Elena Quaresima - The Travel Agent Next Door

10/12/2026

🍁 Grateful for the Journey, Thankful for the Memories ☀️

This Thanksgiving, I'm feeling especially grateful for the places I've been, the memories I've made, and the wonderful people I've met along the way.

And to my amazing clients, thank you for allowing me to be part of your travel adventures. Helping you explore the world and create unforgettable memories is something I'm truly thankful for!

Here's to beautiful destinations, new adventures, and never taking these little moments for granted. 🥂✈️

Happy Thanksgiving!!

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10/11/2026

The Prosecco Journey Continues… Next Stop: Treviso and the Prosecco Hills!!🍾🥂🇮🇹

After saying goodbye to beautiful Sestri Levante, we travelled by private transfer to Treviso, our next home base for exploring the spectacular Prosecco Hills of Northern Italy!

Treviso is one of those hidden Italian gems that deserves so much more attention! With its charming canals, cobblestone streets, beautiful piazzas, and lively cafés, it has all the Italian charm without the crowds. Definitely a city I would return to! ❤️

From Treviso, our days were filled with adventures through the breathtaking Prosecco Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of rolling vineyards and picturesque villages.

Some days we explored the vineyards on foot, others we hopped on e-bikes for a little adventure, and we spent a wonderful day strolling through the charming hilltop town of Asolo.

But no matter how we spent our days, there was always one thing in common… PROSECCO! 🥂🍾

We visited local, family-run vineyards, tasted delicious Prosecco, and had the opportunity to meet the passionate people behind the w**es. Listening to their stories, learning about generations of family traditions, and discovering the love and dedication that goes into every bottle made these experiences even more special.

And of course, there was plenty of laughter, incredible food, beautiful scenery, and more than a few glasses raised along the way! 🥂

This is what I love most about travelling through Italy. It's not just about the places you visit, but the people you meet, the stories you hear, and the experiences you share.

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10/07/2026

Sestri Levante was our home base… but we definitely didn’t sit still!

We spent our days hopping around the Italian Riviera — hiking the villages of Cinque Terre, heading to Santa Margherita, then jumping on a ferry to gorgeous San Fruttuoso and, of course, Portofino.

Basically… boats, colourful villages, ridiculously blue water, lots of walking, cappuccinos, aperitivos and me taking approximately 847 photos of the same gorgeous coastline.

And every night, back to Sestri Levante — which turned out to be the perfect little home away from home.

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Italy, you really do make it hard to go home. ❤️

10/01/2026

The first home base of our Prosecco Journey — Sestri Levante. 🇮🇹🥂

There could not have been a more beautiful place to begin our journey together Kerry Berlinquette - The Travel Agent Next Door Thunder Bay

Set along the Ligurian coast, Sestri Levante has that effortless Italian elegance I love — colourful historic buildings, palm-lined streets, charming little lanes, beautiful bays and the sparkling Mediterranean always just steps away.

It was the perfect introduction to our journey and a chance for everyone to settle in and have a spritz...or 2🍾🥂🍹

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09/22/2026

Team Canada representing well in Italy!!🇨🇦🇮🇹🍾🥂

This is what 22 fun-loving, Prosecco-drinking, Italian Riviera-exploring travellers look like!

Back in 2025, Elena Quaresima - The Travel Agent Next Door and I stumbled upon the Prosecco Hills in Italy and immediately realized we needed to team up and bring some friends along for the journey.

Fast-forward to fall 2026, and here we are…

Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, exploring the Ligurian coastline, drinking in Italian culture, and enjoying the camaraderie of like-minded travellers.

After flying into Genoa, we made our way to the coastal town of Sestri Levante. We hiked the trails of Cinque Terre, sipped Aperitivo, indulged in exquisite seafood, and regaled one another with tales of the day.

It has been a stellar beginning to this fabulous journey, and we are just getting started.🥂

09/09/2026

✈️OUT OF OFFICE | SEPTEMBER 9 – OCTOBER 2 🇮🇹

It’s time for another adventure!

From September 9 to October 2, I’ll be out of the office and spending some time in beautiful **Italy** — first celebrating a very special wedding, then enjoying a few days soaking up the beauty (and of course the w**e 🍷) of the chianti region in Tuscany.

From there, I’ll be joining my wonderful friend and fellow travel advisor Kerry Berlinquette - The Travel Agent Next Door Thunder Bay as we host our Prosecco Journey! 🥂🇮🇹 I can’t wait to share this experience with our amazing group and create some incredible memories along the way.

One of my favourite parts of travelling is experiencing destinations firsthand. Every hotel, restaurant, w**ery, little town, tour and hidden gem I discover adds to the knowledge and experiences I can bring home and share with my clients. ❤️

So make sure to follow along over the next few weeks! I’ll be sharing our adventures, discoveries, beautiful places and, I’m sure, plenty of food and Prosecco! 🍝🍷🥂

Here’s to creating more memories, experiencing more of this beautiful world, and bringing home even more inspiration for your future travels!

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07/08/2026

✈️ Friendly Summer Travel Reminder! ☀️

With summer travel in full swing, Thunder Bay International Airport is busier than ever. Please be sure to arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight to allow plenty of time for check-in, baggage drop, and security screening.

The days of arriving 30 minutes before departure are long gone! Giving yourself extra time will help ensure a smooth and stress-free start to your journey.

Safe travels, everyone!!!

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06/16/2026

EES & ETIAS – the two biggest acronyms making travelers nervous about Europe this summer! ✈️

But don't panic—they're actually much simpler than they sound!

🛂 EES (Entry/Exit System)

The EES is Europe's new digital border system for travelers from non-EU countries, including Canadians. Instead of having your passport stamped, your entry and exit will be recorded electronically, along with a facial photo and fingerprints the first time you enter the Schengen Area. It helps track the 90-day stay limit and improve border security. There is NOTHING you have to do before travel!! This will all happen upon arrival!!

📱 ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
Think of ETIAS like the U.S. ESTA—a pre-travel authorization that will eventually be required for visa-exempt travelers visiting Europe for short stays.

The good news? ETIAS is NOT available yet! There is currently no application process, and travelers do not need to apply before their European vacation this summer. The European Union has confirmed that ETIAS is expected to begin later in 2026, and travelers will receive plenty of notice before it becomes mandatory.

So if you're heading to Europe this summer, don't let these acronyms stress you out. Pack your bags, bring your passport, and enjoy your adventure!...and of course, let me help plan it!!!

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06/02/2026

Air Canada, Lufthansa and other European airlines have made announcements that there are no fuel shortages for travel this summer!!🥳🥳

If you were putting off a summer vacation because of fuel concerns, be concerned no more!!

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Air Canada is setting the record straight with customers, sharing in an email Tuesday (June 2) that it is not running low on fuel and will operate its summer schedule as planned. “While global fuel markets remain dynamic, Air Canada has a diversified and sophisticated fuel supply in place,” the ...

05/26/2026

🌴☀️ SUNWING SUNDAY! ☀️🌴

Wellllll… looks like Sunwing quietly snuck another winter flight into Cancun from Thunder Bay 👀

Because apparently one weekly escape to tacos, tequila, and turquoise water just wasn’t enough.

Thunder Bay said: “Winter is long.” Sunwing replied: “Say less.”

If Cancun has been calling your name, this is your sign to answer it!

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