Rachel's Roamings

06/18/2024

WILDING for Jamaica right now!
Two weeks ago I was IN Jamaica touring resorts.
Last week I went with some of my Island Travel Group teammates to meet with the Jamaica Tourist Board & suppliers.
This week there is an AMAZING 65% off deal for a HUGE list of Jamaica resorts!
Jamaican me crazy - it's a sign! Let's GOOOOO!

05/15/2024

My teammate Hannah has an amazing cruise scheduled for September! Reach out to her for more details! *cries in icantgo*

05/09/2024

Client's view in Bora Bora! I gasped when she sent me this 😍

05/08/2024

Ready for sunsets on the beach? If you haven't started looking for summer vacation spots yet it's beyond time!
One of the best domestic sunset views is the Florida Gulf coast, specifically St Pete Beach!

05/01/2024

Happy Travel Advisor Day! I love what I do - thank you for trusting me with your adventures!

04/12/2024

When in need of a midday snack or something to eat try before your entree at dinner, ask for Chicharrón! This marriage of chicharrones and frijoles (pork, spiced beans and rice) was created in San José in the 90s, is served with pico de gallo and tortilla chips and is definitely something worth adding to your to do list.

If you try it on your next vaca, tag us and tell us what you thought!

03/11/2024

Rachel's Monday Travel Tip:

If you can travel during the July 4th week, flights are priced significantly lower!

02/29/2024

HUGE deals at Iberostar resorts if you deposit/book in March!

Travel dates through October 2025. Whether you want to do a last-minute spring break getaway, or this winter's holiday trip, or even get next year's vacay set & planned, no problem!

Up to 45% discount, Up to $800 in Resort Credits, Up to $400 in Instant Savings!

Pictured is my FAVORITE Iberostar Resort in Jamaica, Rose Hall, where I'll be in June on a familiarization trip. So excited!

02/28/2024

Can't talk right now, I'm booking flights 🤐

02/27/2024

Let me send you somewhere amazing! 🥺🤗

02/19/2024

Whoever wrote this is my soul sibling.

02/19/2024

What's the best time of year for you, personally, to travel?
Month &/or Season
✈️

02/14/2024

😘

02/07/2024

If you could have a villa anywhere in the world for a 4-night getaway with your girlfriends, where would you choose?

02/04/2024

You want this view when you're at 😍

I loved this resort! The food, the pools, the rooms, the view, the vibe!

A must-do for the West Coast ⛱️

01/31/2024

I've had some clients reach out to me about the State Department's travel advisories & my agent groups are buzzing with discussion about them.

Am I worried? No.
Is travel generally safe? Also no.

*gasp* I know, I know, but hear me out.

First, any time you leave your house, you're in danger of a car accident, a shooting or something crazy. But in reality, you're at more risk of having an accident to/from your own airport than during your actual trip.

As for these advisories, most haven't actually changed, or if they have, they fluctuate by one point up & down regularly. Every time they're re-released it hits the news, goes wild & then we see mass cancellations of trips by people who decide they don't feel safe going to that destination.

Is that okay? Sure! I want my clients to feel secure in where they're going. Is it for the right reasons? Well... that's subjective. The understanding of what's actually causing this buzz is important.

To shed some light: the US has cities that have higher ratings than most of the islands in the Caribbean. Internationally, the US is an elevated travel risk with many countries.

We all know places we wouldn't go in our own towns, let alone the entire country. See where I'm going with this? If you wouldn't walk around somewhere in the US that you're not comfortable, you probably wouldn't do that in another country, right? Right.

Many of the incidents of violence referenced in destinations are just like at home: local-on-local. As for accidents & death counts, a lot of times it's a tourist who rented a car, didn't know how to drive on the opposite side of the road & caused their own accident.

Hopefully this helps anyone reading feel a little more at peace

01/31/2024

HUGE Breaking Universal Orlando Resort Epic Universe news 🎢
Five immersive worlds, one theme park 🌍
✨ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
🐉 How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
⚰️ Dark Universe
💫 Celestial Park
⭐ Super Nintendo World
I'm SO EXCITED! Who's ready for 2025?

01/30/2024

Today's the day! Or, at least, the day to be reminded to take your vacation!

01/26/2024

Local people - get this scheduled!

Sign up now for the next TSA PreCheck® Enrollment Event at CMI Willard Airport - March 4th through 8th!
If you're not already part of the TSA PreCheck program, you can now pre-enroll and schedule your in-person appointment at CMI - hosted by AAA and IDEMIA.
Appointments are available on a first come first served basis, so we recommend applying as soon as possible. Learn more or register now at: https://tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov/ (Search CMI - Savoy, IL)

12/31/2023

I was all over the US this year plus some Caribbean! New places on the list for 2024 already, where were you this year?

#2023

12/17/2023

Back last spring I was quoting prices for January/February in the $1500/person range for five-star resorts in the Caribbean & Mexico. Great prices!

Those same exact trips are DOUBLE in price now. Not so fun for the last-minute lookers, you could have taken TWO trips for the price of one.

Fun fact - all you need is a deposit to hold your trip, usually anywhere from $200-500 per person & then the balance is due 45-60 days before you travel. It's that simple to book with me! AND I handle all of details for you.

Booking with an advisor gets you a lot of perks - you have the fun & I do the work! And believe me when I tell you that a deal is a deal, because it never lasts!

12/16/2023

What's your bucket list destination?

And what is your goal year to go there?

12/07/2023

I work with a great team - let us find your next vacation for you!
We do the work & you do the playing 💃

😎Trying to find the perfect resort for your next family vacation?✈️Look no further!🤩

Turn Vacation Dreams Into Lifelong Memories!!! ♥️💚🤍

It all begins when you book with Island Travel Group, we keep our standards as high as our passion for travel, working together with you to ensure that our clients’ vacation exceeds every expectation! ☀️🏖️💦

11/20/2023

Attention Adults-Only Travelers:

As a Jamaica Travel Specialist, I went to Jamaica THREE times this year! I am completely taken with the food, the atmosphere, Negril's beach... everything! So here are some examples of amazing deals I'm finding! These are all of the HIGHEST LEVEL ROOM CATEGORIES (Diamond, Club, Butler, etc.) at some of my favorite adult-only, all-inclusive resorts.

The best part about these is, if you don't need so much fuss & space, the prices only go down but you get the same level of service. Also, if you have airline miles &/or want to book your own flights, the room-only price is even lower!

Five nights for two, prices include flights, range of dates in 2024, prices will vary depending on dates & outgoing airport:

- Grand Butler Suite at Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Adults Only, $4000
- Excellence Club Rooftop Terrace Suite With Plunge Pool Ocean Front + 20% OFF SPA at Excellence Oyster Bay, $4100
- Prime Minister's Suite at Couples Resorts San Souci, $5100
- Ocean Front Butler Penthouse Suite at Iberostar Grand Rose Hall, $6000
- South Seas Swim-Up Rondoval Butler Suite with Private Pool Sanctuary at Sandals South Coast, $7900

$200/person deposit required & full payment due 45 days before departure. Quotes are ballparks & do not include travel insurance.

11/19/2023

If Ireland is on your Bucket List, now's the time to deposit!

Celtic Tours Vacations has Black Friday savings on some of their most popular Irish Tours!

Celtic Dream: $600 Off Per Couple
Celtic Delight: $400 Off Per Couple
Celtic Sojourn: $400 Off Per Couple
Irish Rose: $500 Off Per Couple

For new bookings on deposit during this booking window. Cannot be combined with other sales or discounts. Message me for details!

11/19/2023

I won't forget the US for getaways, so if Domestic is on your radar, one of my favorite Florida resorts is having a great sale too!

Tradewinds Island Resorts is the biggest on St. Pete Beach & you can plan to save BIG on your next vacation! Rates as low as $175 for stays from December 2023 to August 2024! Now's the time to make that reservation so you can ring in the new year with a tropical state of mind, or be the first to secure your spot in the sand for a beachin' Spring Break. With savings of up to 30% off, you won't want to miss out!

11/18/2023

Next on the list, Karisma Resorts is offering up to 65% off with $1000 in resort credits in their Mexico, Dominican Republic & Jamaica locations!

Their Black Friday Sale is back featuring their biggest deals of the year! For a limited time, you can save up to 65% when booking your favorite Karisma Hotels & Resorts. You can also enjoy up to $1,000 in resort credits to spend on-site during your getaway on amenities like spa services, beachside candlelight dinners, room upgrades and much more!

Three different vibes at their resorts:
- Endless island vibes at Margaritaville Island Reserve Resorts
- Stress-free relaxation at Azul Beach Resorts
- Epic family fun at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts

This is the perfect opportunity to let me plan the getaway you’ve been dreaming of.

EXTRA: I was JUST at Azul in Negril, Jamaica, & EVERY building has a wrap pool with a swim-up bar PLUS the beach is the BEST with great beach butler service! So because I love it so much, I'm offering a $100 Visa Gift Card OR a $100 credit toward your trip to anyone who books a four-night stay or longer at Azul Negril! Message me for details!

11/17/2023

And another one - Europe on your wish list?

CIE Tours is having some great deals on tours across Ireland, Scotland, Britain, Italy & Iceland! Let me send you there!