Hello again,

I know it has been a long time since I blogged. SO much has been going on that I've wanted to share with you, but I do not even recognize my life before I became a Mother.

My son started school and decided “you don't like me Mommy, or you wouldn't make me go to this school". My 18 month old daughter started her terrible two's 6 months early with complete temper tantrums where she throws herself on the floor.

And just to make sure I was paying attention, my bathroom and garage flooded when a pipe broke underneath the house!
Yet, I am happier than I have ever been. I have been vacationing with my family, and it makes me forget everything else.
I used to get mad at clients who spent money I knew they didn't have to go away on a trip, but I get it now. Vacations are necessary even if you have to eat "the chef" or cancel some premium channels you don't have time to watch anyhow.
Taking a vacation is not a luxury, it is mandatory. Employees would not give you paid vacations if it wasn't necessary. Schools would never close for 3 months if they didn't want you to travel.

When I last wrote I also thought it didn't matter where you went "as long as the family was together". On second thought, I was wrong again. It does matter where you go and how you get there. I was so blindly in love with my kids that I assumed they would be happy on every airplane and during every car ride. I thought just going somewhere warm and sunny would keep them stimulated.

Since the last time I wrote, I have taken my children to Disney World in July, Jamaica in August, and Philadelphia in September. My 3 year old thinks that Mickey Mouse and Elmo lives in every hotel that we go to since that was the case for 2 out of 3 hotels. When we got to my nephew's Bar Mitzvah in Philadelphia he was looking everywhere for Mickey Mouse and Goofy.

This is my new philosophy regarding vacations (with or without children): Do not settle when taking a vacation. If you are used to nice resorts but because the kids are now in college or you aren't making the money you were making 3 years ago, don't go to a 3 star hotel because it is cheaper. Do not compromise on your trips. No matter where you go it is going to cost a significant amount of money. I know it is great to go Christmas week or after Hurricane Season. I also know that flying nonstop is really convenient, but what is most important to you?

For me it is getting a great deal on a GOOD place. I used to be all about getting a good deal on a GREAT place, but a great place for me might mean there is a water slide or not a long ride from the airport. I don't even look at how many stars the resort has anymore. I look at the amenities, the services, and I listen to what my friends and clients tell me.
I have been in this business almost 20 years and I am good at my job because I listen to my clients. I want to know which resorts have enough beach chairs in the shade. I want to know if it is hard to get dinner reservations at the good places. I want to know if there is a bee problem or if the people working there are nice. I want to know how deep the pool is, what the temperature of the ocean is and whether or not long pants are required for men.
Now don't call me tomorrow and ask me what the weather is going to be like 7 weeks from now, or how much the spa charges for a massage, because I don't know the answers to those questions, and even though I am here to serve you, if you ask me a question you can find the answer to on your own, I may just tell you want you want to hear (which may be less than factual).

What you can do is tell me what you are looking for and how much you are willing to spend for a few days of paradise. I will find you the prefect place for your specific needs. I know we can help you, now will someone help me with the terrible 2s?

I will write again sooner rather than later.

Beth

Why I love selling travel.

Why I love selling travel.

I usually fill this blog with antidotes of the silly questions my clients ask, or complaints about the airlines charging for pillows and blankets, but today I am going to tell you why I love what I do.
Obviously I am not here in an attempt to get rich, because after I pay my nanny, it is really a “wash”. Even though I LOVE the people I work with and work for, working with them is not enough of a reason to take me away from my children.
I love what I do because yesterday I came to work and found a box of cookies delivered to me from one of my clients who wanted to thank me for her vacation and finding her a less expensive rate for a future trip.
I love what I do because last week one of my clients called me to see how “motherhood was treating me”.
My clients have invited me to their weddings and children’s birthday parties. They sent me sympathy cards when I lost my grandma, cards of encouragements when I was struggling with bringing my son home from Russia.
I talk to some of my clients more often than I do some of my relatives.
I love that my clients call me after their trip to say they had a great time. I love it less when they call to tell me they got sunburn or lost their camera.
I love helping a nervous fiancé plan a surprise engagement in the Caribbean, or planning a family reunion.
I love that I can help people create memories that will last a lifetime and help make their dreams come true.
My boss is working really hard at making our website user friendly and easier to navigate. He keeps asking me to help him with it, but I don’t have the heart to tell him that all you really want is the best price possible and good service. He works really hard at negotiating the best prices possible at the hotels, but if you ever find a better deal, please call us. If there is anything else we can do for you (within reason) let us know. Making you happy is really what keeps me going. Thanks for everything and I look forward to planning your next great vacation.

Beth

Welcome to a better year

Happy New Year to Everyone


I don't know about you, but I am super happy to welcome 2010. It was the best year of my life because I finally became a Mother, but 2009 was really tough for most everyone.

I am sorry I have not been updating this blog, but it took every once of energy I had (plus a full time nanny) to figure out this Motherhood job. I have been a terrible blogger and not such a good travel agent. Anyhow, I am back. My kids are amazing, beautiful, smart and awe inspiring, but I am sure they will be happy to know I am getting back to work, even if it is just a couple of hours a day.

So this is my travel advice for everyone. Take the time for yourselves, your significant others, and your children of all ages. I have never seen such joy and happiness in my children's faces as when we spent a week together on vacation. I know it helped that we went to Beaches in Turks and caicos where the Sesame Street characters entertained them daily, but nothing at home can compete with a vacation away from home. My neice asked me if "we can live at the hotel" and every day my 7 year old nephew insisted it was "the best day of his life". If I have learned anything so far about being a parent, it is that what children really want from us is our time. I don't know about any of you, but when I am home there are so many distractions (work, laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping to name a few) but once you are away, you really have the time and energy to spend with the ones you love.

That is why everyone's after New Year's resolution should be to take a vacation with someone you love or even take one by yourself if you need the alone time. I know money is tight, but like my father always says, "you cannot take it with you".
Vacations are like pizza, even a bad one is better than nothing. If you book with us, you will not have a bad vacation.
I cannot believe I am saying this, but even a cheap vacation is better than nothing. In my former life (before having children and being broke all the time) I thought it was better to stay home than go away to a place if the sheets did not have at least 500 thread count or my room didn't directly face the ocean. I even remember telling people that wanted to keep their vacation under $500 to go camping or save their money until they had enough for a real vacation. I was really wrong. I know now that a vacation is what you make of it. Obviously if you spend $500 a night instead of $100 a night you may get more amenities, but it doesn't mean you will have more fun. I no onger think that if an all-inclusive does not serve eggs benedict or smoked salman for breakfast that there is nothing to eat. My 2 1/2 year old son ate chocolate muffins for breakfast 7 days straight and cheered every morning. We swam every day until our fingers were like prunes and went to shows every night. If you would have told me a year ago I would be going to Elmo's birthday party and liking it, I would have thought you were crazy. My point is, vacations are about doing things you wouldn't necessarily have the time to do at home. Vacations are also about trying new things and making the most out of each day.

In 2009 I learned that life is really short and unpredictable. I always said that "life is not a dress rehearsal" but it wasn't until this year that I actually started living my life that way. Right now you probably have 100 good reasons not to take a vacation, but take one anyhow. Take the time for your family and for yourself. I'll be back to you really soon with some great vacation specials, but call us in the meantime, and start planning this year's vacation.

Beth

Life is Good...Take a vacation

Every day my boss asks me, “did you write your blog yet?” and every day I tell him tomorrow, because TODAY, like yesterday, I am obsessed with being a Mother. I love my job at Vacation Travel Mart, and before I became a parent, I didn’t think I would ever like anything as much as I liked working. For me, to be able to send someone on a Caribbean vacation is really fulfilling. I love that my clients are now my friends. I love the people I work with. I can honestly say I do not work for the money, but for the satisfaction I get by giving someone a “deal”. Would I work for free? Probably not.
Anyhow, so work was my life…then I won the lottery (figuratively speaking) and now have 2 children. I have a 2 month old baby girl, Kasey Caryl and a 2 year old toddler, Blake Fox. I have it all, even the white picket fence! Every day is so fulfilling and gratifying that I cannot seem to wipe the smile off my face. Don’t get me wrong, every day is not a picnic. I haven’t slept more than 5 hours in a row in over 3 months, one of my best friend’s has lung cancer, the economy still sucks and is affecting all of us, I haven’t worked out in 3 months, and the swine flu came and left us all a little scared to travel.
So I am writing with a purpose, and believe me, if I didn’t have anything good to say, I wouldn’t waste my time or your time. Take a vacation. I just took one and am ready for another one. Right now the airlines and resorts are trying to re-coup the money they lost last year when fuel prices were so high and before people cancelled their vacations in fear of catching a flu that actually started in the US and has nothing to do with poor Mexico.

My boss, Jacques, in addition to bothering me, also decided to drop our already small profit margin in order to increase sales. So, go to Mexico, or Jamaica, or even Aruba and the Bahamas. There are deals everywhere. I am telling you, I have been doing this for 18 years and I never saw an all-inclusive hotel in Cancun for $35 a night (at least not one without roaches). The Oasis Viva and Palm Beach are offering deals that cheap, and while they are not 5 star hotels, they are not dumps either. The Catelonia resorts are 5 star (on a scale of 6) and have rates as low as $50 per person, per night. There is no flu in Mexico, I promise you. It is safe and cleaner than before.

Jamaica is another place that just added about a billion new hotel rooms and is offering some exceptional vacation deals. It is not as cheap as Mexico or the Dominican Republic, but if you want to try someplace new try Jamaica. They just added zip line tours, and even a Jamaican bobsled ride.

I would write more but I would rather stare at my beautiful children. Call us, or visit our website. I know times are tough, but if you have a job you love, or a partner that makes you happy most of the time, or are blessed with the honor of being a parent (even if your kids act rotten sometimes), take a minute to smile. Better yet, take a vacation!
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New exciting destinations

Sorry it has been so long since I have written, but believe me it will be worth your wait.In case you have not noticed, we have revamped our web site! We have lowered prices and added destinations. As you know, we really specialized in Mexico and the Caribbean. My boss has a great philosophy: "if you can't do it right, don't do it at all". Our customers are used to bargains and great service. Before this recession, there was no such thing as a great bargain to Hawaii, or a family trip to Disney, or even a European Vacation. Now, my friends, we do it all!This is what we did: we didn't create the wheel, but we spent 5 months researching the best wholesale companies for each of our new destinations so you have the lowest priced vacations to everywhere without having to search 20 web sites. We did all the work for you. If you find something that we offer cheaper, we will match the price and give you $50 off your next vacation. If we are going to launch this program, we might as well do it right. I have been selling the Caribbean for over 18 years, and it is my first love. The prices are excellent, the sun is shining, and who doesn't like the Caribbean? Who doesn't like getting a deal?With this economy, if it is not on sale, I am not buying it. It is too hard to make money these days to spend it recklessly. Our web site is literally ON SALE- some places are even on the "clearance aisle" with specials up to 70% off. Now is the time to book your Summer vacation.Taking your family to Europe or Hawaii used to be for the super rich (or super in debt), but the sluggish economy have forced these normally expensive destinations to lower their prices or close their doors. The car companies could have taken a few lessons from the travel industry. Supply and demand. The airlines and resorts throughout the world are finally realizing that if they want to stay in business, they better make it affordable.So, that is very exciting stuff. We are thrilled to be able to offer you so much more at the same low prices you expect and deserve. You cant go to Europe for the same price as Cancun, but if you have always dreamed of an Italian holiday, now is the time.The other new and exciting thing is my husband and I were granted custody of Blake- our son from Russia. We go back in 10 days when his paperwork is completed to bring him home. Life is wonderful. Thank you everyone for your prayers and positive wishes. I owe you one- and I will be here for you for your next vacation travel mart vacation.Love, Beth