The Travel Agent Next Door - Carolyn Robinson

31/01/2022

Unfortunately the failure of Crystal Cruises left a lot of people without their planned vacation.
In an effort to help fill the gap Holland America Cruise Line are offering 15% off the base fare of guests one and two on any cruise with proof of Crystal purchase. This pricing can be combined with any specials offered currently but does not apply to the land portion of any cruise tours. Bookings must be make by May 31, 2022.

26/07/2021

Wondering what to do on your next vacation?

This is being billed as the most extraordinary travel experience ever created, perfect for the ultimate James Bond fans—and it costs just $80,000.

The vacation offers a luxurious travel experience with a James Bond-themed adventure trip that includes attending the London Premiere of “No Time to Die,” the new James Bond film. The trip will visit four nations and seven cities in 21 days.
Guests step into James Bond’s shoes and become the adventurer as they visit multiple film locations where they will re-enact Aston Martin chase scenes with helicopters filming. In London, they tour Bond sites in the city, a museum with Bond artifacts, and are treated to a private dinner at the Tower Bridge, a private tour of the Tower of London, and a private viewing of the crown jewels along with dinner at the Tower of London.

A private jet will take guests from London to Scotland to visit the house and grounds used for “Skyfall.” Guests will jump in Land Rovers on the location of the chase scene from the movie for a heart-pounding high-speed chase. The tour stops at various movie locations throughout Scotland and includes many other action adventures. Guests will be treated to a tour and tastings at Macallan Scotch, and dinner will be provided at Broomhall with Lord Bruce, a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce in the ancestral home of Robert the Bruce.

Guests can design and receive a registered tartan and kilt from Scotland with their own design. They visit Sean Connery's boyhood home and other locations significant to James Bond and Ian Fleming while being pampered at historically significant five-star properties.

The next stop on the trip is Norway for a high-speed chase in an Aston Martin and other luxury vehicles, including a high-speed boat chase on a fjord. Guests then race to the helicopter extraction point while enjoying an action-packed paintball battle. A crew will film the entire adventure so guests can relive the adventure over and over.

Guests can enjoy breathtaking views while participating in action adventures with real stunt performers, training, weapons, exotic cars, high-speed driving, off-road driving, and a view of the Last Supper in the church where it was painted. A private car and driver will be available for use in all locations of the tour.

11/05/2021

Thank you to all the wonderful people who took the time to send birthday greetings over the weekend. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

08/05/2021

01/05/2021

MAKE YOUR VACATION BUCKS DO EXTRA DUTY

Most of us make our vacation decisions based on destination or potential highlights and attractions. However, it’s getting more and more popular to combine our personal interests with the travel plans.

The ocean and river cruise lines have added specialty travel to their roster. If you are a golf nut, you can cruise to a country you want to visit and include several rounds of golf at various famous golf courses. You don’t have to just play golf. There are themed cruises around the Grand Prix and the PGA or fan cruises featuring famed athletes or sports celebrities.

With gastronomy being a major part of the cruise experience, it just makes sense that there are food and wine themed cruises both on the ocean and on rivers. In general there are popular chefs on board along with representatives from distillers, wineries or craft brewers. There is ample opportunity to attend wine tastings, cooking or mixology classes and to learn about new trends and products. Cruises in the Mediterranean or on European rivers are especially conducive to these programs as they sail through some of the most desirable food and wine producing regions of the world.
Lifestyle vacations are among the most popular and include things like fitness classes, cycling and hiking, and nutrition. Charter cruises dedicated to singles, the LGBTQ community or nudists, etc are also available.
Faith-based cruising is gaining in popularity at a remarkable rate. Both ocean and river lines are including Christian and Jewish heritage cruises usually accompanied by pastors or rabbis and include on board programming as well. In 2020 the Oberammergau Passion Play had to be cancelled due to Covid-19. This once a decade show was moved to 2022 so you still have time to book.

There are themed cruises for virtually every hobby: birding, photography, knitting, quilting, stamp collecting, bridge and astronomy are just a few. Music and dance cruises include everything from classical music to rap; ball room dancing to tap.

Themed cruising is a wonderful opportunity for groups to take their interests on the road (well, ocean or river) and meet like-minded people from all over the world. After more than a year of isolation, it’s an opportunity to be together, to participate, share experiences, laugh and learn.

Every major cruise line has themed cruises. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for a list.

16/04/2021

Why you should travel…..Simple, Travel makes you happier. I’ve never really thought I needed an excuse to travel but in case you feel you have to justify your next trip feel free to use any of the following truths to vindicate yourself.

Did you know that a study by Cornell University researchers found that spending money on experiences rather than on physical objects makes us happier? Apparently we “adapt” to objects meaning that the happiness we feel after we purchase something fades over time once we get used to it. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to bring us joy every time we think about them.

A study by the international hotel booking site, booking.com found that 65% of the customers surveyed found that their first experiences abroad boosts their confidence. It seems it is because travel offers many opportunities to excel without external pressures and at your own pace.

Travelling, especially solo, is an opportunity to discover our own limits and broaden our horizons. Visiting a new place allows us to connect with our inner “selves” and what we really want.

Being able to adapt is often a prerequisite for a good employment position and the experiences we gather on the road can prove very helpful in our lives at home. Travellers are perceived as resourceful and brave.

On the road we quickly learn that cultural references help shape our image of the world. Engaging with other mind sets, values and ideas can be a little unsettling at first but it ultimately makes us stronger and more open.

Sometimes getting away provides a much-needed distance in order to see a problem in a new light. Being confronted with other realities also gives us an opportunity to re-evaluate our priorities and learn to put things into perspective.

Going on vacation keeps us young and healthy. According to a study published in the LA Times, women who vacation every six years or less are more likely to have a heart attack or develop heart disease as opposed to those who vacation twice a year
If you spend some time in another country it’s hard to manage without at least a smattering of the language. That’s a good thing because learning a new language is supposed to be good for your neurons and slows down the onset of diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Travel is good for stress reduction. Again, according to a study, this time by the Transamerica Centre for Retirement Studies, after one or two days 89% of travellers observe a significant decrease in stress levels.
And finally, travel memories are priceless.

15/04/2021

RE: AIR CANADA REFUNDS
Please be advised that Air Canada has over two million tickets eligible for refund. If you have a ticket on a trip booked with me, I will be applying for the refund on your behalf as soon as you notify me of your wishes. However, please be patient. All will be processed eventually.

Thank you. Carolyn