The Latest in the Travel Industry

Tips for planning a Destination Wedding or Honeymoon during a pandemic

View this email in your browser Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. I try not to bombard you will "sales" spam, but to keep you informed about the travel industry. I include travel industry updates, cruise trends, airline news, hotel protocols and insurance changes and yes a deal's alert. I ask that if you find our newsletter worth reading, please share with family and friends or follow us on social media. I want to start this newsletter about me and my agency Travel Pros, I think everyone agrees that 2020 has been a complete bust, but I remain positive over this experience we have lived through. I have had time to reflect on when I was most happy, what brought that happiness and how I can achieve it again. I have taken this time to do the things that I always put off because I was “too busy”.  I have been able to reconnect with old friends and family in a new way, I have finally organized my house how I have always dreamt of, and I have been working on my business to make it stronger when my business takes off again. I have also been working on my other company, Loyalty Doctors, with my fiance Robert Farthing. We build mobile apps for many needs e.g, restaurants, charities, house of worship, music industry..... I will have examples below if you are interested in seeing them.   I have been in the travel industry since 1996 and have gone through some challenging times for the travel industry and the world. When the world shut down from the horrific 9/11 tragedy, the swine flu invaded our country and the zika virus that cause so many brides fearful of catching it that may harm their fertility, we, the travel industry has survived.   I believe that 2021 is going to be our year to be reborn by looking at our lives differently and appreciating the life we have been given. I think we all have learned that living life now is a must because tomorrow is not promised. Yes, I am a travel agent and of course I think about travel constantly. But I always think about my clients more. I think of is that resort really what they want in terms of service, cleanliness, quality of food, within their budget, amenities and of course protected if something happens. This year was a huge lesson when the world literally shut down. The airlines quit flying, resorts shut their doors and countries closed their borders. While all of this was happening, I was right here, guiding my clients on what to do next. I spent hours on hold waiting to speak to someone at the airlines and resorts on how they will be handling all these cancellations and protect my clients. In the end, everyone was able to get refunds or chose to get a future travel credit. This is what I and my agency will do for you. We build relationships with you so that we make your life and vacation easier. Our goal is that we remain your agent from your honeymoon until you are taking your grandchildren on vacation. We are not a “Big Box” online booking engine that does not know your likes and dislikes. We are travel professionals that know the ins and outs of the industry. We are critical thinkers, problem solvers and stress relievers when you really need us the most. We have sales just like those big box online sites, but our sales are backed by our experience and in most cases better then what they try to sell you.    Please stay healthy and positive that everything will be ok. No one likes change, but eventually the change becomes the norm. If my newsletter helps or inspires you, please share. If you are interested in planning a vacation, let me know so we can help you fulfill your dream.   Forever your agent, Jennifer Garris THE LATEST IN THE TRAVEL WORLD WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN YOU TRAVEL? I have been getting this question a lot lately, so I thought I would give you an update on each country's protocols. Information is provided by each country's tourist boards. Because the list is long, I am only including the most popular. Please Contact US us if you are interested in a particular destination.  Caribbean Antigua Aruba Bahamas Barbados British Virgin Islands Dominican Republic Jamaica Puerto Rico St Lucia St Martin/St Maarten Turks and Caicos US Virgin Islands Central America Belize Cabo San Lucas Cancun/Riviera Maya Costa Rica United States Florida Hawaii IS TRAVEL INSURANCE WORTH IT? One word, DEFINITELY! Insurance is for the unforeseen, no one can predict our future. These are some other questions that I received that you may be interested in knowing: Are all travel insurance policies the same? No,  there are several types e.g: Cancel for Any Reason to get a full refund minus the cost of insurance, Cancel for Any Reason to get a Future Travel Credit minus the cost of insurance and Trip Cancellation/Interruption/Delay/Baggage/Evacuation/Accidental Death and most importantly Medical. Most people do not realize that our insurance in the USA does not work out of the country. (No Medical Insurance - In most instances, you pay out of pocket in full before the doctor will even see you) Does travel insurance cover COVID? Depends on the reason and type of insurance policy. If you are fearful of traveling then you need the cancel for any reason insurance. If you are not allowed to travel but the destination you are going to is open, you need the cancel for any reason insurance. You contract COVID and unable to travel, then all of the policies should cover you because it is a medical claim* Does the insurance my Destination Wedding or Event I have planned out of the USA? Travel Insurance only covers the traveler, it does not cover any pre- purchased items for an event like DJ, Photographer, Flowers.... Here is a sample list of the different types of insurances with tour companies and independent insurance companies that Travel Pros offers: American Airlines Vacations Pre Travel Protection  Delta Vacations  Funjet Vacations  Sandals and Beaches CHUBB Trawick International  *Please note: Everyone's need for travel insurance is different, so for specific questions for coverage, you must contact the insurance company directly. Travel agents can only offer the insurance policies, we can not guarantee if the reason for cancellation is covered. All I can say is there is just TOOOO many to list, but EVERYONE is having a Year End Sale. Best Advice - Contact Us to see how we can get you the best package! AS PROMISED, SOME LOCAL MOBILE APPS WE HAVE BUILT These are free to download and use, please support local businesses. To download, just hover over the QR Code, then when prompted, add to home screen. You can also access it through the link provided for each app Hampton Roads Wedding Guide This app makes your event planning so much better Have access to all of your preferred vendors at the touch of a finger! Froggies Best Barbeque and Entertainment Make sure you join their rewards club! Travel Pros I couldn't forget Hampton Roads Best Travel Agency Meet The Team   833-246-8728 www.gotravelpros.com Jennifer Garris  Glenda Stevens  Sarah Fry  Click Here to Submit a Reservation Request             Are you a Certified Travel Consultant? Looking to join an incredible team? Click here to find out how you can be part of The Travel Pros Team Copyright © 2020 Travel Pros, All rights reserved. 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