Take Me Away Travels, LLC

16/06/2024

Barcelona Budapest - very impressed.

10/06/2024

Why did I walk up and someone is staring in my balcony window?

09/06/2024

Welcome to the Emerald Sky!

07/06/2024

14/04/2024

Thank you and for an amazing workshop on using your phone to take pictures. These types of workshops are truly outstanding and I love learning. Just a few pics I took as I have been playing with my camera more. I think the drink and pink flowers are my favorite. What do you think?

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09/04/2024

Where am I headed? Stay tuned to find out.

01/04/2024

Check out this video for a special invitation!

28/03/2024

Yesterday I went live with a parent edition of “Where Can I Take You?” The conversation focused on Virgin Voyages. I saw this commercial for the first time last year and it is hilarious. I hope you enjoy it!

26/03/2024

This is Parent Edition because we all NEED to getaway!

12/03/2024

Not nearly enough travel blogs and influencers are talking about the fact that when you book your trips online, you’re leaving a ton of value on the table.

An influencer may get the red carpet rolled out for them, but what about people who don’t have thousands of followers?

The quickest way to more perks, room upgrades, special pricing, etc, for that Caribbean getaway is to work with industry insiders.

That’s me, friend!

I have a personal relationship with countless hotel managers around the world, access to those special perks I mentioned above, and the inside track on the latest information at different hotel properties — because nobody wants to pick accommodations that are undergoing renovations.

Have questions about planning and booking travel with me? Fire away in the comments, or send me a DM.

10/03/2024

One of my superpowers as a travel agent?

I know how to sniff out good travel information — whether that’s in person by doing site visits and meetings with hotel managers, or by tapping into my worldwide network of hoteliers, suppliers and fellow travel pros.

🏨 Which resort is looking a little bit dated these days and won’t fit your high standards?

🌊 Which activities are actually worth venturing off the resort property for?

🔎 Who’s the most knowledgeable local guide that everyone raves about?

📍 What are the best local experiences you shouldn’t miss?

These are just a few of the things you unlock access to when you work with me. Trust me, it’s like having a travel fairy godmother at your disposal!

Any questions about planning trips with me? My DMs are open!

09/03/2024

Check out this AWSOME trip I recently planned.

I can’t take all the credit for it though, when my clients came to me and said they wanted a Mediterranean Cruise I was immediately inspired.

Here are some of the highlights:

They’ll arrive into Bologna, Italy for the pre-cruise stay where they will visit the Unesco sites and enjoy the local cuisine. I have them staying near the city center and train station so they can easily get to Ravenna to board their cruise.

On this cruise we have scheduled many historical and architectural tours for their stops in Croatia, Greece and Turkey.

After the cruise the 2 nights in Athens allow them to explore this magnificent city full of amazing culture, exquisite cuisine and historical sites.

I hope this inspires you for your next [family trip/couples getaway] too!

Bookmark for later, and come back for more travel inspo.

08/03/2024

I just had one of the wildest conversations with a new client.

She’s been planning trips all on her own for years and was always under the impression that if she booked her trips with a travel agent, it would automatically be more expensive.

And sometimes I’m so caught up in my travel planning bubble working with my clients that I forget not everyone knows what a travel advisor can do for them.

Things like…

Save you time by doing the planning and coordinating for you because the time you’ll spend DIYing it all is worth something.

And honestly so much more.

But the real thing I want to address here is the fact that my client felt nervous to reach out because she didn’t know if she could afford to work with me.

And I want you all to know that there is absolutely no pressure when reaching out to inquire about a trip — if I can help and work within your budget, then great. If not, that’s okay too!

All this is to say, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’m here to help.

07/03/2024

Hear me out exhausted mamas...

Instead of scrolling the internet for hours, you can delegate your travel planning to me faster than you can say, “Spritz, please!” 🥂

In 2024, if you’re ready to…

✓ Reduce planning time and stress.

✓ Discover destinations and locations where safety and fun go hand in hand.

✓ Find a place where kids and parents all have something to do.

✓ Take trips that are personalized to your travel dreams and not just what the last client booked.

Then my personalized travel recommendations and trip planning will be right up your alley.

Head to the link in my bio and look for my travel inquiry form to tell me more about the trip you have in mind.

And tag someone who’s stressing about travel planning this year and could use a hand! 😅👇

(Pic is my family as we traveled to Alaska in 2023)

06/03/2024

My clients RAVE about Virgin Voyages Cruise Line every time they come home.

And it’s no surprise. I mean a cruise line with NO KIDS! It is perfect for that parent getaway!

This cruise line focuses on wellness, inclusivity, amazing food (no really .. good food!) and fun entertainment.

PLUS -- the hammock! I mean really a hammock. Everyone needs this!

Save this inspo for later, and if you’d like help planning your next cruise, get in touch. 🛳️

05/03/2024

Mexico on your radar for the next family getaway?

If so, Xcaret Hotel is one spot that’s been living rent free in my mind this past week.

Clients leave in 2 weeks and I absolutely love the fact that they will be able to …

→ It's 45 minutes from Tulum making it a great option to see the magnificent sites.

→ They can immerse themselves in nature and family filled activities.

→ Included in their resort stay is access to the Xcaret parks and tours!

→ And huge bonus for my hammock loving friends .. many of the balconies include your own hammock to relax and enjoy the nature around you!

Who else would stay here in a heartbeat? 🙋‍♀️

20/02/2024

Hello friends! I am here with another edition of Where Can I Take You or better yet ... how can I take you away? We will discuss cruising vs all inclusive vacations and what might be better for you and your loved ones. Let's chat!

14/02/2024

Master carry-on only travel with these tips.

Whether you’re willingly traveling carry-on only, or you’re being forced by baggage restrictions, wanting to avoid the stress of a lost bag or side-eye from family and friends — these 3 tips will help!

🧳 Plan your outfits before you pack

Plan out what you’ll wear every day of the trip so you don’t overpack or forget items you’ll need. I also love this hack because it takes away daily decision-making when I’m actually on vacation.

👖Packing cubes are your best friend

Packing cubes keep things compact and organized and help you max out the space in your carry-on. They’re also great for keeping clothing sorted.

👚Pack coordinating items you can mix and match

5 tops, 4 bottoms, a couple of dresses, and a jacket or sweater can turn into dozens of outfits if you coordinate them correctly. I also love versatile items like scarves that can be worn in lots of different ways.

Bookmark for later, and follow for more travel tips and insights.

13/02/2024

I literally breathe a sigh of relief every time a client makes it to the airport, boards their flight, and is officially on the way.

But what happens if you do miss your flight?

1️⃣ First, if you’re headed to the airport and you’re pretty sure you won’t make your flight, contact the airline en route to let them know. They may even be able to start making arrangements for a new flight.

2️⃣ When you arrive, make a beeline for the airline’s customer service desk — they’re your best allies for getting booked onto another flight.

3️⃣ Get in touch with your travel advisor (Hey hey, that’s me!) so I can re-arrange your airport transfers and call the hotel to let them know you’re arriving later so you don’t risk getting bumped in an overbooking situation, or getting stuck with the worst room.

When travel plans hang in the balance, it’s a must to have support and someone to help smooth things over.

Have you ever missed a flight (I have!)? This is a judgment-free zone! Share with me in the comments.

12/02/2024

This is an expensive travel mistake to make in 2024 👇

It’s going to be busy everywhere: Europe, the Caribbean cruises.

And you’re rolling the dice with your travel budget by booking everything yourself (your time costs money, but that’s a conversation for another day!)

Booking everything yourself online means you’re the backup, you’re the problem solver, and you’re the person you’ll have to rely on if flights get missed, the hotel bumps your booking, or the tour guide just doesn’t show.

All of this can add up to hard-earned money lost.

When you work with me to plan, you not only avoid costly travel mistakes — things like booking flights for the wrong airport, booking hotels for the wrong dates, etc.

But you also have me as support every step of the way while you travel, and with how chaotic travel will be this year, that can make the difference between a fantastic trip and one you’d like to forget.

Having support and an expert is a must this year. If you’d like that expert to me me, take a quick minute to fill out my inquiry form, tell me about your trip, and let’s chat. Link in bio.

10/02/2024

Calling all busy parents.

I’ve been busy working on a few itineraries for clients, and honestly? I had to share this one for busy mamas who just need a little break but want a place where the kids can have fun too.

My clients are headed to Iberostar Paraiso Maya for a family bonding trip in a couple of months, and I am so excited for them.

They’ll spend their days enjoying the pool activities and waterpark and their nights with family entertainment that makes everyone laugh. I just had to share! If you’re thinking about getting away with your family, think about a trip here!

If this itinerary inspires you, I can build on it to create something just for you, or we can start from scratch to create something personalized for you.

Link in bio to get started — look for my travel inquiry form.

PS, have you been to the Paraiso complex in Mexico yet?

09/02/2024

Don’t getme wrong, I LOVE being a travel advisor but everyone needs a day or two (or 10 in a row) where your toughest decision is what you’ll be sipping at the resort pool.

And yours truly is desperately in need! I’m planning to unplug for a few days. It isn't at a resort with fruity drinks but it IS with family for a very special birthday.

I hope you will be doing something special this weekend and are able to hit the ground running on Monday. Enjoy!

08/02/2024

Tours and experiences in Alaska ...

Let‘s talk about it for a minute ⏰

Because nobody likes an overpriced, underwhelming tour or experience that leaves you feeling like you wasted valuable time on your vacation.

When my clients take an Alaskan cruise, I always recommend things like…

❤️ Whale Watching and Glacier Visit

❤️ Yukon Mushers Experience

❤️ A walk in the rain forest

❤️ A Lumberjack Show

Now, there are dozens of tour operators you can book these experiences (or similar ones) with. But if you want vetted and trusted options — or someone to tell you straight whether a tour or experience will or won’t deliver on your expectations — my travel inquiry form is at the link in bio!

And PS, I’ll also coordinate the rest of your trip — flights, hotels, transport, and all, so planning is absolutely no stress.

07/02/2024

You ABSOLUTELY want this for your next Caribbean getaway 👇

A personalized itinerary!

There are dozens of islands, thousands of resorts and hotels, and so many experiences, tours and activities you can book for a [family getaway/couples trip/group trip].

A personalized itinerary from Take Me Away Travels is the best way to…

✅ Not waste hours of your time down the internet wormhole trying to piece together a trip

✅ Get an itinerary tailored to your needs, interests, and travel style — Without 17 browser tabs being open at any given time trying to research.

✅ Make sure you don’t miss out on must-see spots, experiences, restaurants, etc.

✅ Waste time on over-priced, underwhelming tours or end up in tourist traps

If all of the above sounds like how you’d like your next getaway to go, I can help!

I plan family vacations, multigen trips with grandparents and parent getaways and it all starts by taking a couple of minutes to tell me about the trip you have in mind. My trip inquiry form is at the link in bio.

06/02/2024

This week we will be talking about Alaska! Why do you want to visit? Who should visit? Best way to see this beautiful location!

06/02/2024

Mexico and the Caribbean are completely different regions but they have one thing in common — endless choices for resorts, hotels and things to do.

And in a maze of those endless choices, personalized recommendations from a pro is the one thing that will cut through all the noise and get you to that vacation you want.

By getting to know you, your travel preferences, and the trips you’ve loved in the past (and the ones you’d rather forget!), my resort, hotel, and activity recommendations are on point and personalized to you.

And naturally, I also consider all of the places I’ve visited and loved, as well as reviews from clients who fit a similar travel style as you.

A “great” trip is different for everyone.

All that is to say that a personalized approach to all-inclusive trips really is the secret sauce.

Agree or disagree?

04/02/2024

Can we talk about your PTO for a minute? Those days are precious.

Let me help you maximize how to use them with this useful list of upcoming Holidays that will allow you to get away to Mexico, the Caribbean, or wherever you‘re dreaming.

➡️ Presidents’ Day Weekend
Take off Feb 15, 16 and 17
Get 6 days off with only 3 PTO days used

➡️ Memorial Day Weekend
Take off May 23, 24 and 28
Get 6 days off with only 3 PTO days used

➡️ 4th Of July
Take off July 3, 5 and 8
Get 6 days off with only 3 PTO days used

➡️ Labor Day Weekend
Take off Aug 30 and Sept 3
Get 5 days off with only 2 PTO days used

➡️ Thanksgiving
Take off Nov 25, 27 and 29
Get 9 days off with only 4 PTO days used

➡️ Christmas Break
Take off Dec 23, 24, 26 and 27
Get 9 days off with only 4 PTO days used

If you’re looking for trip ideas to make the most of those PTO days this year, this travel advisor over here has all sorts of ideas! Don’t hesitate to send me a DM or email to explore your options.

03/02/2024

How far in advance should you book a vacation?

Honestly, it depends on the season and the destination in question. But if you ask me, sooner is always better than later.

A recent survey suggested that if you book a domestic vacation up to two months in advance, you could save up to 20% on airfare.

For an international trip, booking four months earlier can help you save about 13%.

If more luxe accommodations, a private tour guide, a unique experience, a pass for the swanky airport lounge, or just a few extra margs on the beach sounds like a better way to spend that 20%, then it’s about time to get planning.

Reach out to me, and let’s make that travel idea a reality. Remember, the sooner, the better.

03/02/2024

Hey travel lover, stop your scroll and give this a quick read 👇

Let me give you three reasons why you want me in your corner this year to help you plan all of those amazing trips you’ve been dreaming about:

🔎The Research - Hello, google Rabbit hole, and hours and hours spent trying to find the right information to get your trip booked.

💻 Booking the trip - You have 17 tabs open on your computer. Is this the right resort? How will you get from the airport to the hotel? Do you need to pre-book your tours and excursions?

✈️ The little details - You want it to come together seamlessly, but it’s just so much work, and keeping track of everything isn’t easy. How do you know you haven’t forgotten something important?

Hi, nice to meet you! I'm Shannon! I am a little crazy. I love having fun. And my job is amazing! I can handle all of the above for you. Book a complimentary call to chat at the link in my bio, or send me a DM!