Traveling Ears Vacations

28/11/2024

We’ve traded the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with family for brunch with characters (sorry, mom! ❤️) for the past 4 years and each year, it gets more and more special.

The hustle and bustle of cooking and cleaning, making 37 trips to the store and 92 laps around the kitchen doesn’t exist in Disney!

Instead, it’s sleeping in and watching the Macy’s Day Parade from your resort while eating a giant donut on the ironing board. ( ).

It’s knowing all the beds will be made and the room will be cleaned when you return, without lifting a finger. (Thank you, mousekeeping! 🧹)

It’s walking downstairs to be chauffeured to brunch, instead of driving across town. And when you arrive to brunch, you’re greeted with the most cheerful cast members waving and wishing you a ‘Happy Thanksgiving’.

It’s Mickey waffles and POG juice, and hugs from Tiana and Aladdin. ✨

It’s the smell of Disney’s Grand Floridian during the holidays and shopping for family members back home at the resort shops.

Most of all, it’s the uninterrupted time spent with one another. No iPads or video games. No football games blaring (🙄) in the living room. No mess, no hustle or bustle.

And for all of that, I am incredibly grateful. 🧡

Wishing you all a restful and fulfilling Thanksgiving, no matter where you’re celebrating! We are so thankful for this little corner of the internet & for the opportunities it continues to bring for our business. We are eternally thankful for our loyal clients, friends and family and of course, my team. 🍂🫶🏼

Happy, happy Thanksgiving from the Traveling Ears fam! 🤎

26/11/2024

It’s official…our little Dream Team is [finally] growing by not one, but TWO pairs of ears! 👯‍♀️✨

Y’all help me welcome Janelle & Kayla to the Traveling Ears family!

Janelle & Kayla bring almost a decade of travel planning experience to our team and have already proven to be a huge wealth of knowledge!

Kayla & Janelle, I hope you know how excited I am to have you by my side! You both continue to inspire me as a leader and also as a travel advisor myself and I cannot wait to see you ladies soar like never before! 🫶🏼

15/11/2024

There’s no denying Walt Disney World will be hustling and bustling this Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

From someone with experience traveling over peak weeks, here are the top 3 things you need to know if you plan to visit the parks this holiday season:

1. Crowds are going to peak over the weeks school is out which means Lightning Lanes are going to be your best friend: both Multi Pass and Single Pass, for all 4 parks. It will be the best investment you make. (If I had to choose between the dining plan and Lightning Lanes, I’d choose Lightning Lanes every time.)

2. I highly recommend Premier Pass the day before, day of & day after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Multi Pass selections are going to book up the quickest these days, which means your options are going to be slim. Having Premier Pass will allow you to enjoy the most popular rides without waiting in line or risking the Multi Passes selling out, and the best part - you don’t have to schedule anything!

3. Generally speaking, Magic Kingdom is *least* crowded on days Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party is going on. Park hopping is great on days like this because you can start at Magic Kingdom, enjoy lower crowds earlier in the day and then “hop” to another park later in the day when Magic Kingdom closes for the Christmas party.

Bonus: pack your patience and prioritize what’s most important to your family. You don’t have to (also, can’t possibly) do everything in one week so soak up the magic, make the memories & focus on spending time together! ❤️

Share this with a friend visiting Walt Disney World this holiday season! 🦃🎄

12/11/2024

NEVER pay full price for views like this IF…

…you’re US military: active, retired or a veteran… ❤️🤍💙

You’ve already paid the ultimate price so when it’s time to treat yourself to the vacation of a lifetime, remember Sandals & Beaches resorts extends an additional 10% off for all military members and we *always* ensure this extra savings is applied to our clients’ reservations! 🇺🇸

HURRY! Today through 11/16, all members of the US military enjoy an **additional** 15% off all new reservations! (🥳) Yes, that’s on top of all current discounts. 👏🏼

Thank you for all of your many many sacrifices…yesterday, today and tomorrow. And may God bless America! 🙏

👉🏼Click below to get all Sandals & Beaches promos direct in your inbox

💌 https://tinyurl.com/4w4k8j5p

📍Beaches Turks & Caicos

05/11/2024

Space, comfort & privacy - a few reasons why our clients LOVE reserving villas in Exuma & these three stunning and cozy beachfront homes are the perfect combination of each, smack dab in the middle of paradise!

A private chef, housekeeping and a few amazing tours (swimming with the pigs, anyone?!) are the icing on the cake for an experience the entire family will NEVER ever forget!

Villas are perfect for:

•Large multigenerational vacations
•Multi-family getaways
•& my favorite, girls trips!

In my recent guide, I share:

🗺️ Where Exuma is located
✈️ How to get to Exuma
🏠 The top villas our clients are loving

Read more:👇🏼

https://travelingears.com/the-ultimate-exuma-experience/

📍Exuma, Bahamas
🏠 The Good Life Bahamas

[…]

28/10/2024

It is a true honor and testament to be named a finalist for the inaugural Travel Industry’s 40 Under 40 by TravelPulse, a prestigious program that recognizes and celebrates the rising stars who are shaping the future of travel.

Out of hundreds of applicants to apply, it is an extreme privilege to be a part of this list, among many other innovative young professionals who are making significant contributions to the travel industry. 🏆

I’d be remiss to not give a HUGE thank you to my team for being the backbone of Traveling Ears Vacations! Without you all, I would be late to every call/meeting, I wouldn’t know a single password to any/every system and platform we use, I’d be confused as to who is going to which destination when, and well, I’d be completely non-operational. 🙃 It takes a village to run a multi-million dollar boutique travel agency and I am blessed with the absolute best! ❤️

Thank you Travel Pulse for this prestigious award! We look forward to continue being a visionary in our industry and sharing this big, beautiful world with our clients! 🌎 ✈️

FULL ARTICLE BELOW:

https://www.travelpulse.com/40-under-40/stephanie-howard-traveling-ears-vacations?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYWd5gVQYY9260TAif9MJQthLdyzK0v5jiBTkFcqDiXoRtKiaAknpJEejw_aem_n0TENUJn1qp6mfrs-RclMQ

20/10/2024

A travel advisor's take on the all new Disney Premier Pass

Discover everything you need to know about the Disney Lightning Lane Premier Pass, the ultimate line-skipping option for Disney park visitors. Find out how it works, costs, and tips to maximize your Disney experience.

15/10/2024

Kicking off the week at the 2024 Disney’s Earmarked Summit, an exclusive invite only event for top travel agency owners in the country. ✨

It’s an honor to be back this year to represent Traveling Ears Vacations, mastermind with like-minded advisors, and more importantly learn all about what’s coming to Disney Destinations so that we can continue to enhance our clients’ vacations and experiences!

It will never be lost on me that this is a dream career turned reality and I can confidently say it wouldn’t be possible without the support, encouragement and pure LOVE from my family, my friends, my team (❤️), and of course, our clients who have trusted us with their vacations for the last 8 years! 🫶🏼

I’ll be sharing in stories all week long so be sure to follow along! They have lots of fun events in store and I can’t wait to share it all with you! 🏰

28/08/2024

NEW BLOG POST: 3 Reasons to Visit Sandals Royal Curacao

Spoiler alert: reason #1 is my favorite reason to visit! 🌪️😉

Discover the top 3 reasons to visit Sandals Royal Curaçao trips. Enjoy year-round travel, luxurious amenities, and unforgettable experiences.

15/08/2024

With the recent changes to the Lightning Lane system at Walt Disney World, I am very excited to share more details about Lightning Lanes in general, how to make and use them and ultimately, how to build out a perfect park day at Walt Disney World with as little waiting as possible.

🚨SPOILER ALERT: We happily book all of our clients' advanced Lightning Lanes & ensure they are secured timely and strategically. This is one less task our travelers need to worry or stress about! ;)

Discover everything you need to know about Disney World Lightning Lane with our ultimate guide. Learn how Multi Passes and Single Passes can enhance your visit.

23/05/2024

Headed to Saint Vincent soon? (If not, you should be!) Here are 3 things you’ll want to know before packing your bags:

1️⃣ Saint Vincent & the Grenadines uses the same large, square, three-pin adapter plug style as the UK. However, the standard voltage in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines is 110/230V at 50/60 Hz, and the voltage can vary by region, city, or hotel. If you’re traveling from the US, you’ll need a power converter or a power strip. While US-style outlets are available in most resorts, they are few and far between.

2️⃣ Speaking of outlets, it is illegal to place outlets in hotel room bathrooms in Saint Vincent. You’ll want to bring a small extension cord as most outlets are placed right outside your hotel room bathroom or vanity area so you’ll need extra length to reach the bathroom. 💁🏼‍♀️

3️⃣ Volcanic by nature, St. Vincent is one of few Caribbean islands that has beautiful & unique black sand beaches! That being said, the sand is hot hot hot 🔥and can also get stuck in the fibers of light colored swimsuits. You’re going to want to wear shoes on the beach, as well as dark colored swimsuits in order to protect your feet & your swimsuits.

Bonus: be prepared to fall absolutely head over heels in love with the “Vincy” culture here. We’ve traveled to some of the most beautiful countries in the Caribbean but I can wholeheartedly say the St. Vincentians are some of the most beautiful people in the world, inside and out. ❤️

📍 Bequia, Saint Vincent & The

www.TravelingEars.com/request-a-quote

21/05/2024

Sandals Star Awards 2024 ⭐️🏆 One of the most exclusive events in the travel industry dedicated to recognize the top travel advisors in the world!

We are beyond honored to be invited by , nonetheless speak on the Social Media Panel in front of 250+ advisors AND even bring home a few awards for our accomplishments! 🥂

Traveling Ears Vacations is excited to announce our 2024 Star Awards:

⭐️Best of the Best - Western Region
⭐️Chairman’s Royal Club
⭐️Worldwide Social Media Award

Proud is an understatement. Grateful is an understatement. 🥹 (Like, someone please pinch me.)

This journey has been so surreal and with the support of our clients, our amazing team & our partners at , this is just the beginning. ❤️ Thank you, thank you, thank you.

📍 Sandals Saint Vincent & The Grenadines

20/05/2024

7 years ago today I made the leap to become a travel advisor. I remember everything about that day - that first phone call (which I was SO nervous about 😂) My first client. My first booking. And the beginning of something I never even expected.

7 years ago today I became an entrepreneur. I spent every waking night in between newborn feeding schedules building a website from the ground up, focusing all my efforts on marketing and destination education and figuring out ways to change the role of travel advisors and how we can positively impact and elevate our clients’ experiences.

7 years ago I hit the ground running as both a travel advisor and a brand new entrepreneur….and I never stopped. I kept my nose down, I focused on the good, I expanded my marketing and travel knowledge, and heck, made it through a pandemic without being completely in the red. 😵‍💫

In these 7 years, we’ve gone from $0 to more than $5 million in sales annually. My little team has gone from a team of 1 to a tiny but mighty team of 4. We’ve won some pretty outstanding awards from two of the biggest travel partners in the industry: Sandals & Beaches Resorts & the Walt Disney Travel Company. I’ve sat in rooms and shaken hands with C-suite executives and celebrities.

7 years ago has gone by so quick, and with so much help, support and guidance from so many…too many to even list but I can promise they all know who they are: family members, friends, fellow travel advisors, Business Development Managers, hotel partners, my incredible assistants, .travelingears and heck, even my own kids. (They’re actually my best little sales reps 😂).

In year 7, we will surpass 5,000 vacations booked. We’ve set high (high) goals, our portfolio of destinations continues to grow & we are busier than ever…but one thing remains true: our passion to help families just like ours to create a lifetime of memories in beautiful & magical destinations. ❤️

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for loving & supporting us over the years - we wouldn’t be here without each and every one of you. 😘

26/04/2024

Discover a AAA Five Diamond-rated resort that combines the ultimate in luxury accommodations with a dash of Disney enchantment.

Located within Walt Disney World Resort, this lakeside retreat is an idyllic getaway with impeccably designed rooms and suites—along with exclusive amenities and In-Room Celebrations to delight all ages and interests.

The Grand Suite at Four Seasons Orlando offers 1700 square feet of pure elevated luxury & is perfect for families looking to enjoy an elevated Disney experience. ✨

Here’s what you can expect:

•2 bedrooms | sleeps 4
•2 full bathrooms | half bath
•Full kitchen | kitchenette
•Living room | dining room
•250 sq ft balcony
•24 hour in-room dining
•Complimentary WiFi
•Kids club access for ages 4+

Plus, when we book your reservation, we extend our VIP amenities, which include a $100 resort credit, complimentary daily breakfast for 2, early check in, late check out and more!

The Grand Suite starts at $7900/night and is perfect for our clients who crave a sophisticated Disney vacation with the same convenience of staying at a Walt Disney World resort!

📱 Click the link below to request your complimentary quote today

www.TravelingEars.com/request-a-quote

24/04/2024

If I’m in a Disney cruise, you can bet there are the first 3 things I’m doing as soon as I’m onboard:

1️⃣ Hop in the app & check your dining time & rotation: if you aren’t thrilled about either, go to the “dining meeting” and change either or both. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you need a travel advisor. 😂)

2️⃣ Check availability for onboard activities & port adventures. If you are looking for something you weren’t able to book prior to getting onboard, chances are it may be available when you get onboard.

3️⃣ Attend open house at the kid’s clubs. Yes, parents can join their kiddos in the Oceaneer Club for a few hours prior to sailing away. This helps your kids (& you!) feel more comfortable with the space, activities and counselors so that everyone in the family can enjoy the benefits of the kid’s club throughout the duration of your cruise!

As an experienced Disney cruiser, I can wholeheartedly say these three things alone will set you up for success during your family’s voyage! 🚢✨

❤️ Follow
📌 Save for future travel inspiration
💌 Send this to a friend / family member

23/04/2024

I have been asked this question forever so here they are!

Top packing tips from a professional traveler 🧳

Hi, I’m Stephanie, an experienced travel advisor & professional traveler. I travel 1-3 times a month & these are my proven tips for reducing packing stress! 👇🏼

1️⃣ Start 1 week in advance - do NOT start the day before.

2️⃣ Pack your laundry as you wash it: undergarments, pajamas, etc…You’re going to pack it anyway; might as well take it straight to the suitcase!. This is easily one of my best/easiest ways to reduce both laundry & packing stress before a trip!

3️⃣ Lay out all options before putting anything into a suitcase: clothes, shoes, accessories, swimsuits, etc... Coordinate as needed and pack outfits together. For example, fold shirts around shorts & pack them together. This makes it easy to find each outfit every day of your trip versus matching outfits once you are in destination.

4️⃣ Lists: use a good, & I mean a goooood packing list. We provide these for all of our client for each & every destination. Also, make lists as you go. I have a list for each family member and add to it as needed: last minute items, carry on/tech items, clothes that are still in the laundry (or being delivered).

5️⃣ Take inventory & condense…then condense again. If you have 9 swimsuits for an 8 day trip, remove a couple. If you have 5 pairs of shoes, get it down to 3. When you take inventory, you’re going to realize you probably don’t need as much as you started with.

6️⃣ Check as few bags as possible, or better yet none at all. If you can get everything into carry on suitcases, not only are you reducing baggage fees, but you’re also guaranteeing your bags make it to your destination without being lost or delayed.

7️⃣ Vacuum seal all the things! Use vacuum seal bags to pack any items that cannot wrinkle or you don’t care if they wrinkle: pajamas, undergarments, swimsuits. Then, use your vacuum seal bags for your dirty laundry for the way home. You will be shocked at how much more space you have when you use the vacuum seal technique!

8️⃣ All bags should be packed & waiting by the door the night before except one bag with space for and last minute items. Go through your list(s) one last time. Any items not packed go into this bag.

📌Save for future packing!

08/04/2024

Hanging out, quite literally, in Orlando to partake the many luxuries offered here at Walt Disney World! 💅🏼

From a meeting at the Four Seasons Orlando to a plush stay in a 2-bedroom villa at Disney’s Riviera Resort with a private VIP tour of the parks in between, we are beyond excited to explore these premium experiences firsthand so we can continue to extend these offerings to our clients.

Be sure to follow along this week in stories to see the luxe side of a Disney vacation. 🏰✨

Questions about planning a luxury vacation, working with us or about travel in general? Ask away! 👇🏼

12/02/2024

THIS is what a level 3 travel advisory looks like folks.

📍 Whitehouse, Jamaica

🗞️ News flash…

The Bahamas has been at a level 2 travel advisory since 2022 & Jamaica has been at a level 3 travel advisory since 2019. This is nothing new-these destinations are still safe to travel to.

I say this with so much confidence because I have traveled to both of these destinations over 20 times in the last 4 years.

I’ve also sat in on multiple calls/webinars with resort partners, the Jamaica prime minister, Bahamas minister of tourism and more in the last couple of weeks, all of whom have confirmed nothing has changed on the islands. In fact, we experience more crime in certain US cities than what Jamaica & the Bahamas are currently experiencing.

As a Bahamas & Jamaica travel specialist and someone who frequents these islands more than any other Caribbean destination, while this is something I will never take lightly, it’s important to note the facts. It’s also important to know that I would never travel here personally (solo & with my children) if these were dangerous destinations. I certainly wouldn’t be actively booking clients to these destinations either.

No matter where you travel to, and in every day life, it is crucial to always remain vigilant of your surroundings.

While it is always important to exercise caution when traveling, the police force has been increased & new security technologies have also been put in place in both destinations to ensure anyone entering the country is safe & tourists are protected at all times. All drivers are registered. All resorts offer security at the front of the resorts AND on the beaches.

Jamaica & the Bahamas are both incredibly beautiful & welcoming destinations. Their economies depend on tourism and keeping tourists safe will always be their #1 priority.

I hope this eases wandering minds but if you have any questions or hesitation about traveling to a destination with a travel advisory, please reach out. What you see on the news and in headlines is not always in line with the current travel climate! 🌎