ASTA 2024
Caught in the act! Learning all the new things and catching up with my favorite suppliers and contacts at ASTA 2024
Come along with us on our family roadtrip! Westbound Roadtrip Day 1: 11 Hours 700 Miles
It was a long drive day with a great reward at the end. I LOVE this Phoenix resort. The kids would have spent days in the pool area. It has pool service, restaurants, great golf and spa. Just a very short flight or day’s drive away.
After several hours in the pool, we had a quick dinner and got ready for another big day.
Breakfast always tastes better when someone else cooks it! This All Inclusive resort has 4 cooked to order stations for EACH MEAL (breakfast, lunch and dinner!) and 12 other themed food areas. Everything from the fresh crepes at breakfast to the seafood at lunch and themed Italian night has been fantastic!
I always recommend waking up early and sacrificing some sleep for the benefits of an early morning flight.
My first priority as a travel expert are to get to know you and your travel needs and style. With a few simple questions I can begin curating a trip just for you and your travel preferences. Anyone can find and book a hotel. But finding the right location, resort, excursions, transportation, and organizing all the details so you don’t have to is what working with an experienced travel advisor is all about. I’ve personally experienced most of the destinations and activities I recommend and my huge network of well traveled colleagues gives me reliable, up to date, local information you can’t get anywhere else. That’s all in addition to the complimentary perks, benefits and exclusive pricing my clients receive. My favorite part of being a travel advisor is exceeding my clients expectations and whenever possible, surprising with additional amenities. To my current clients, I SO appreciate you and your trust in me. Thank you for continuing to refer your friends and family! To my future client, I can’t wait to get started! #culpcustomtravel #traveladvisor #whattravelagentsdo #expectbetter #luxurytravel #conciergetravel #retreatclass #suiteclass #havensuites #whyyouneedatraveladvisor #karismaexperience
2025 Dates released for Walt Disney World (Florida) PLUS A NEW PERK!
Now’s the time to grab those hard to get rooms at the best prices AND Disney’s added a new perk for guests staying at their hotels.
So now you get:
-Early Park Entry
-Extended Park Hours (Deluxe Only)
-Complimentary Onsite Transportation
-Room Charging Privileges
-Access to Disney Dining Plans
-Surprise Character Pop ups at Resorts
-Onsite Parking
AND A NEW PERK FOR 2025!!!!
Call or Message me for more details!
Remember to follow me for more Travel Tips & Insider Info!
@culpcustomtravel #disney2025 #disneyperks #travelexpert #disneyspecialist
I’m at a Mexico and Caribbean focused training. Trainings and showcases are where I make important connections with resort and destination representatives. They give me the inside information on the best room locations, excursions, areas of their country for various experiences, and perks I can share with my clients. It’s often these people I contact when a client has a question or a concern while traveling. What’s your favorite Caribbean destination? Have you been there yet?
@vacationexpress @culpcustomtravel #travelexpert #caribbeaniscalling #caribbeantravel #jamaica #saintlucia #aruba #dominicanrepublic #puertorico #usvi #usvirginislands #bvi #curacao #bermuda #bahamas #mexicotravel
Lots of Disney discounts currently available but which is the r best deal for you? The options can be confusing and complicated. We are your Travel Advisors and have your best interest in mind. Let us make the planning more magical and less stressful.
Site Inspections Today. What do you look for in a resort? What do you want to know/see? #becominganexpertforyou #culpcustomtravel
Beat the #mondayblues💙 with a beautiful Caribbean view. The waters at Bimini were clear, clean and warm. We’re counting down the days until our next cruise that also has a day at #biminibahamas Who want to join me?
@virginvoyages #bimini #biminibeachclub #mondayblues #culpcustomtravel
Day 13, over 3K miles, and we’re just starting our way home. Our last stop to see family takes us to Hackettstown to see the cutest almost 2 year old on the planet. My bucket list is long and I have a lot of favorite destinations but I’ll take time with family over a fancy resort any day. However my preference will always be Family or Friends AND a cool destination because shared experiences strengthen relationships. If you could take your family or friends anywhere, where would it be?
Day 11 was full of walking, touring downtown Provincetown and enjoying lots of fresh baked goods and freshly caught fish. Yum 🤤. Lots of cousin craziness and time with grandpas made this trip to Cape Cod “aw”some. #ptown #provincetown #capecode #travelwithkids #roadtrip #summer2023
Every trip is filled with highs and lows. Usually it’s the excitement of the trip finally arriving and the sadness when the trip is over. Our road-trips are filled with these high Mom’s and lows as we say goodbye to family as we leave to visit more family. Seeing everyone makes me want to plan another big family trip or reunion! Have you ever attended a big family reunion?Did you like it? #culpcustomtravel # roadtrip2023 #travelwithkids
Day 7 was a driving day. 540 miles and about 9 hours flew by with the help of a few things: -Snacks -“Boredom Busters” also known as surprises the kiddos get 1-2 a day on travel days depending on how far we are driving. They’re a fun way to break up the drive -Great Playlist for car dance parties -AUDIO BOOKS! These stories make time fly! -A great pool to look forward to! We had it all to ourselves! #culpcustomtravel #roadtriptips #roadtripswithkids #travelwithkids #summer2023
Celebrating Day 8 of the Roadtrip and 2,550 miles with5 Tips for the beach + 3 Bonus Tips because why not?😁😎🏖️ 1. Don’t Overpack: Since you have carry or pull everything limit yourself to what you need. Being a Sherpa across the hot sand is miserable. Consider how long you’ll be at the beach (all day vs few hours). Will you leave for lunch or bathrooms? 2. Share the Load: If your going to the beach with others, even young kids, have them help carry things. This increases feelings responsibility and confidence. It also helps to keep them from running too far ahead. 3. For trips more than an hour remember Necessities like sunscreen, water, and shade especially for the very young and old. 4. Hats! A well fitting hat isn’t just stylish, it’s smart! It’ll keep your hair out of your face, protect your head and face from burning, shield you eyes, and make you easier to find in the beach. 5. Most fun things at the beach are free and require little or no supplier! Sand angels, burying your friend, collecting shells, digging holes/moats and more can be done with just your hands or shells from the beach. PSA: 1. Always fill in your holes and don’t dig excessively deep as this is dangerous for you and others. 2. Choose very bright colors of bath suit for yourself and children, avoid neutrals and blues. Bright suits are easier to find on the beach and most important in the water. 3. Remember the current and check for undertow at the ocean and keep a close eye on your party, especially if life guards aren’t present. Follow me for more great tips and trips #beachtips #beachsafety #beachwithkids #culpcustomtravel #travelwithkids #summer2023 #familytravel #familyluxurytravel
5 Simple Tips for Traveling with Kids: These tips work whether you’re planning a road trip, flight, cruise or international travel. Tip #1 should be TAKE THE TRIP! You won’t regret it! Whether it’s picture perfect or a complete disaster, you’ll cherish the memories you make and they’ll last a lifetime. Time is our most precious resource! 1. Consider the age and attention span for activities. If there’s an age gap, consider activities that can be modified to accommodate everyone’s ability. Ex. mini golf, go carts, trampoline parks. 2. Be realistic with expectations and activities. A toddler in an art museum may not be the best idea but it depends on the toddler and the museum. Know your kids interests and limits. Also know when it’s time to call it quits or stay longer. Are your kids LOVING an activity but it’s time to move on? STAY! Soak in the moment. Is the super neat thing you planned a train wreck? That’s fine, move on! Give yourself and your kids credit for trying, take note of what worked or didn’t and move on!3. Consider safety. Sunscreen for outdoors, floaties for water, bug spray and closed shoes for hikes are a good start. Make sure to also discuss what to do if you’re lost (stay put) and make sure YOU feel comfortable with the activity. My kids and I love the zoo but I know a lot of people wouldn’t be comfortable supervising 4 children alone at the zoo. Don’t be afraid to bring reinforcements. Friends or family can make the trip more fun and less stressful for everyone!4. Be Consistent. Traveling requires flexibility but keep to your schedule where it counts as much as possible. If your child always naps or eats at a specific time, plan to incorporate that. 5. Break the rules! Nothing says vacation like ice cream for lunch! Being away from home gives you the freedom to bend or break rules and routines you have to enforce at home. No need to stress about planning your next trip. Expert travel services are just a click away (l
Pit Stops, Pretzels and Patience 🥨 This was our first “long drive day” of over 8 hours. When planning any trip I always consider the ages and needs of travelers. A mistake a lot of people make on road trips is to limit liquids. This is a huge mistake because everyone arrives dehydrated. Over the course of a long road trips, this is dangerous especially in dry/hot climates. So we drink a LOT on road trips and make a game out of how fast we can stop. We even time them!The mistake I made this trip was not planning for personality differences with pit stops. 🤣 We quickly learned that my 3 year old likes to take his time in the bathroom and cannot be rushed 🤣. So what used to take 5-8 minutes now takes closer to 15. This is important information for those flying with young children. Leave plenty of time for bathroom breaks. Also remember that automatic flushes and hand dryers can be VERY loud and scary to young kiddos or people with sensory sensitivity. So remind them before you go in the bathroom. *Some people put a sticky note over the “eye” on toilet but this only keeps your toilet from flushing. So a quick reminder and making a game like “count the flushes” is helpful for nervous kiddos. What do you want to know? Share your own travel tip below!
Tips and Tricks for a great Zoo Day: -Plan Ahead to pick the best days and time. Most Zoos host schools, camps and field trips on specific days. They usually also have designated eating areas. Find out when/where these are and avoid them! -Check the weather and avoid overly hot or rainy days. Remember to dress correctly. Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses are great at the zoo.-If your Zoo is local (or in a city you visit frequently), consider a membership. Often you save $ by your second visit. Especially since most zoos offer discounts on food, experiences, and merchandise. Zoos also have networks and membership at one gives you membership and discounts at others. -Bring drinks or plan to buy. We ❤️ souvenir cups. So I buy 1 or 2 to share and we buy lots of refills. When I’m being thrifty, we bring reusable water bottles and refill at bottle stations around the zoo. -Know the rules at your zoo about which food and drinks are allowed. We 💕 St Louis! It’s the most requested non-family stop on our road trips. There is so much to do and a ton of it is free! More posts to come on all the things to do, see and eat in #stlouis but for now… What’s your favorite city?
Most people think Travel Agents ravel for free. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. While we can earn discounted travel, it’s a reward based on performance, like the rewards/bonuses in most professions. When booking make own travel I use the same rates and companies I use for my clients because it’s better than the Travel agent discount! In addition, booking through an agent often includes perks like early check-in, room upgrades, and extra amenities. So I book myself just like my clients for the best experience. *I also like to be incognito 🥸 so I get the same experience as my guests and can offer an unbiased review. A fee MUST HAVES for my road trip hotels include: -Great location in a safe area -Complimentary breakfast (saves $40-60 a day)-Pool! (Preferably indoors) -2 Beds + Couch -Wifi -Parking on site *Important in cities (Free Parking is a Bonus)What are your hotel must haves?
My Travel business focuses on Luxury, Couples and Groups but my specialty is creating customized vacations for every client based on their needs and travel style. Often, needs and style change over time. When we went in our first road trip 6 years ago, everyone thought I was crazy. Our budget was much smaller which meant longer drives, fewer hotel nights, and cheaper rooms. Our activities and itinerary change every year as the kids grow and their interest change. One thing that hasn’t changed is how travel changes us. Every year we make memories, learn about the places we visit, the people who live there and our country’s history. We strengthen relationships with the family we visit and with each other. I am most grateful for TIME! The time we spend together singing with the windows rolled down, laughing at audio books, marveling at views, talking about likes/dislikes and what matter to them now. This year my goal for the Roadtrip is to slow down. No jumping out of bed and rushing out the door or rushing through pit stops. We’re taking our time and slowing down to enjoy the moment.How has your travel style changed? What have you learned through your travels? Do you have a favorite destination or lesson learned? #culpcustomtravel #travelexpert #summer2023 #roadtripusa #travelstyle #travelwithkids #customtravel #
