Desiree at Magical Vacations Travel

08/01/2025

Are you ready to finally make that Italy trip happen in 2025? 🇮🇹

Let me help you plan an unforgettable journey through Italy’s iconic cities, stunning countryside, and rich culture!

Imagine this: 10 days soaking in the romance, history, and flavors of Italy — all customized just for you. Whether it's your first time or you're returning to your favorite destination, this trip will be *bellissimo* 🤌🏼!

🌟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐞:
- Marvel at the Colosseum, an ancient wonder that never fails to impress.
- Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain and wish for your next adventure.
- Take in the awe-inspiring beauty of Vatican City, including the Sistine Chapel.

🌟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:
- Admire Michelangelo's David and Florence’s stunning Duomo.
- Sip on Chianti wine during a vineyard tour in the Tuscan countryside.
- Wander across the iconic Ponte Vecchio and shop for unique treasures.

🌟 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞:
- Glide through romantic canals on a private gondola ride.
- Explore St. Mark’s Basilica and the breathtaking Doge’s Palace.
- Experience the charm of Murano and Burano, famous for glass-blowing and lace-making.

💡 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
- Exclusive Vatican tour with skip-the-line access.
- A day trip to the Tuscan wine region with tastings and authentic cuisine.
- Private transportation and scenic train rides through Italy’s stunning landscapes.

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
🛏️ 3 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Florence, and 3 nights in Venice
🍽️ Daily breakfast
🚆 Scenic train and luxury transfers between destinations
🎟️ Admission to top attractions

Make 2025 the year you live la dolce vita! I’ll take care of every detail—your only job is to relax and enjoy. Contact me today to start planning your perfect Italian escape. 🌍

06/01/2025

❄️🌬️ The cold weather in the Northeast has us shivering, but I’ve got the perfect escape for you! 🏖️ Say goodbye to the chill and say hello to sunny skies at Sandals Resorts. 🌞 Book your dream getaway now, at a great price!

🌴 Sandals South Coast: Enjoy unlimited luxury on a 2-mile beach with stunning overwater bungalows!

🏖️ Sandals Dunn's River: Experience the thrill of Dunn’s River Falls and indulge in all-inclusive luxury!

🌊 Sandals Ochi Beach Resort: Dive into adventure and relaxation with endless activities and breathtaking beaches!

Book now and let the warmth of the Caribbean melt away your winter blues! ✈️

20/12/2024

✨🌟✨ Guess who was named MVT's Travel Agent of the Year/Rising Star?! Your support means the world to me and I couldn't have done it without you!

Wishing you and yours a very happy & healthy holiday season! Can't wait to see you in 2025! 🫶

20/12/2024

📣 Did you know? U.S. citizens will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for traveling to the United Kingdom starting January 8, 2025!

As a Europe specialist, I’m here to ensure my clients are well-prepared and can hit the ground running when they arrive to their destination. Best of all? My professional services are free to my clients!

I’d love to help you plan something amazing, whether across the pond or anywhere in the world! 🌎

19/12/2024

I'm so excited for my sweet new clients and their 2026 Destination Wedding at the amazing Sandals Montego Bay!

With years of experience, exclusive partnerships, and seamless packages from the Amalfi Coast to the Caribbean, I'm here to turn your dream destination wedding into a breathtaking reality!

Whether it's an intimate ceremony overlooking the Mediterranean or a luxurious celebration on a tropical beach, I’ll handle every detail to ensure your wedding is simply magical! ❤️

To give my clients the best possible experience, I only plan a few weddings per year. 2026 is booking up, reach out today to learn more!

www.vacationsbydes.com

13/12/2024

Seville: Day 4 Trip Report

Day 4 started very early with a 6:30 AM call in the lobby with our luggage, it was time for new adventures in Seville! This is a city I’d been looking forward to since I applied for the trip!

Our host hotel, Hotel Ganivet, kindly prepared a boxed breakfast for us and our transfer was there before the sun was up to transfer us to the Atocha cercianos, one of Madrid’s train stations for the 2+ hour train ride to Seville. The train to Seville was scenic and beautiful, with the sun rising over the most gorgeous orange farms and mountains.

As amazing as the train ride was, nothing compares to the beauty of Seville. Dating back over 2,000 years, it’s one of the oldest cities in Spain. It’s. Just. Special.

We checked into our beautiful host hotel, the unique Hospes Las Casa Del Rey De Baeza to drop our luggage and head off to meet our guide for a walking tour of Seville.

Seville’s center is made up of what feels like a million small streets, winding in different directions. But it’s also part of the charm of Seville; turn a corner and you’ll come across a beautiful church, a market, or a charming square where locals are sitting enjoying their tapas and wine. I think you could come back to Seville and always discover something that you missed the first time.

We toured the Seville Cathedral, built in 1402. It’s one of the largest churches in the world, and the largest Gothic cathedral. We climbed 343 feet to the top of the Giralda (bell tower) to take in the stunning 360 degree views of the city. It’s also the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Standing in a place Visiting the cathedral was a moment I’ll never forget.

After the cathedral, we visited the Royal Alcázar of Madrid. The structure was originally built in the second half of the ninth century by the Muslims, then extended and enlarged over the centuries, particularly after 1560. It was at this time that the fortress was converted into a royal palace, and Madrid became the capital of the Spanish empire.

After visiting the royal palace, we spent time on some property site inspections within Seville. Located in the center of Seville, Soho Boutique Sevilla provides an outdoor swimming pool, free WiFi and a terrace. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service. The daily breakfast offers buffet, continental or gluten-free options. Popular points of interest near Soho Boutique Sevilla include Plaza de Armas, Triana Bridge – Isabel II Bridge and Isla Mágica.

Next up, we visited the H10 Casa de la Plata, a newly built four-star hotel located on a charming pedestrian street in the historic center of Seville. The interior design, inspired by a typical Sevillan house, fuses traditional elements, such as ceramics and tiles with more contemporary ones. The establishment has elegant rooms, a restaurant for breakfast with access to an exclusive typical Andalusian courtyard, an impressive terrace with plunge pool and panoramic city views, a lobby bar and different areas for meetings and events. This one is on my list for my return trip to Seville.

After our site inspections concluded, we were off to explore Seville and to find some dinner before calling it a night, another full day of exploring tomorrow!

🇪🇸♥️

12/12/2024

In Seville, it’s easy to find so much beauty in scared spaces. This is the incredible Cathedral of Seville. ⛪️🇪🇸♥️

10/12/2024

Madrid: Day 2 Trip Report

Day 2 started with an impressive buffet breakfast at Hotel Ganivet.

After fueling up for our adventures, we purchased a Hop On/Hop Off bus tour of Madrid right at the front desk, it was so convenient! We decided to try the bus since Madrid is a BIG city, and we thought this would be a great way to acclimate ourselves. We had an amazing time, and at only 28 euros, it was a great deal for a 24-hour pass!

We spent hours on the tour, spending the most time at the incredible Royal Palace of Madrid. It wowed and I highly recommend. Especially if you are a history buff, if you’re in your royal era and can’t get enough, or if you just want something really cool to do while in Madrid.

After the Palace, we went to Starbucks, and we were off to the Mercado de San Miguel, an amazing market that gives me strong Reading Terminal Market vibes if you’re familiar with Philly. You can’t visit Madrid without stopping here at least once. Trust me. Timing is everything here though, it gets CROWDED.

After a late lunch at the Mercado de San Miguel, we started making our way back to our hotel to get ready for our official welcome festivities and group dinner.

Our hosts and the other agents invited on this trip met in the lobby for introductions, and we made our way to our welcome dinner, followed by drinks.

Then we were back to the hotel, as we had an early start! The FAM starts tomorrow!

09/12/2024

🛳️🦸‍♂️ “Avengers…on board!” If you’re in your superhero era, consider a Marvel Day at Sea Disney Cruise!

These 5-night sailings typically run from January to mid-March from Fort Lauderdale on the Disney Dream, with itineraries to the Bahamas or Western Caribbean. The Bahamas option even includes stops at Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point for double the Disney magic!✨✨

What makes Marvel Day at Sea so special?

💫 Guests of all ages dress as their favorite heroes

💫 Superhero movies on Funnel Vision

💫 Trivia and special shows

🕷️ 🔨 😈 🐾 💫 🇺🇸 Plus, meet Marvel characters such as Spider-Man, Thor, Loki, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and many more—including heroes like Captain America (Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers) and Mighty Thor!

🎁 Cruises make the BEST gifts so if you want to WOW this holiday season, reach out to me and let's get you booked for a low down payment and I can set you up on a payment plan! I'll even send you an amazing gift to help you present it to the lucky recipients!

09/12/2024

Madrid Day 1 Trip Report:

My Delta flight was really great from JFK, and landed around 8 am - just in time to see the sunrise from 3,000 feet and it was gorgeous! I arrived at Terminal 1 and found the Madrid airport to be very clean, welcoming, and well-labeled for people who don't speak the language. Our amazing hosts set up private airport transfers for us so it wasn't too long that I met up with my colleague and roommate for the week and we were off to our hotel, Hotel Ganivet.

A stay at Hotel Ganivet places you in the heart of Madrid, within a 15-minute walk of Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace of Madrid. This hotel is 0.4 mi from Plaza de España - Princesa and 0.8 mi from Puerta del Sol, making it the perfect homebase in Madrid! We found the hotel staff to be warm and welcoming and the lobby was clean and beautiful. Because our room was not quite ready that early in the morning, the front desk offered to hold our luggage so that we could dive right in and start exploring the city.

We started with one very important mission, to caffeinate! We were both already starting to feel the jet lag and we knew we needed to push through. We found the cutest little coffee shop and had amazing cappuccinos, exactly what we needed to keep going.

We made our way down the charming, picturesque cobblestone streets to Plaza Mayor, where an adorable Christmas market was set up. We looked around the Plaza and quickly realized we wanted to wait to visit this area at night so that we could see the light displays. We decided to explore another part of the city and to save the market for later once the sun goes down.

We had a great time walking around and explored the little streets, shops, and a beautiful cathedral a before we got hungry and decided to stop for lunch. We found this great spot for lunch and we were able to power through a bit more before we decided to head back to the hotel to check-in and take a little rest before an evening exploring the Christmas market and lights around the city.

After a nap, we both felt better and bundled up and headed out for more exploring. We started back at the Plaza Mayor for the Christmas market and lights and then followed the lights all throughout the city.

It. Was. Amazing.

Both my friend and I agreed, the Madrid streets around Christmas reminded us of the best of New York City decorated for the holidays (if not better)!

After taking in all the lights, we decided to find some dinner. We were both in the mood for something a little more substantial and found a great steakhouse. We ordered this great tasting menu and got to choose chorizo, chicken and beef empanadas, beef ribs, flank or skirt steak, sides like a salad or potatoes, plus dessert and a beverage, including wine. At 16 euros, it was a great deal! I chose the skirt steak, served with fresh chimichurri and the flavor was amazing! About halfway into our meal, I looked at the restaurant sign and started cracking up, neither of us realized that the steakhouse was called, "Mu!" 😂

We explored the streets some more and decided to head back to the hotel around 9 PM, we were just exhausted from having been on the move for 24+ hours. We have a busy day planned for tomorrow with a hop/on hop off bus tour of both the "old" Madrid and modern day Madrid, tapas for lunch, and then we meet up with our group and our training trip officially starts!

I hope you'll stay tuned for more!

05/12/2024

📣Upcoming out of office alert

✈️ Soon, I’ll be exploring Spain’s diverse culture, food, landscape, architecture, and vibrant cities. My time there will allow me to better serve you, my valued clients!

🇪🇸 Ever been to Spain? Or has Spain been on your bucket list? I’d love to hear from you, drop a comment below! ⬇️

04/12/2024

🌍✈️ Where am I off to next?

🕵️‍♂️ Here are a few hints to guess my next adventure:

1. 🇪🇸 I’ll be wandering through vibrant streets filled with flamenco dancers and delicious tapas!
2. 🏰 This city is known for its stunning architecture, from ancient cathedrals to modern masterpieces.
3. 🎨 I’ll be soaking up some incredible art, including works by a famous painter born here!
4. 🌞 You might catch me enjoying the sunshine at a bustling plaza, or relaxing in lush gardens.

Can you guess where I’m headed this weekend? Drop your guesses below! 👇✨

02/12/2024

Check out MVT’s Cyber Week deals!

🎢Theme Parks🏰
Walt Disney World and Disneyland Packages - $50 Disney Gift Card
Universal Orlando Packages - $50 Universal Gift Card

🚢Cruises and Land Tours⛰️
Royal Caribbean - $25-$100 bonus onboard credit and stateroom gift
Norwegian - $50 bonus onboard credit and 12 pack of water
Viking - $100 bonus onboard credit
Ama Waterways - $100 bonus onboard credit
Tauck - free pre or post hotel night

Package minimums and other fine print apply. Visit www.magicalvacationstravel.com/mvt/cyberweek for full details.

Exclusive Cyber Week deals on Disney Packages, Universal Packages, ocean cruises, river cruises, and land tours

28/11/2024

🦃 Out of Office Alert! 🍂

This Thanksgiving, I'm trading my laptop for mashed potatoes and my emails for turkey. 🍗

I will be out of the office on Thursday, Nov. 23rd, through Monday Dec. 2nd to rest and spend much-needed time with family.

Don’t worry—I’ll be back on Tuesday, fully recharged and ready to create some holiday magic for YOU!

Got something urgent? Shoot me a text, and I’ll get to it after our food coma subsides. 😉

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving—remember, calories don’t count this week! 🍗✨

21/11/2024

🤫 Psst!

Are you dreaming of a magical holiday gift to give this year? 🎁 One they'll cherish forever? 😍 Gift them the ultimate European adventure! I'm sure they won't mind that it doesn't fit under the tree! 😆🎄

Imagine exploring the ultimate trifecta of European magic: London, Paris, and Rome! 🌟

✈️ Begin in London: soar to new heights at the London Eye 🎡, discover local pubs 🍺, and snap a photo with Big Ben 📸. Visit Buckingham Palace 👑, wander past the Parliament Building 🏛️, and indulge in afternoon tea with friendly locals ☕️

🍽️ Next, savor the flavors of Paris: pick up a fresh baguette from a charming boulangerie 🍞, picnic in Luxembourg Gardens 🌳, and capture the Eiffel Tower's magic ✨. Don't forget a French baking class 🍰

🏯 Finally, explore Rome's ancient wonders: tour the Colosseum 🏟️, marvel at the Vatican City's breathtaking art 🎨, and indulge in delicious Italian cuisine 🍝

HIGHLIGHTS:
🔹 London Eye - Fast-Track Ticket
🍴 Eiffel Tower Dinner and Seine River Cruise
🏯 Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Tour
🎨 Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, and St. Peter's Basilica Tour

INCLUSIONS:
🛏️ 3 nights in London, Paris, and Rome
🥐 Breakfast daily
🚗 Private Arrival Transfers
🍔 Lunch in the Cotswolds
🎩 Magic of London Tour with Afternoon Tea
🖼️ Guided Louvre Tour
🚣‍♀️ Mont Saint Michel Tour
🛥️ Capri Tour with Blue Grotto and Lunch

Ready to craft a dream adventure to Europe? 🤩 Europe travel will be challenging next year due to Jubilee, don’t go it alone! Contact me today to customize any European adventure and make your travel dreams a reality! 📲

20/11/2024

Hopefully you’ll never be in this situation, but it happens! Just another reason to use my free services, I’m a “fixer” and can help you navigate when things go astray!

What should you do if your passport has been lost or stolen while you’re abroad?

Don’t panic! The nearest U.S. embassy or consulate can help by issuing you an emergency passport. To learn more visit travel.state.gov

20/11/2024

🌴 Sandals Deal of Week: One of my favorites, Sexy Sandals South Coast! 😍

Enjoy a brand new Longbeach Beachfront Club Level Suite w/ Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub (LGB) for 6-nights, arriving 5/10/25 only $4,990 for two!!! Just $98 gets you booked!

Want to learn more about this amazing resort? I’d love to chat! Reach out today and let’s talk Jamaica! 🇯🇲❤️