Jet Set with Rosette-Second Star Wishes Travel Specialist

12/05/2024

Happy Birthday Walt! Thank you for countless family memories!

11/20/2024

Travel like a Travel Agent!

Where do I stay? When I present resort and hotel options to my clients, sometimes they ask me...well where do you stay or what kind of hotel do you like? I never sell out of my own pocket, but if you really want to know, my favorite types of accommodations are what I like to call Entry Level Luxury. I'm a bougie on a budget girlie but as I get older and travel more with my husband and kids who are also getting older, I have truly learned to value convenience and comfort. So how do I pick where to stay? I look for the hotel/resort that packs the best value with the most convenience and amenities. 

Let's take Universal Orlando as an example, I would never visit Universal without express pass, and I know that the Signature hotels include unlimited express passes so I'm definitely staying at one of them. Royal Pacific is typically the lowest price out of the 3 of them so that's the one I'm usually going to pick. 

If we look at Walt Disney World, I love the extended evening hours, having dining and a great pool and we need proximity to the parks. There's a ton of great Deluxe hotels at Disney so it will come down to season, if I'm going during the Holiday season it's always going to be Wilderness lodge. If I'm traveling during summer or Epcot's festivals I'm most likely picking Boardwalk Inn. Those 2 hotels pack a lot of value in a price point that is at the bottom of the scale when it comes to Disney Deluxe Hotels. 

Where you stay on vacation can make or break your trip! Your vacation accommodations should never be less comfortable than your own home. You are on vacation, you should be at least as comfortable if not more where you stay. Also, with vacation time never being long enough, I just don't have the luxury of wasting time with hotels that are not conveniently located near what I want to see and do. 

So where do I stay? At a hotel that packs all my must haves in the best value possible! 

                            

11/19/2024

Travel like a travel agent! 

I truly believe that you should never trust a skinny chef, so when it comes to being a travel agent I think the best way to help my clients is to travel as much as possible. It's no lie, I am my own best client. I've learned so much about traveling and made all the mistakes so you don't have to.

So how do I travel these days? 

I like to pack in a lot of travel value in my limited PTO time, also travel cost (flights, driving, trains, etic.) is a big part of your total trip cost. So my favorite way to travel? Multi-destination trips! This is especially true when I visit my favorite theme parks. Picking between Disney and Universal feels like having to pick your favorite child...I just can't, so I don't. When I travel to central Florida or Southern California, I always make it a point to visit both!

My family is headed to Central Florida next week so of course we are doing a split stay at Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World. Follow along this week while I take you through how I plan a trip as a travel agent...for a travel agent! 

     

11/18/2024

Happy Birthday to this legend! 

I've visited you in all 6 of your domestic parks and your 2 parks in France. I've sailed with you in the Caribbean and Europe. I've even flown halfway across the globe to hang 10 with you Hawaii. You never ever fail to put a smile on my face! From watching you play with kiddos as they've grown up, to always giving me the biggest hug whenever I see you, you've brought so much magic to my life. I can't wait to see you next week buddy! 

11/14/2024

Hawaii is not just one destination! Each island has its own personality and feels like a destination in its own right. So let's explore the islands of Hawaii and figure out which one is right for you! 

Let's head to the Island of Hawaii next!

Welcome to Big Isle, which has earned its nickname by being larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined and then some. The Big Island is for coffee connoisseurs, astronomers, whale watchers, volcanologists, manta ray snorkelers, and travelers who crave a good beach, whether that be a white sand beach, black sand beach or green sand beach.

So where are we staying and what are we doing on the Island of Hawaii?

   

11/13/2024

Hawaii is not just one destination! Each island has its own personality and feels like a destination in its own right. So let's explore the islands of Hawaii and figure out which one is right for you! 

Next up is my personal favorite,  Maui!

Welcome to the Valley Isle, Snorkeling, volcano sunrises, and scenic drives await you on Maui!
Whether you’re looking for a luxurious honeymoon at the only adults-only resort in Hawaii, whale watching, hiking a volcano, or snorkeling in a crater, Maui has something for everyone.

So where are we staying and what are we doing on Maui?

  

11/12/2024

Hawaii is not just one destination! Each island has its own personality and feels like a destination in its own right. So lets explore the islands of Hawaii and figure out which one is right for you! 

Starting with O'ahu!

Nicknamed the Gathering Place, Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, and North Shore surfing make Oahu the most visited Hawaiian island. This island is ideal for the first-time visitor to Hawai‘i. There are many iconic activities and attractions closely associated with the Hawaiian Islands within a fairly compact area: Pearl Harbor, the famous beach at Waikīkī, the stunning profile of Lē'ahi (Diamond Head), pineapple fields, surfing beaches, multicultural cuisine and festivals, just to name a few.

So where are we staying and what are we doing on O'ahu?

11/11/2024

A love letter to my origin story! This job, being a travel specialist, can sometimes be a labor of love. Especially in the beginning, you invest hours of time learning, building up your tools, marketing, hoping and dreaming someone trusts you with their vacation dollars and it's so so so hard. In the beginning it's easy to get discouraged, so easy to give up. Now add the fact that I became a travel specialist in the midst of a global pandemic and some days it felt damn near impossible. There are so many times I am in awe that I somehow made it through, not only survived those first couple of years but came out as a pretty good travel specialist if I say so myself. There are a lot of factors that contributed to my success, but no factor that was bigger or more influential than these 2 beauties right here! We had nothing in common, we weren't the same age, we didn't want to specialize in the same type of travel, we had different hobbies and different interests but we shared 1 common goal-to succeed in this new role. One string united us, to be the best travel specialists we could be. From brainstorming sessions, to sharing tools, to egging each other or picking each other up after a rough week, we have been there for each other every step of the way. I wouldn't be the travel specialist I am without them, honestly I might not be here at all without them. It makes it so easy that the 2 of them share a birthday, because now I know what day deserves all my gratitude. 11/11 brought the 2 of them into the world so thats the day I count my blessings. I celebrate them, I celebrate our friendship, and I celebrate our collective success. 

Happy birthday  and  grateful for you today and everyday! I hope you ladies have the best day ever!

11/05/2024

I don't know about you guys but I really need an escape this week!

Disney feels like the perfect escape so follow along while we explore some magical destinations this week!

Did you know Disney has a resort in Hawaii?
What about a resort in Hilton Head?
Did you know Disney has a resort that focuses on Turtle Conservation?

Disney spreads so much magic outside of their theme parks, follow along to learn about some of the most underrated gems in the Disney portfolio!

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11/01/2024

Happy November!

So what am I working on to book this month?

Guys trip to Aruba! Brothers are taking a birthday trip to celebrate a milestone birthday for their big brother.

Multi-Gen Royal Caribbean Cruise! Working on finding the best ship and itinerary for Grandma, Grandpa, a 4&6 year old all while making sure my client (mom) doesn't have to stress about a thing

Early year travel to Walt Disney World! Mardi Gras week, President's Day, Festival of the Arts, Gymnastics competitions, lots of fun reasons to visit Walt Disney World in Jan and Feb!

Epic Universe at Universal Orlando! So excited to get a few clients booked to experience Epic Universe when it opens next year!

Spring Break! I've finally convinced a couple of clients to get a head start on booking their spring break trips-I've got theme parks, Beaches at Turks and Caicos, and All Inclusives that I'm working on!

What can I work on for you! 

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween!

I don't personally need a reason to go on a trip, but if you do and that reason is you want to celebrate Halloween somewhere new, take a look at these top destinations for Halloween fun!

Top 5 Destinations to Celebrate Halloween! 

🎢Orlando Theme Parks! Families and Disney adults can head to Walt Disney World for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Lovers of all things horror can head to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. SeaWorld also gets in on the fun with Howl-O-Scream which has family fun activities during the day and spooky fun at night!

💀Mexico! Not exactly Halloween but visit the Mexican Caribbean or head to Mexico City to celebrate Dias de los Muertos! 

🧛New Orleans! Going to the iconic Endless Night Vampire ball or enjoying some ghost tours around the city sounds like a great way to celebrate Halloween!

🧙Ireland! The birthplace for Samhain, which is the origin of Halloween, has so much to experience during this holiday! 

👻The UK! Between London being one of the most haunted cities in the world to exploring the gothic Scottish city of Edinburgh, city hopping in the UK would be such a fun way to celebrate Halloween.

These destinations, especially during Halloween, can be super popular so let's plan ahead for next year! Reach out and I can help you find the perfect trip for some spooky...or not so spooky fun!

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10/29/2024

For my US jetsetters, one week from today is Election Day. I'm not going to bring politics into this but I am going to remind everyone that if there is one trip you should be planning RIGHT NOW its a trip to the polls! 

I have a ton of clients traveling during election week, so for my traveling jetsetters, do you have a plan to vote? Early voting is an option, so is requesting an absentee ballot! 

Every aspect of our lives is directly and indirectly impacted by our leadership, including travel! So no matter what your values are, go find a candidate that will best represent those values and exercise your right to vote! 

10/25/2024

If you thought Epic Universe all that theme park has to offer was EPIC enough you would be wrong! Along with a brand new theme park Universal Orlando is also getting 3 new resorts!

2 of these resorts are going to be Prime Value Resorts:
Stella Nova
Terra Luna
While I'm excited about more hotel capacity at Universal Orlando and these seem like amazing options and INCREDIBLE price points. The resort I'm most excited about is Helios Grand!

Helios Grand is an anomaly because it's a signature category resort, which is the top category at Universal Orlando and has all the amenities and theming to fit that category but the pricing is nowhere near signature pricing. Starting at under $300/night you can stay is this luxury resort that....wait for it....IS THE ENTRANCE OF EPIC UNIVERSE. I'm not saying it's within walking distance of the park, it is literally the park's entrance! When I found out that not only is this resort going to have the most incredible theming, amenities, dining and lounges but also a dedicated entrance right into EPIC universe..at an insane price point...you guys I was FLABBERGASTED! 

So I did the only logical thing I could think of---BOOK IT IMMEDIATELY for my family! 

Here is where the magic comes with working with a travel agent! My family loves Universal Orlando (all 3, soon to be 4 parks) so when we visit we want to experience it all and have the best possible experience! Helios Grand and Epic have not had announcements about how they are going to do express passes and I suspect they might hold off during opening to add them. For my family, express pass is ESSENTIAL to experience the other 2 parks and I know I can get unlimited express passes at some of the resorts at Universal Orlando. So what I did is booked a split stay-Half my stay we are staying at a resort that has express and enjoying Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios and half our stay we are reveling in the majesty that is Helios Grand in a Park View room and living our best Epic lives. This isn't very straightforward, so if you want someone to curate the perfect experience based on your family's vacation goals, I'm your gal! Reach out today! [email protected]

10/24/2024

Let's talk about EPIC Universe so you guys can fully appreciate why I'm so excited! 

What is EPIC Universe? 

It's a brand new Universal Orlando Theme Park and will be the LARGEST Universal Orlando theme park! Epic Universe will utilize a wheel-and-spoke design with the main hub being Celestial Park that has portals to 4 completely immersive lands-The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe

Scroll to learn a little bit about these 5 immersive lands!

Epic Universe will add 11 new attractions ranging from thrilling coasters, simulators, and family friendly options. Some of these attractions will use revolutionary technology we haven't seen yet! This park will also add 7 new dining experiences, and tons of new shopping. My favorite thing I am most looking forward to though is how truly immersive each land will be. With the portal design it will truly feel like you are being transported to different lands. Everything from meeting Mario in Super Nintendo World to casting spells at Fantastical creatures in Wizarding Paris will make you truly feel immersed in these lands. 

Now let's talk about why I'm so incredibly excited about EPIC Universe! Epic Universe is going to change the game for Universal Orlando and people will finally see Universal Orlando for what it is...a Vacation Destination in its own right. Now those of us in the know have thought this about Universal Orlando for years, but Epic will seal the deal. Universal Orlando is no longer a theme park or a day trip or an add on to a Florida vacation. IT IS THE VACATION. I for one cannot wait for the whole world to see Universal Orlando as I've always seen it! I truly love Universal Orlando and I would be honored to help introduce you to this incredible destination and help you discover it and everything there is love about it!

10/22/2024

What an EPIC way to start my morning!!!!
Today is the day friends! Today we can book tickets and packages for Epic Universe-- the brand new park at Universal Orlando and stays at Helios Grand Hotel-- the brand new hotel that IS the entrance for Epic Universe! 

I've been quoting and putting packages on hold all morning and I am legit SHOOK! These prices do not make any sense at all! 

For mid/late June so PEAK travel season!

🌟Helios Grand Hotel PARK VIEW rooms are pricing less than $500/night. 

🌟A 3 park, 3 day park to park ticket PLUS 1 day at Epic (so that's essentially a 4 day park to park ticket and you can go to the 3 parks-Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay as many times as you want for 3 days and then Epic for 1 day) is pricing less than $650/ adult ticket.

Here is a sample quote---For my family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids-ages 11 and 9)

🌟Checking in on 6/23/24 Checking out on 6/27/24
🌟4 night stay in a Park View Room at Helios Grand Hotel
🌟3-Park 3-Day Park-to-Park PLUS 1-Day Universal Epic Universe Ticket

💲Package is UNDER $4,500! 

Y'all I've never hit book so fast on anything in my life! 

Deposit is $50/person with the remaining balance due 45 days before travel and you can cancel or modify with no penalty until that pay in full date. 

I can also put packages on a complimentary 3 day hold for you! (this is a perk of working with a travel agent!)

I've been getting quotes and packages on hold for my clients all morning! Are you on my list? If not, WHY NOT!

I would love to help you plan the most EPIC Universal Orlando vacation so please reach out today.

[email protected]
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10/17/2024

OMG!!! THE MOST EPIC NEWS EVER, LITERALLY!
This is not a drill you guys!!! Clearing my entire day to monitor news, finish my training and reach out to every possible client about this news. Get ready to be sick of me because I've been counting down the seconds to this!

✨Something EPIC is coming on May 22, 2025 ✨

|| Universal Orlando's Epic Universe ||

Step through amazing portals transporting you to the thrills:

☎️ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Ministry of Magic™
🍄 SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™
🐉 How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
🧌 Dark Universe
🌌 Celestial Park

Five immersive worlds. One amazing theme park.

Bookings open on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 for packages. If you are on our mailing list be watching your inbox today for a full breakdown + EPIC offer just for you!

Itching for more details now? Reach out to your SSW Travel Specialist or connect with us via the 🔗 below.

www.secondstarwishes.com/connect

Second Star Wishes is a Universal U-Preferred Agency. Meaning you are getting expertly trained and carefully curated service when working with our award winning team.

10/16/2024

Very Merrytime Cruises!

Did you know Disney Cruise Line has special cruises for the holiday season? 

POV your family wakes up Christmas morning in your stateroom on one of Disney's magical ships and instead of a hectic morning unwrapping a bunch of stuff you never needed or actually want, you get to spend the whole day together on the most magical adventure. 

So what should you expect on one of these Merrytime Cruises?

🎄Tree Lighting Ceremony with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse!

🥳Mickey and Minnie’s Holiday Party! 

🌟Disney Characters in Their Holiday Finest! 

🎅Meet Santa at Sea! 

🎨Themed Activities and Crafts for Kids! 

🎁Holiday Merchandise! 

❄️Holiday Fun in the Sun at Disney's Castaway Cay! 

Maybe you don't want to spend Christmas day on a cruise, that's ok! The Merrytime season on Disney Cruise Line starts on 11/8! So you can enjoy the holiday spirit anytime for almost 2 months leading up to Christmas.

Finally I know what you are thinking, Rosette, Disney Cruise Line is already kinda pricey, add the holidays to it and it's going to be impossible for my family to afford it. NOPE! There are Merrytime cruises starting at just over $3,000 for a family of 4! Reach out today and give me a chance to convince you that a Merrytime cruise is not only not out of reach for your family but it's the perfect trip.

10/15/2024

It's not too late to book your Holiday vacation for this year! 

I may be partial but I think traveling to a Disney destination is my favorite way to celebrate the holidays! This year give the gift of quality time at your favorite Disney destination to your loved ones

Follow along this week while I highlight some of my favorite ways to celebrate the holidays with Mickey! From Walt Disney World to Merrytime cruises on Disney Cruise Line to having a Mele Kalikimaka at Aulani there are so many options!