Still the thrill of being a travel agent

It's been almost 4 years, and still I sometimes get such a thrill out of the realization that I am a travel agent.

Today it hit me when I started work on a request for one of my favourite clients, a business student, who needs flights for a job she starts in January. She's in Tokyo right now, returns for Christmas, and needs to be in Heidenheim de Brenz, Germany, in early January. There is a bit of flexibility on dates, but not much.

So, where is Heidenheim de Brenz, you say? Me too.

Once I found out where the town was, I had to figure out what airport is closest, with good transportation to the smaller town. That would be Stuttgart Airport (STR), but roundtrip flights from Victoria are a little pricey, so I am sitting down now to explore more options.

Next stop: Rome to Rio (great tool!)

I absolutely LOVE this stuff.

Sure, it's not the stuff I make the most on, but that doesn't matter.

Roberta to Earth: checking in

Hi. yes, I am still here.
No, I have not disappeared off the face of the planet.
Yes, I am fine.

Why did I stop blogging? I don't know... but I've been here before, it's somewhat cyclical for me. But also, I think I was a little lost when I got back from Europe. I had so much to say and share. Then, I was just 'me' again. And, whoa, did my life get busy and go topsy turvy in so many ways.... more about all that another time.... In the meantime:

I'm continuing to live here in Sidney. My mom is in care in Victoria, so I am often in that way. Also, my cruise gig involves being in the office several days a week in Victoria. So, it's back and forth a bit.

These are all the other me's online....

@citytravelbug
@crazy4picasso
@citytravelbooks
@cruisetravelbug
@kidsonacruise
@ihatetaxis
@layoverideas

In a nutshell, here are my gigs:
Expedia CruiseShipCenters - I'm a self-employed cruise and vacation consultant
IHateTaxis.com
LayoverIdeas.com

I'm going all out working on the cruise thing - and doing fab - but I'm looking to supplement my income with some contracts. The ramp up to income that I can actually live on is a long one, as cruising is something people book far in advance for, and I get paid when they sail. And that's when the magic happens: repeat bookings, referrals and so on. So I'm hanging in there, and paddling as fast as I can. I'm also just starting see a particular bit of magic: people in my network who are booking their vacations with me. It takes awhile for people to learn what I am doing, realize I can help them remotely, and to think of me for non-cruise travel.

I'm generally pretty subtle on marketing to friends - I don't want anyone to be put off, or feel obligated, or feel bad if they don't book with me - so I'm letting the universe make the connections most of the time for people I know. However.... I'll ask this favour of anyone who has read this far: if you want to help me be a success, in a win-win situation, here are a few things you can do that would make a difference:

• Call me if you are thinking of booking any type of travel.
• If you have a travel agent you love, be happy for what I am doing, and enjoy your travels.
• If you have a travel agent that you're not so keen on, give me a chance to blow you away with my service.
• If you're thinking of a cruise, even if it is a long way in the future, let me know, and I can watch for the best offers.
• Confused by all the cruise pricing you see out there? Let me explain how it works. No obligation, ever.
• If you don't know what type of cabin to book on a ship, perhaps you are worried about motion, or noise, ask me. This what I do!
• If you've never cruised, and think it's not for you, but wonder about it - talk to me. There are many different types of cruises and cruise experiences. Most people who 'hate' cruising weren't matched with the right cruise for them (if you stay in the Hyatt, are you going to be happy in a Motel 6 with a party crowd?)
• If you have quote for travel, ask me if I can match it.
• If you're planning to get away to an all-inclusive vacation to a spot in the sun, let me know - this is part of what I do!
• If you are considering taking a land tour - if you already know what you want to book, or if you don't have a clue - let me know, I can help.
• If you are planning to travel, no matter who you book with, please travel insured!!!
• Consider buying your travel insurance through me. You can contact me directly for a quote, or you can book directly on my website.
• If you normally book everything yourself, ask me about the ways that booking through me benefit you.
• If you book everything yourself, and you really don't see yourself changing, consider using my links (I'll add them below). If you use my Expedia.ca link, for example, you get the same awesome Expedia selection and pricing, and I benefit. Sometimes it's small, but every bit helps.
• Join my 7SEAS club, and sign up for my newsletters.
• If you are a solo traveller, especially a solo cruiser, please let me know, and I can sign you up for my little solo e-travel club - I have separate news I send out to people every couple of weeks.
• Refer your friends to me, if you feel comfortable.
• Buy me a lottery ticket.
• Drop a line to say hi.
• Tell me I'll be awesome.
• Tell me I won't always be broke.
• Call to chat about travel.
• Buy me a coffee - or let me buy you one, if you are ever in Victoria or Sidney.
• Buy 2 lottery tickets - one for me, and one for you.

A career change is so fascinating - especially after 5 years of no income (!!!). It was 5 years ago next week that I took off to Europe for the better part of the year. I had no idea what I would be doing when I got back, and boy was that the truth. It's all good though, and I'm not sure I would have found my way here without all the steps along the way.

Thanks for all the good vibes you send my way.

To research a cruise, I invite you to do our research on my Expedia CruiseShipCenters site.

To book travel on my Expedia.ca site, use this page to navigate to my Expedia widget (scroll down). Once you are "in", you can navigate to anything you'd normally access on Expedia.ca.

To book travel insurance online on my website, or to request a quote, visit my Travel Insurance page.

New Year's Post 2014

The fine team at Expedia CruiseShipCenters Victoria...
check me out in the back row:)

It occurs to me that I had a fair amount going on in 2013. Let's see...

• Became a travel agent
• Got my BC Travel Insurance license
• Had cataract surgery
• Had dental surgery
• Got my first Lazy-Boy chair (aka Lazy-Girl)
• ok, that's it.

Ha ha, there's more, I'm sure, but those are the biggies that jump to mind (I'm still doing my IHateTaxis gig too).

Hanging out with the sweetest kittie cat of all, the handsome Maui (aka Meowy). And learned what it means to fall in love with a cat. Really. Little guy got me through some really hard stuff the last couple of years... And he does seem to have taken to me as his Mama. Ah, the irony.

With that, I reposition myself in my Lazy-Girl to give him my lap, while still balancing my laptop... it must be love.

Long time readers of my blog will be wondering how my mom is. My sweet mom is doing just fine. We are so fortunate that to have her in a wonderful care facility. They have a very good music program... and music just brings her to life (all the musicians love her). Her mobility had declined to the point where she is in wheelchair all the time (though they do walk with her a couple of times a week, a 2 person job). The great thing is that, like all residents, she can reach the floor with her feet and can move around at will, propelling her wheelchair by foot.

Summertime on the deck... mom loves the sun!

It's like she has a new independence to move about as she wishes -- and in summer that included the deck, a lot. Mom's dementia has worsened, but she is in a happy place. She knows who we are, mostly, and is happy.

G'ma with her granddaughter Branwen last week

Ok, what else shall I include in my snapshot of my life this past year, for myself...

• I dog sat sweet Lucy the dog again, just for a week or two. This time it was an "emergency": her human had to fire the existing dog-sitter from Hawaii, and I swooped in to save the day. Ha. But it was almost that dramatic. But I was happy to help... oh, how I love that dog... she is so sweet, and so soft... and so high maintenance :)
• Saw Joe Walsh!!! Oh, yes, and Bob Seger too.
• Spent 6 of the past 9 months taking the bus into Victoria several times a week (I wimped out, and am driving now)
• Saw the ancient map exhibit at the Royal BC Museum - it was fab
• Also joined the museum, but haven't been back (boo)
• Saw an exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery... the Grand Hotel?
• Also resurrected my VAG membership, but haven't been back (yet.)
• I discovered that there is an alcoholic version of Sugar-Free Rockstar, quite by accident (then I drove, unknowingly - see story)
• Finally weaned myself off energy drinks
• Had loads of dental work to repair the results of those *#)&% energy drinks
• Learned again how much it sucks to not have a dental plan
• Attended a super cool block party on our little street here in Sidney
• Bought an elliptical trainer from a neighbor who was moving... and have made many interesting sculptures throwing clothes on it
• Had the excitement of the racoons that live in our tree relocate their 3 wee kits to live under our house for a few months (lots of kittie indoors!)
• Discovered that otters really do make their way up under houses here... oh, what a racket when they were trying to eat their way through the floor! Lots of stomping and keeping CBC radio on all night at full blast (they apparently don't like people). They are protected, so they are safe, but not so fond of these particular antics.

Enough babbles for now. I am sure a philosophical blog post will be coming, at some point... but, for now, must put the bubbly on ice and celebrate here with my sissy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!