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My Heart of Belgium and Holland tour is a Go!

Just got an email that my tour scheduled for March 30 is going to happen. The Netherlands have lifted the quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers entering their country. Rick Steves and I are relieved to have that obstacle removed from our travel dreams. The email said that we should stay current with travel requirements in the days ahead. I am one happy tourist.

I looked at this tour and within the last 3-4 days it has gone from totally waitlisted to “Filling Fast” and “Sign-up”. I guess some people got nervous and have cancelled or moved their tour around. Now, I need to start walking more to get in shape and do more research on things to do with my spare time.

Posted by
3777 posts

Have a fabulous, safe trip. March 30 will hopefully come very quickly.

Posted by
8261 posts

Have a wonderful time and don't forget to post a trip report. We love to hear about people traveling successfully at these times.

Posted by
13809 posts

That’s terrific!! I missed the change in the Netherlands requirements so that is awesome!

I agree, this is an excellent tour.

Just a warning, if it’s the same hotel they’ve used before in Delft, the rooms are a bit weird. Everyone in the group will go look at everyone else’s rooms, lol. Mine had a round bed and an orange plush bedspread. In the bathroom was a mural of an aboriginal child staring at you in the shower, lolol!!

Posted by
9462 posts

Pam oh my goodness! That is quite something.

Janet, I’m excited for you that your trip is a go !

Posted by
554 posts

Welcome to my adopted country! It was bright and sunny here yesterday. My daughter and I walked through the Albert Cuyp Market. She bought dumplings. I bought a knit hat. Then we walked through the city to the Nieuwemarkt to one of our favorite pubs, Loosje. We sat outside in the sun and enjoyed a coffee. It was glorious. So great to see The NL opening back up. I hope you have some free time to wander Amsterdam.

Posted by
9462 posts

Kate, now THAT sounds like a delightful day!

Omg Kathy I can't believe you found not only the hotel, but the exact room !!

Posted by
15679 posts

Kim, finding it was a laugh-to-snort-stage moment. It is truly, er, something, innit? 🤣

Posted by
417 posts

Thanks for all the good wishes.

@ Carol, I am hoping to post a trip report after I return. I usually write in my journal almost daily, so I will just have to sort out my notes. I will be getting home right before Easter, so my report might be delayed.

@ Pam, the hotel in Delft looks very “different”. I looked at the website and I would be totally creeped out if I was put in the room with a giant snake coiled over the top of my bed. That might be a good night to wear a sleeping mask.

@ Kateja, we are spending an additional 3 days in Amsterdam after the tour ends. I am most excited about seeing Keukenhof gardens in full color. We will be there on April 6th, so hopefully there will be some good color. My husband and I owned a Garden Center / Landscape business for 28 years, so we are flower nerds.

I had to get out my calendar to put all the covid testing dates in. I also need to figure out when to email the hotels to ask them for testing locations nearby. The starting hotel in Ghent has no rooms prior to the tour, so I am booked at a hotel that is close by. Hopefully, we will have no hiccups in the meantime.

Posted by
13809 posts

Kathy!! Of course it is!! Janet, I didn’t mention the snake although I hate snakes and it was quite creepy. Fortunately the room was dark so it was harder to see. I ditched the orange spread immediately, lol!! I also just kept my head down when I went onto the room to not see the snake.