Nicole Baniak - JCo Travel

01/22/2025

A little update from my last few trips and details for my new group trip in June!

Here is your friendly reminder if you have not yet made your vacay 2025 plans yet, please don’t wait too long, travel is on an upswing, we’re seeing record numbers each year since getting back to the new normal after covid. I think we all took a look at our lives and realized what’s important ...

01/16/2025

Who's coming to Peru with me in June? I'm ready to take bookings!

Please join me for another small group bucket list trip!  Space is limited as we will have a max of 20 people on this trip. This time we'll be traveling with one of my favorite companies in the business, G Adventures!  Who wants to come see one of the seven wonders of the world with me?

01/16/2025

This week’s room specials with Sandals & Beaches!!!

St.Lucia 🏝️ Nassau 🏝️ Jamaica 🏝️ Curaçao 🏝️ Turks & Caicos

These rooms are discounted today until next Tuesday while availability lasts. Dates shown are just to give you an idea, if those dates don’t work for you, let me know which ones do and I can let you know if your room is available!!

01/14/2025

Tell me you love your agency, without telling me you love your agency 🩵💛🩵🤣. This is not a set up, this blanket it always in my office cause I’m always freezing, I drink out of this mug every day and I wear something JCo almost everyday. I’m just proud, I love our tribe and our colors are cute 🤣

Today is my 6 year JCo-versary! (8.5 years in the biz). Being part of this agency has been life changing both professionally and personally. I’m so grateful to be part of this amazing group of women who make JCo the powerhouse it is.

01/13/2025

🪄 The countdown is on to 5.22.25! Universal’s Epic Universe opening date! I remember when we were first told about the new park and saw the renderings, it felt like it was going to be forever until 2025, but here we are! 🎮

🐉 A new park, new resorts, some new caveats for visiting in 2025. I can help you work through all of it a figure out what works best for your trip! 👹

I don’t want to sound like a broken record but yall know how much my family loves Universal! 🌍

Encounter fantastic beasts as you explore wizarding Paris in the 1920s, then take the Métro-Floo to the British Ministry in the 1990s for new thrills with Ha...

01/11/2025

JCo Travel has once again been given the “Earmark” recognition with Disney Destinations.

Planning magical Walt Disney World trips is what got me into this business over 8 years ago. Since then I have expanded my expertise to many different destinations and modes of travel but Disney will always be magical to me!

01/11/2025

JCo Travel LLC lined up the goals last January, and CRUSHED them! This recognition from one of our most treasured partnerships means the world to us. We're so grateful for the people at ALGV that make it the incredible company it is. Thank you! 💖

ALG Vacations® (ALGV), the nation’s leading leisure tour operator and a member of the Hyatt family of companies, has honored JCo Travel LLC as a 2025 ALGV Elite Diamond travel agency! 💎

ALGV Elite tiers, based on 2024 sales production, include Sapphire/Sapphire Select, Emerald, Diamond/Diamond Preferred, and Crown Jewel.

“ALG Vacations is thrilled to recognize the nation’s top-producing travel agencies again this year with the ALGV Elite program,” said ALGV’s Jim Tedesco, Vice President, Sales. “Elite agencies are highly recommended by ALG Vacations because their advisors know our brands, product offerings, and policies well, and have reached a level of sales that can only be achieved through superior service and high customer satisfaction.”

ALG Vacations’ highly respected brands include Apple Vacations ®, Funjet Vacations ®, Travel Impressions ®, Southwest Vacations ®, Blue Sky Tours ®, and United Vacations ®.

ALGV Elite agencies are rewarded with a variety of benefits and perks from ALG Vacations, including in-resort training, exclusive promotional codes to pass on to their customers, and access to a VIP support desk, enabling them to deliver premium service to the end consumer.

Thank you to all of our clients who trust Team JCo year after year to help them "collect moments", and thank you to Janelle Grissinger for making this team what it is today!! 🩵💛🩵

01/10/2025

Wave Season 🌊 is officially upon us!

This week was so busy and on this Friday night I’ll be sitting at my desk trying to get quotes out. How fun am I?! 💃🏻

Some of the quotes I’m working on this week:
🇯🇲 Jamaica all-inclusive (friend group)
🇩🇴 Punta Cana all-inclusive (friend group & 40th bday family group & summer family trip)
🏝️ Sandals (delayed honeymoon)
🌵 Cabo all-inclusive (family spring break)
🇦🇼 Aruba all-inclusive (adult winter getaway)
🇲🇽 Mexico all-inclusive (Girls Trip - Spring Break)
⛴️ Danube Rivercruise (50th wedding anniversary)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica all-inclusive (family group)
🚢 Cruise from NJ (Summer family group)
🌺 Oahu, Hawaii (Summer - family)
🇮🇪 Ireland/Scotland (Adult Bucket List Trip)
🐭 Disneyland (Fall)
☀️ Caribbean all-inclusive (family spring break)
🇧🇸 Bahamas (family spring break)
🇵🇪 Peru (Hosted Group Trip)

A lot going on! Wave season is equally exhausting, stressful and exciting!

Back to work!

01/09/2025

Something I learned in 2024... I LOVE traveling by rail! Our glass dome train from Denali to Anchorage this summer was one of my very favorite travel experiences. We have an amazing partner that provides lux rail travel in the Canadian Rockies and US Rockies to Red Rocks. The currently have an awesome promo for 2025 travel.

Let me know if traveling by rail is on your list for 2025!

01/08/2025

☀️🏝️ Some of this week’s 777 deals with Sandals & Beaches!!! If these dates don’t work for you, let me know which do and I’ll see if there is availability!!

01/07/2025

‼️Travel Changes for 2025 you need to know:

- UK ETA - starting 1/8/25, all Americans & Canadians visiting The United Kingdom will need to apply and get approved for the new ElectronicTravel Authorization (even for a connecting flight!), there will be a small application fee

- Real ID - (Looks like this is finally happening!) starting 5/7/25 all American travelers will need Real IDs or Passports for air travel within the US.

- Europe’s New Entry/Exit System - coming in 2025 (specific date TBD), all non Europeans that do not have a short stay visa or are staying longer than 90 days (within 180 day period). This will lead to the ETIAS which will require all travelers from the US, Canada & UK to apply for and pay for a visa before entering any EU member nation. Its planned that the ETIAS Visas will go into effect 6 months after EES begins.

01/06/2025

🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪
Here we go! New Hosted Group Trip, this time we’re heading to Peru (train to Machu Picchu included, of course!).

This is going to be to be a quick turn around, this trip will take place this June 8-15. There is a limited amount of space since we will be a private small group.

Cost (not including air) will be $2749 per person (double occupancy). Deposit will be a non refundable $350 with balance due 60 days before travel.

Local peeps we have nonstop flights from EWR to Lima!!

Please let me know if you are interested. Full details of itinerary & inclusions coming in the next few days!

01/06/2025

🚢🛥️⛴️ Ship Debuts for 2025🛳️⚓️🌊
We’ve got a lot to look forward to in 2025!

Norwegian Aqua - April 2025
Highlights: Aqua Slidecoaster (a first-of-its-kind hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide), First NCL Thai Specialty restaurant
Maiden Season: Caribbean, Bermuda

American Patriot & American Pioneer - June & Nov 2025
Highlights: Firs 2 ships in ACL’s new Patriot Class, 100% private balconies, guest capacity: 125!!
Maiden Season: New England (Patriot) & Florida Keys (Pioneer)

Oceania Allura - July 2025
Highlights: Onboard Creperie, Library with floor to ceiling windows & new signature restaurants
Maiden Season: Med, North American East Coast. Caribbean

Viking Vesta - July 2025
Highlights: Biggest of Viking ships
Maiden Season: Med, Northern Europe

Luminara (Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection) - July 22025
Highlights: 3rd yacht in the collections, all suites with private ocean view terrace, capacity 452, will have itins in Asia (first for RCYC)
Maiden Season: Med & Caribbean

Royal’s Star of the Seas - August 2025
Highlights: 8 neighborhoods, Back to the Future mainstage show
Maiden Season: Caribbean

Virgin’s Brilliant Lady - Sept 2025
Highlights: Adapted frame for ability to sail Panama Canal, first ofVirgin’s ships to sail from NYC & LA as well as an Alaska season in 2026 from Seattle
Maiden Season: Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska

Star Princess - Sept 2025
Highlights: New Skyjack Sports Court & Track (pickleball), splash area for kids
Maiden Season: Med, Caribbean

Disney Destiny - Nov 2025
Highlights: Lion King inspired dining experience, the most super hero focused of the DCL ships (Marvel dining venue & Super Hero Academy, Doctor Strange inspired lounge)
Maiden Season: Bahamas, Western Caribbean

Celebrity Xcel - Nov 2025
Highlights: Expanded rooftop garden over the side of the ship, 7 new experiences (not yet announced)
Maiden Season: Caribbean, Med

Windstar Star Seeker - Dec 2025
Highlights: 102 of 112 suites will have either private veranda or floor to ceiling infinity window, 5 included dining options, outdoor forward whirlpool
Maiden Voyage: Caribbean, Alaska, Japan

❗️TIP: THE EARLIER YOU BOOK A CRUISE THE BETTER PRICE (and availability) YOU WILL GET!! ❗️

01/05/2025

🚢🎄I wanted to give you all an update on the Christmas Markets Rivercruise group I hosted right before Christmas.

We sailed on a newer rivercruise line, Riverside Cruise Line. I was extremely impressed with the boat (it’s was gorgeously decorated), the service (top notch) and the food/drinks (delicious, made from scratch and lots of local ingredients).

Here was our itinerary on the Danube:
Vienna, Austria
Krems, Austria
Salzburg, Austria
Linz, Austria
Passau, Germany
Reagensberg, Germany
Melk, Austria
Bratislava, Slovakia
Vienna

It was colder at home that any of our desitnations, which was nice because we were outdoors exploring gorgeous old towns and Christmas Markerts everyday. We got lucky! ❄️

We had a group of 14 ladies and we had so much fun together, we laughed so much, we shopped, we explored, we drank lots of Gluhwein & hot chocolate, we started dance parties on the ship, we enjoyed the ship spa, we relaxed, we watched old movies (and questioned all of them), we got to know and love our crew… we made so many memories and that’s what I love the most!

I can’t wait to host another rivercruise group! I loved this experience!

If you are interested in going on a rivercruise, I highly recommend it and I would be happy to help you pick the perfect one for you!

01/04/2025

What’s on your 2025 vision board for travel?

Here’s mine: find a freaking 4-5 day time period to take my family somewhere, just the 4 of us. Thinking a trip down to FL, we haven’t done a FL beach vacay yet and adding a few days at Universal.

These kids’ schedules are no joke! It used to be so easy to take them away during the school year but middle and high school gets so difficult between their extra curriculars and staying above board with school work!

If you need my help to make your vision a reality, you know where to find me!

01/03/2025

✨ DCL Promo for Disney+ Subscribers! 🚢✨

✨ Third & Fourth Guests Under 18 Sail for Half Price!
When traveling with 2 full-fare Guests in the same stateroom, kids under 18 sail for 50% off on select sailings aboard the Disney Wish, Disney Dream, and Disney Wonder.

🌴 Eligible Sailings Include:
➡️ 3-, 4-, and 5-Night Cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to The Bahamas and Caribbean—featuring stops at Disney’s private islands, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
➡️ 3- and 4-Night Cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida to The Bahamas aboard the Disney Wish, with a visit to Disney Castaway Cay.
➡️ 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-Night Disney Magic at Sea Cruises from Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.

📅 Sailing Dates: January 3, 2025 – June 13, 2025
🛟 Offer Expires: February 16, 2025

✨ Important Note: You must be a Disney+ subscriber to take advantage of this special offer.

📲 Message me today to get a quote!

01/02/2025

Disney is starting 2025 with a bang!

🌟From Jan. 2 to Feb. 10, 2025, Guests can get a free dining plan with the purchase of a non-discounted 3-night, 3-day (at minimum) Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and a ticket with a Park Hopper option.

🌟This offer is available for most arrivals starting May 27 through Jun. 26, and Jul. 7 through Aug. 6, 2025.

Reach out ASAP if you are interested as these offers are limited!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!!! I’m super excited for 2025! I love starting out each new year with new goals and fresh motivation.

I’m feeling ready to get back to my desk tomorrow and get you all booked on some dream trips! Let’s Go!!