Do Travel Agents Still Exist?

Do Travel Agents Still Exist?

Do travel agents still exist? Because, you know, the Internet! This is the number one question I’m asked when people learn I am a Travel Advisor. Here are several benefits for clients choosing to use a Travel Advisor to help plan their trips:

First, Travel Advisors help clients choose a destination and how best to experience it. I’ve been to many destinations – but if not, I’ve got trusted colleagues who have, as well a host of research resources to draw on for my clients’ behalf. In order to match my clients with a great experience, I take time to get to know them. I hate to see people spend money on an experience they don’t enjoy, or have a subpar vacation, even if it was presented as a steal of a deal. 

Second, Travel Advisors save clients time and hassle. The Internet is called the Information Highway for a reason, but it’s a double-edged sword, and it may be difficult to know what's accurate. My knowledge and experience allow me to quickly assess available options. I love sitting on hold (said no one, ever!) – but as their Travel Advisor, my clients can outsource this time consuming and sometimes frustrating task to me.

Third, Travel Advisors may be able to get their clients special treatment they can't find on their own. Thanks to my relationships with travel suppliers, I can often get amenities, upgrades and other special VIP touches that my clients don't have access to. So while some DIY vacationers may pat themselves on the back for saving $100, it’s not unusual for my clients to enjoy special perks worth more, and adding an extra touch to their experience.

Fourth, the job of a Travel Advisor does not end when the client has booked travel.  I go the extra mile to find great restaurants I know they will love and book reservations, recommend and book extra special activities (for example, golf tee times, shore excursions, food experiences, day trips out of city, etc.) I do my best to prepare my clients for travel, to minimize surprises. I confirm that passports are current (and whether visas or other extras are needed,) help them with packing advice, and even tipping guidelines.

Fifth, Your Travel Advisor reads through the fine print, so you don’t have to. There are myriad rules imposed on the traveling public by airlines, hotel companies and tour operators, frequently resulting in fees for change or cancellation, as well as defining their obligation to the traveler in the event of an unforeseen circumstance, which might disrupt travel. I review this language and interpret terms and conditions for my clients, to assist them with making a fully-informed purchase decision. Additionally Travel Advisors have access to dedicated travel insurance companies with products that are often less expensive and more comprehensive than those offered by an airline or tour company.

Bonus – Have you ever tried to organize a trip for a group of people? Traveling with a group (family, friends, people with a common interest, etc.) is a wonderful way to experience a destination but it can quickly become complicated. You can delegate planning a group trip to a Travel Advisor, who will track all travelers and associated bookings, payment deadlines, documentation requirements, etc. It’s not unusual for travel companies to offer special perks when a group travels together! 

Finally, your Travel Advisor is a phone call away. If my clients experience unexpected challenges during their travel, they know they need just to phone or text me, and I will work to resolve the issue. Have you ever sought help from one of the online mega-agencies? If so, you understand the value proposition here!

Happy Travels,

Joan Q

joan@tastefulvoyages.com

CST #2123649-40

Paris Treats for the Traveler With a Sweet Tooth

Paris is sweet on the eye, sweet on the romance and sweet on the palette. It is a sugar lovers dream and the biggest problem you’ll have when it comes the delectable French deserts is which one to choose. To help you navigate that sweet last course, we’ve broken down the top 10 French desserts for your visit to France. And if you have to eat more than one a day just to get through them? Well, c’est la vie!

Tartes Aux Fruits – The tartes aux fruits are prepared with fresh fruit inside a buttery pastry.  The fruit sit atop a heavenly Chantilly cream.  You can enjoy these tartes in both a miniature individual portion, or as a pie-type slice.

Photo by Nick Collins from Pexels

The Éclair – The éclair is a popular dessert in Paris.  The long French pâte a choux pastry can be filled with either a rich custard or pastry cream, and topped with a sweet fondant or chocolate ganache.  Did you know that in French,  the term éclair means lightning?  

Photo by RitaE on Pixabay

The Paris Brest – This pastry was created to celebrate the Paris to Brest bicycle race in 1891.  Shaped in a round in homage to a bicycle wheel, it's a ring of pâte choux filled with praline flavored crème.

Photo by Jordan Mathie on Unsplash

Macaron – Macarons are undeniably delectable.  There are so many flavors to choose from.  The base ingredients include an airy meringue and almonds.  Be sure to not confuse with coconut macaroons, in which the English added the -oon to the word in the 16^th century.

Photo by Yosef Pregadio on Unsplash

Tarte Au Citron – Tarte Au Citron  (lemon tart) is a very popular dessert, consisting of a rich pastry crust and delicious lemon filling.  The filling, however, is not made with fruit, but rather is a custardy cream containing lemon juice, lemon zest and of course, eggs and sugar.

Photo by Alisha Mishra from Pexels

The Mille Feuille – This fluffy treat comes in a vanilla or custard slice and is comprised of several layers of puff pastry.  Between the puff pastry lies an additional two layers of pastry crème.  Another name for the Mille Feuille is the Napoleon.

Photo by iSAW Company from Pexels

The Tarte Tatin – Named after the hotel that serves the dessert (Hotel Tatin), the tarte Tatin is a unique upside-down pastry.  Its ingredients include caramelized fruit prepared with sugar and butter.  It pairs famously with a bit of tart crème fraiche. 

Photo by Chloe Benko-Prieur on Unsplash

Choux à La Crème – These cream puffs are created using puff pastry as well.  They swell while cooking and are actually hollow.  The oozing center can be either whipped cream or custard.   Interestingly enough, once you add chocolate as the topping and ice cream as the filling, it then becomes a profiterole.  

Photo from Pixabay

Croissant – Not limited at all to dessert, this buttery flaky wonder is a signature French pastry.  There are so many ways to top it; you can use fruit, chocolate, fondant or a compote of your choosing.  You will not be disappointed.

Photo by Mick Victor from Pexels

Petits Four – Translated, petit four means small oven, and are also known as mignardises.  The fours are miniature bite-sized confections that can also be savory if you choose.  The sweet route includes a sugary glaze atop a crispy biscuit.  These pastries are perfect for tea parties. 

Photo by Stux on Pixabay

Catch the Holiday Spirit - On a Cruise!

A December cruise can be a wonderful experience for you and your family! Especially if you’re looking for a change from that “White Christmas!” Trade in  your snow boots for flip flops as you cruise destinations such as Mexico, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. Enjoy twinkling stars, sparkling lights, beautiful holiday decorations and all the festivities of the season. Holiday cruises are packed with lots of onboard activities and the incredible ports of call.  

Here are some of the many reasons to consider a holiday cruise:

Family Time

Typically when families get together during the holidays, it always involves work. Cooking, cleaning, decorating, driving out-of-town family around. But when you’re on a cruise, you actually get to enjoy each other’s company.

Sunshine

If you ask most people if they’d rather shovel snow or go snorkeling, we’re betting most would grab their mask and fins! While your neighbors may be buried under a foot of snow, you can soak up the sun poolside or enjoy a tropical cocktail underneath a palm tree.

Onboard Entertainment

We think holiday entertainment at sea is the best! Watching all your favorite seasonal movies, enjoying Holiday Shows put on by talented dancers and singers are among the shipboard offerings which really do contribute to great family memories!

Holiday Shopping

If you didn’t get all of your holiday shopping before your cruise, no worries! Grab a few bottles of Tequila in Cozumel and bags of coffee from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica for the coffee lovers on your list. The gift ideas are limitless as you visit various ports of call!

Christmas Traditions

You don’t have to miss timeless Christmas traditions while at sea. Non-denominational services are usually offered and you can even sing carols around the tree before Christmas Dinner is served.

Decorations

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the holiday with all your cruise ship is sure to offer. Beautiful wreaths, trees—large and small, will make your holiday festive and bright! And the best thing is you don’t have to take any of it down after the holidays!

Memories

We’re pretty certain that your Holiday cruise will be one of your family’s favorites for years to come. Children and grandchildren will remember the time they built sandcastles on the beach on Christmas Eve, or spent New Year's Day at a Mayan ruin. 

Room Service

What a gift! Holiday breakfast in bed! You can order the perfect cup of coffee or order in pizza while you watch your favorite holiday movie in your stateroom. Room service is the ultimate gift for the mom who does it all!

Ready to plan?  I’d love to help!  joan@tastefulvoyages.com | tastefulvoyages.com

Exploring London's Neighborhoods

Over the past few days, I've been highlighting one of my favorite destinations, London, on Instagram and other social media sites.  This blog entry provides information about many of London's diverse neighborhoods.

My first overseas destination was London; my family went during spring break in 1999 after scoring loads of vouchers for agreeing to be bumped.  We checked with a friend who was very well versed in visiting London; he recommended renting a flat, which we did, in beautiful Belgravia. We loved the how friendly and helpful the locals are; we loved the ease of navigating the city via the Tube.  We toured all around London with London Walks, and day-tripped to Bath, Oxford and the Cotswolds, and took the ultimate day trip via the Chunnel to Paris. It’s hard to choose a favorite area; I love walking along the Thames, love the fun, hip, retro touristy vibe of Carnaby street, and love London’s live theatre scene.  For travelers nervous about taking that first hop across the pond, London is a great destination - for many reasons, including English being spoken (not as intimidating as visiting a country with a language you don’t know,) the iconic and historic structures, images of which we’ve all seen for most of our lives, and the abundance of activities available in London or within a brief train or coach ride outside of the city.  The little guide below highlights some of London’s many and unique neighborhoods; I’d be delighted to help you plan your first visit to London - joan@tastefulvoyages.com | 760.815.7400

London Pub

Best Neighborhood for Sightseeing: South Bank and Bankside

When it comes to sightseeing, South Bank and Bankside are excellent for access to big attractions – London Eye, Tate Modern, the Shard – and the City of London also has its share of popular sights, but lodgings are limited. South Kensington is great for museums and shopping; hotels tend to be pricey. Covent Garden and Soho are good all-rounders due to their proximity to the river, Westminster, and other top sights, and plentiful accommodations are a plus.

Best Neighborhood  for Nightlife: Soho

Soho can’t be beat for nightlife. The neighborhood is a good mix of trendy cocktail bars, (many of which also offer great food,) traditional English pubs, theatres, and basement clubs with DJ nights, including a number of gay venues. There are only a few hotels in Soho, slightly set back from the action. Other good areas for nightlife include Camden with its live music venues and East End, with its legendary clubs.

Exotic Cocktail at Artesian

Best Neighborhood for Food and Restaurants: Covent Garden

Some of London’s best eating is done around Covent Garden. The dense cluster of streets is packed with restaurants ranging from inexpensive Indian, Mexican and Brazilian mini-chains to upscale fine dining and traditional pubs serving excellent local food. Covent Garden is a 5 min walk from Chinatown and also Soho, jam-packed with artisan coffee shops and global offerings. Hotels around Hyde Park offer London’s best Michelin-starred dining. Camden, the East End, and King’s Cross are great for street food.

My husband enjoying a traditional Pub Supper - Sunday Roast 

Best Neighborhood  for Families: South Kensington and Marylebone

South Kensington is one of the best places to stay in London for families. The neighborhood is relatively quiet, and there are two stellar museums with plenty of interactive exhibits for all ages. Just to the north is Hyde Park, with its playgrounds and the family-friendly Winter Wonderland during the colder months. Marylebone is another good option, within easy reach of both Hyde Park, London Zoo in Regent’s Park and Madame Tussauds – popular with older children.

Military Musicians during Remembrance Day Parade

Best Neighborhood to Stay for First Timer: Covent Garden

If it’s your first time in London, then Covent Garden is the best neighborhood to base yourself. It is centrally located, has a great dining and theatre scene and is within an easy walking distance of numerous big attractions, such as the National Gallery, Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. There are excellent public transport connections to other parts of London and it’s easy to take a boat along the Thames to reach other places of interest. Accommodation are available for all budgets.

On the Millennium Bridge crossing the Thames from St. Paul's to the Tate Modern

Most Romantic Neighborhood: Mayfair, Marylebone, or South Kensington

If you want to romance your significant other in London, it’s hardly a tough call between staying in Mayfair, Marylebone, or South Kensington. Mayfair is Old World wealth and charm, with renowned 5-star hotels such as The Ritz and the Connaught, and some of London’s most celebrated restaurants, including La Gavroche and Corrigan’s Mayfair. In South Kensington, you can opt for the 5-star hotels that fringe Hyde Park, while Marylebone has a hip vibe, some excellent boutique hotels, and less formal dining.

Stonehenge is a great destination for a day trip; frequently combined with a visit to Bath

Best Neighborhood for a Local Vibe: Camden

It’s hard to get more ‘local’ than Camden. The graffiti-tagged, gritty streets still resist gentrification and, Camden Market, and the tour narrowboats on Regent’s Canal aside, this is still a working-class neighborhood. Stop by Barfly, Underworld or another local pub and you might catch the next big thing in alternative rock. In the East End, Brick Lane is ‘Banglatown’; like other parts of east London, it retains a strong immigrant feel, with curry houses, Bangladeshi cafes and sari shops.

Familiar, iconic structures, like Big Ben, are plentiful in London

Best Neighborhood for Walking: Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Soho

The Covent Garden/Leicester Square/Soho area is very popular with visitors on foot – it’s a neighborhood made up of numerous little streets lined with restaurants, bars and shops, some of them completely pedestrian, and there’s little in the way of traffic. It’s very central, right in the heart of London’s West End. You’ll find Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery, and you can easily walk to the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and the London Dungeon (just across the river), Westminster Cathedral – they’re a 15-minute walk southwest from Leicester Square. Buckingham Palace is a 15-minute walk west of Westminster – most of it away from traffic, through St James’ Park. The British Museum is a 20-minute walk north of Covent Garden.  Leicester Square offers TKTS booths selling discounted same-day theatre tickets, too!

Glass Geodesic Ceiling, Great Hall - British Museum (Can you spot the plane?)

Safest Areas in London

London’s safest neighborhoods tend to be the most affluent ones. Mayfair, South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Chelsea – all these are largely safe to walk around any time of day. Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia are also very safe, but standard precautions apply at night. Covent Garden is generally fine but things can get lively late on weekend nights.

Tea at Harrod's

Unsafe Areas of London

Parts of the East End, such as Hackney and Shoreditch, can be sketchy at night. While the King’s Cross area has been rejuvenated, the area around the train station is still grotty, and it’s best not to wander around late at night. Camden is fine during the day but has a reputation for street crime after dark. The Soho and Leicester Square area can be rough late at night, and Hyde Park is best avoided after dark.

Ready to plan your London visit?  I’d love to help!  Joan@tastefulvoyages.com | 760.815.7400

LONDON, JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES

Leadenhall Market, London - Site of The Leaky Cauldron in the Early Harry Potter Films

I love going to the movies, and with London being a key player in so many of my favorites, I felt like I sort of knew the place when I first visited - and now when I view a film set in London I have a greater appreciation of the places depicted. 

Movies have such a powerful effect on our imagination,  and in fact serve to influence many people by inspiring them to travel to their favorite movie locations.

If you fancy going behind the scenes to see how the Harry Potter films were produced, Warner Brothers offers a studio tour experience just outside of London specifically called "The Making of Harry Potter."

I’ve listed below several movies set in London; if London is on your travel bucket list, be sure to check out these movies to get you and your travel companion in the mood for a visit.  Trying to convince a group of friends to go with you? These movies will help!  joan@tastefulvoyages.com | 760.815.7400

What’s your favorite movie set in London? Comment below.

PS -  I love Hugh Grant - so Four Weddings and a Funeral, About A Boy, Notting and Love Actually top my list - as well as the Sean Connery-era James Bond movies. And I love the sweet optimism of Bend it Like Beckham!

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Charles (Hugh Grant) is looking for The One in Richard Curtis’s sweet, soppy movie. The capital provides a picture-perfect backdrop as Grant and his band of twenty-something aristo-Londoners date, flirt and consider settling for sub-standard partners in an effort to walk down the aisle. Proof that spending every sunny Saturday at a friend’s wedding is not a modern affliction.

London location Charles lives (and has that romantic, rainy reunion) on Highbury Terrace in Highbury Fields, the lucky sod. He also wanders along the South Bank and has a matrimonial meltdown at Smithfield’s St Bartholomew the Great.

A Fish Called Wanda

John Cleese hauled Ealing comedy legend Charles Crichton out of retirement to co-write and direct this acid-tongued shout-out to the classic comedy crime caper. Cleese plays a barrister (that’s a lawyer) swept up in a robbery plot; Michael Palin outraged stutterers worldwide as an animal-loving getaway driver; and two Yanks, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline offer scathing observations on British life.

London location The iconic scene where Kline dangles Cleese out of a window was shot at New Concordia Wharf in Bermondsey. 

Sherlock Holmes

Sir Conan Doyle’s sleuth gets a post-modern update, with Robert Downey Jr playing a beefed-up version of Holmes.

London location Shot in and around London (as well as Liverpool and Manchester), Guy Ritchie’s London of yesteryear is a romantic place of heaving bosoms and ridiculously cool heroes.

Notting Hill

From the same makers as Love Actually, with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, Notting Hill is a funny, light-hearted fantasy romance that has its tongue pressed entirely in its cheek.

London location:  While not reflected in this film, Notting Hill is one of London’s most multicultural hot spots. The neighborhood looks the best it ever has – though Portobello Road is where you’ll find Grant’s bookshop.

Bridget Jones Diary

Renée Zellweger stars as the perpetually-single Bridget in this canny update of Pride & Prejudice.

London location: Visit Borough Market and you’ll easily spot Bridget’s little flat near the pub, not to mention the restaurant that's the setting for the hilarious dust-up between Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.

Bend It Like Beckham

Two 18-year-old girls aspire to become professional football (soccer) players in Gurinder Chadha’s gentle comedy.

London location: Chadha captures the city’s cultural diversity beautifully as Parminder Nagra rebels against her orthodox Sikh upbringing – with Hounslow providing the perfect suburban backdrop.

Oliver!

The 1960s classic musical, in which young orphan Oliver falls in with a gang of street urchins who’ve been trained as pickpockets.

London location: The city’s a smoggy place filled with danger in this movie adaptation of Dickens’ novel – you definitely believe a character like Fagin could live here.

28 Days Later

Sci-fi horror from Danny Boyle in which an incurable virus sweeps the UK, transforming people into ravenous zombies.

London location: Trust us, it’s never this empty in London – not even at 4 am when the clubbers are all tucked up in bed. Which makes the sight of a deserted central London all the creepier…

The Bourne Ultimatum

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) continues his hunt for answers while dodging the CIA.

London location: Waterloo Station is a battlefield at the best of times, but it becomes a hustle-bustle setting for a fantastically tense action scene in Damon’s last Bourne film, as he attempts to protect Paddy Considine’s journalist.

Mary Poppins (1964)

Joyous musical romp starring Julie Andrews as the Mary Poppins, who’s hired to look after two very unhappy children.

London location: This is London as envisioned by Walt Disney Pictures, where everybody’s smartly dressed, the townhouses are towering and gorgeous, and the parks boast cartoon characters.   Dare to dream, Disney…

Brick Lane

A Bangladeshi woman arrives in London, leaving behind her family and friends.

London location: Cultural diversity is all part of London’s charm, and here we get a look at the East End’s Bangladeshi community, where the aftershock of 9/11 is strongly felt.

Harry Potter

Eight films adapted from JK Rowling’s bestselling book series, with Daniel Radcliffe as the lightning-scarred boy wizard.

London location: Sad to say, Diagon Alley doesn’t actually exist in our beloved capital. That doesn’t stop Columbus, Yates et al from lavishing the city with adoring screen time, whether it’s the Millennium Bridge getting destroyed in Half-Blood Prince or those gorgeous over-city shots in Phoenix. And, of course, there’s King’s Cross station…

The King's Speech

Oscar-nabbing historical drama starring Colin Firth as King George VI, who struggles with a debilitating stammer.

London location: Rush’s Harley Street practice should look familiar – it’s a Georgian townhouse 33 Portland Place, a popular location used loads of films…

Sliding Doors

A 1998 British-American romantic drama film written and directed by Peter Howitt and starring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah, while also featuring John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Virginia McKenna. The film alternates between two parallel universes, based on the two paths the central character's life could take depending on whether she catches a train, and causing different outcomes in her life.

London location: The bridge featured is the Albert Bridge between Battersea and Chelsea. The late-night scene when Paltrow and Hannah walk down the street was filmed in Primrose Gardens (formerly Stanley Gardens) in Belsize Park.

Ready to head to London? I’d love to help you plan that trip for you and the people you care most about. Reach out and contact me today - joan@tastefulvoyages.com | 760.815.7400