Office on the lake!

Just a quick note today about what has been going on and when you need to book that next vacation.

Today I get to work from the lake!  It is crazy!  One of the great things about being home based is I can work from anywhere!  Which is great for me and my clients.

Just a quick plug for booking your vacation with a travel agent, just think of us as your travel assistant.  I encourage my clients to contact me with any questions, concerns or needs.  I want to show my clients the value you I can add to their vacation.  We work with our suppliers to make sure everything is taken care of and if you do have an issue it is a lot easier to contact me then one of those toll free numbers that require a long hold time.

I am always around if I am not in the office you can reach me my cell, or email. 

Now is a great time to start looking for your 2019 vacation, prices are starting to come out, it is never too early to begin planning your winter escape!  I have to laugh at that because it wasn't long ago we had snow in Minnesota now we are having record warm temps but while you are relaxing in a pool or lake start planning! 

I work with a lot of friends groups so this is the time to get it figured out, and I mostly do warm weather destinations do not think that is all I do.  I work on many areas of travel such as Eurpope, Disney, domestic vacations, cruises and many other types of travel.

Living in Minnesota we all like to escape the cold with a fun trip so if you need ideas give me a call.  I was in Punta Cana not long ago and that is a great destination for friends, couples and families. 


Okay enough work for now, remember if you need a travel assistant give me a call.  This week you can email me at cindy@vacationsrspecialtravel.com as I will be enjoying the lake!

So why book your next vacation with a travel agent?

I work with many clients some just know what they want and just tell me what to book, so why don't they just book it themselves? 
Well I always like to say they are too smart to do that!  And it is true, travel agents have access to competitive pricing so we often are less or the same as those Internet pricing.  But we offer value with our service.  I do not just book vacations for my clients I help them with all aspects of their travel.  I offer assistance when things do not go quite right!  For example I had a group go on vacation this year and 4 out of the 5 couples did not have rooms.  I worked with the hotel and the supplier and followed up with the clients because that is not the way to start a vacation.  Next day, different client and different supplier, different destination and it happened again!  Usually once you are in travel I can not do much if your flight is canceled or delayed but in these situations I did get involved.  So we are there when are clients need us.

Consider us your travel assistants!  I offer to assist my clients with flights, transfers, tours, special dinners or what ever my clients need.  And with my groups I try to work closely with them to make sure everyone is in the loop!  If you need anything we are there to assist our clients.

We have the knowledge!  Yes that is why I try to take a few work trips every year.  I might not be able to go to every resort or destination but I try!  And through my network of travel agents I probably have access to someone that has been to that destination.  We do the research also, so we can make sure you have the correct information.

We offer travel insurance, some clients do not realize that if you cancel your vacation you could lose some or all of your money!  So we offer, explain and sell travel insurance.  And if you need to use that insurance we help with the forms!

Payment plans!  Yes with most of my suppliers I can make payments so just give me a call with your payment information and I can make payments so you are not hit with a large payment at the end!

Put it on hold!  When a travel agent books a trip for a client we are usually able to have a 24 hour hold to make sure this is the vacation for you!

These are just a few ways we work for our clients, so next vacation give me a call or email for a quote. 

Thanks Cindy
763-878-2763, email cindy@vacationsrspecialtravel.com

Sailing the Suite Life on RCCL's Navigator of the Seas!

I am so excited we finally made a decision on our next cruise!  Of course we loved the Harmony so that did not make this choice easy. 

So how did we finally decide?  It was a long process I took the pros and cons of my top ships.  I felt like I wanted a ship in the Oasis Class because we loved the perks of the suites on those ships, such as suite sun deck and bar, suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen.  And this time we would be sailing without family so go familiar.  Actually I loved the ships but I wanted a slightly longer cruise, and different ports.  I knew my niece and her family had a cruise planned and I liked the ports, we did have to give up the Coastal Kitchen which we loved for breakfast and lunch.  On the Navigator they take a specialty restaurant and open it up for the suite guests for breakfast and lunch with a limited menu, which will be fine for us.  Or we might actually explore the other dining options on the ship!

We have spent about 20 years exploring all inclusive resorts and destinations so it seems strange to all of a sudden love cruises.  It is hard to explain this to friends and family when I do not totally understand the switch.  But I was getting bored with the same thing at a resort we would have breakfast then go to the beach or pool, go to lunch then more of the same, then maybe sit at a bar for awhile then get ready for dinner.  Sometimes we would watch the entertainment or just go to the lobby bar.  The same thing every day!  I like the sun but I no longer like the obvious affects of the sun!  So on a cruise you have options, yes you can go to the pool or beach when in port but you can also do so many other things.  I was ready for a change, and lucky for me I travel usually once or twice a year so I can still spend a few days at an all inclusive resort in a beautiful destination while "working" to find the perfect resorts for my clients!

Now I am not saying anything negative about selecting a all inclusive resort because you do not select that for your vacation for 20 years then suddenly dislike them, we just needed some options to get out of the sun.  I was recently in Punta Cana for a week working, lucky for me it was during the historic snow storm that happened the day I left (great timing) I had a wonderful time and loved the resorts I stayed experienced.  Just remember my favorite vacation might not be yours.  Which is always fun when you have a group of family or friends traveling together and a selection must be made! 

Okay enough about my vacation, if you are looking for a cruise, or any other vacation please give me a call so I can help you plan your vacation.

Should I consider Mexico as my next destination vacation?

So today is May 2nd,  is anyone thinking about your next warm weather vacation?  Of course I think non stop about my next vacation but most people think about it when the snow starts flying in Minnesota, or the temps plunge below zero.

But lets explore the reason to plan your winter escape now.  I know it sounds crazy but most people take hours, days and even weeks to figure out where they want to vacation so why not do that work now while you are relaxing this summer?  This is the time of year I have many clients starting to figure out their next destination, this way we can watch the prices.  Believe it or not my clients that book in August to October get the best prices!  And if you are traveling with a large or small group let's talk now, because the sooner you select the destination and resort you can send out the emails to your friends or family.  Not everyone will want to book early but for those that want to be sure to secure their vacation early now is the time.

Of course I am not discussing cruises as many of those are booked a full year or more in advance so I am talking about destination vacations.

I am going to address the elephant in the room right now, Mexico.  It is actually one of my favorite vacations.  I have been to Cancun, Playa, Rivera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cozumel.  And all of these destinations I have been multiple times, they have beautiful resorts and amazing tours.  But of course it has been in the news a lot this past year or so.  I went to Rivera Maya twice in 2017 and nothing seemed different to me, however I basically stayed on the resort.  But what I do personally or for work does not mean I tell my clients it is safe, I never want my actions to reflex a sense of security for my clients.  Which was the reason I actually switched a trip with a group of friends that were going to Mexico to Jamaica.  The rest of the group went to Rivera Maya and returned safe and sound without incident but can I say it is safe?  No, no one can say that, which is why I encourage my clients to be aware of the destination and the resort they are staying at during their vacation, do your research!  I have mixed emotions about this subject, because I hear many say we should just stay in the states, because we know that is safe, actually I can't say that either! 

My advice to all of my clients is you must make an informed decision about your next vacation.  Do not trust anyone to decide for you so you must research and make an informed decision.  When I decided to go to Rivera Maya in Dec 2017, I had someone say "so you think Mexico is safe"  well I go a lot of places in the states and out of the country but that does not mean I think they are safe.  It means I have decided on my own that this is the trip I want to take.

I just renamed this blog because I realized I really just talked about Mexico.  Opps sorry about that but before we consider all of the destinations I wanted to discuss this, so next time I can discuss my best vacation recommendations!

Don't forget to follow me on FaceBook or visit my website www.vacationsrspecialtravel.com.  And of course I appreciate any comments of about travel.  If you need any help with your next vacation give me a call, 763-878-2763 or email cindy@vacationsrspecialtravel.com.

Have a great day!

A lesson learned!

We are never too old to learn lessons, so why can't I learn not to wait until the last minute to book my own trip!
It seems I am a always put it off because I want to make sure I am selecting the best vacation for my money!  So we finally decided even though a trip to Europe would be great it just is not the time for us.  I have been to Europe a few times and love it, so when going again I want to be sure I have enough time, maybe two weeks there is so much to explore.  So at this time a two week vacation is not in the cards so we are going back on the Harmony of the Seas! 
It was a hard decision but I knew there were a few things on my wish list and only the Harmony, Allure or Oasis were in the running for my next cruise. 
So next we looked at the ports and of course the price.  I did feel strange doing the same ship but that is what we decided (for now)!  So I was all set to put this on hold with only hours left on the BOGO sale and guess what my booking site went down!  But good news they extended the sale.  I know it is early to think about your 2019 vacation but not when you are booking a cruise.  Those cabins book up early and especially when they are on sale!
So I am not waiting until the last minute again, so as soon as I can I am reserving my cabin for my 2019 cruise.
If you are new to cruising a option would be combining a 3 or 4 day cruises with a few days on land, this way you can experience the cruise for a few days.

So a quick recap, I decided to book another cruise with RCCL because I value the service they offer to myself and my clients.  I love the great meals, fun entertainment, and first class service. 

If you would like a quote or if you have questions please give me a call (763-878-2763) or email me at (cindy@vacationsrspecialtravel.com). 

Have a great day, Cindy