Castles and Cruises Travel - Karen Johnstone

07/02/2025

I can’t believe we’re a week into the second month of the New Year!!!! And what an exciting start to the year it has been! A huge thank you for choosing me to assist you with planning and booking your amazing 2025 travel adventures. And WOW do you have some fun ones booked! From a fabulous Girls Trip to Thailand to a few Couples heading on European Cruises and fully Packaged Tours, to post-SEA brain cooler trips to Disney and Universal Orlando for several Families with school aged kids, to lots of other fun custom designed trips and Caribbean and Bahamas Cruises in between - I’m so excited for the travel memories and experiences you are all going to have!

For those of you who haven’t booked yet or, haven’t booked with me before, here are some PRO TIPS to keep in mind:

1. Booking in advance is the best way to make that USD limit work for you - take advantage of flexible payments and refund terms!
2. Waiting will not give you a lower price - the travel industry no longer works that way! Now, most pricing is dynamic and demand based so pricing actually tends to continuously increase over time, not decrease!
3. It is important to weigh cost vs value - something that may seem like a “bargain” could actually end up costing you more in a lot of different ways and compromising your experience!
4. Booking with a real person is better than booking through a faceless website - when you book with me I’m available to you to answer questions, provide reservation support, and provide advice that will help you get the most out of your vacation!
5. 99% of my services have no fees attached! That’s because Travel Agent Fees are built into travel pricing (even on websites) - so you pay those fees even when you book directly. Why pay for services you aren’t receiving?
I’m standing by to my my expertise to work for you! Let’s book something fun! [email protected]

29/01/2025

Ok Ladies! We've got just over 2 weeks to Valentine's Day - time to Strategize! 😁 Share one of the images below to your page with a not-so-subtle hint: "Forget the flowers, this is what I want for Valentine's Day - a romantic long weekend escape with all the details planned out by [email protected] so that it's totally stress-free". PS: message me and tell me where you would like to go so that I know how to "guide" the conversation 😁

21/01/2025

🎉🗣️GET FREE PARK ADMISSION TO UNIVERSAL ORLANDO! 🤗Heading to Universal Orlando before May 2025? Take advantage of this special offer - Get 2 FREE Days of Park Admission when you purchase 2 Day Tickets! That's 4 Days of Admission for the price of 2! PLUS - when you book these tickets through me, you get EARLY PARK ADMISSION as a free perk!

✨Want to save more? Ask me how you can bundle and save up to $300 USD when you add a Universal Hotel to create a Universal Vacation Package!✨ [email protected]

2 DAYS FREE Offer valid for 2 Park or 3 Park tickets. Offer available now until 20 MAY 2025 for tickets now until 21 May 2025. Conditions Apply.

EARLY PARK ADMISSION allows you to enter designated parks up to 1 hour before official park opening time so that you can take advantage of shorter lines and smaller crowds for the attractions featured during this time.

18/01/2025

I’M HONESTLY SICK & TIRED of the struggle so many of my clients are facing with those USD Credit Card Limits. It’s almost impossible to plan a spontaneous trip right now! BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION: Take advantage of refundable deposits & flexible payments to book a future trip NOW. Not only will you lock in a Lower Price by booking early, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you will be refunded if you cancel within the stipulated timeframes (my quotes and notes clearly outline this, so you know going in how many days in advance of your planned trip you need to cancel!). HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN BOOK WHEN:

Disney World Vacation Packages:
All of 2025 - Book Now! $200 deposit, balance due 30 days prior to check-in; Flexible Payments; Fully Refundable if cancelled according to guidelines
2026 - Jan- Oct dates will open in a few months.

Universal Orlando (AND EPIC UNIVERSE) Vacation Packages:
All of 2025 - Book Now! $50 per person deposit, balance due 45 days prior to check-in; Flexible Payments. Fully Refundable if cancelled according to guidelines
2026 - will open in a few months.

Royal Caribbean Cruises
All of 2025, 2026 & early 2027 (for some itineraries) - Book Now! Refundable Deposit amount varies according to length of cruise; Balance due 45-90 days prior to sailing (depending on itinerary); Flexible Payments; Refundable if cancelled according to guidelines

Global Tours
All of 2025 and most 2026 - Book Now! Deposits average around $250 per person (these are non-refundable) but payments are flexible and refundable if cancelled according to guidelines. Balance typically due 90 days prior to tour date. Airfare from major US cities can be bundled in.

ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS
All of 2025 (and 2026 for some resorts) - Book Now! Deposits vary (can average around $100), but we can book a fully refundable rate and offer flexible payments - all of which is fully refundable if cancelled according to guidelines

Let’s plan that future trip and work around that FOREX hurdle! [email protected]

15/01/2025

🗣️ LONG WEEKEND ALERT! 🎉 Take advantage of the upcoming 4-day long weekend (March 29th - April 1st) to run away & have some fun! Whether it’s a quick trip to another island for an all-inclusive resort stay or a weekend of thrills and fun at Universal Orlando or a quick 3-day Bahamas Cruise from Miami - get in touch and let me put a quotation together for you!

DATES:
SUN 30TH MARCH - Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day
MON 31ST MARCH - PUBLIC HOLIDAY (Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day)
MON 31ST MARCH - Eid al-Fitr (tentative)
TUE 1ST APRIL - PUBLIC HOLIDAY (Eid al-Fitr)

LONG WEEKEND PLOTTING!
Fly out on Friday 28th March - Return on Wed 2nd March -
6 day weekend
Fly out on Friday 28th March - Return on Tue 1st March -
5 day weekend
Fly out on Saturday 29th March - Return on Wed 2nd March -
5 day weekend
Fly out on Saturday 29th March - Return on Tue 1st March -
4 day weekend

Message me! Let's plan something amazing and fun! [email protected]

08/01/2025

I’ve begun my two day, multi-flight trek home! Thank you everyone for your patience with my delayed responses! I’ll be back to keeping regular office hours on Thursday, so emails and quotes and calls will all be happening! Thank you again - looking forward to planning all of those fabulous trips you’ve been reaching out about!

04/01/2025

🎉SO BLESSED AND HONORED TO BE NAMED AMONGST THE TOP 20 - AND IT'S ALL THANKS TO YOU!!!! 🙏 Thank you so much for your trust, and for letting me plan your trips year after year! 2024 was an amazing travel year for many of you and I am honored that you chose me to work with you! Thank you to all of you who have already booked your 2025 trips or reached out to start planning them - I look forward to helping you make lots more wonderful travel memories! 😊

🌟 Celebrating Excellence in 2024! 🌟

A standing ovation for our Top 20 Sales Advisors who poured their hearts into every trip planned this year! 💼✈️ From magical Disney and Universal Orlando adventures to enchanting European escapes, Caribbean getaways, relaxing cruises, and beyond—your dream vacations were their mission. 🏝️✨

Congratulations to our outstanding team of top producers! 🎉👏

Here’s to an even more unforgettable 2025. We can’t wait to help you plan your next adventure! 🌍❤️

04/01/2025

✨Let's make 2025 YOUR year for an epic travel adventure! Whether it's magical family fun at Disney, thrilling adventures at Universal, cruising through the high seas, discovering the splendors of Europe or Asia, chasing the Northern Lights, lounging at a luxurious resort or shopping in Dubai - I can make it happen!✨

Let's plan something amazing!
[email protected]

02/01/2025

🍽️ DINE FOR FREE AT DISNEY THIS SUMMER! We're kicking the year off with an amazing Disney World Offer: GET A FREE DINING PLAN when you book a qualifying Disney Vacation Package for stays: May 27 - June 26th and Jul 7th - Aug 6th 2025. Meal credits are based on length of stay - so a family of 4 staying 6 nights will get 48 Meals and 24 sweet or savory snacks FREE with this offer! Meal allowances can be used at all Disney Theme Parks and Resort hotels and can be used for Breakfast, lunch or Dinner. Snacks can be used anytime (and can even be used for breakfast if you are light breakfast eaters!)

Email me for a quote! [email protected]

01/01/2025

🎉HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!🎉 Here's wishing you and yours abundant happiness, success and good health! This year WILL be YOUR year! And I look forward to planning your adventures and helping you create some amazing travel memories as you enjoy, explore and discover both familiar and new places on your travels! Here's to a truly epic 2025!

31/12/2024

WHAT AN AMAZING TRAVEL YEAR YOU'VE HAD! 2024 was a year filled with spectacular travel adventures and precious family vacations for many of you and I am truly thankful for you letting me plan these special trips! As I look back, here are the TOP 5 TRENDING VACATIONS booked by the families I've had the pleasure to work with in 2024!

#1 - DISNEY and UNIVERSAL are, as always, the top favorite family destinations. I was thrilled to lend my expertise to so many families this year - especially lots of first timers to the parks!

#2 - CRUISES are another family favorite - with Disney and Royal Caribbean coming in as top choices. They're also a great choice for multi-generational travel or friend group travel - looking forward to planning more of those in the future!

#3 - EUROPE was a hot choice this year! From custom trips to packaged tours, many of you got to explore and experience the old world charm of destinations like Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the UK!

#4 - BUCKET LIST TRAVEL was big in 2024! From Japan to South Africa, I was thrilled to help you tick some major far-flung destinations off your list! PRO TIP: While I can custom-build these trips for you, packaged tours are a great way to explore many of your wish list destinations!

#5 - ALL INCLUSIVE RESORTS - from Mexico to the Caribbean, from huge family-friendly resorts with waterparks to the romantic luxury of Sandals in the Caribbean, many of you took advantage of all-inclusive offerings for fun and relaxation!

I'm truly excited to plan your 2025 and 2026 Travel Adventures and help you explore this beautiful planet! Let's set up a time to chat about making your travel dreams come true! [email protected]

25/12/2024

🎄✨To all who celebrate- wishing you and your loved ones a truly wonderful and magical Christmas ✨🎄

10/12/2024

Take advantage of early park admission at Universal Orlando! Included when you book with me! [email protected]

10/12/2024

Good Morning from Universal Orlando! Did you know you can get into Universal’s Islands of Adventure while it is “closed” to ride popular rides like Velocicoaster and Hagrid’s? How? By booking with me! 😁 Your Universal Vacation package includes early park admission for every day of your stay so you can head into the park an hour before it opens! ✅ Just looking for tickets? When you purchase two day or more tickets through me you get Early Park Admission as a special perk! Ready for some thrills and adventure? Book your end of year or 2025 trip or tickets now! [email protected]

09/12/2024

Gingerbread Displays are an annual tradition for the holidays at Disney World. The giant Gingerbread House at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is the one you see photos of and hear about the most, but did you know there are actually 6 different displays you can visit? They are located at:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
and CommuniCore Hall at EPCOT

Here's a look at the display at Disney's Contemporary Resort which I visited yesterday - even in the daylight it's just so beautiful! To find it, head to the 4th floor and turn towards the shops (you'll see it immediately on the far wall!).

PRO TIP: Resort Hopping to see the decorations is a great (and free) holiday activity for your family! Head to the Grand Floridian (you can take a bus there from any theme park or from Disney Springs), then take the Monorail to the Contemporary, then take the complimentary water taxi over to Wilderness Lodge (to see their giant tree!). You can also water taxi from Epcot to the Boardwalk Resort and Beach Club Resort.

07/12/2024

One of the questions I get asked often is “WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE LIKE IN ORLANDO IN DECEMBER?”. The honest answer - it varies wildly as you will experience winter, spring and summer like temperatures all in one day! 😝😂 For the most part you can expect your day to go like this: COLD, CHILLY, PLEASANT, WARM, PLEASANT, CHILLY, COLD - somedays it will be all chilly, some days it will be all cold, some days it will be all pleasant, some days it will be a mix of all or some. SO HOW DO YOU DRESS? Layers are your best friend! This way you can add or remove items as you warm up or cool down.

Here’s a look at the weather forecast for tomorrow - it’s going to be chilly overnight, but will warm up to a lovely 75℉ when we’re in the parks (which is quite a comfortable temperature when you’re walking around and on the go!). Next week, we're getting into the 80's on Wednesday! So it truly is a roller coaster 😂