for one? It will cost you a mere $25 to sign-up, and that is fully refundable up until 30-days before your tour departure. I’ve put all my tour resources online, in one place. You find all of this and more at https://davidmcguffin.com/tours/.
Check out my tours and departure dates,
browse digital scrapbooks from our alumni,
find out about the McGuffin travel style, and why it’s different (and better) than most others,
experience what it is like being on tour by following the day-to-day activities of a David McGuffin group in Ireland,
Browse or print my entire tour catalog.
Finally, I’ve got several projects cooking on the front burner and about ready to premiere. Stay tuned to my website, this newsletter, and my social media pages for more information in the coming week. Until then, I wish you all the best. Stay safe, be sure to social distance, wash your hands often, and wear a mask.
Here it is mid-August, and I’ve not left the USA in eight months! For many, that is not uncommon, but Europe is my office, my job, and my livelihood. This Pandemic has affected everyone in the world in one way or another, but the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry has taken quite a blow. What was to be a record-breaking year for Exploring Europe came to a screeching halt on March 10, 2020. That’s when I contacted COVID-19, and shortly afterward, all travel shut down in and out of the USA.
Since mid-March, we have postponed, pushed back, rescheduled, or canceled almost every Exploring Europe tour scheduled for 2020. That’s terrible news for us and those who were looking forward to exploring Europe with us. The good news is that we are still in business and ready to show our friends around Europe when travel becomes possible again. I’ve given up trying to guess when that might be, but whether it is in one month or many, we will be ready!
Looking to the future
However, just because it is possible to travel to Europe without going into quarantine upon arrival, does not necessarily mean we will rush into it. A David McGuffin tour is a unique, interactive, and personal travel experience. One of the aspects that sets our tours apart is the opportunity to meet, interact, and become friends with locals living and working in our destinations. Our trips will not be the same if we have to adhere to rigid social distancing rules, wear masks 24/7, and worry about being infected by the Coronavirus.
On our tours, we love to spend time with our traveling guests experiencing the sights, museums, and attractions in a sensible fashion, and having some downtime to relax and enjoy the locale. Attempting these things from behind a mask or at six-feet intervals would invariably take some spontaneity and adventure away from the total travel experience. I’ve spent the last twenty years honing our travel and tour style to come up with the perfect combination of cultural immersion, history and art lessons, engaging experiences, and unstructured free time. I’ll not schedule any tour until these experiences are again possible, reasonable, and safe.
Check out our tours to Europe.
However, we are actively planning for that day when it is possible to hop on a plane, fly to Europe, and travel freely.
You can sign-up for any of our tours online, by mail, or by email, by completing an application and paying a fully refundable $25 deposit. No other investment is required until the final payment due date, which is about 45 days before departure.
Want to travel on your home turf?
Many of you have contacted me during this Pandemic, suggesting I begin offering tours in the USA. I appreciate your ideas and concern, but I’m getting too old to learn a new continent! However, if you have a hankering to travel on your home turf, I want to introduce you to MOLLY’S OLD SOUTH TOURS. Molly Verlin is a wonderful young lady who leads tours for me in Italy. Since there is no work in Italy this year, she’s taken her love for the South, and designed some wonderful travel experiences. On Molly’s tours, you’ll discover the hidden history, culture, hospitality, and down-home cooking of the American Southeast. Molly will guide you through the ancient Spanish city of St. Augustine, the pristine beaches of Georgia’s Golden Isles, the elegant squares and parks of Savannah’s historic district, and the unique history, and charm of Colonial Charleston. I hope you’ll have a look at her website and consider a tour closer to home!
You have not heard from me for a while, but I wanted to write and let you know all is well with me, my family, and Exploring Europe. The last five months have been challenging for me personally and for Exploring Europe. All was going well until March 10, 2020. That was the day COVID-19 became a reality, in more ways than one. My wife and I, and several other family members, came down with the COVID-19 virus in early March (I blogged about it here). Fortunately, none of us had a severe case, although it did take a few weeks to get back to feeling normal.
As for Exploring Europe, we have canceled all our tours at least through November 2020. Early on, we had hoped this pandemic would be short-lived, and travel would get back to normal by the summer. After hundreds of cancellations, I now realize that “normal” is not going to be possible for some time. So, we hope and prepare for a new normal in 2021.
A David McGuffin tour is a unique, interactive, and personal travel experience. One of the aspects that sets our tours apart is the opportunity to meet, interact, and become friends with locals living and working in our destinations. Our trips would not be the same if we were placed under rigid travel and social distancing rules. On our tours, we love to spend time relaxing with our traveling guests, visiting with local friends over a glass of wine, exploring a shop, sampling olive oil, or just taking a stroll through town. Attempting these things from behind a mask or at six-feet intervals would invariably take some spontaneity and adventure away from the total travel experience. We have spent the last twenty years honing our travel and tour style to come up with, what we think, the perfect combination of cultural immersion, history and art lessons, engaging experiences, and unstructured free time. We will not depart on any tour until these types of experiences are again possible, reasonable, and safe for the foreseeable future.
Since we cannot travel to Europe right now, I hope to bring a bit of Europe to you in the coming weeks. During this pandemic, I’m writing several books, adding content to my website, and trying to keep on task with the business of Exploring Europe. I yearn for the day when I can hop on a plane and fly to Europe, but, for now, I’ll have to settle for my memories. So, as much for me, as for you, I am going to begin posting a blog series I’m calling David’s Weekly Wanders in Europe.
David’s Weekly Wanders in Europe will feature videos, articles, book excerpts, virtual tours, and live online events. David McGuffin Explores Rome! is the first of several episodes chronicling the experiences and adventures on David’s Best of Italy Tour route. Along with his producer, Abby, and their travel companions, David visits the significant sites in Italy’s capital city. I hope you’ll consider joining in by participating, making comments, and dreaming of your return to travel.
All the best,
Watch David McGuffin Explores Rome! Don’t forget to scroll down after the video and read about my adventure in Trastevere. I even included a sketch from my journal.
If you or someone you know lives in one of these cities, come visit with us and be our VIP guest! Follow the links below to get your tickets on us.
Denver Travel and Adventure Show When: February 22 (10am–5pm) and February 23 (11am–4pm)
Where: Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202
Exhibit Booth 519
David will be speaking on the Destination Theatre Stage, Sunday, February 23 @ 2:15-2:45 p.m.
For your free ticket, follow the link and enter promo code EXVIPDMEE (on the ticket selection screen BEFORE selecting your tickets)
Atlanta Travel and Adventure Show When: February 29 (10am–5pm) and March 1 (11am–4pm)
Where: Cobb Galleria Centre – HALL AB
2 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339
Exhibit Booth 523
For your free ticket, follow the link and enter promo code EXVIPDMEE (on the ticket selection screen BEFORE selecting your tickets)
We hope to see you there!
See the Military Tattoo in Scotland
There’s still time to join our newest tour to Scotland. Enjoy traditional music, great food and fantastic scenery on our newest tour to Scotland. This tour has something for everyone: history, music, whiskey, religion, and mysterious creatures.
Castles: Edinburgh, Stirling, Blair and Urquhart. Whether functioning structures or a pile of ruins, the castles of Scotland will take your breath away.
Trossachs National Park: Visit Scotland’s first national park for stunning lake views and a quick hike.
Whiskey: Sample Scottish whiskey at a local distillery.
Culloden Battlefield: Tour the haunting site where the Jacobite rebellion came to a brutal end in 1746.
Loch Ness: Cruise the lake in search of the fabled monster.
The Hebrides: Explore the Isles of Mull and Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland.
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: Cap off your tour with performances by military bands from around the world on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.
And more!
Click here to see the full itinerary and sign up for the tour.
This is the last week to enter our virtual scrapbook contest. First place wins a seat on any 2020 Exploring Europe tour. Second and third places win gift certificates to put towards travel. Head over to our website to see the rules and enter the contest. See previous competition winners’ websites to get some inspiration here.
The deadline to enter is February 5, 2020.
February travel shows in Chicago, Denver and Atlanta
If you or someone you know lives in one of these cities, come visit with us and be our VIP guest! Follow the links below to get your tickets on us.
Chicago Travel and Adventure Show When: February 8 (10am–5pm) and February 9 (11am–4pm)
Where: Donald E Stephens Convention Center – HALL F
5555 North River Rd. Rosemont, IL 60018
Exhibit Booth 1912
For your free ticket, follow the link and enter promo code EXVIPDMEE (on the ticket selection screen BEFORE selecting your tickets)
Denver Travel and Adventure Show When: February 22 (10am–5pm) and February 23 (11am–4pm)
Where: Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202
Exhibit Booth 519
David will be speaking on the Destination Theatre Stage, TBA
For your free ticket, follow the link and enter promo code EXVIPDMEE (on the ticket selection screen BEFORE selecting your tickets)
Atlanta Travel and Adventure Show When: February 29 (10am–5pm) and March 1 (11am–4pm)
Where: Cobb Galleria Centre – HALL AB
2 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339
Exhibit Booth 523
For your free ticket, follow the link and enter promo code EXVIPDMEE (on the ticket selection screen BEFORE selecting your tickets)
We hope to see you there!
Custom tours
You dream it, we’ll plan it. We can help you plan a travel experience tailored to meet your specific needs. No group is too small or too large, and we offer a variety of services to assist in custom designing your tour. Create your own itinerary for a fully guided tour, or we can help you choose your destinations and arrange accommodations as you head off the beaten path on your own. Visit our website for more information or send us an email at david@davidmcguffin.com to start planning your European adventure today.
If you live in Boston, come meet David this weekend and be our VIP guest at the Boston Travel and Adventure Show! You can see cultural performances, meet your favorite travel celebrities and explore the world under one roof. As our guest, admission to the show is free of charge. Just follow the link below to get your tickets on us.
Boston Travel and Adventure Show When: January 11 (10am–5pm) and January 12 (11am–4pm)
Where: Hynes Convention Center – HALLS A/B
900 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02115
Exhibit Booth 914
David will be speaking Sunday 1:15-1:45 on the Destination Theatre Stage
For your free ticket, follow the link and enter promo code EXVIPDMEE (on the ticket selection screen BEFORE selecting your tickets)
There’s still plenty of time to enter our virtual scrapbook competition. It’s a great way to share your travel experiences, and you could win a free seat on any 2020 Exploring Europe tour. Second and third prizes win gift certificates to put towards travel. Here’s a post that will help you get started with choosing a website builder (scroll down for a review of eight of the most popular), then head over to our website to see the rules and enter the contest. See previous competition winners’ websites to get some inspiration here.
Watch 
