Are You a Port Collector?

Did you know there’s a travel term for customers whose main purpose is to visit as many ports of call as possible? That’s right, they’re called Port Collectors.

CruisesJoy CrutchfieldSeptember 9, 2022Hawaii, Australia, Alaska, Caribbean

Life Onboard the American Empress

I don’t know about you, but I seldom experience a product that exceeds my expectations. I tend to enter any travel experience with a pretty realist idea of what is going to be delivered, and most of the time it is.

I thought I had reasonable expectations concerning my American Empress adventure on the Snake and Columbia rivers. I have to tell you, my expectations were. . .

CruisesJoy CrutchfieldSeptember 2, 2022USA

The Marvels of Mexico

It happens weekly around here. Someone says, “I want to go somewhere tropical but NOT Mexico”.

I don’t get it. I’ve personally been going to Mexico for almost 40 years. Since 2005 when I opened the doors here, not a single unsavory incident has happened to any of our customers. Not one.

TropicalJoy CrutchfieldAugust 26, 2022Mexico, Cancun, Cabo, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Maya

The Gift of Travel

Do you remember who got you what on your last birthday? Last Christmas?

Do you remember what you did on your last anniversary?

Doug and I have been celebrating life-events with trips for almost 20 years now. In fact, we are coming up on our 20th wedding anniversary and celebrating with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to . . .

General TravelJoy CrutchfieldAugust 19, 2022anniversary, celebration, birthday

Let’s Talk Ocean Cruising

So when my friend Karen Ross, our NCL rep, asked me to go on the inaugural cruise of the NCL Prima it was a firm “not on your life, but thanks for the invitation”.

But then. . .

CruisesJoy CrutchfieldAugust 12, 2022Ocean Cruises

Special Event Trips

We are having so much fun here this week, watching my agent Erica Shaw enjoy her first trip to Italy with her daughter, who is entering into her Sr. year in High School.

General TravelJoy CrutchfieldAugust 5, 2022special events, Italy

Where can I go and for how much?

Let’s talk about where you can go and for how much. First-please remember airfare is up almost 45%. So whatever amount you’ve paid in the past isn’t going to cut the mustard for the foreseeable future.

We also need to remember that USA travel is more expensive than almost anywhere else on earth. If you have a valid passport you’ll be able to take advantage of much more enticing pricing in exotic locations. Those are the offers I’ll be mentioning in this article.

$1000 per person. Where can you go for that amount?

General TravelJoy CrutchfieldJuly 29, 2022cost

Recap of Birthday Bash 2022

I have always loved celebrating my birthday. Another birthday is better than the alternative, right?

Since opening the agency back in 2005 I have made it a priority to celebrate my birthdays at resorts. What could be easier? All of the fun, none of the work.

You’ve heard of destination weddings I’m sure. Destination birthday parties are so much easier. After all, you already know the date. All you must do is pick the location.

General TravelJoy CrutchfieldJuly 22, 2022birthday, celebration

Sargassum. Could it ruin your trip?

Sargassum Seaweed has had an enormous impact on almost every square inch of the Caribbean for almost a decade now.

It began as an infrequent nuisance, and has evolved into a stinking, rotting, horrible mess.

How do you avoid it?

TropicalJoy CrutchfieldJuly 15, 2022Caribbean

Do You Love Waiting in Line on Vacation?

Back in the day, most all-inclusive resorts managed their a la carte dining experiences by requiring reservations. Have you experienced that?

They offered a nightly buffet, and an additional 4-5 a la carte restaurants.

You checked into the resort, and if you stayed 5 nights you had 3 nights of included a la carte dinner options. The other two nights you ate at the buffet.

Well, in order to make those three nights of dinner reservations you had to wait in line. Sometimes for hours.

General TravelJoy CrutchfieldJuly 8, 2022Resorts

Anticipating Flight Complications

If you have been watching the news over the past few weeks, you’ve seen what a nightmare air travel has become.

Tens of thousands of customers have been stranded and/or delayed at major hubs around the world. Last weekend over five thousand passengers were stranded in London Heathrow due to flight cancelations. Did you see that mountain of luggage?

General TravelJoy CrutchfieldJuly 1, 2022Air Travel