Sew Many Places with Jim

I am sitting at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, waiting for my flight to Seattle. Tomorrow I join Eleanor Burns and 90 quilters and their friends for an 8-day adventure.

I have traveled with Eleanor on a cruise a few years ago, so I know I am instore for a really fun time. Sue Bouchard, El’s assistant, is fantastic to work with. It has been my experience that everyone at Quilt in a Day is first rate all the way around.

We have a lot of really exciting things planned and I’ll keep you posted as often as I can.

Watch out Alaska, our quilters are coming!

Jim

Thank you to all our Sew Many Places loyal travelers for pointing out to me about all the other travel companies now doing cruises and tours for quilters. I have always said, competition is great, keeps everyone on their toes and keeps prices competitive!

There are many things that distinquishes Sew Many Places from other travel companies out there. First of all, we have been there, done that and bought the t-shirt ten times over. I think travel agents who have actually been to the places they are promoting have a real edge over those that have not. We know the right restaurants, guides, hotels, special places off the beaten path that many travel companies do not know. I have sailed on over 1400 cruises, traveled to 74 countries around the world and I doubt that many, if any travel agents can come close to that background. I honestly believe we are tops when it comes to travel experience.

Second, I always tell people to compare prices and value when comparing different trips with different companies. How many days is the trip (NOT INCLUDING THE DAYS YOU ARE FLYING TO AND FROM THE DESTINATION), what kind of hotels are you staying in, who is escorting the trip, what kind of quilting activities are included in the package, what is the day to day sightseeing itinerary…….things like that. Look at the cost closely, especially look to see if airfare is included or not. Ask yourself, is the sightseeing highlight for the day shopping and an afternoon tea or am I actually doing something substantial with my day?

Because of today’s economy, you want and really have to have value for what you pay for your vacation. I can’t imagine that shopping time during the day costs a travel company any money, yet some travel companies list it as a highlight.

Yes there are many travel agencies these days who now sell quilt cruises and tours. But do your homework. Compare prices, the itinerary and see what kind of value you are getting for your money. Something tells me you’ll be book marking our Sew Many Places homepage. There’s a good reason why we have been endorsed by the Wall Stree Journal as being a “global and upscale tour company for quilters!”

We are very happy to announce, Kaye England will be taking our annual Ireland group out next year in October. We will be visiting our usual spots: Kilarney, Dublin, the Avoca hand weavers, the Ring of Kerry, Waterford Crystal Factory, Blarney Castle and Woolen Mills, Dingle Penninsula, and much more.

And just a reminder, we will be meeting with the local quilters in Kilarney for a Show and Tell and Kaye England, our special quilt celebrity who is coming along as an escort, will be teaching a class during the tour.

Our tour will include round-trip airfare, most meals and first class accommodations. As always, there are no hidden costs with our trips, everything is complete.

We will be announcing the cost of this tour this coming week. We have space for 30 participants only. No one does Ireland for quilters better than Sew Many Places. We have been going there for years and we know it like the back of our Irish little quilting hands!

I will be giving the first ten people who sign up for this tour a special Tour Ireland Quilting Book, published by Leisure Arts and written by Pat Sloan and trip highlighted by yours truly!

Jim